You’ve probably heard of the so-called Madden curse: NFL players who have appeared on the cover of the well-known “Madden” football video game over the years have an alarming history of getting hurt.
Sometimes I wonder if there’s a Herald curse. Every once in a while I write about outstanding local student-athletes and soon after that they suffer a serious injury or a surprising defeat.
It’s all just coincidence, of course. But last week I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I somehow jinxed Ivana Krommelova, a star tennis player from Arlington High School.
On April 22 I drove to Arlington and watched Krommelova play a match against Jennifer Jansen of Oak Harbor. I was working on a story about Krommelova, an exchange student from Slovakia who hadn’t lost a game all season — she won her first eight matches 6-0, 6-0. But her impressive streak ended the day I showed up to watch her.
Obviously, other factors — Jansen’s ability, gusty wind, Krommelova feeling sick that day, etc. — led to the outcome, not my presence. I still felt a little guilty though. … I wonder if John Madden ever does.
To learn more about Krommelova, who is undefeated and hopes to win a Class 3A state championship, click here.
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