A Blessed Curse?

There’s nothing like having the power of the world in the palm of your hands, knowing that the decision you make will have a lasting ripple effect that will forever alter the course of history. You are in complete control, and your actions will influence the reactions of those that follow you. I’ve been there, on a much smaller scale, but I’ve been there, nonetheless.

The definition of a “blessed curse” is something that seems fortunate or ideal, yet is accompanied by, an often unforeseen element that make the consequences of your brief fortune regrettable. In that alternate universe, known as Fantasy Football World, it is referred to as the #1 overall pick. And it strikes every August, when the rays of the sun blaze brightest.

It is almost always the most coveted position in fantasy sports, because it puts you in the position of drafting from an entire pool of players, and you are the only one with full access to each of them. You call the shots. You get the best player. You make the playoffs. You lose in the playoffs.

What?!

If you play in our league, the owners change every year, but the script has remained the same for those lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to have the first overall choice. Since 2004, four have tried…and four have failed to capitalize on their early good fortune and cash in their pick for a championship.

But it gets worse!

This is where it gets eerie. Not only do they lose in the playoffs, but in every instance (in the ultimate example of adding salt to a wound), they have been done-in by the eventual league champion of that season. Don’t believe it? History doesn’t lie.

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2004:

Jonboys

1^st overall pick: Priest Holmes

Result: Qualifies for playoffs despite losing Holmes at mid-season to injury. However, loses in the first round to Brew Crew, the eventual 2004 champion.

Aftermath: Jonboys had a losing record the following season and soon left the league entirely.

2005:

Boozemeisters

1^st overall pick: LaDanian Tomlinson

Result: Had the league’s best record that season, but lost in the playoffs (following a bye week) to eventual champion, Greenbaystillsucks.

Aftermath: Hasn’t made the playoffs since, and started 0-5 the following season, despite once-again have L.T. on the roster…weird.

2006:

Juggernauts

1^st overall pick: Larry Johnson

Result: Won a league-record eleven games that season and entered the post-season on an eight-game winning streak, but scored just 40 points and lost to “I Don’t Care,” the eventual champion, in the playoffs.

Aftermath: An abnormal number of injuries & an 0-3 start nearly ruined the following season. The team made the playoffs, but failed to post a winning record for the first time since 2004.

2007:

Upbeat Tempo

1^st overall pick: LaDanian Tomlinson

Result: Made the playoffs as a wildcard team and won 1 playoff game before losing in the second round to…you guessed it, the eventual league champion, Thunder Pumpers.

Aftermath: Unknown, but history says it won’t be good.

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So winning the 1^st overall selection in our fantasy draft has produced four playoff appearances for all four teams (good), Two division titles (good), but just one playoff victory (bad), and ZERO Championships (very bad). What can explain the lack of playoff success for these teams? Only bad luck really. All the picks (except for Holmes) panned out. All had mostly good teams,in fact the 05’Boozemeisters & 06’ Juggernauts were considered dominant. Yet all four lost fairly early to the eventual champion.

So later this month, or whenever your draft drawing happens to take place, do not fret if you fail to capture that first selection that could land you Adrian Peterson. Because, while that #1 pick will look awfully good, and will likely buy a ticket into the post-season, you might just be that team this year that shatters their dream in December. This year will bring another name into this exclusive club, with it will come the quest not just to win a championship, but to finally kill the curse. For everyone else? Well, like the old saying goes: If you can’t join them, beat them.