by Cassie Florido

Same shirt, same shorts, same socks, same underwear (ew), same everything. Crazy movements, weird rituals and a lot of praying. During sporting events, you might see some of your friends or random strangers doing weird things. Instead of looking at them and wondering what the heck they are doing. First consider, they probably aren’t as weird as they look, they are probably just really superstitious.

One of the weirdest things in the world of sports is how psycho some people are about their sports rituals. After watching the ESPN commercial where they show a bunch of crazy people and their superstitions, I realized I am one of these crazy people. And I am not ashamed of it.

When I am playing sports, the one thing that has to be perfect are my clothes. From the headband, to the jersey number (15 or 3) and the socks it all has to be the way I want it to be. Also, while warming up for a basketball game, if my last shot in warm ups goes in I will have a good game. Therefore, even if it takes a couple shots, my last shot always has to go in. Now, this might just be one of the crazy beliefs in my head; but I’m convinced that it works.

Some of the most famous superstitions take place in the world of professional sports. I know many basketball players put meaning behind their jersey numbers or dedicate it to a past player. Michael Jordan and his number, 23, are a prime example of the magic behind a jersey number. Many basketball players today still think the number 23 carries some sort of magic in the game of basketball. It probably has no magic at all, it’s just another one of those crazy superstitions. But, like me, players have to have THE NUMBER or else the magic just won’t happen.

A lot of times the superstition comes from the athlete’s routine. If it works, don’t mess with it. Don’t even question the athlete, it just works. Take LeBron James for example. Before every game he has made it his routine to throw powder into the air and look all majestic or whatever. But you know what, if it works for him, which obviously it has because now he is rocking a huge Championship ring on his finger, go ahead Lebron. Do what you gotta do.

Not only do players have superstitions, but fans probably have some of the craziest sports beliefs, including me. But when it comes to watching sports, I am even more superstitious. From crossing fingers, to rally caps, to not watching at important parts of the game, fans take their superstitions very seriously. When at home watching games, many sports fans have to wear the same things and sit in the same spot during games. If one things goes wrong and their team loses, it’s all their fault (trust me I’ve had this feeling before).

Probably the craziest superstitions that I have seen actually takes place in my own house. My mom goes nuts during Kansas basketball games. For one, I’m not allowed to talk when I sit in the room with her during basketball games. This might be for my negative comments about Kansas or she thinks I’m making them play bad. But also during the games my mom paces in circles. If you didn’t know her you would think she was crazy (which she kind of is). During her “ritual,”  if they are playing well, she paces clockwise. If they start playing bad she changes it and paces counter clockwise. Personally, I think she has lost her mind, but then again don’t question superstitions.

So every person involved in sports is crazy in their own way. Whether you know it or not, you probably have some weird thing that has to be done before and during every game. It’s not weird. It’s something that must be done. You don’t want any bad mojo goin’ around. So stand by your weird and unusual superstitions and never let them go. Because it’s only weird if it doesn’t work.

Oh by the way, sorry for jinxing you Cardinals. My bad.

Here are a few notable athletes sports superstitions:

Brian Urlacher – eats two cookies before a every game

Michael Jordan – wore the same pair of North Carolina basketball shorts under his shorts in the NBA

Nascar Drivers – peanuts shells and $50 bills bring bad luck

Jason “The Jet” Terry – sleeps in the opposing team shorts the night before a game and wears knee high socks in honor of his father

Kim English – wears the jersey number 24 because is dedicated to basketball 24/7

Baseball players – crossing bats brings bad luck