Is There a Minnesota – Wisconsin Sports Curse?

Well, another one of my teams was right on the brink of winning it all last night -- only to have things fall apart in the last second. Again. I'm beginning to think there might be something to the notion that there's a curse on Minnesota and Wisconsin sports teams.

Yes, the Wisconsin Badgers, after an improbable run to the NCAA basketball national championship game, came up a little short against Duke Monday night and lost 68-63. After being so good all season, and during the tournament, they just couldn't quite put it all together when it counted most.

It's a trend with which I'm rather familiar. For me, it all started last September, when my Milwaukee Brewers tanked. The Crew had been in first place in the NL Central for over 150 days last season, but completely fell apart in the month of September -- when it mattered most -- and ended up watching the playoffs and World Series from their recliners.

Then, of course, there was the Packers' epic collapse against the Seahawks. Yes, the Packers, who again, had won the big games when they needed to last season, completely fell apart during the last 3:52 seconds of the NFC Championship game against Seattle. Yes, in a game in which they had the lead the entire time, they let it slip away at the end -- when it mattered most -- and they, too, ended up watching the Super Bowl from their recliners.

Now the same thing has happened to the Badgers. One of my co-workers, who's been a lifelong Minnesota sports fan, can report similar collapses with the Vikings, Gophers and Timberwolves, as well. So maybe there IS something to the notion that there's a curse on sports teams from both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

All I know is that, even though I'm a Wild fan and am really rooting for them to make the playoffs and, hopefully, win the Stanley Cup, I'm thinking It would probably be for the best if I don't cheer for them -- I don't want to bring the curse to them, too.