Cursed

SPORTING GOODS

A few years ago I got into English soccer through a colleague, and he got me rooting for a team (Tottenham Hotspur) that we joked had a similar heartbreaking legacy to the Red Sox.

This year, Spurs put together their best season ever in the Premiership, and after setting a lofty goal of coming in the top 6 (which they had never done and would mean they would play in one of the two European competitions), they went into the last day of the season 1 point ahead of their arch-rival Arsenal for 4th place (which would mean entry into the Champions League, the top European competition).

But, Spurs fans had to endure another heartbreak as not only have they been playing without 3 of their top 6 players over the last month or so, but the day of the final match, all but 4 of their players got food poisoning at their hotel. Spurs went on to put together a very uninspired performance, losing to an inferior team, while Arsenal won their match to pass Spurs for 4th place and secure a place in the Champions League.

This isn't just about bragging rights and a chance to compete for the most prestigous club trophy in the world, losing out on going to the Champions League will cost the Spurs an estimated $17m.

No word on whether there are any Arsenal fans in the kitchen of the Marriott where the Spurs stayed on Saturday night.