Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports

Derek Jeter did the same for the Yankees, helping them start a string of 12 straight postseason appearances in 1995 after the team failed to reach October for 14 seasons.
Golfer Phil Mickelson went 13 years and 22 tournament wins before finally winning his first major championship at the 2004 Masters Tournament, conquering Tiger Woods on his own turf (a super feat on its own).
If those teams can break their hexes, why can't the rest of the sports world?
The centennial anniversary of the Chicago Cubs' last World Series championship has fans talking about the long-awaited end of their 99-year curse.
Who can blame them for thinking their kryptonite has finally reached its half-life after newcomer Kosuke Fukudome's impressive opening day performance?
It would go a long way in helping Cubs fans forget the pain of a century's worth of losses and missed chances.
Dwight Howard has certainly restored hope to Central Florida's team.
The Amway Arena is rocking with playoff fever like it was in the mid-1990s, when Shaq and Penny Hardaway ran the floor. Optimism has returned to the Magic Kingdom on the broad shoulders of the NBA's leading rebounder and undisputed dunk champion - he not only won the dunk contest, but he also has recorded more than twice the dunks of the nearest competitor.
Orlando's Man of Steel will be trying to fly through his second playoff appearance.
Maybe Superman could save the day once again for some very longing sports fans.
Assistant sports editor Philip Rossman-Reich is a Medill sophomore. He can be reached at philiprossmanreich2007@u.northwestern.edu.

< prev Page 2 of 2

Article Tools