The Saskatchewan Roughriders and The Curse of 13
It’s November 13th, 2011 as I write this week’s blog post. A post in which I have chosen to reflect on my love affair with the number 13, and how it relates to (and has affected) my favourite CFL team the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
This past year has been tumultuous and storied for the Riders. In the 2010 season I predicted the unfortunate end to the season for the green and white with a shocking loss against Montreal for the 2nd time. In January of 2011 I also made several predictions for the Riders live on the air with Big Dog 92.7’s Brad Grass and Heather Prozzak. In these predictions I stated that 2011 would be a year of growth and rebirth for the team, seeing them out of the playoffs earlier than they have been in recent history. I also foretold Gene Makowsky winning his seat in the 2011 provincial election and making 2011 his final year of professional football. My predictions for the 2011 Saskatchewan Roughriders have come true; this was indeed an awful season filled with loss, disappointment, and regret. The single brightest spot of the season was nostalgic favourite Ken Miller’s return to the team as head coach, and Andy Fantuz donning a green and white jersey once again.
It seems to me that this season is a continuation of bad breaks and heartache that the Riders have seen since their depressing 2009 loss to the Montreal Allouettes (which I also predicted, along with the following years Grey Cup final and the outcome.) At the center of these heartbreaking seasons? The number 13.
13 is a number that has quite a bit of mythology surrounding it. It is thought to be a sign of bad luck and a harbinger of negative things on the road ahead. The bad rap the number 13 has gotten stretches to biblical times, with the number of people seated at the last supper including Christ, being 13. On Friday the 13th of the year 1307 the official order to capture and persecute the Knights Templar was signed by King Phillip of France. It is estimated that 85% of buildings in the world stretching taller than 13 stories omit the use of the number 13 as a floor designation. The 13th card in traditional tarot decks is the death card (A card which despite popular belief among those not practiced in Tarot is not an ominous negative card – but instead one of change and transformation, which can sometimes be a very good thing…) the number even has a recognized phobia: Triskaidekaphobia. The number has a very negative association.
Is it possible that the Saskatchewan Roughriders have fallen victim to the negative power (whether real or imagined) that surrounds the number 13? Despite using the “13th man” as a catchy ad slogan for the team’s fans (there are 12 players on the field, and the fans in the stands = the 13th player.) it would seem that the Roughrider’s being cursed by the number 13 is a very real possibility.
On Grey Cup Sunday 2009 I had a lunch meeting with my good friend and audio technician. I remember distinctly the meal I had – fish and chips ( which was amazing ). The Saskatchewan Roughriders were to play Montreal for the CFL’s biggest prize later that day. The entire city was abuzz with excitement over the potential to repeat a Grey Cup victory. Lunch finished – the bill came – and I was floored. My meal came to $13.13. In my mind not a positive sign of things to come. I still have the receipt; I carry it with me tucked away inside of my business card case – ask me to see it sometime if we happen to cross paths.
The game played out well for the most part, with Saskatchewan playing well against Montreal (A team who’s quarterback wears number 13 *ahem*). In the final moments of the game the Roughriders had the 97th Grey Cup championship in the bag, and then – this happens…
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Having an actual “13th” player on the field effectively cost us the title. The curse begins.
2010 sees the Riders make it to the cup once more to face Montreal once again. The day before the cup I complete a contracted performance for a holiday party. The last digits of my customers final invoice? 13.13. Given the previous year another bad omen contained within the number 13. The Riders come up short a 2nd time in a row that year. The curse continued.
This year (2011) I fortold the rough season the team would have (much to my dismay – sometimes I hate when my intuitive sense is spot on about things like this). Their season was indeed a very rough one – seeing the team lose 13 games (both regular and pre season).
The 2012 season stands to be another interesting one for the club. In the next few months I will be posting my 2012 predictions for the Saskatchewan Roughriders – stay tuned.
It is also worth noting that the number 13 has once again become apart of the clubs history. It was announced that the Grey Cup will take place in Regina Saskatchewan, the home of the Roughriders in…wait for it…2013.
Thoughtfully Yours...
Jeff Richards ~ Western Canada's Hottest Mentalist ~
