Quote:
Originally posted by ref18
As you all know, there is no NHL hockey this year. The last time the Stanely Cup was cancelled was in 1919 during some pandemic, I'm not sure which, but I think it was Spanish Flu or something like that. Now in 1918 the Boston Red Sox won their last world series for 86 years. Now in 2004 they win the world series again, and in 2005 the Stanely Cup is cancelled. Coincidence??? 
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It was a particularly deadly variation of influenza in 1918-1919, what we refer to more as "the flu" today.
I just read a fascinating book on the subject and it's estimated that this flu killed more than 1% of the United States population (1 million people) over the course of 24 weeks and killed more of the world's population (closer to 3%) in 24 weeks than AIDS has killed in the last 24 years.