EA Sports' Madden Football Video Game Franchise is awesome. It's really one of the only video games I play. Every year they find a new spokesperson and have them on their cover. In 2001, it was Eddie George. For 2002, it was Daunte Culpepper. The latest incarnation, Madden 2003, boasts Marshall Faulk as the latest cover boy. It's said to be a prestigious honor, being on the cover.



I hope that prestigious honor is never bestowed on a 49er.



For the past 3 years, the "Madden Curse" has held true. In 2001, the Tennessee Titans were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders with Eddie George leading the way. What happened? Injured. In 2002, Daunte Culpepper was going to take the league by storm with an insane amount of TDs and yardage with the help of Randy Moss. What happened? Team implosion. And now, 2003. Everyone but me (and my fellow Niner compatriots) had penciled the Rams in for a repeat Super Bowl appearance. What's happened thus far? A 0-5 record. Pathetic!



So now, the 49ers are sittin' pretty in first place at the top of the NFC West. And the Rams are again the Lambs.