Theo Epstein appointed Epstein to replace interim general manager (GM) Mike Port. Epstein is credited with initiating the trade of Nomar Garciaparra and making key contract acquisitions including those of Kevin Millar and Curt Schilling during his first tenure as Red Sox GM. The new players were regarded as instrumental in breaking the so-called "Curse of the Bambino" when the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. It was the Red Sox' first World Series championship since 1918, ending what remains the third longest championship drought in the history of any Major League team, after the Chicago
Team Curse merger. On 1 June 2012, Team Curse purchased the Absolute Legends' "League of Legends" team, consisting of Vytautas "extinkt" Melinauskas, Algirdas "Sleper" Saliamonas, Tobias "Malunoo" Magnusson, Andreas "xinec" Krogsbøll, and Joey "YoungBuck" Steltenpool; also included in the deal was their manager Tomislav "Flyy" Mihailov. The team was branded as Curse EU. Curse EU's first event was the Reign of Gaming International Invitational, having qualified for the event under Absolute Legends. The team would lose all their group stage matches and the third place match, going out in last place on 4 June. After the event, on 13 June, Curse EU