Robservations – Sports world filled with superstitions
Today being a Friday, and being the 13th day of this month, what better time than now to talk about the most superstitious people on the planet?
Coaches and athletes don’t just have ‘a few’ superstitions, they are infested with them. Superstitions are as much a part of a ballplayer or coach’s life as putting on the uniform or going to practice.
I’m sure, in fact, that many of them suffer from Triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. Now that you think about it, 13 isn’t the most popular uniform number, is it? Sure, Wilt Chamberlain wore it, and so have a few other noteworthy athletes. But for the most part that particular pairing of digits is avoided like a black cat.
Some superstitions become more famous than the athletes themselves, and some athletes are more known for what they do to bring themselves luck than for what they’ve done on the field.
Remember Turk Wendell? I’ll bet you do, but I’ll bet you can’t recall a big play, or a key strikeout, or a victory he was part of.
Instead, you ‘ and I ‘ remember Turk as the wacky, mullet-sporting pitcher who pirouetted over the base line, chewed mouths full of black licorice while on the mound, and brushed his teeth between innings.
See? The superstition became bigger than the man in that case.
Michael Jordan, had a superstitious quirk in that he always wore his University of North Carolina shorts under his uniform. Of course, most of us found out about that when Bugs Bunny revealed it in the movie ‘Space Jam.’
Around here, I’ve seen ‘ and been part of ‘ more superstitions than you can shake a Louisville Slugger at, and many of them have come from the baseball and softball diamond.
I remember covering a game one night at the high school, from a vantage point just past the third-base coach’s box outside the fence. The coach looked over at me, and said ‘if we don’t start putting some hits together, I’m coming out there and standing with you. I’ve stood everywhere else in this box, and it hasn’t worked yet!’
A certain public-address announcer I know is under the impression that if things get tight during the fourth quarter of a high school basketball game, he will bring the home team good fortune if he gets out of his seat and moves to a spot in the aisle next to the scorers’ table. I’ll have to admit that one worked once or twice; unfortunately, he hasn’t had to dust off his khakis in a season or two.
Superstition plays a part in your friendly neighborhood sports columnist’s life, as well. For instance, I always listen to the national anthem from the home coaches’ room in the press box before Pioneer football games. I also never ‘ ever ‘ comment on how quickly a baseball game is ‘flying by.’ Last time I did that, it was in the third inning of an MTSU game which ended up needing 14 frames to decide.
And most importantly, I always make sure I come up with column topics at the very last minute, just moments before sitting down to write these little gems on Thursday afternoons.
No, it’s not the most professional way to fill your Friday column space.
But hey, it’s been lucky for me so far!