There's nothing quite like watching a politician get roasted for a bad sports take. And when it comes to taking heat for a wrong prediction, no one does it quite like Senator Ted Cruz.
The Texas Republican confidently declared that the San Antonio Spurs would defeat the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, posting on social media, "Spurs in 6." But the Knicks had other plans, storming to a 2-0 series lead and closing out the championship in five games on Saturday night.
Fans wasted no time piling on, dubbing it the "Cruz Curse" and calling for the senator to steer clear of sports predictions altogether. "The Cruz Curse continues, up next is all of college sports," one fan wrote. Another added, "You messed it up."
The mockery didn't stop there. "How about Knicks in 5. And u get to watch the team from Lib Central East Coast celebrate in your state," a fan joked. Others were more direct: "Get away from this team!" and "I knew he would jinx The Spurs. Lol."
This isn't the first time Cruz has been linked to a sports jinx. His track record includes backing teams that ultimately fall short, and the Spurs are just the latest example. The blowback has been so intense that some are suggesting he should avoid sports entirely—at least publicly.
The Spurs' loss was particularly painful for fans who had high hopes after a strong season. The team's collapse in the Finals has sparked debates about roster decisions, including the controversial choice to stick with De'Aaron Fox despite fan backlash. Meanwhile, Charles Barkley had to apologize to the Spurs coach before Game 5, adding to the drama.
As for Cruz, he's left with egg on his face and a lesson learned: politics and sports predictions don't mix well. Whether he'll heed that advice remains to be seen, but for now, the internet is having a field day at his expense.
The Knicks' championship run has been a story of resilience and dominance, with ESPN's computer model initially predicting a Spurs bounce-back before the Knicks sealed the deal. For Spurs fans, the loss stings even more knowing that a fundraiser to buy out Fox gained traction after a disastrous Game 4.
In the end, Ted Cruz's NBA Finals prediction will go down as one of the most memorable—and mocked—of the year. Maybe next time, he'll keep his picks to himself.
