11/21/24
January 21, 2006
Very superstitious, writing's on the wall: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked readers to email their superstitions concerning the Steelers. Steelers fans, or not, do you have a superstition for your favorite team(s)?
Whenever I'm watching a Michigan game, I knock on wood for any anti-Michigan thing said (though it didn't really work this year...).
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:18 AM on January 21, 2006
Ying Yang Mafia, I grew up in Columbus. We had a tradition of keeping a Buckeye in our pocket when we played Michigan. I moved to California in 1975 when I was a teen. But my uncle sent me some Buckeyes a couple years ago. I'd say they've worked pretty good the last couple years, wouldn't you?
posted by Desert Dog at 12:11 PM on January 21, 2006
how is this steeler fans: you are 5-7 in afc championship games, and tomorrow is #13 for ya. Bronco mojo verrrrry bad too. adios cowher and co.
posted by mjkredliner at 12:35 PM on January 21, 2006
Oh yeah, broncs record in afc championship games? A gaudy 6-1.
posted by mjkredliner at 12:42 PM on January 21, 2006
My husband (skydivedad) refuses to answer the phone if it is my sister-in-law during a Cubs game. Everytime she calls something terrible happens and the Cubs lose. If the Cubs have the bases loaded, I will call my favorite Aunt and we will score. A couple of times we have gotten grand slams, so the phone calls will continue.
posted by skydivemom at 03:19 PM on January 21, 2006
During Chiefs/Broncos games we used to pass around an Elway doll and beat the crap out of it. It even got stabbed and burned a time or 2. I think it finally bit the dust about the time he retired. Ironic, huh? They both decided they had enough at about the same time, although one walked away with a couple nice pieces of jewelry and a reserved spot in Canton, and the other wound up in the trash.
posted by kcfan4life at 03:53 PM on January 21, 2006
We have a room in our house that contains "The Dolphin Wall" on which my husband and I projected and traced a Dolphins logo and painted appropriately. Right before kickoff we (including the kids) hit The Dolphin Wall four times with the sides of our fist (it HAS to be done correctly) and chant "Win Win Win Win". Combined Miami Dolphins record in the three years we've been doing this.........23-25. It's like magic.
posted by captaincavegirl at 03:57 PM on January 21, 2006
Lakers lose when the game is televised on TNT, or when they wear their alternate white jerseys. Dodgers win when they wear their socks on top of the pants. Angels always (good or bad) play in a blowout game when they wear their sleveless alternate jerseys. Dodgers always win in Spring Training when they wear their B.P. jerseys (Dodgers wear white in FL) or any other blue jersey (they need an alternate jersey). Clippers lose when they wear their blue alternate jersey. Kings always play better (win or lose) when they wear the purple alternates. Mighty Ducks always get in a fight when they wear the black alternates. Chargers mostly lose when the game is broadcast on CBS in Los Angeles.
posted by Joe88 at 04:23 PM on January 21, 2006
dallas cowboy's lose every time they wear there ugly dark uniforms with the star on the shoulder...
posted by Txwinner at 04:38 PM on January 21, 2006
mjkredliner gives "rocky mountain high" a new meaning. Just kidding. Since the Broncs dont play in Mile High Stadium anymore, there is no mojo! Being a Steelers fan living in Cleveland, oh how I remember the glorious days of the drive and the fumble. I picture those games as "red right 88" echos in my head! Superstitions??? I dont eat chicken before a game and I dont rub a rock....this week I'm just praying I dont have a near stroke like last week and that the refs do a "Fonzie" and call it right down the middle...may the best team win!
posted by LiveWithIt at 04:52 PM on January 21, 2006
skydivemom...Your sister-in-law averages calling you about 110 times a year...too funny Gotta hate those Cubbies!
posted by LiveWithIt at 04:55 PM on January 21, 2006
My wife and I always wear our same Steelers t-shirts (hers black, mine beige), and we go to McGuillicuddy's pub in Montpelier, VT. For 3 of the Steelers 5 losses this season we were out of town and couldn't make it to the pub. My wife must wear the "lucky" Steelers cap too. She started wearing it the day the Steelers started their current winning streak. At first she was reluctant, but now she's eager to wear it. Joe88 & Txwinner: Um, those are not your superstitions. Those are phenomena that have been observed that those teams find superstitious. Reading the article may have helped you grasp the exercise.
posted by scully at 05:11 PM on January 21, 2006
I try not to get abducted by aliens in flying saucers when the Cardinals start their season. So far so good.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 05:13 PM on January 21, 2006
Yeah, sure, like you could prove that never happened.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:23 PM on January 21, 2006
If the Yankees are in a tight game, my brother stands up. He swears that it's the only way to keep the game from going in the tank.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:12 PM on January 21, 2006
when i drive to Yankee Stadium i'll take the same route there and the same route home until they lose. then i have to switch things up. i give a dollar to the guy that plays guitar out on river ave. after every game. (and at the rate i'm going i should really be writing it off on my taxes.) and i now refuse to have a pre-game beer at Billy's Sports Bar outside the stadium. they lost every time i went there last year. from now on any pre-game drinking will be done at Stan's.
posted by goddam at 09:09 PM on January 21, 2006
being a pitcher has allowed me to develop numerous pre-game and game superstitions. i have been doing all these things for the past 3 seasons. i always run the same amount of pre-game sprints and do my calesthenics in the exact same order, every time. i begin throwing exactly 20-minutes before the scheduled first pitch. after i am done warming up in the bullpen i must always toss the ball to the pitching coach no matter how many kids are screaming for the ball. he can toss it up to them if he wants to. before i go out i must give knuckles to at least every starter on the team and I try to get everyone before the game. i never touch the chalk line and my right foot must cross the line first. i jog to the line and then walk to the mound after i cross the line. i NEVER touch the rosin bag. if it is on top of the mound or the ump makes me move it, i kick it. after completing my warm-up pitches and the ball goes down to second i must follow the ball going around the horn. i have to receive the ball from the third baseman on the grass, never on the mound. i never touch the line going back to the dugout but it doesn't matter what foot crosses first. while in the dugout i get a new cup of water for every inning and cannot let myself finish it. there must be a little bit left in the cup when i go back out to the mound. when i come back from another inning if i have made it that far i dump the remaining water from the previous innings cup and stack the cups one on top of the other. if someone throws away my cups i get pissed. i count the number of innings i've gone by the number of cups i have in my space. in the locker room, i always must have a ball in my glove when it sits in my locker. i hate it when someone else puts there hand in my glove and i never put glove conditioner of shaving cream in my gloves. i let them get crusty and then i replace them. that's about it, pretty basic stuff. also, when i watch the bucs play on tv I must be standing up when they're running plays in the red zone.
posted by erkno11 at 10:34 PM on January 21, 2006
two more i just remembered. if i'm the home team, my glove must sit on top of the rubber for the national anthem. and if i have two bad outings in a row i throw away my contacts and start a new pair. i apologive for the short essay i just left on the site.
posted by erkno11 at 10:45 PM on January 21, 2006
Dude. That's -- dude. Pretty basic stuff, my butt. I'm impressed you can keep all that straight and still throw big league-caliber stuff.
posted by chicobangs at 12:15 AM on January 22, 2006
An hour before every Patriots playoff game, I like to get laid for good luck, among other reasons. But before last week's abominable loss to Denver, my girl wasn't "about to hang around for a stupid football game on a Saturday night." And guess who scored 24 of their points on a total of 27 yards? HINT: It wasn't the Patriots. A coincidence, you say? Prior to that, Brady was 10-0 in the playoffs and I was one contented guy. Then she flew the coop,but I definitely got screwed by the referees. Ain't that a bitch?
posted by rockamora at 12:41 AM on January 22, 2006
I like to run around naked in the cold snow before all the football games. I try to write the teams name I want to win in the snow. Its harsh but so far for the last 5 years it has worked everytime.
posted by nedkelly at 01:51 AM on January 22, 2006
Have you notced the chiefs no longer wear their away on the road all white jerseys and pants, (mit the red helmets) for about the last 3 years they have stopped wearing the white upper jerseys on away games, and only rarely wear the white lowers when away. But they still can't win on the road. So obviously what ever color they superstitiously choose to not wear, it sure ain't helpin. Obviously here is a whole team full of this superstition.
posted by futrhse at 05:04 AM on January 22, 2006
dallas cowboy's lose every time they wear there ugly dark uniforms with the star on the shoulder... The blue jersey thing actually goes back to Super Bowl V when the Colts beat the Cowboys 16-13 on the last kick of the game...no stars on the jerseys. Dallas had a fumble, 3 interceptions, 133 yards in penalties and the blue jersey jinx was born. This year on MNF they wore blue and Washington came back to beat them 14-13, scoring 2 touchdowns in the last 3:46. I would say the blue jersey jinx lives on.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:35 AM on January 22, 2006
I've worn the same Steelers T-shirt and slippers the past two weeks. I just happen to have them on now. Watch out, Broncos! BTW, last week, as Vanderchoke lined up to kick a potentially game tying field goal, I asked my wife and two boys which way we wanted to push. The boys said left. So, we got to the right side of the set, and as the kick left the ground we pushed to the left. I'm glad we did not push too hard!
posted by Saxman at 12:41 PM on January 22, 2006
Oh, and one more... I won't open my first beer until the Steelers first score.
posted by Saxman at 01:02 PM on January 22, 2006
When I watch the NJ Devils games I have watch the game, the whole game, and nothing but the game. No channel surfing during intermission or commercials. No matter if they are losing 8-0 I still have to watch till the end (for next games sake). If for some reason I can't be there for the beginning (or will have to leave before the end) I will tape the game and avoid going home, radios, televisions, and hockey fans till I am sure the game is over. Also I cannot wear a Devils Jersey if my friends and I play the same day the Devils do.
posted by njsk8r20 at 08:51 AM on January 23, 2006
My grandmother, a died-in-the-wool Yankees fan from Beacon, NY, used to watch all their games in a small room upstairs in her home. If the game was close toward the end and she couldn't bear to watch any longer, she would descend the stairs off the room and sit on the bottom step, listening to her favorite, Phil Rizzuto, describing the final inning or so. I don't know if that technically qualifies as a superstition, but I used to get a huge kick out of this almost daily ritual -- a little old lady sitting on the steps, wringing her hands over a baseball game. For myself, I had a superstition for a while of wearing the opposing team's colors when I was attending games. I stopped doing this when I started getting beat up by the home crowd.
posted by BullpenPro at 08:56 AM on January 23, 2006
My newest superstition is listening to "Time to Go" by Dropkick Murphys right before I leave the office on gamedays. I still haven't found anything to help the Jets.
posted by njsk8r20 at 10:30 AM on January 23, 2006
The Post-Gazette appears to take superstitions pretty seriously, as there is yet another article. Although, I don't condone torturing poor animals to satisfy one's superstitions.