Is There A Head and Shoulders Curse?

May 17, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Josh Hamilton (32) before the bottom of the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Head & Shoulders Shampoo has employed some popular sports spokesman over the years.  Pittsburg Steelers Troy Polamalu famously started endorsing the product in 2009.  Other sports spokesmen have included Joe Mauer and most recently CJ Wilson, and Josh Hamilton.

Although Money and fame come with endorsing products, some wonder if some product endorsements carry with them a curse.  A curse so deadly it can kill the stats of any elite athlete. The most famous of these is the Madden Curse.

Years ago, fans started wondering is there was a curse associated with being included on the cover of the Madden Football game series by EA sports. Players who were on the cover suffered injuries or a mysterious drop in statistics.  Because Madden cover boys were typically the top athletes their respective teams the curse normally affected the teams place in the standings. This made fans nervous about their favorite player being named to appear on the cover of the popular video game franchise.

But should fans be nervous about their favorite athlete becoming a Head and Shoulders spokesperson.  There is reason to believe they should be.

Head & Shoulders started choosing athletes to endorse their shampoo in 2009.   Early in 2009 Polamalu signed a deal to endorse the shampoo made by Proctor & Gamble. He famously endorsed the product with this funny commercial that aired in 2009.

SEE TROY POLAMALU”S HEAD & SHOULDERS SPOT

What is hidden beneath Troy Polamalu’s ebony locks is an injury riddled 2009 season.  On week one of the 2009 season the Steelers Strong safety suffered a sprain of his MCL that sidelined him for most of the 2009 season.  The Steelers went 9-7 that year and missed the playoffs following their Superbowl title in 2008.

Joe Mauer suffered a similar fate. In 2011 Joe Mauer signed a deal to be the newest spokesman for Head and Shoulders.  Joe Mauer appeared in this commercial shortly afterward.

SEE MAUER’S HEAD AND SHOULDERS SPOT

While Mauer was busy having hot chicks comb through his freshly washed hair he was having one of the worst years of his career. In 2011 Mauer played in only 82 games suffering a recurring aliment of Bi-lateral leg weakness. The injury was considered unusual and raised question for the Minnesota Twins about whether he could remain behind the plate or have to move to first base.

The latest Head and Shoulders spokesmen, Los Angeles Angels players C.J. Wilson and Josh Hamilton have been appearing in ads for the product this year.

SEE WILSON AND HAMILTON’S HEAD AND SHOULDERS SPOT

While C.J and Josh are getting a “double boost of confidence” the angels are getting a whiff of something that smells completely different. C.J. Wilson is struggling with the Angels this year posting a 3-3 record and a WHIP of 1.491 while leading the league in walks.  Josh Hamilton is off to one of the worse starts of his career. Hamilton is hitting just .214 with an OPS of .614.  Not exactly worthy of the contract the Angels signed him to in the off-season.

Is there a Head and Shoulders curse? The evidence above is pretty convincing. But if you don’t believe now I guess we will have to wait until the Head and Shoulders curse claims its next victim.

Until then answer this poll: