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The Drake Curse, the rapper and his history of upsets in sports
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The Drake Curse: Real Or Fake? His Latest Victim Revealed

Josie Costigan Updated on: Apr 08, 2023 8:11 AM ET

To our beloved bettors, we warn you to beware a curse that may hurt your wagers – the Drake curse. Locks, underdogs, favored or value picks, it doesn’t matter, the Toronto rapper has shown a trend toward spoiling outcomes of games. But how real is the Drake curse? Is the multi-Grammy Award Sportsbook really to blame for the losses or is he an easy scapegoat?

The peak of the bad omens was in 2019 when nearly everything Drake touched turned into a loser. The curse, which started in basketball, has spread into MMA, soccer, boxing, hockey and even tennis. So, no matter what league you’re placing your bets on, do you still need to bet with extreme caution?

What Is The Drake Curse?

Simply put, the Drake curse is a viral belief that any athlete or team that interacts with the Canadian rapper will lose their following matchup. Most of the time, Drake or the sporting star will post a photo together online.  

But, even if the rapper wears a particular jersey, appears in the stadium or shows any effort to support an athlete or team, they are at risk of the curse. His latest victim is FC Barcelona, which sported an OVO decorated jersey during its game in mid-October against Real Madrid. Both teams entered the match with undefeated records in the coveted El Clasico contest. Barcelona went in as the +0.5 underdog but was favored to cover the spread at -150 value.  

Then, Drake posted his bet slip on Instagram that wagered over 500,000 euros on Arsenal and Barcelona victories. That’s when the curse set in and Barcelona fell 3-1, not covering the spread and putting a very minor, tiny dent in the rapper’s bank account. So, the question remains, who else is a victim of the Drake curse?  

Who Has Been Cursed?  

Though there is a list of faces and teams that have fallen at the hands of Drake, let’s take a peek at a few of the most notable ones.  

Victim #1: Conor McGregor

Drake was not quiet about his unconditional support for UFC superstar Conor McGregor, continuing to hype him ahead of his UFC 229 matchup against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018. The rapper took a break from the studio to pose with the Irishman during the weigh-in and be his personal flagbearer, holding up the Irish flag in photos with McGregor that were plastered all over social media platforms. The lightweight fighter entered the ring as a +130 underdog and no upset was forthcoming as McGregor lost by submission in the fourth round – Drake was there to witness it all.  

Victim #2: Sergio Aguero  

In April 2019 during the rapper’s United Kingdom tour, a single photo would turn into a virus as Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero posed for a selfie that would later hex his entire team. During the 12th minute of the Champions League quarterfinal against Tottenham, Aguero was given a penalty kick after a video review caught a hand ball. With the help of the curse, Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris guessed correctly by diving to his left and denying the striker a crucial goal. Manchester City went on to lose the match 1-0.  

Victim #3: Toronto Maple Leafs  

Of course, Drake will support his hometown of Toronto, Ontario any chance he gets. So, when the Leafs were leading 2-1 in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins in 2019, the rapper grabbed his jersey and cheered from his box seat during Game 4. Too bad the Leafs never saw a lead in that game, quickly trailing 2-0 on their way to a 6-4 loss. Now, given Toronto’s track record, I’m not sure first-round exits are Drake’s fault. So, take this example with a grain of salt.  

Who Has Avoided The Curse?

There’s a list of names and teams that have also dealt with the wrath of Drizzy.  But by the time we listed them all, he could release a new album. A much shorter list is those who have avoided the curse. Whether it be sheer luck or brute strength, the following managed to battle to victory.

Survivor #1: Toronto Raptors

In 2019, the Toronto Raptors, despite Drake’s best and strongest efforts yet, broke the curse when they became the first Canadian franchise to win the NBA championship. Drake, also known as the Raptors’ global ambassador since 2013, pays rent sitting courtside at Scotiabank Arena. But the basketball gods were on Toronto’s side as they hoisted the trophy regardless of who was in attendance. To this day, they are the first known survivor.

Survivor #2: Tyson Fury

A year ago, boxer Tyson Fury became the second survivor. During his trip to Las Vegas to step in the ring with Deontay Wilder, Fury was shown support by many, including Drake. The rapper, perhaps with ulterior motives, posted the following message online:

But the 33-year-old shook off any fear and stayed focused on keeping his WBC heavyweight title. Though it took 11 rounds, the boxer finally knocked out the American to maintain his undefeated record.

Is The Drake Curse Real?

In addition to outside factors like weather or travel, you’re probably curious if this is something you should seriously take into account when following a matchup. The answer is, I wouldn’t worry anymore. The Drake curse was in full effect in 2019, when he upset three football clubs in April alone. So unless you’re a time traveler, there’s no need to fret. If you’re holding a grudge against the rapper for bets you lost in 2019, I support the pettiness. But, in the future, maybe your team is just bad and the one to blame.

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