Superstition in Sports

     There are many things about sports that are magical. Watching the most athletic humans in the world pull off seemingly impossible feats of strength, agility, and finesse is magical in its own right. Many announcers and commentators have said something along the lines of "There is magic in the air," in the middle of some of the biggest moments in big games. As a sports fan, I can attest that there is something magical about going to a baseball game under the lights or witnessing the underdogs pull off an upset in basketball. Yet, there may be more magic involved in sports than the feeling you get witnessing some of the greatest athletic accomplishments or getting wrapped up in the atmosphere of a big game.

    Superstitions are something that people tend to dismiss as crazy or just fun to talk about in everyday life. In sports, however, superstitions are not taken lightly. Even if players or fans are a little skeptical about the beliefs in question, they usually aren't willing to take any chances to go against them. In baseball, it is bad luck to talk about a pitcher that is throwing a perfect game in fear that your words, whether it be in the stands or on the couch, could ruin the pitcher's performance. In football, it is a commonly held belief that nobody should ever say anything about how the kicker never misses because even the very thought could have catastrophic consequences. Its almost as if saying these things would curse the players. Most players have a very specific pregame routine that they have to follow in order to perform at a high level, like eating certain meals, listening to certain music, walking to certain places, or touching (or not touching) certain objects. Yes, superstitions exist among all athletes across all sports, but perhaps no sport has as many superstitious players or fans than baseball. In the movie, Major League, one of the players keeps voodoo dolls in his locker and claims he wants to sacrifice a chicken so that he will hit good. Teams usually keep any number of items in the dugout with them as "good luck charms." In my time as a player and a fan, I have seen live animals, stuffed animals, wacky props, and much much more. If a teammate hits a home run, it is common practice to stand, sit, or do the exact same thing you were doing the next time that teammate comes up to bat to try to produce similar results. Are superstitions in sports real? Does breaking routine or "saying the wrong thing" put a curse on players, or do all of the routines and props actually work? Sometimes all it takes is taking these superstitions and having a little fun to create some good mojo and confidence that can lead to success. 

Here are some of the strangest superstitions in sports history. Maybe sacrificing a live chicken before a game isn't the craziest thing to happen during a pregame ritual.

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-strangest-pre-game-rituals-2011-8