Not Irish After All?

When it comes to luck, I have none. Never have, and probably never will.

Lottery tickets? I might as well flush the cash down the toilet, or simply call it a charitable donation.

Even simple things like door prizes and raffles escape me. I could literally purchase 90% of the available raffle tickets and still not win a thing. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal really. I think I'll survive even if I never know the thrill of winning a $25 Country Buffet gift certificate or a lifetime supply of Turtle Wax.

But what bugs me the most about this whole deal is the fact that my sports teams always fare poorly, and I take full responsibility for that. Maybe it has to do with my choice of teams, but since the late '70s, my favorite squads have netted a paltry four championships. Worse yet, only one of those championships has come in the last 21 years.

The Raiders have been bad for a long, long time, and the fact that they even made the Super Bowl in 2003 is a complete anomaly (as witnessed by how badly the Bucs beat 'em). The Denver Nuggets have never tasted ultimate victory and have, quite frankly, been dreadful at times in the last 15 years (one game shy of recording the worst season ever). Their fortunes seem to be changing, but knowing my luck, they'll never be good enough. And don't even get me started on the Montreal Expos. Yes, I know this one is clearly a case of supporting the wrong team. But what can I say? In the early '80s, and through much of that decade, they had some top-notch players. And their ability to groom real talent was almost as well known as their knack for trading it away. Now with the Nats taking over where Les Expos left off, it really feels like home. Oh goodie!!

Which brings us to my one salvation -- The Avs. Two Cups in the last decade along with three trips to the semis and many incredible seasons. It has been great to finally have a team that's capable of given its fans the ultimate reward. Yet, with as thrilling as this last decade has been, my luck continues to mess with a good thing. They've dropped from the ranks of perennial powerhouse. And it seems no matter what, the Avs always lose when I see a game in person. I'm a curse, a black mark and an otherwise wet blanket who could likely make a lot of money in Vegas courtesy of my unyielding ability to guarantee defeat.

So, it would seem the luck of Irish doesn't smile on me. Perhaps I need to start traveling to Vancouver and Calgary to watch those teams play in person ... or would that just help them win?