With this kind of experience in mind, reality reared its ugly head this last Saturday. The reality was I could also be a KOD in regard to any running back I select to be a part of my fantasy team.

It was frustrating enough NFL Ticket was not going to air the Titans and Dolphins game live. Instead when I clicked on to the channel I read the horrible news…."to be shown on tape delay." Alone it was frustrating enough, but it was only the beginning. I quickly went to NFL.com to begin tracking the game. As I fixated on the computer I indulged myself with the college games available. The computer was actually an interesting way to follow a pro game without interfering with the "live" action on my television. I was really tracking my second round pick, my first running back, Chris Brown playing for the Titans. I watched the little lines on the computer generated field grow as Brown began to rack up yards. I was actually getting excited when I saw the long line indicating a 52 yard run and near touchdown for my guy, then he went quiet.

Suspecting injury, I began to search the site for some kind of news; no luck. I quickly turned to the live action of college football on ESPN just to see if the "bottom line" had some kind of news; nothing there. It was not until later in the day I found out Brown had an ankle sprain of some sort. Even later I found out he was day to day meaning it may not be too bad, or it could be something which would nag him all season. It was at this point I had a revelation; I drafted him and may have endangered the career of an emerging young back with star potential.

I began to suspect I had the potential of being a KOD a few years back when five of my running backs crashed and burned the first few weeks of the season. By the sixth week I was begging for free agents or an owner who would be willing to trade with me. Needless to say it hurt my chances for success during the playoffs. During the next season the story was very much the same as I limped towards the end with "three yards and a cloud of dust" Eddie George as my strongest back, but last season was the worst.

I began 2003 with Ahman Green, William Green, Amos Zereoue, Garrison Hearst and Brian Allen of the Colts. Brian Allen looked great in pre-season, but he failed to make the final cut. After week one I traded Ahman for Randy Moss, Laveranues Coles plus a lesser receiver. I figured I still had three starters and the ability to trade a couple of receivers for another quality back; wrong. Thinking was my first mistake. I had success during the season as Moss did me well; so did Santana Moss and Chris Chambers, my problems began with the ineffectiveness of Amos. By the midpoint of the season it was apparent "Famous Amos" was going to be relegated to the bench. Because I was having some success, no one was really open to a trade, then things blew apart. William Green was arrested while under the influence, then he got stabbed by his significant other. I quickly picked up James Jackson who looked great playing until he blew out his knee making him a loss for the season. I entered the playoffs with nothing at running back except for a fading Garrison Hearst and an under utilized Tyrone Wheatley (I got him off the waiver wire). Needless to say the playoffs were a disaster. I still finished in the money paying for the season. I considered "break even" a win for the yeare as the best result given the circumstance. With this kind of luck in mind, I will allow owners to know what my running back stable for this season so they can begin trading or off loading these guys before they get broken, stabbed or arrested.

My first running back pick, after I tagged Randy Moss from the fourth draft position, was Chris Brown from the Tennessee Titans. I heard words about his questionable durability all through the pre-season, but he looked like a sure thing for a team desperate for a break away back. So far he has had two solid weeks, but I have a feeling the ankle injury from week one will nag him all season and hamper his abilities. Better yet, with my luck, the ankle will go out about week four and he will be lost for the rest of the season. I am already evaluating his support crew.

The number two pick was Quentin Griffin from the Denver Broncos. Griffin has also had his durability questioned, but the Denver system is one of the best for running backs and I don't think Shanahan would have let Portis go without having a quality replacement. Griffin was with the team last year and, even though he is the Denver coach, I have a great deal of faith in Shanahan's ability to select running back talent. During the first week Griffin was dynamite, week two was a different story. Though he had 95 totals yards, he did not score yet he did manage to put the ball on the turf and lose a fumble. Week three should be better for him as Denver plays against the Chargers, but coach does not tolerate people who fumble. I give Griffin a few more weeks after San Diego then he will be replaced by Tatum Bell for the remainder of the season.

As a back up to these two horses I selected Duce Staley. Staley has been a solid, if not flashy, back who has played through injury in one of the toughest cities in America; Philadelphia. In week one he looked great running and catching the ball, until the team got within single digit yards from the goal line. Once they got there out came the Duce, in went The Bus. It happened two more times. Staley may have gained 94 yards, but he never scored. The Bus gained 93 yards less but scored all three rushing TD's. In week two he was again the leading rusher, but his performance had dropped off over thirty yards. With the absence of Maddox at QB, and the elevation of rookie Roethlisberger to the number one position, it might seem Pittsburgh would rely more on the running game perhaps giving Duce a chance; not with my luck. Duce will get the ball more both rushing and receiving. He will get hurt in week five allowing The Bus to end a storied career as the starter for a fading Steeler team.

My next potential victim was T.J. Duckett. I knew T.J. started behind Warrick Dunn, but he had 11 TD's in 2003 and Dunn has always been prone to injury. In week one he gained a total of seven yards while Dunn exploded for 63 yards with two touchdowns. Week two was barely better. T.J. gained almost 60 yards, but Dunn stole the show with 44 yards plus two more scores. If this is a preview for the season, Dunn will keep rolling and T.J. will be stuck on the bench looking out at the field. For those who think Dunn's injury may be a ray of hope for Duckett, don't forget…I picked him; enough said.

Being the loyal, "give the guy a second chance" person I am I reserved my last running selection for the guy who killed me last season; William Green. Because Lee Suggs has been struggling with injury Green got to start the first two games of the season. The combined performance of those efforts was a total of 146 yards with zero scores. This week he looks to be replaced by Suggs, but don't expect him to stay on the bench. With extra time on his hands Green will probably find time to mix it up with the league's substance abuse police making this three strikes resulting in a suspension. Green will finish the season at home where he again runs the risk of serious injury from either a sharp object or other deadly weapon. It is my sincere hope he can finish the season alive.

Let this article serve as a warning. Being the Kiss of Death is not a role I have selected; it is a role which apparently has been forced upon me. I don't seem to have the same affect on any other position so we don't need to go there but beginning with the article "My Back is Killing Me" it seems my selections at running back have been doomed, cursed, and maligned before the season even really goes into full swing. Believe me, I would love to think none of these fine players will face a short season due to injury or mayhem, but the last few seasons have schooled me otherwise. As owners in a free America you are welcome to do what you wish if you have these players, but as the KOD consider yourself forewarned. I wish you all the very best season, and I even wish these guys better than that, but there is a nagging voice in my head saying, "You have doomed them." Perhaps I should use some reverse voodoo and let my friend know who I have selected so he can curse them negating my curse and allowing things to be fine?

Nah, the season has started, the fun has begun making it time to let the chips fall where they may; I hope it is not on any of my running back's heads.