The Gulf Coast Curse

Before I begin I just wanted to start off by saying what's up and thanks for wasting a couple minutes out of your day checking out my first official blog post. Figured I'd give this whole thing a try and see what becomes of it. Anyway, enjoy.

Forget Goats. Forget Ruth. The Greatest Curse in Sports is not simply relegated to one team or one sport, but an entire region of the Unites States. I refer to it simply as The Gulf Coast Curse.

As far as I’m concerned, there is not a more powerful curse in all of professional sports. It's origins are untraceable, but the effects of this curse are well-documented. If your favorite professional team is within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, don't expect to win.

Let's take a look at each NFL team lining the world's 9th largest body of water.

Houston Oilers:
Can we say 1992 AFC Wild Card vs. the Buffalo Bills? Most Houstonians would rather not. Either way, when the team's moving truck showed up in 1996, the Oilers left town with 2 AFL championships and 20 losing seasons.

Franchise winning season percentage: 44%

Houston Texans:
Since 2002 they've produced one non-losing season, going 8-8 in 2007. They seem to be gaining ground, but talk is cheap and the Oilers proved that even with a good team the odds are against them.

Franchise winning season percentage: 0%

New Orleans Saints:
I dare someone to argue with me on this. With an all-time winning percentage of 40% and a dismal 2 playoff wins ever, the Saints are quite possibly the most infamous victim of the GCC. And terrible ownership.

Franchise winning season percentage: 33%

Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jacksonville Jaguars are just outside of the 100 mile affected zone. I suppose that's why they've been respectable since their inception.

Franchise winning season percentage: 58% (amazing what an effect a couple more miles has).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Yes, I understand the Buccaneers pose a significant contradiction to my theory with their Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Raiders. Take away that season and you're looking at the only team in NFL history to ever go winless in a season. Of course Bucs fans like to forget that one, which is easy. They can always bury it under the 20 other losing seasons.

Franchise winning season average: 33%

Miami Dolphins:
The Miami Dolphins are the best argument to discredit my GCC theory. With back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1972-73, the 'Fins were the only ray of hope for football fans around the Gulf Coast. The Curse has definately reared it's ugly head since Mr. Ricky Williams jumped ship, but Miami has proven quite resilient to the GCC throughout history with only 9 losing seasons to their credit.

Franchise winning season average: 78% (hard to believe these days)

In all, Miami has proven to be the only team capable of withstanding the undeniable effects that every other NFL team based within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico has weathered. Despite their history of success, Gulf Coast NFL teams still only have 3 lombardi trophies to their credit, and the list of accomplishments is overwhelmingly eclipsed by the list of blunders and embarassments.

I figured this would be a good starting point for this blog. Any Houston fan can agree that sometimes it just feels like we're cursed. Truth is, you're right. I just gave it a name.