the buzz log

When the Arizona Diamondbacks knocked the Chicago Cubs out of the playoffs last Saturday, they did more than boost buzz on their franchise and their star players. They also added fire to many fans' belief that the North Siders are cursed.

More than one hex may have the whammy on the Cubs. But according to Search, the curse of a Greek immigrant and his stinky goat carries the most weight. Apparently, the Cubs fan and his four-legged animal were evicted from Game 4 of the 1945 World Series. The Cubs lost—and have never been back. Over the past week, searches like "billy goat curse," "chicago cubs curse," and "cubs goat" darted upwards. 

This week's events also reminded sports fans of the tragic events of 2003, when an overzealous Cubs fan interrupted a key play. Queries for "steve bartman," "steve bartman video," and "steve bartman pics" came slinking back through Buzz. Some searchers demanded to know: "where is bartman."

The Cubs' foul luck dominates the top "curse" searches from the past week. But the boys from Windy City aren't the only ones to labor under an evil eye. The woes of the Cleveland Indians, a clan of Massachusetts bluebloods, and any owner of an ancient blue diamond also surfaced in Search...