Boston Red Sox fans are certainly qualified to speak on the subject of "curses," after suffering through 86 seasons without a World Series title, which many attributed to the Curse of the Bambino. Most Sox fans agree that the Cubs' "Curse of the Billy Goat" is rather lame (although the incredibly unsubtle use of a scapegoat may age like a fine wine if the Cubs continue much further into a second century of futility.) But leave it to the Hanshin Tigers, which is often considered to be the Japanese version of the Red Sox due to their hallowed ballpark, die-hard fans, and championship droughts, to have a curse that's finger-lickin' good. The Tigers have been afflicted by the "Curse of the Colonel" ever since 1985 when a group of Tiger fans celebrating the team's victory in the Japan Series dunked a statue of Colonel Sanders from a local Kentucky Fried Chicken into the Dotonbori River. Apparently, the fans thought the chicken magnate bore a resemblance to Tigers star Randy Bass, another bearded American, (not sure I see the similarity, but perhaps a little sake may have involved in the celebration) and there is a tradition among Tigers fans to take a dip in the river to celebrate victories.
Well, apparently the only thing the Colonel dislikes more than divulging his Original Recipe is hanging out at the bottom of a muddy Japanese river. Ever since the dunking, the Tigers have failed to win another Japan Series. Well, that may change now that the Colonel has been located and salvaged. The Colonel was missing his legs, his hands, and his glasses ("It's just a flesh wound!") but he cleans up nicely. Here's hoping Harland Sanders doesn't hold a grudge as long as the Babe.
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