Curry Shinaul: April 2009 Archives

Another year, another Madden, another curse. This time not one but two players. I have no idea what the new cover guys are thinking because the curse is real. Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald are going to be on the cover of Madden. Polamalu is coming off a pro bowl season, a Super Bowl win and had a career high 7 int. Larry Fitzgerald is coming off a unbelievable run in the playoffs where he set a postseason record 546 receiving yards, 30 receptions and 7 touchdowns but eventually lost to Polamalu and the Steelers.

Now what do Fitzgerald and Polamalu have to look forward to for gracing the Madden cover. Lets start out with one of my favorite players of all time and Madden 01 cover Eddie George. The year before the cover Eddie killed with a career high in attempts 403, yards 1509 and touchdowns 14. Then the cover comes, 2001 season. Career lows as a Titan in yards 939, yards per attempt 3 and touchdowns 5. 2002 cover Daunte Culpepper was getting his roll on, blowing up for 33 touchdowns but after he decided to do Madden, a whopping 14 touchdowns.

This is where things are starting to get serious. In 2003, Madden picks a former MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Marshall Faulk. It's a terrible shame what the curse did to Faulk. After doing the cover, a bum ankle hurt his season and Faulk never touched a 1000 yard rushing season again. In the 2004 season they put the most electric quarterback in the league Michael Vick. The verdict... I mean the outcome: Vick breaks his main asset his legs in the preseason.

The success of the Ultimate Fighter Season 1 culminated with an insane battle between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. It made those fighters instant stars to even the most diehard MMA fan and brought in a new crop of fans. How could Dana White follow this monumental, ground breaking show? Would Dana be able to find others to once again take it up to the level of Griffin and Bonnar?

Now, picture being 5'11, 225lbs, a cast member on Season 2, and not only the shortest but one of the lightest at heavyweight. At every fight you hear the doubts about being the underdog, but you still win. Not only that, but after one of your matches Matt Hughes, one of the all time great MMA champions, criticizes you. Not with a critique on your skills, but says you're being disrespectful to your opponents by showboating in the cage. It's the finale and once again you're undersized and fighting a 6'7 260lbs Brad Imes. After the three rounds in the cage, you're the winner of a three year contract.

Picture that it's time for the big show and bright lights. You drop down to 205lbs, the light heavyweight division. Now you rip off two decisions against Hogar and Bonnar. You're hearing the whispers that you can't finish anybody, that all you do is lay and pray. You're 8-0 going into your next bout facing an opponent that's on an 8 fight win streak, but it's nothing you mount him, ground and pound, KO. In the next fight you get to headline. Second round of the fight, out of nowhere, a crushing sidekick. Fight's over. The crowd is going crazy because nobody ever expected you to finish the fight in that manner.