Talk:Curse of Billy Penn

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I removed the characterisation of this as an urban legend. What makes a story an urban legend is how it is spread, and there is nothing about this in the article. If there is information added about how the story is an urban legend, then the claim that it is one (which seems likely to me, offhand) should be restored. (Even then, however, it wouldn't be quite right to call the curse an "urban legend", just as one should not say "Computer architecture refers to the theory behind the design of a computer". It is the story about the curse that may be an UL.) -- Toby Bartels 19:56, 29 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I don't follow. Distinguishing between the legendary status of an alleged curse and the story about the curse strikes me as needlessly complex. I agree that this is not the usual type of UL (no FOAF, the facts are trivially verifiable, and the story is specific and non-variable). As such, it might be misleading to characterize it as a UL without explanation about different types of UL. On the other hand, the generic sports curse story may qualify: We offended <insert name of legendary and/or tutelary person>, and <insert team or teams> will not win again until the spirit is in some manner appeased. Details vary by location. Hmmm...might be an interesting article! Robert A West 21:11, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I fault this article for talking about this "curse" as if it's a Real Thing. The "alleged" in the first sentence doesn't help dispel this. I mean, does anyone seriously believe this is real? As to its "Origin" (on which there is a whole section), there is nothing about who invented this idea--was it a sports writer? That the gentlemen's agreement concerning building height was "violated" is the "purported" origin, stated by whoever invented the curse idea.--BillFlis 12:26, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

Could this http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/sports_songs_and_beyond.shtml (scroll down to #8) be the origin for this nonsense? Is this all a conspiracy by some songwriter to hawk his lyrics? Or somebody else to sell T-shirts? As to whether it's an Urban Legend, first somebody has to believe that it's true. Who will admit to it? Anybody?--BillFlis 17:13, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

Not that I believe any of this nonsense (it only gives the opposition confidence and the affected team an excuse should they not win), but wasn't there another similar theory regarding the statue of William Penn being adorned with team memorabilia and such? As far as the sportswriter who probably popularized this, I think some credit goes to Stan Hochman. I recall him talking about it's origins on Daily News Live on more than one occasion. From what I can recall offhand, I thought the credit goes to one particular person involved in the infamous gentleman's agreement (Alexander Milne Calder?).

That song is not the origin. I've known of this so-called "curse" for more than a couple years now and it pre-dates that song. I wonder why people didn't consider the Phantoms win in 2005 as the end of the curse. Yes, they are a minor league team, but with no NHL, winning the Calder Cup that year made them the best hockey team in North America. Am I right? As far as whether anybody believes this, I'm pretty sure there are plenty that do. Just take a glance at a Flyers message board every spring and you'll see it firsthand. --Spark17 16:31, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

OK, the article is shaping up, if only as a spoof on pseudo-science. Outrageous premise, "supported" by irrefutable facts. Good work! Things to do: explain the mechanism of the curse--how can it be lifted? Do we have to add some more stories to City Hall? Exorcism in the courtyard? Move Penn's statue atop Liberty One? Let's make it good--the world is watching!--BillFlis 10:30, 25 July 2006 (UTC)