DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?
With the game on the line, fans and athletes look to superstitions by Drew Hard.
Matt Rissien doesn't give much credence to most superstitions. He doesn't finish the game and then flips the sidewalk, and he couldn't care less about the Friday 13th. When it comes to Jayhawk sports, however Rissien, a Kansas fan, didn't himself with the unexplained
it's 2:45 p.m. on Jan 20 Fridays, plops down on a black leather couch in a small room in Alpha Epiphany Pli, 1116 Indiana St, in anticipation of the KU Texas Tech showdown. He is wearing a KU basketball team, the one he wears for every basketball game it is a home jersey, white with blue trim, with the number '30'
— for Rissner's favorite player, Julian Wright *on* the ity Jersey looked tired and worn and a little wrinkled. He grasps as he points out, almost proudly, the stains that have accumulated since the jayhawks most recent loss more than a month ago.
Enter superstition number one: Rissin won't wash the team until the team loses. There
a blue splotch that looks like pen ink just below his collar, and on the front is a black snuggee from being moved up against the bau that he has been drawn from the row court. He doesn't want the tush to wash away
This is a very common practice, especially in sports, says Stuart Vyse, professor of
Another way superstitions are formed is when a certain objector
"For real fans, supporting the team becomes part of your identity. Type says. 'It is hard siting there and saying. Well, whatever happens happens. We just not湿 that way."
psychology at Connecticut College and author of *Binding in Magics* The Psychology of Supervision Fans extremely emotionally invested in a game. Vyse explains the importance of the fantsuits and superstitions as a way of feeling personal connection to the team
action becomes associated with a team's success or defeat, says Richard Lustberg, a psychologist in New York and founder of www.psychology.com. It only works with people who are intentionally to stick. Lustberg says.
He likens superstition development to getting stomach flu. A person will normally have a negative association with the last thing he ate Lustergs say, even though that is not what caused the problem The same goes for superstitions and rituals. While there is no evidence to back up his effectiveness, it seems that he is more comfortable in stressful situations, which can ultimately help an athlete perform better and keep fans at ease.
**SUPPORTING THE TEAM BEEMOS PART OF YOUR IDENTITY IT'S HARD JUST SITTING THERE AND SAYING WHAT WELLAH HAPPENES HAPPENS. STUART VASE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
Rissien describes his other clothing rituals as the game wears on, one eye always on the screen. He lifts the leg of his shoes to display his gameday attire and plays when the Jayhawks play. They are white with blue trim and Jayhawks on the sides. They
are scuffed around the edges from Rissens' jumping and stumping at games. He also has a jacket that can be worn in camps out before each home game.
Whether at the game or at home, Rissen says that if the team is doing well he will move to a seat he will move to a different seat and
Vyse says that it is normal for fast-paced sports to have fewer superstitions among the players
While fans do what they can to ensure a victory, athletes have their own routines and superstitions. Other than a few minor rituals, neither he nor his teammate holds superstitions, says Julian Wright, sophomore from Westside High school, a call on a shot before it goes in the basket, though, because no one wants to jitit.
hope that their luck will change. Rissen switched seats twice during this game, but the final score was still disappointing.
Erik Morrison, junior infielder, says he has a few baseball bats. Most important is wearing a Super Mario wristband he has when his freshman season which the Arroyo Grande, Calif., junior says he never washes his hands with it. He crushes and gross, but that it is better than way because it is all part of the superfactor.
"I feel like my uniform is not complete without it on," says Morrison. "I feel naked without it."
Morrison also puts his uniform, on the same way every game sliding shorts, followed by jack strap athletic sock, socks urshers, undershorts (the same one he's worn since he was 15 years old), pants, shirt, belt, shoes, underwear. He also wars his pants leg rolled up for away games and rolled down for home games.
For Morrison and athletes like him, superstitions become routine. Morrison has never played a game without the wristband, and he says that not having it would throw him off.
For fans like Rissin, though,
it's more a question of karma.
"There's some reason why it 'all
is happening." Rissin says, "and
I have to relate to it myself Plus,
it more fun that way."
SUPERSTITIOUS STARS
Ten of the most superstitious athletes as recognized by Radio Canada
Vade Boogs (MLB)
Wade Boggs (MLB)
Ate chicken before every game and was obsessively compulsive about his routine.
Mark Fidrych (MLB)
Talked to the ball while on the mound after each pitch.
Turk Wendell (MLR)
Chewed four sticks of licorice then ran back to the dugout to brush his teeth after every inning he pitched.
Patrick Roy (NHL)
Spoke to the posts and kept up a pre-guild ritual of staring at the net and never skating on the blue-line or red line.
Pelle Lindbergh (NHL)
Wore the same orange shirt under his uniform and only drank a particular Swedish cocktail. She had to have two cubs in ice.
Steve Finley and Darin Erstad (MIR)
Both players wore a leather
souch around their necks
containing various minerals
such as gold and silver.
nines and back luck.
Goran Ivanisevic (Tennis)
If he won a game, he would try to do everything the same next day he even talked to the same people. He also tried to be the second person to get up from his chair.
Kevin Romberg (MLB)
He had to touch anyone who touched him, first, even when being tagged on a base.
Mike Hargrove (MLB)
Took three practice swings before stepping into the batter's box, and then performed a backstroke before he was ready to swing.
As manager of the Giants,
he gave a man a spot on the
team because he believed that
the man was good luck. He also
picked up harpins and pennies.
always head up.
John McGraw (MLB)
Source www.bc.co/sports columns/top10/superstition html
02. 01.2007 JAYPLAY <05