Real Rad Magazine : Fall Quarterly

FALL2014
M A G A Z I N E
10YEARSIN THEGAME
HOW TO GETBOOKED
OAKTOPIAREVIEW
BRIAN MACLASKEY
VINYLRESURGENCE
MADDEN CURSE
5-NEW YORK
JOSH JOHNSON
STREETSTYLE
ASKIN’HASKINS
M USIC •VIDEO •APPAREL •CULTURE

HOW TO GET BOOKED
A GUIDE BY
CALLIE DEE
4-9
DOPETOPIA
12-15
A REFLECTION
ON OAKTOPIA
A RTIST SPO TLIG H T
Pudge
BRIAN
M ACLASKEY
10 YEARS
IN THE GAM E
16-17
18-21
VinylRESURGENCE
A NEW
COM M UNITY
22-23
THEMADDENCURSE
TRUTH
OR M YTH?
24-25
5-NEW YORK
26-28
A FUTURISTIC
STORY:PART I

We have loadsofnew,100 percentoriginalcontent
forheadsin thisfallcollection.Peruse the new
additionsto the site and take in the world ofartand
entertainmentthatwe provide each quarter.Listen to
and download the new FallCollection:Volume One
sampler,available forfree orfordonation.Also,
don'tforgetto check outthe new gearwe've
concocted on ourapparelpage.
Thanksforstopping by,
1

NEW HATSAND SHIRTSON SALENOW
3

N EW A D D ITIO N
X-CALIBUR
10
REAL RAD RECO RDS IS PRO UD TO PRESENT
X-CALIBUR, AKA GIO VANNI RAM IREZ, THE
NEW EST M EM BER O F THE REAL RAD TEAM .
THIS VETERAN EM CEE HAS BEEN O N THE
GRIND FO R O VER A DECADE, W ITH CREW S
SUCH AS SO M ETHIN'FIERCE AND HUM AN
RESO URCES. HIS GRIM Y STYLE
SHO ULD CO M PLEM ENT US PERFECTLY.
LET'S PUT IN W O RK HO M IE.
CHECK HIM O UT O N THE FALL SAM PLER.

DOPETOPIA
A REFLECTION ON OAKTOPIA
B Y K R IS T IN F R A L E Y & M A T T G IB S O N
ThecityofDentonwaselectricduring theweekend of
Oaktopia September19-20.Venueswerepacked tothegils
withyouthfrom alaround theGoldenTriangle.Oaktopia isa
localymadeand localysupported festivalinitssophomore
year,created and managed bythree20-somethings,Matt
Battaglia,CoreyClaytorand PrestonEhrsam,and people
camefrom farand widetoseesomeoftheirfavoriteacts.
That’swhathappenswhena local,homegrownfestivalbooks
thelikesofAesop Rock,ImmortalTechnique,XXYYXX,and
more.IntheimmortalwordsofGod inthefilm Field of
Dreams,“Ifyoubuild it,[they]wilcome.”
Alow ustosetthestage.
12

Asfestivalgoerswalked up HickorySt.toward theDenton
CountyCourthouseontheSquare,theyfound theOaktopia
welcometentwheretheycould purchasetickets.A
reasonable$30 boughtattendeestwodaysand nightsof
music,comedy,food trucks,streetvendors,bargames,
cheap drinksand a largedoseofDentonculture.Asyouwalk
up,youseetheconfused expressionsof“WheredoIgo?”and
“Whereisthenearestplacetopark?”writtenonthefacesof
bystandersand driversalike.Mostgood festivalsare
beautifulcatastrophes,buttheOaktopia team had
everything undercontrol.
Thefestivalkicked offonthecourthouselawn.Showgoers
wereinvited todothehokeypokeyand turnthemselves
around togetoutofthewayofcondensed flailing limbs.The
audiencewascelebrating culture,music,and lifeinthe
presenceoftheinfamousBraveComboand theirpolka funk
thatmakesyouswing yourhipsand shakeitalabout.
LaterFridaynight,ontheLabb’sbackpatio,a band caled
TheBoombachssang totheskiesbeneaththebrightstage
lightsinbeguiled agony.TheBoombachsmakeprovocative
yetsad music.Thesaxophonesoared highand eventualy
camespiraling downontheheadsofa soothed audienceas
pianokeystinked likeicecubesinyoursweating glassofJim
Beam and Coke(a localstaple).Drumspounded therhythm
offestivalgoersswatting awaymosquitoes,whilestrings
gentlyweptand wailed.
13

14
LaterFridayevening,atAbbeyUnderground ontheReal
Rad Stage,bandssuchasHumanGrooveHormone,which
blew yourmind withcoversand attention-demanding
energy,Savageand theBig Beat’sstrangebrand ofrock,
BlackJamesFranco’sloud sonicemissions,and thepunk
thrashing tunesofRealRad artistRichard Haskinsand The
Unmarked Gravesmadethebasementtheplacetobe.
ThebeautifulSouthernsongsofClaireMoralesand the
edgy,soulfulspiritofAlexandra Tayara werea few ofthe
highlightsfrom theBanterstage.Dan’sSilverleafhosted the
dreamyemosoundsofDripping WetonFridayaswelasa
make-up DJsetfrom NeonIndianfrontmanAlanPalomo
(whowasn’tabletoplayonFridayduetotechnical
difficulties)onSaturday.
Saturday'sfestivitieskicked offat2:30 p.m.onthemain
stage.Vocasfrom theTom Tom played first,witha fantastic
setoffast-paced jazzwithsoulfulhornsand freneticpoetics.
TheRealRad StageonSaturdaywaslocated atAndy'sBar
and wasfiled withhip-hop actsfrom 3:00 p.m.to2:00 a.m.
RealRad had eyesatthemainstageaswelasatAndy's,and
thosetwovenueswerehopping alday.A whitedrone
hovered overhead filming themainstageartistsand crowd,
whileactssuchasAVtheGreat,and DJSpinnMokeptthe
partygoing fora crowd whowerebaking inthesunbut
enjoying themselvesimmensely.

Meanwhile,theRealRad stageatAndy'sbroughtthesci-fi
wordsmithMuenster;thehard-hitting streetrap ofKing Pap;
thepsychedelicoddnessofHamer;theeclecticbeatsand
wordplayofRitchyFlo;and manymoretothemicduring the
dayonSaturday.
Backonthemainstage,thecrowd grew largerand more
energeticasoneofthegodfathersofunderground hip-hop
prepared totakethestage.Aesop Rockemerged withRob
Sonicand DJAbilitiesand performed anamazing setof
lyricalmasteryand turntablism thatwasworththecostof
admissionalbyitself.Aesand Rob traded tracksand
sometimesverses,pausing intermittentlytogiveDJAbilities
thechancetostealtheshow,and heranawaywiththe
opportunity.Theheadlinesetwasfolowed bya chilelectro
setfrom XXYYXX,and revolutionaryPeruvian(now Harlem)
rapperImmortalTechniqueclosed outthenight.
OAKTOPIA W AS AN
EXPERIENCE TO REM EM BER
AttheRealRad stageduring theevening,standouts
included Emeka Ibe,BlazeWon,AlsaceCarcione(a female
emceewhoeveryoneshould know about),Wild Bil,
California'shottestunderground rap crew and record label
Rec-League,BuffaloBlack,and Dalaspartyrockcrew The
Bodega Brovas.RealRad artiststheGhetto[box]crew (whom
oneoftheauthorsofthisreview isaffiliated with)played a
packed houseasanoceanofpeoplegathered in
anticipationoflocalhero,Blue,theMisfit.Bluehad a dynamic
performanceand hung outwithImmortalTechnique
afterward,whohad comeovertoseehisset.
Oaktopia wasanexperiencetoremembersupported by
localtalentand putonbya fantasticteam whoworked hard
torepresentDenton.Itended altoosoon.Therapping,
singing,playing,and dancing gotvein-deep and left
Dentonitesshouting foranencore.Thereweredancecircles,
snakecharmers,artists,and examplesofinteresting culture
everywhere.EveryoneatRealRad Recordshad a blast
helping toputonthefestival,and we'd liketosaluteal
involved inmaking Oaktopia dope.
Wecan'twaitfornextyear.
15

A RTIST SPO TLIG H T
BRIAN MACLASKEYISAFORMERDENTONITEAND UNTALUMNUS,ASWELLASTHEHEAD OFTHESQUID
INKKOLLECTIVECLAN.NOW IN AUSTIN,TX,HEISAN ILLUSTRATORAND FINEARTIST.HEISALSO THE
MASTERPRINTERATAUSTIN'SPREMIEREINDUSTRYPRINTSHOP,ASWELLASTHE
CO-CREATOR/LEADEROFTHESUPREMEPIZZACATSARTCOLLECTIVE.LOOKFORNEW WORKFEATURED AT
FUN FUN FUN FESTORE.A.S.T.IN AUSTIN THISNOVEMBER,ORANEW SHOW WITH PARTNERIN CRIMETONY
DIAZATNEIGHBORHOOD IN THEBISHOPARTSDISTRICTIN DALLAS,TXTHISAPRIL.
WWW.ETSY.COM/SQUIDINKKOLLECTIVE • INSTAGRAM:@SQUIDINKKOLLECTIVE • TWITTER:@SQUIDINKIE
WWW.INDUSTRYPRINTSHOP.COM • INSTAGRAM:@INDUSTRYPRINTSHOP
16

IMAGINEACYPHEROFEMCEESRIPPING
FLOWSFORHOURSNEARLYEVERYDAYFOR
10YEARSSTRAIGHT.IMAGINERELEASING 11
ALBUMSDURING THATCOURSE,TOURING,
NETWORKING AND BUILDING ACREW THAT
STANDSTHETESTOFTIME.IMAGINE
SPENDING EVERYWEEKEND COLLABORATING
WITH EMCEES,DJS,BREAKDANCERSAND
GRAFFITIARTISTS,PLAYING HUNDREDSOF
SHOWSAND STILLKEEPING THEMUSIC
FRESH.VISUALIZEBEING AROCKSTARIN
YOURHOMETOWN WHILE
BRANCHING OUTTO ANATIONALAUDIENCE.
LOOKBACKON 10YEARSOFHARD WORK
WHILELOOKING FORWARD TO 10MORE.THIS
ISTHELIFEOFPUDGEBREWER,
CO-CREATOROFFABDEUCE,DENTON’S
LONGEST-RUNNING AND MOSTPROLIFIC
HIP-HOPENTITY.
NOW THECREW TAKESTHESTAGE
(NORMALLY)ASAWU-TANG-SIZEMOBOF
RAPPERS,PRODUCERS,AND FRIENDS.A2014
FABDEUCESHOW ISLIKEAPARTYWHERE
EVERYONEISABITTOO TURNTUP.THE
CROWD ISROWDY,DRINKSARESTRONG AND
PLENTIFUL,RAPSAREENTERTAINING AND
EDGY,BEATSARELOUD,AND THE
ATMOSPHEREISCHAOTICYETPLAYFUL.
PUDGEWASBORN TAYLORMATTHEW
BREWER.HEGREW UPIN DENTON,TEXAS,
PLAYING BASEBALLAND WATCHING
RANGERSGAMES.PUDGESTARTED RAPPING
IN EIGHTH GRADE,FREESTYLING WITH HIS
FRIEND BURTON TAYLOR(AKAERNIE
MCCRACKIN).HISOLDERBROTHERBLAINE,
(AKACHEESE)WASRAPPING AND
FREESTYLING WITH FRANCISCO LEAL(AKA
DIGO FROM GHETTO[BOX])ATTHETIME,AND
PUDGEBECAMEINSPIRED.HESTARTED
WRITING RAPSAND MAKING BEATS,AND
SHORTLYTHEREAFTER,FABDEUCEWAS
FORMED.
Pudge
10YEARSIN THEGAME
B Y M A T T G I B S O N
PUDGESAID THESTARTING POINTWAS
WHEN BLAINEAND DIGO SETUPASTUDIO
IN THEIRHOUSEWHILEPUDGEWASSTILLIN
HIGH SCHOOL.“WEWOULD GO OVERTHERE
EVERYWEEKEND,”PUDGESAID.“THAT’S
PRETTYMUCH WHATWEDID,JUSTTRYING
TO FIGUREOUTGETTING GOOD ATMAKING
HIP-HOP.”
FABDEUCE’SLASTALBUM,LASTCALL
O’CLOCK,ISATESTAMENTTO THETIMEAND
EFFORTEACH MEMBERHASPUTINTO
PERFECTING THEIRCRAFT.THECURRENT
LINEUPMAINLYCONSISTSOFPUDGE,ERNIE
MCCRACKIN,AND JUICYTHEEMISSARY,
WITH GUESTAPPEARANCESFROM RITCHY
FLO AND WILD BILL,AND OCCASIONALLY
FORMERMEMBERSCHEESEAND LONE.DJ
SPINN MO ISTHEDJFORFABDEUCEAND
RUNSTHEONESAND TWOS(TURNTABLES)
FORTHEGROUPATLIVESHOWS.
THENEW ALBUM,“THEHANGOVER”ISIN
PROGRESSAND SCHEDULED FORRELEASEIN
NOVEMBER.ALSO ON THEWAYFROM THE
FABDEUCECAMP:“SIDEEFFECTS,”A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUDGEAND
RITCHYFLO;PUDGE’SSECOND SOLO ALBUM,
“YEAH BUDDY;” “BACONOMICS,”A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN BLAZEWON,
WILD BILLAND ROBVIKTUM;AND THE
HIGHLYANTICIPATED JUICYTHEEMISSARY
PROJECT“FRANKPONECALL.”
PUDGE&L.O.N.ECIRCA?
19

LOOKING BACK ON 10 YEARS IN THE RAP GAM E,
PUDGE HAS LEARNED PLENTY ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.HE
ADVISED M USICIANS TO STICK PEOPLE THEY KNOW W HO
ARE DOW N,AND M AKE M USIC W ITH THE PEOPLE THEY
W OULD BE FRIENDS W ITH FIRST.TO UP-AND-COM ING
HIP-HOP ARTISTS,PUDGE SAID,“IT’S DEFINITELY NOT
FOR EVERYONE,BUT IF YOU STICK W ITH IT ...THE UPS
DEFINITELY OUTW EIGH THE DOW NS.” HE BELIEVES
ARTISTS SHOULD M AKE M USIC ABOUT THEIR OW N LIVES,
STAY TRUE TO THEM SELVES,AND NOT TRY TO EM ULATE
W HAT’S ON THE RADIO OR W HAT’S POPULAR.HE ADDED,
“BE YOURSELF,AND DO THAT AS HARD AS YOU CAN.”
PUDGE HAS BEEN RAPPING SINCE HE W AS 16.HE
PLAYED SHOW S W HILE HE W AS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL
AND UNDER DRINKING AGE.EARLY FAB DEUCE SHOW S
HAD M ANY HIGH-SCHOOLERS IN ATTENDANCE,PUDGE'S
FRIENDS,W HO HAD TO PAY M ORE COVER BECAUSE
VENUES KNEW THEY W OULD NOT EARN DRINK SALES.AT
THE TIM E,FAB DEUCE CONSISTED OF PUDGE,CHEESE,
DIGO,AND LONE (AS A DJ AND BEAT BOXER).THE CREW
HAS,OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS,ESTABLISHED
THEM SELVES AS A PARTY-ROCKING GROUP W ITH
IM M ENSELY ENERGETIC LIVE PERFORM ANCES.
20

AS A M USIC FAN,PUDGE W AS BROUGHT UP LISTENING
TO OLD-SCHOOL RAPPERS LIKE A TRIBE CALLED QUEST,
THE PHARCYDE (W HO W E PLAYED W ITH TW ICE IN
COLORADO) AND SOUTHERN HIP-HOP SUCH AS OUTKAST
AND UGK.THESE DAYS,PUDGE M OSTLY BUM PS HIS
FRIENDS'M USIC:A GROW ING CATALOG OF DENTON,
ARIZONA,AND CALIFORNIA RAPPERS IN HIS NETW ORK.
ASIDE FROM FRIENDS,PUDGE ALSO GETS INTO THE NEW
CHUCK INGLISH (OF THE COOL KIDS) PROJECT,ACTION
BRONSON AND BLU.
AFTER OUR INTERVIEW ,PUDGE PLAYED SOM E TRACKS
BY A NEW RAPPER CALLED EM EKA IBE W HO HE HAD
RECENTLY RECORDED (REALLY GOOD STUFF),THEN W E
W ENT TO A NEARBY BAR FOR A BEER.W HATEVER PUDGE
HAS LEARNED FROM 10 YEARS IN M USIC,HE CERTAINLY
HASN’T LET HIS SUCCESS GO TO HIS HEAD.HE CAM E OFF
AS A GENUINELY NICE PERSON W HO LOVES M AKING RAP.
HERE’S TO THE NEXT TEN YEARS.SALUTE.
PUDGE W OULD LIKE TO SEND SHOUT OUTS TO:REC-LEAGUE,GITM O,
REAL RAD (THANKS M AN)AND GENIUS M INDED M USIC.
CHECK OUT THE FULL FAB DEUCE DISCOGRAPHY AT
W W W .FABDEUCECREW .BANDCAM P.COM
21

Vinyl
R E S U R G E N C E O F
BY AM ANDA "VIO LET" RAVO TTI
Peoplelongforasenseofcommunitywithinthenicheindustry
ofvinyl.Itʼsthetangiblesensationofanalternativethatprovidesa
diferentsensoryatmosphereandexpresesyourindividuality.
Manyinnovativerecordshopsarepopingup.
InDepElum,astorecaledOftheRecordhasafulliquorbar
andrecordstorecompletewith2,000recordsandmorethan20
bersontap.JoseyRecordswilopenwitharound100,000records
onhandandnewstockadeddailyandwilfeaturealistening
stationwherepeoplecanheartherecordsbeforepurchase.
22

Vinylisbecomingmorepopular,itscolnesbroughtonbythemilennialgeneration's
fondnesforeverythingvintage,retroandold-schol.Thissetsvinylapartasitcreatesa
completelydiferenttoneandatmospherethandigitalmusicfilesandCDs.
Ithasbecomemorecommonforelectronicartiststobeonvinylandforrecordstoofera
downloadabledigitalcopywithpurchase.JackWhiteʼsalbumLazaretosetavinylrecord,seling
morethan40,000copiesinthefirstwekofreleaseinJunethisyear.MaryDinh,avinyl
enthusiast,saidthatalotiscutoutandlostintheconversionprocestodigitaldelivery.
“Recordshavearichnesandfulnesofsoundwithmorelayers;itʼsverymuchlikethenuances
ofyourgrandmaʼscokingversussomethingyouʼveboughtatafastfodrestaurant,”she
explained.
Asyouriflethroughrowsofmilkcratesataswapmet,yardsale,orrecordstore,youmay
hearanexclamationofsurpriseaftersomeonediscoverssomesensationalmusic.Youfelthe
power;therecordisaposesiontoshareandtocreatealisteningcommunitywithfriends.“If
peopleareexposedtoaqualityproductsuchasrecords,theyʼlsewhattheyʼremising,”Dinh
said.“Ifyouonlydrinkshitwine,youwonʼtknowanybeteruntilsomeoneletsyoutastegod
wine–itʼsthesamethingwithrecords.”
Takingarecordoutofitsshinyjacketandslipingitontoaturntable,yougracefulyplace
thenedledownandletthemagicunfold.Awarm,richdepthofsoundfilstheromlikethe
bandisthere.Asthesoundescalateswithmelodiesunafectedbydigitization,onecansavorthe
nostalgiaoftheeraofvinyl.
"Formeit’sabouthesound.Iwantohearsomethingthat’salive.”
Apieceofartinitself,vinylcapturesamomentintime.Itʼsnotjustmusic;itʼsalifestyleand
anexperience.Thereʼsaparticularwarmthtothecrackleanddustycharacterofvinyl.Owning
vinylshowsyouknowhowtoproperlypresenthowmusicsoundsnaturaly.
“Doyouwant7-Elevencofeorcofethatismadefromfreshbeansandroastedina
brewerythattastescompletelydiferent?Somethingthatʼsquitediferentand
special–somethingthattakesyoubacktoadecade?”askedDavidGrover.
GroverisopeningSpinsterRecordsinDalas,whichwilhostlisteningpartieswithturntable
repairservices,newrecords,amplifiersandspeakers,alongwithashowromandstage
performances.Theseeventswilbesimilartospeddating,butwithatwist.Atendeswilbring
records,whichwilbepasedoutsoeveryonecantrytomatchrecordswiththeirowners.
“Thereʼssomethingnostalgicaboutarecord,especialyforpeoplewhonevergotthechance
toexperiencethemgrowingup,”saidJakeTosh,UNTRadioTelevisionFilmsenior.“Itʼsnicetogo
toarecordstoreandphysicalyflipthroughtherecordsandfindthatonemagicalrecordthat
realyspeakstoyou.Formeitʼsaboutthesound.Iwanttohearsomethingthatʼsalive.”
23

THE
MADDEN
CURSE
TRUTHORMYTH?
BY MATT GIBSON
THEMADDENCOVERCURSEISVERYREALTOMANYSPORTSFANS,BUTISITAREALCURSE,
ORJUSTASERIESOFCOINCIDENCES?FORTHOSEUNFAMILIAR,THEBELIEFISTHATANY
ATHLETEWHOGETSCHOSENTOBEONTHECOVEROFTHEMADDENNFLVIDEOGAMEWILL
HAVEABADSEASONTHEFOLLOWINGYEAR,GETSEVERELYINJURED,HAVEOFFTHEFIELD
ISSUES,ANDFADEINTOOBSCURITY.THEREAREMANYEXAMPLESOFTHEMADDENCURSE
CAUSINGGRIEFTOTHEPLAYERSWHOGRACETHECOVER(ANDTHEIRTEAMS).
“RICHARDSHERMANISONTHECOVERTHISYEARANDIS
SEEMINGLYNOTATALLCONCERNEDWITHTHECURSE.”
24

EASPORTSSTARTEDPUTTINGSTARATHLETESONTHECOVERSOFTHEIRGAMESIN1999.THE
CURSE’SFIRST“VICTIM”WASTHE49ERSHALFBACKGARRISONHEARST,WHOBROKEHISANKLE
INAPLAYOFFGAMETHEFOLLOWINGYEAR,ANINJURYHETOOKTWOFULLSEASONSTO
RECOVERFROM.HEWASNEVERTHESAMEPLAYERAFTERTHEINJURY.PACKERSHALFBACK
DORSEYLEVENSWASTHENEXTTARGETOFTHECURSE’SVENGEANCE.HELOSTTHESTARTING
SPOTTHEFOLLOWINGYEARANDFADEDOUTOFTHELEAGUEWITHLITTLENOTICE.OTHERPREY
OFTHECURSEAREASFOLLOWS:TITANSHALFBACKEDDIEGEORGE,MINNESOTAQUARTERBACK
DAUNTECULPEPPER,RAMSHALFBACKMARSHALLFAULK,THEN-FALCONSQUARTERBACK
MICHAELVICK,EAGLESQUARTERBACKDONOVANMCNABB,SEAHAWKSHALFBACKSHAUN
ALEXANDER,TITANSQUARTERBACKVINCEYOUNG,PACKERSANDJETSQUARTERBACKBRETT
FAVRE,STEELERSSAFETYTROYPOLAMALU,ANDCLEVELANDHALFBACK/FULLBACKHYBRID
PEYTONHILLIS.
ONTHEOTHERHAND,THEREHAVEBEENAHANDFULOFPLAYERSWHOMADETHECOVER
BUTDODGEDTHECURSE.RAYLEWIS,LINEBACKERFORTHEBALTIMORERAVENS,MADETHEPRO
BOWLTHEYEARAFTERHEWASONTHECOVER.LARRYFITZGERALD,WIDERECEIVERFORTHE
ARIZONACARDINALS,HADCAREERNUMBERSFOLLOWINGHISMADDENSPLITCOVERWITHTROY
POLAMALU(THOUGHPOLAMALUWASPLAGUEDBYINJURYTHATSEASON).QUARTERBACKDREW
BREESLEDHISSAINTSTOTHEPLAYOFFSAFTERBEINGPLACEDONTHECOVER.CALVIN
JOHNSON,WIDERECEIVERFORTHEDETROITLIONS,HADALMOST2,000YARDSINRECEIVINGIN
HISCOVERYEAR.HOWEVER,THELISTOFPLAYERSWHOHAVEBEENAFFECTEDBYTHECURSE
ISSIGNIFICANTLYLONGERTHANTHELISTOFTHOSEWHOHADSUCCESSDURINGTHEIR“CURSE”
YEAR.
RICHARDSHERMAN,CORNERBACKFORTHESEATTLESEAHAWKS,ISONTHECOVERTHISYEAR
ANDISSEEMINGLYNOTATALLCONCERNEDWITHTHECURSE.HETOLDESPN.COM’STERRY
BLOUNT,“IDON’TBELIEVEINCURSES.IBELIEVEINGOD.”THESELF-TITLEDBESTCORNERIN
THEGAMEHASALOTTOLIVEUPTOTHISSEASONFOLLOWINGARECORDYEARANDASUPER
BOWLTITLEFORTHECITYOF
SEATTLE.
NOW THATYOU’VEGOTTHEFACTS,CONSIDERTHIS:FOOTBALLISACONTACTSPORTAND
INJURIESHAPPENEVERYWEEKINTHENFL.THEREISALSOSOMUCHPARODYINTHELEAGUE.
TEAMSTHATAREGOODONEYEARFALLOFFTHEFOLLOWINGYEAR,WHILETEAMSTHATHAD
LITTLESUCCESSTHEYEARBEFOREFINDTHEMSELVESMOVINGUPTHEPOWERRANKINGSAND
CONTENDINGINTHEPLAYOFFSTHENEXTYEAR.MAYBEI’M JUSTBEINGHOPEFUL(ASA
SEAHAWKSFAN),BUTIDON’TBELIEVEINTHECURSE.IBELIEVEINTHETENETOF“SHIT
HAPPENS,”ANDIBELIEVETHATSHERMANHASJUSTASGOODACHANCEOFGETTINGINJURED
ORHAVINGABADSEASONASHEDOESOFHAVINGBACK-TO-BACKSOLIDYEARS.IT’SNOTTHATI
DON’TBELIEVEINCURSES(THECHICAGOCUBS’“CURSEOFTHEBILLYGOAT”ISVERYREAL.),
BUTTHISSEEMSMORELIKECOINCIDENCETOMEBECAUSETHEREHAVEBEENSOMANY
EXCEPTIONSTOTHERULE.
25

28
TOBECONTINUED...

BERad
TO EACH
OTHER.
29

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