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Top 10 Sports Jinxes of All Time

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By @BrianKalchik

Top 10 Sports Jinxes of All Time

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A sports-related curse is a belief that is used to explain the failures or misfortunes of specific sports teams, players or even cities. Teams, players and cities often cite a "curse" for many negative things, such as their inability to win a sports championship, or unexpected injuries to deflect blame somewhere else. These 10 curses are the most infamous in sports, and span beyond the sports world.

10. Par-3 Curse

Masters Par 3
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10. Par-3 Curse

Masters Par 3
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Held annually at the Augusta National Golf Club, The Masters Tournament begins with a par-3 competition. For those who compete in this event and the Masters, luck is not on their side. No winner of the Par-3 challenge has ever gone on to win the Masters in the same year.

9. Curse of the Honey Bears

Virginia McCaskey Bears
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9. Curse of the Honey Bears

Virginia McCaskey Bears
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In 1977, the Chicago Bears hired cheerleaders called the "Honey Bears." When George Halas, the owner of the Bears died, his ownership stake was handed down to his daughter Virginia McCaskey. McCaskey opposed the idea of cheerleaders, and once the 1985 season ended, the cheerleaders were disbanded. In 1985, the Bears went 15-1 and won Super Bowl XX. The Bears have only appeared in one Super Bowl since (XLI).

8. Buffalo Sports Curse

Chris Hogan Bills
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8. Buffalo Sports Curse

Chris Hogan Bills
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The Buffalo Sports Curse is synonymous with the city's inability to win a major championship. The Bills and Sabres, the city's two remaining pro teams, lost their championship series/games in dramatic fashion. The Bills lost four Super Bowls in a row from 1990-93, the first coming from Scott Norwood's missed field goal. The Sabres, meanwhile, lost to the Dallas Stars in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals on Brett Hull's controversial goal.

7. The Curse of William Penn

Philadelphia Skyline
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7. The Curse of William Penn

Philadelphia Skyline
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The Curse of William Penn is cited as the reason why Philadelphia's teams haven't won many championships since 1983. Some fans believe that when the city built a skyscraper that was higher than William Penn's statue, the city was cursed. During that span, each of the four city's teams have lost championships, but the Phillies somewhat broke the curse in 2008 by winning the World Series.

6. Cleveland Sports Curse

Cleveland Skyline
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6. Cleveland Sports Curse

Cleveland Skyline
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Since 1964, the city of Cleveland has not won a major championship. After Jim Brown led the Browns to a win over the Baltimore Colts, the city's other teams, the Indians, Cavaliers and Browns, have all come up short. The Indians reached two World series championships in the 1990s, but failed, and the Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, were swept in the 2007 NBA Finals.

5. The Curse of Bobby Layne

Detroit Lions Helmet
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5. The Curse of Bobby Layne

Detroit Lions Helmet
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When Bobby Layne was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1958, Layne predicted that the Lions would not win a championship for 50 years. Layne was dead right as the Lions have won just one playoff game in over 50 years. In the final year of the supposed curse, Detroit became the first team to finish 0-16 for a season.

4. The Madden Curse

Michael Vick Falcons
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4. The Madden Curse

Michael Vick Falcons
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As much of an honor as it is to be featured on the cover of EA Sports' Madden Football, it has also been a curse. Athletes who have appeared on the cover either have been injured during the season, or their teams have had losing seasons. Some memorable examples include Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Shaun Alexander.

3. Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx

Peyton Manning Broncos
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3. Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx

Peyton Manning Broncos
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Just like the Madden curse, athletes who have appeared on the Sports Illustrated cover have tended to suffer injuries or lose important games shortly after appearing on the cover. Some famous examples include Mo'Ne Davis, Miguel Cabrera and the 2013 Denver Broncos.

2, The Curse of the Billy Goat

Chicago Cubs Billy Goat
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2, The Curse of the Billy Goat

Chicago Cubs Billy Goat
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In 1945, the Curse of the Billy Goat came into effect when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave a World Series game against the Detroit Tigers because his pet goat's odor was bothering other fans. He was outraged and supposedly said, "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more." The Cubs have not won the World Series since, and haven't even appeared in the Fall Classic since 1945.

1. The Curse of the Bambino

Babe Ruth Yankees
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1. The Curse of the Bambino

Babe Ruth Yankees
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After selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox were victims of "The Curse of The Bambino." From 1918-2004, the Red Sox failed to win a World Series championship, and their adversaries won 26 World Series titles. Boston had their opportunities to break the curse, but in 1945, 1986 and 2003, the Red Sox lost in dramatic fashion. The curse was finally broken after the Red Sox swept St. Louis in 2004.

Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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