'Da Curse' Strikes Packers Again

When Sports Illustrated polled all 50 states in 2004 for its 50th anniversary asking fans of the state to decide their “Enemy of the State,” or the sports figure loathed the most, it didn’t matter that Mike Ditka had been 12 years removed from his post as head coach of the Chicago Bears. He was still overwhelmingly chosen as the “enemy” of Wisconsin.

Fast-forward 11 years, and Ditka is still haunting the Packers. Even as he wears a green and gold sweater vest for a McDonald’s commercial.

The commercial, which features a silent Ditka going through his wardrobe and selecting a ‘Packers’ sweater vest - similar to the one he he donned the sidelines with for the Bears for 11 seasons - to a voiceover stating “your allegiances will be tested,” was first aired on October 26.

Since then, the previously undefeated Packers have lost three games in a row, falling on the road to the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers before dropping an 18-16 decision to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

What’s being called “Da Curse” by the Chicago Sun-Times and others may have just ended another, much longer drought with the most recent Green Bay tally. The Lions had not won on the road at Green Bay since 1991, dropping 24 straight games until pulling off one of the biggest upsets this season. It’s also the first time the Packers have lost three in a row since 2008, which was star quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ rookie year.

Also since October 26, the Bears have been surprisingly pretty good. They have won two of three, including a 37-13 trouncing of the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Intrigue will no doubt be on both NFC North rivals to see if “Da Curse” can continue for another week. The Bears host the reeling Denver Broncos on Sunday and the Packers will visit a hot Minnesota Vikings team. After that, the Bears and Packers will face each other on Thanksgiving night in Green Bay.

Photo: YouTube screenshot