Takeo Spikes is out for the year with a torn rotator cuff.

This is unfortunate, but not unexpected.

And this is all my fault.

See, I'm cursed when it comes to player jerseys. Anytime I take that leap of faith, I normally land on my face with a tremendous THUD.

It's now gotten to the point where friends and colleagues ask me to wear rival team's jerseys, just to see if my curse works.

Just for the record, it does work, just ask David Carr and Zinedine Zidane.

 Both solid athletes, both with levels of shame. I'm sorry to the both of you for ruining your careers. I wore the Zidane jersey during the world cup...now here's a guy who had a great career, but what's a big moment that he will be remembered for? The head butt. I take responsibility for this.  The curse crosses into other nations and also destroys their hopes and dreams.

Then came a time where I felt great, a few years ago, it felt like there was a wind of change. I went out, and hoping my luck would turn around, I bought a Terrell Owens Eagles jersey (going against my rule of wearing only defensive player jerseys ) and for the Phillies a number 25 of "Gentleman" Jim Thome.

For the first year of both the Jim Thome and Terrell Owens Philly era. It looked like the curse had been broken. But we know how that all ended.

The great Jim Thome, entered a few seasons of injury filled season with Philly, and although still loved by the city and fans, Jim Thome was traded to Chicago to give Ryan Howard the opportunity to play everyday (it was a good move, although you never ever like to see a guy like Jim Thome leave your city), in return we recived Aaron Rowand, Gio Gonzalez, and one more guy I can't remember. From that trade, what do we have remaining for giving up a future hall of famer? Nothing. the guy I can't remember was traded to Texas for a guy that was released after one start. Gio Gonzalez was traded back to Chicago for Freddy Garcia, who was a 10 million dollar bust here in Philly, and Aaron Rowand just signed a huge deal with San Francisco. So my Jim Thome curse? Went beyond Gentleman Jim, and even affected the players we recieved for him.

And Terrell Owens, need I even say it? Let's just say after coming back from a broken leg (my fault) taking the Eagles to the superbowl and losing (I wore an Eagles jersey...which is the game they lost by a field goal, also my fault) TO entered a ridiculous phase of his career which included his new agent Drew Rosenhaus demanding a new contract then saving a drowning child and saying that Philly should deal with him because he saves drowing children, then TO being banished, sit ups in his drive way and then released to sign with the Dallas Cowboys.

By the way, Jim Thome was traded around November 25th,2005 and TO was banished from Philadelphia around November 15th,2005. So within 10 days. I had two outdated and cursed Jerseys.

So, to all the TO fans and Jim Thome fans, their Philly departures, my fault.

I figured take a break on the jerseys. Until, the week before the draft in 2006, I saw an awesome Jevon Kearse one, I figured by going back to my "defensive jerseys" -only rule. It'd be perfectly fine and I'd wear it to attend the draft. This worked! We got Broderick Bunkley! The curse is over! WAIT! No it's not! Broderick Bunkley was a rookie camp "holdout" and then arrested for gun posession. Then Jevon Kearse was knocked out of the Giants game for the year. The curse never lets us down.

2007. Jevon is back. "I will continue wearing his jersey", plus...the Birds trade for Takeo Spikes. I've always been a Spikes fan....and Takeo came into town pumped up...talking big, making big predictions...I couldn't wait. The way Takeo was talking, it sounded like he was willing to play great D, practice all day and even on his own time, even take tickets at the door, sweep floors, sell concessions, anything to win. Takeo is big time. I needed his jersey. I got one.

Well here's 2007. Jevon Kearse has been deactivated because of his lackluster performance and even getting this quote "The Eagles signing Jevon Kearse was just like the Phillies trading for Kevin Millwood, it seeemed like a great idea....at the time" (I encouraged both of these transactions and take full responsibility for their respective failures)

December 17th 2007, Takeo Spikes out for the year with a torn rotator cuff. Rumor is that Takeo and Jevon may be cut in the off season.

So with that I'd like to apologize to the Spikes and Kearse camps. It's not you, it's me.

Now you may ask, where do all these cursed jerseys go? Sadly, because I have so many of them I hang them all up in my garage on what I call "the wall of shame" Eric Lindros Flyers? Check. Bobby Hoying Eagles? Check. Allen Iverson? Check (sorry AI, we miss you here), Gregg Jefferies Phillies? Check. There are so many more on the wall of shame. So many great potential difference makers, so many dissappointments. All my fault.

Next time, I buy a jersey, I'll run it by you all, so you can brace yourself for something horrible that will happen to the unfortunate player that I select.

Take care and be good,

Tim and all of your friends at Philadelphonic.