The Curse of Kenny Lofton? Whatcha Talkin Bout?

For the fifth time since 1999, Kenny Lofton has been on the losing end of five magicial series comebacks. It makes me believe he did something in a previous life to bring on such disappointment upon his teams and himself.

In 1999, Kenny and his Cleveland Indians had a 2-0 ALDS lead over the Boston Red Sox. The Sox would win three in a row with a great Game 5 performance from Pedro Martinez to shock the Tribe.

In 2002, Lofton was a member of the San Francisco Giants when they had a 3-2 series lead, and a 5-0 lead in Game 6 against the Angels. The Giants seemed destined to win their first championship since the team moved from NYC. The Angels came back in the bottom of the 7th and 8th to win, and then went on to win a ho-hum Game 7.

In 2003, Lofton was traded from the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs rolled through the first four games of the NLCS taking a 3-1 series lead. Steve Bartman influenced, the Cubs would blow the lead with their two best pitchers on the mound in Games 6 & 7. To this point, I thought the curse was over Dusty Baker's head who managed both the '02 Giants and '03 Cubs. Why couldn't he choke on one of those toothpicks he likes to chew on during games.

In 2004, Lofton would catch on with the New York Yankees, where he would be a member of the greatest collapse in post-season history. The Pinstripes became the first team to blow a 3-0 series lead. While he was only a part time OF/DH that series, his presence on the Yankees' bench was enough to cause the downfall. Finding out later how much Kenny hated Joe Torre, Torre would have been best putting him in a burlap sack and locking him in the clubhouse somewhere.

In 2007, Lofton was traded from the Rangers back to his home for many years in the Cleveland Indians. He had a great post-season helping the Tribe build a 3-1 ALCS lead. In Game 7, he would make the biggest mistake of the series. On a rope hit down the left field line, Lofton was unable to score from second with 1-out. The next batter bounced into a double play allowing the Red Sox to keep a one-run lead. The Red Sox would then go nuts rolling to the Game 7 victory. The five collapses started with one to the Red Sox and would end with one to the Red Sox.

Lofton has not only been a part of these five collapses, but six other postseason failures. Look at Kenny Lofton's post-season career. The bottom line here is this fiesty, Gary Coleman wannabe has some bad vibes resonating from his four foot frame. Forget about "Curse of the Billy Goat" or whatever other stupid curses are out there, the Curse of Kenny Lofton is far more powerful.

Pat Morgan

("Curse of Kenny Lofton" Copyright, 2007)