When it comes to the world of sports curses, it seems the curses have been losing more than winning the past couple of years.
In the fall of 2004, the Boston Red Sox broke the curse of the Bambino by winning their first World Series since "nine-teen eight-teen." One year later, the Chicago White Sox won their first title in 88 years to break the Black Sox curse. The latter curse originated when eight players were charged with throwing the 1919 World Series, and decades of futility followed.
Then, of course, there is the Chicago Cubs' curse of the billy goat. Chalk at least one up for the curses.
The irony, of course, is that curses are not real -- unless the players believe they are real. Once the curse gets in a player's head, it starts to affect that player's decisions on the field. The same seems to apply to managers and coaches, right, Grady Little?
However, a new curse in the sports world seems to exist, and this one might just have some scientific backing. Since Staples Center opened in downtown Los Angeles in the fall of 1999, the Los Angeles Kings have continually led the NHL in one category -- injuries.
The phenomenon is not limited to hockey, as the Los Angeles Clippers have suffered a similar fate in the NBA. Even Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal have missed extended time during their tenure with the Lakers at Staples Center.
Kings, Clippers, and Lakers fans have often joked about the "curse of Staples Center," but maybe there is more to it than meets the eye.
Staples Center has a unique design among North American arenas, as it is designed primarily around three levels of luxury boxes. To accommodate the boxes, the 30-row lower level is among the flattest pitches in pro sports, while the smallish upper level is in the stratosphere.
The result is a huge wall of luxury boxes, creating an unusual flat surface, and acoustical nightmare, in the middle of the arena. While the arena has installed sound-deadening tiles and sheets on the ceiling, the sound is still considered subpar by many concert goers.
As one might expect, airflow is affected as well. Anyone who has attended a game at Staples Center knows the temperature can vary greatly from one part of the arena to another. It seems it is not so much the temperature, but the wind chill from the vents and heat index from the stuffy air that causes discomfort.
The result is an arena that feels low on oxygen. Even during exciting games, it is normal to see many fans yawning, a sign that oxygen levels may be low. Several fans have complained of aching muscles and stuffy air, again, possible indications of a low oxygen level.
When the oxygen levels in the arena are low, it will naturally lead to an increase in injuries. If the muscles are not getting enough oxygen, the risk of strains, tears, or other injury is significantly higher. As well, a low level of oxygen leads to the players tiring faster, another factor that could lead to injuries.
It would be very interesting to test oxygen levels in Staples Center during an NHL or NBA game, as the results might provide some insight into the injury issues of the three major tenants. While most arenas generally have a gradual slope from ice level to the top of the arena, Staples is very different with the wall of luxury boxes and nearly-flat lower level.
There is little question the arena's unusual design affects not only sightlines, which might be the worst in the NHL, but also acoustics. Arena management, or at least Kings/Clippers/Lakers management, might want to check out the effect on airflow as well.
After all, an improved ventilation system is certainly less costly than season after season of injured athletes.
As a life-long hockey fan and sports fan in general, sports has always been a big part of my life. I have combined that with my interest in writing to create a long-term interest in sportswriting , something that has manifested itself in various sportswriting opportunities over the years.
