A life-size plastic statue of KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders, viewed by fans of a Japanese baseball club at different times as a lucky charm and a curse, was disposed of earlier this week 15 years after it was scooped out of a river in Osaka, according to a report.
Supporters of Osaka's Hanshin Tigers, known as Japan's most passionate fans, said farewell to the fast-food chain founder's image on Tuesday during a ritual held at a temple attended by KFC Japan's President Takayuki Hanji who served fried chicken and sake, the Asahi Shimbun reported.
The bearded statue was tossed into the Dotonbori River by fans celebrating the team's winning Japan's version of the World Series in 1985.
The statue, which some fans believed resembled the Tigers' slugger Randy Bass, was taken from its place outside a nearby KFC and tossed into the murky waters.
That coincided with a downturn in fortunes for the Tigers and the rise of the "Curse of the Colonel," similar to the "Curse of the Bambino" that started after the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919.
The Red Sox didn't win another World Series until 2004.
Tigers' fans blamed the championship drought on the statue and believed the team wouldn't reverse its slide until it was recovered.
Multiple searches were conducted in the river, but they all failed.
Then in 2009, divers working at the bottom of the river came across the statue buried in thick sludge.
The life-size statue was recovered and refurbished, although it was missing a left hand and glasses.
But fans hailed the statue's return and dubbed it "Welcome back Colonel" as a symbol of good fortune.
The statue was placed at the KFC Hanshin Koshien store near the stadium.
Last year, the Tigers defeated the Orix Buffaloes to win their first Japan Series in 38 years.
Jubilant fans dressed like Colonel Sanders believed the curse was lifted and once again jumped in the river.
But the statue's run was over.
KFC Japan said the likeness was too deteriorated and decided Tuesday to dispose of it.
