The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated

“It ain’t over till it’s over.” –Yogi Berra

The Boston Red Sox certainly proved that last year, coming back from three games down in the ALCS to take the pennant from the New York Yankees. And the Yankees proved that this year, recovering from a disastrous start and many mediocre performances to end the regular season atop the AL East. The focus in the American League this year has been the Yankees and the Red Sox—partly thanks to the longstanding rivalry, partly thanks to last year’s theatrics, partly thanks to the hotly contested playoff berths in the AL. And this year, like last year could feature the Sox winning a championship and dissolving the “curse” that’s haunted the ball club for almost a century. Yes, this year could be the year that the Chicago White Sox finally shrug off their curse.

The ChiSox’s curse goes back to 1917, one year before the BoSox’s curse of the Bambino took effect. Unlike Boston, Chicago’s transgression was no simple trade to free up some cash so that the ballclub’s owner could finance a play. No, Chicago’s problem was one that has plagued professional sports for generations—accusations of a fixed game. The members of the 1919 team, who were thought to have been involved in the deception, were nicknamed the "Black Sox" and while no proof of the allegations emerged, the players suspected to have been involved were banned from major league baseball. Like Marlon Brando’s Terry Malloy, perhaps Shoeless Joe would look back in disgust at having had his talent nullified.

The Red Sox finally ended their World Series drought last year, in a year when many accepted tenets fell (e.g. historically, the taller candidate has lost the Presidential election only three times yet President Bush bucked that trend), so did the absolutism that the Red Sox would forever be haunted by the Ruth trade. The jinxed White Sox’s predicament has long been overshadowed by that of their east coast counterparts. Theoretically, the origination of the curse—illegality versus stupidity—may play a role in the public’s sympathies. Whatever the reason, hardcore White Sox fans have been just as long-suffering, if not as openly anguished, over their own haunted team.

Tonight the ChiSox eliminated the BoSox in an impressive first round sweep. With their solid play during the regular season and their ability to ratchet it up a notch in the post-season, this could very well be the year Shoeless Joe is avenged. Hey, stranger things have happened.