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As SBNation's Rodger Sherman noted, country music star Kenny Chesney has been photographed wearing the logos of a number of teams, both college and professional. Recently, Chesney met with and received a jersey from one Pat Fitzgerald, your head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Having a great time <a href="https://twitter.com/SoldierField">@SoldierField</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/kennychesney">@kennychesney</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoShoesNation?src=hash">#NoShoesNation</a> <a href="http://t.co/jevIT1E1Xq">pic.twitter.com/jevIT1E1Xq</a></p>— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) <a href="https://twitter.com/coachfitz51/status/607351999861026816">June 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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That led this intrepid journalist "writer" to wonder, "Is the ‘Chesney Curse' a real thing? Do teams actually perform poorer when noted swag slut Kenny Chesney dons their apparel? Some people appear to be really upset about him. Having a vested interest in knowing how the ‘Cats would perform in 2015 and not wanting to wait until the boys of fall hit the gridiron, I set out to do what I do best: shitty math.
The table below contains results for each team following Chesney's appearance in their garb. For example, when Chesney appeared in Oakland Athletics gear to throw out the first pitch, that game and every game for the rest of the season was counted for (or against?) Chesney's record. I only counted one season, because if Rodger's list was any indication, Chesney's rooting interests are fleeting at best. If I was unclear on the timestamp, I just guessed. Sue me.*
Kenny Chesney, Sports Fan | Rest of Season | |||||
Team | Sport | Date | W | L | T | Pct |
White Sox | MLB | 5/28/2015 | 8 | 8 | 0.500 | |
Phillies | MLB | 6/19/2011 | 57 | 33 | 0.633 | |
Royals | MLB | 8/26/2013 | 21 | 12 | 0.636 | |
Red Sox | MLB | 7/26/2008 | 35 | 23 | 0.603 | |
Yankees | MLB | 7/10/2008 | 42 | 31 | 0.575 | |
Mariners | MLB | 12/1/2009 | 61 | 101 | 0.377 | |
Orioles | MLB | 4/18/2008 | 59 | 86 | 0.407 | |
Twins | MLB | 7/9/2012 | 30 | 47 | 0.390 | |
Athletics | MLB | 6/16/2005 | 61 | 36 | 0.629 | |
374 | 377 | 0.498 | ||||
Northwestern | NCAAF | 6/4/2015 | #### | |||
NC State | NCAAF | 5/28/2015 | #### | |||
Mississippi State | NCAAF | 10/12/2012 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | |
South Carolina | NCAAF | 9/24/2014 | 4 | 5 | 0.444 | |
UNC Tar Heels | NCAAF | 4/16/2015 | #### | |||
Cal Bears | NCAAF | 6/14/2013 | 1 | 11 | 0.083 | |
Tennessee Vols | NCAAF | 1/1/1998 | 13 | 0 | 1.000 | |
Texas Longhorns | NCAAF | 5/5/2012 | 9 | 4 | 0.692 | |
Florida Gators | NCAAF | 2/1/2007 | 9 | 4 | 0.692 | |
Bama | NCAAF | 3/8/2008 | 12 | 2 | 0.857 | |
51 | 31 | 0.622 | ||||
Steelers | NFL | 5/29/2015 | #### | |||
49ers | NFL | 5/2/2015 | #### | |||
Saints | NFL | 8/17/2007 | 7 | 9 | 0.438 | |
Eagles | NFL | 6/18/2011 | 8 | 8 | 0.500 | |
Chiefs | NFL | 6/14/2013 | 11 | 5 | 0.688 | |
Seahawks | NFL | 5/31/2013 | 13 | 3 | 0.813 | |
Colts | NFL | 9/18/2008 | 11 | 3 | 0.786 | |
Cowboys | NFL | 10/28/2012 | 5 | 5 | 0.500 | |
Rougedermis | NFL | 8/13/2012 | 10 | 6 | 0.625 | |
Patriots | NFL | 8/29/2012 | 12 | 4 | 0.750 | |
Titans | NFL | 6/23/2012 | 6 | 10 | 0.375 | |
83 | 53 | 0.610 | ||||
Wild | NHL | 7/6/2011 | 26 | 35 | 12 | 0.356 |
26 | 35 | 12 | 0.356 |
NFL:
Steelers and 49ers
Based on his .610 winning percentage for nine other NFL franchises, we can expect Kenny Chesney's New Favorite TeamsTM, the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers, to go approximately 9.76-6.24 in 2015. We'll call it 10-6 or 9-7, since rounding is hard and I am a history major.
NCAAF:
Northwestern Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, North Carolina State Wolfpack
With a very similar .622 winning percentage for NCAA football, Kenny Chesney clearly knows how to pick'em. Were it not for an ill-advised selection of Cal in roughly 2013, I'd be suggesting fans of all three N schools begin clearing their calendars for a January 1st bowl. Instead, the ‘Cats, ‘Pack, and Heels will each come in around 7.46-5.54. Calling that 7-5 or 8-4 for each team, I'm pleasantly surprised to know my Wildcats will be outperforming what is widely considered another 6-6 or 5-7 rebuilding season. But since Kenny's decreed it, it's going to happen.
Want to argue with me? Try it. Because by extension, you're arguing with Kenny Chesney.** And by arguing with Kenny Chesney, you're arguing with No Shoes Nation. And that's basically America: no shoes, kind-of country-pop music, and bad math. Checkmate, you commie bastard.
*Please don't.
**Kenny Chesney is probably a licensed, trademarked singer, as is No Shoes Nation, probably. I don't know. You're reading an article about how Kenny Chesney's attire correlates to athletic performance. Your standards are clearly already low.