'Curse of Colonel Sanders', Japanese baseball fans hope to have lifted
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/11/colonel-sanders-japan-baseball
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They call it the curse of Colonel Sanders – not, as you might think, the potentially unpleasant side effects of wolfing down a KFC, but a reference to one of the great sagas of Japan's national obsession, baseball.
In 1985, the last year the Hanshin Tigers, Osaka's fanatically supported but perennially unsuccessful baseball team, won the league and Japan Series double, delirious fans celebrated by leaping from a bridge into the filthy Dotonbori river.
Amid the frenzy, a few well-refreshed supporters uprooted a statue of colonel from outside the nearest Kentucky Fried Chicken and hurled him into the water where he remained, despite several rescue attempts, for almost a quarter of a century.
The KFC emblem had been chosen for his resemblance to the team's star player that year, the bearded, portly American slugger, Randy Bass.
But a record streak of last-place finishes, and failure to win a single Japan Series since, convinced superstitious fans that the colonel had placed a curse on their team.
Many hope the curse may now be lifted after divers carrying out construction work brought the statue back to the surface, covered in grey sludge, minus his left hand and trademark black-rimmed spectacles.
His appearance was greeted with cheers from workers and a large contingent of reporters sent to witness the recovery operation.
"It's only a statue, but I felt as if I was rescuing someone," one worker said.
In 1985, the last year the Hanshin Tigers, Osaka's fanatically supported but perennially unsuccessful baseball team, won the league and Japan Series double, delirious fans celebrated by leaping from a bridge into the filthy Dotonbori river.
Amid the frenzy, a few well-refreshed supporters uprooted a statue of colonel from outside the nearest Kentucky Fried Chicken and hurled him into the water where he remained, despite several rescue attempts, for almost a quarter of a century.
The KFC emblem had been chosen for his resemblance to the team's star player that year, the bearded, portly American slugger, Randy Bass.
But a record streak of last-place finishes, and failure to win a single Japan Series since, convinced superstitious fans that the colonel had placed a curse on their team.
Many hope the curse may now be lifted after divers carrying out construction work brought the statue back to the surface, covered in grey sludge, minus his left hand and trademark black-rimmed spectacles.
His appearance was greeted with cheers from workers and a large contingent of reporters sent to witness the recovery operation.
"It's only a statue, but I felt as if I was rescuing someone," one worker said.
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Scarabus
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Baseball players are notoriously superstitious. Guess their fans are as well.
- 3 years ago
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Scarabus
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masterzip
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I am just glad it isn't a Jesus statue
- 3 years ago
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masterzip
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Bren589
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They most certainly are Bansheewail,,lol
- 3 years ago
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Bren589
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bansheewail
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Those Japanese folks are into some weird shit.
- 3 years ago
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bansheewail
