HOUSTON — If you’re superstitious type, you may believe there were forces beyond the hardwood that played a role in the Houston Cougars’ heartbreaking loss to Florida on Monday night.
We’re talking about the so-called “Cruz curse,” something that some sports fans keep track of. It’s when Sen. Ted Cruz shows up to big sporting events and the Houston or Texas team loses.
Several fans reported that Cruz was at the Alamodome for the game, as did the Houston Chronicle. That’s despite the online petition pleading with the senator to be anywhere else.
So is there anything to the Cruz curse?
The legend grew when he attended the Houston Astros ALDS against the Detroit Tigers last season, a series the Astros lost, leading to their earliest postseason exit since 2016. He also famously attended the Texas Longhorns’ College Football Playoff game against the Washington Huskies — a game UT lost 37-31. Our sister station, WFAA, tracked other events tied to Cruz’s attendance.
Cruz has reacted in the past to the notion of a curse, sharing a Rolling Stone social media post in 2023. In it, he said that if he gets blamed for the losses, he should also get credit for the win.
Lying hacks @RollingStone:
For 7 years, Catherine & I have attended nearly EVERY Astros home playoff game.
If they’re going to blame me for our recent home losses, pls also credit us for TWO World Series Championships & SEVEN consecutive ALCS’s—we were there cheering Stros on! https://t.co/fkk992f1am
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 23, 2023