Over time, players fall into routines that eventually become superstitions as to whether they will lose or win in games.
Bingo players also have many beliefs regarding gameplay such as these. By abiding by the habits that they have put in place, they believe that they will have the edge over their competition. Whether it is true that these routines work, or they are merely a boost to one’s confidence, they have been around for centuries, and they are not going away any time soon. From eating turf during football games to chewing on towels on basketball courts, here are the topmost strangest superstitions displayed by sportspeople over the years.
Toe-tapping
Nomar Garciaparra was a man of many rituals, and even baseball fans who knew little about the game understood his routines. Each time before pitching of an at-bat, Nomar would adjust the Velcro on his batting gloves numerous times in a given style before tapping his toes with his bat. You would think that this was the end of the routine, and he was ready to get batting but no. He would then proceed to kiss his bat before climbing the dugout stairs, one foot at a time, and standing on the on-deck circle. Here, he would repeat the Velcro adjustments and the toe-tapping. Additionally, he avoided changing shirts he used during Velcro practice, and his brother once admitted that Nomar would lose if anyone touched his hat.
Best foot forward
Tennis players rely on their feet a lot during plays, and they thus work hard at ensuring that they are stable before tournaments. Serena Williams, on the other hand, asks for more than steadiness and she refuses to change her socks during matches. Many people find it hard to wear socks more than once even if it means stepping out of the house for a few minutes owing to the gross feeling that comes with it. What’s more, it is quite unhealthy for your feet and can make you develop lots of foot problems. Serena throws caution to the wind and steps out in already worn socks, feeling quite comfortable and ready to win the tournament. Well, it seems to work for her.
Not so short
It was not long after Michael Jordan joined the league that people noticed that his shorts were much longer than those of his colleagues. His reason was that he preferred wearing his blue North Carolina shorts underneath his Bull shorts as part of his routine. Though his choice resulted from his superstitions, other players joined him in adorning longer shorts in the games.
The cookie monster
We all love a tasty treat before a huge event, and Brian Urlacher is no different. This player boasts of amazing instincts and bulging muscles and with two chocolate chip cookies in his system before a game, fans are set to have a great time.
Can’t touch this
Athletes have superstitions about people touching their equipment before a game, and many would prefer if people stayed away from their stuff. Ed Belfour is one man who believes that any touching will ruin his chances of success. So great is his belief in this that he threatens to kill any of his teammates who dares to come near his stuff.
Keeping it cool
Jerry Tarkanian was a man of many talents and this, in turn, led to his successful career as a basketball coach. However, even with this achievement, people tend to focus more on his gameplay routine which involved chewing on a towel. It sounds pretty weird. Well, it all started at a game in a southern California high school gym. The weather was hot, and Jerry had to keep going to the water fountain for a drink ever so often to stay cool. Eventually, he dipped a towel in the water and chewed on it during the game. What had started as a means to keep cool in the hot weather later became his way of staying calm under pressure.
Bottoms up
Caron Butler and Mountain Dew had quite a close relationship in that Butler would down at least two litres of the soda during games. Unfortunately for him, a ban by the NBA players association forced him to kick his habit. He then turned to chew on straws, a practice he later quit.
It is not clear whether anyone can prove that the superstitions aid in bringing the win home. However, these and other beliefs have gone a long way in helping players win big games, and as such, many people are of the opinion that they have a positive impact. Do you have a routine of your own? Pair it with tips from amazing sites such as topratedbingosites.co.uk and watch the winnings come your way. You also get to cash in on the various bonuses in play as you learn more about gaming. Superstition or not, you will be raking in wins left, right and centre.
