Sports fans.
Crazy with their antics, foam fingers, and self-imposed rituals. Some of you might think the route you drive to work on game day, or the pre-match food you eat impacts the outcome of your favorite team. I say hooey to all that!
Would you like some scrambled eggs? I make them every Friday for Dane before high school football
When I polled my friends and family about sports rituals they follow, I received an enormous range of practices, superstitions, and hot buttons.
Um. Please don’t sit there. That’s kinda my spot to watch Royal’s baseball. Y’know. Just cuz it’s comfy.
Also, pay no attention to the seat-back booster club chairs sitting at the 50-yard line 2.5 hours before game time.
While I’m praying to the good Lord and asking that His will be done, my husband prescribes to a different set of commandments:
- Reverse psychology: If you yell at the television and shout derogatory comments, the players will hear you and score a TD or hit a home run just to prove you’re wrong.
- On Friday night football, a wrestling meet, or a high school baseball game – he takes 29th Street East instead 37th. Because preparation matters!
- Thou shalt not DVR the game if you can’t see it real-time. We are still suffering from the DVR faux paus in the 1998 KSU Wildcats loss to Texas A&M in the Big 12 championship, and then again in the Tostitos Bowl against Ohio State.
- If your favorite team is doing well, nobody can move from their designated spot. There will be no bathroom breaks or snacking until half-time. Once the game resumes, everyone needs to return. The tactic worked when KSU defeated Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship game. The Wildcats scored as soon as I left the basement. We shouted and screamed at each other for the remaining three quarters–on two different levels of the house.
- On that same vein, if we are watching a game where we have invited our friendly rival sports fans (i.e. Gary and Jeanette), we assign them to the “Seat of Negativity.”
- He often makes me leave my camera home during Dane’s baseball games. While a lens is good for defense, it’s bad for hitting.
I think it’s all hogwash.
Hey! You are in my seat again! Seriously, I asked you nicely the first time.
And as you know, sports fans aren’t the only superstitious folks.
- Michael Jordan inspired the “long short” look because he wore his University of North Carolina shorts underneath his Bulls uniform.
- Serena Williams ties her shoelaces in a certain way and always bounces the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second.
- Wade Bogs ate chicken before each game and took batting practice at 5:17 with sprints to follow at 7:17
- When in a funk, Jason Giambi would slip his #240-pound frame into a golden thong (not even kidding. I looked it up).
Being a sports mom, I have dedicated athletes in my house with a few quirks as well:
- My football/wrestler/baseball player wears the same “See You Sunday” shirt before each game and has done so for four straight years. It’ll be up to his armpits by the time he graduates.
- My husband, a former IMCA modified race car driver, refused to eat chicken on race day. The two times he did, he wrecked.
- My daughter was a high school and college golfer as well as an English equestrian. Her hair had to be perfect within the designated hat of the day – be it Nike golf or a helmet. She practiced the same way before each putt, and you could set a watch by her horse show routine.
- Me? I wasn’t much of an athlete.
Oh sorry! May I reach around you? I need those socks for my long run tomorrow. Oh, and that shirt, too.
Sorry if I sound stand-offish about crazy fans and superstitious athletes. What power do lucky socks, optimal viewing angles, or pre-game poops have over an awesome defense or team chemistry? I’m a believer in hard work, dedication, and being a student of the sport. Even though we sent Mama Wendy to the bathroom while our boys batted and scored runs, I know it had nothing to do with them winning the USAA 13U Kansas State championship game.
Um. I need the score book. I’M the official scorekeeper. Cuz, well. I just am…OKAY?!
So, crazy sports fans. I’ll say a prayer for you as we head into college and NFL football and post-season MLB.
*throws salt
*avoids the cracks in the sidewalk
*turns off the DVR
*finds the lucky undies
I’ll be sitting like a calm yoga master in my seat waiting for Wade to throw the nasty, for Dane to make a tackle, and when Moose is up to bat.
Crazy sports fan? Who me?
Click the link. Do you recognize the crazy chick at 32 seconds and again near the end? Yeah. Me neither.
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/145548342/mike-moustakas-hits-15th-home-run-vs-orioles
Special thanks to Nick for snagging the Mike Moustakas home run ball and for his wife (my bestie, Kelsey) for encouraging him to give it to me. Extra thanks to Kendra for getting Moose to sign it.The KC front office treats fans like royalty!
Last night, the ball set to my right while I watched Moose go O-3. Perhaps, I’ll just put that puppy back where it belongs.
Just in case.
Your turn! Are you a crazy sports fan? If so, who is your favorite team? What are your rituals or superstitions?
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*Featured Royal’s photos taken by me and not licensed or endorsed by the MLB.
ooohhh…
i find it so sexy when you speak a foreign language!
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BAHAHAHA! I know what you like 😉
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This reminds me of the Pearls Before Swine comic where one thing changes the outcome between Baltimore and Pittsburgh (football, so I’m Team PIttsburgh on that one). 😀
I just know whenever I go to Camden Yards, the Orioles lose. Twice now to your team. Grrrr…. 😉
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And when the Orioles come to Kauffman (and I watch) – the Royals lose. It all balances out, right?
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Funny how that works! 😀
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I am so not a sports fan and I guess after reading this can say that I am somewhat relieved no one in my family is, although you do seem to have fun with it. My son did a rock school performance for the L.A. Kings. I think he was caught making some kind of comment about whether they were a baseball team.
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LOVE it, Marissa! How cool to do a rock performance on that type of stage.
We do have fun with all of the antics – but, it’s still good to keep the crazy in check 🙂
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Yes, it was a really funny post, BTW Mama Mick. It’s always funny to hear about these little idiosyncrasies in different families no matter what the context is.
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SO true! My best friend read my post and stated, “I didn’t know some of those things about your husband. He is hilarious!” I had to agree. My sister also commented on my husband after they spent the weekend with us. We were watching a football game (our team losing) and my sister said, “At least we have the Royals.” Without missing a beat, he said, “There is no room for optimism in this house.”
Makes me think we need professional help 😉
Hope you’re having a great weekend!!
xo
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Gotta love a man with a sense of humor Michelle. You’re a lucky woman…and he is a lucky man!
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There was a time I wore the same Bengals shirt every Sunday thinking it was lucky. Then when they lost once while I was wearing it I began wondering why the hell I ever believe such nonsense. Now, I just watch the game no matter what. Whatever happens, happens.
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A much more sensible approach for sure!
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The Yankees and Notre Dame are my main obsessions, followed closely by the Jets. For big games, there is usually a team jersey worn over a team tee shirt with a team cap on for warmth. 🙂
When the Yankees are in the World Series, I can’t even watch the other team bat. It’s only safe to watch when the Yankees are batting. Clearly.
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I SO wish we (Royals) were playing the Yankees right now.
I opted for your attire (Jersey over shirt) at the KSU game last night. We didn’t win, but I think it had more to do with their suspect defense than my sparkly jersey.
I hope you’re having a great Sunday!!
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Where are the photos? I would like to see that true fan spirit on display. 🙂
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If you click the video link, you get to see me lose my mind at about 32 seconds and again at the end. My son was so embarrassed!
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I will check it out…
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Reblogged this on ugiridharaprasad.
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Thank you, kind sir!
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The closest I come Michelle is by sending Jarryd Hayne from here in Australia to the S.F.49’ers. Whether it was a jinx or genius, years end will tell the story 🙂
Mind you, it has been great to watch even though he hasn’t been getting too much of a chance so far, it’s amazing how long it actually is between punt returns, especially how the games have been going for them so far 🙂
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What a cool story and nice note that we have some your Aussie roots over here. The 49’ers were my team when I was college. Not because of their West Coast offense, but because they had a super cute quarterback (Joe Montana). Cute is very important.
Thank you for reading and sharing my friend!
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You know it, Michelle. We sports fans have to keep to our rituals. It might not help that I wear my blue Syracuse ‘T’ when I think the squad will wear the home blue jersey tops and save my orange for the Orange out, but it can’t hurt, right? (Yeah, my gray at home for away games and their white because I don’t have any white Syracuse T’s, they don’t seem to sell them.) Always Maryland red on my back for the Terp TV games. I wear my Fear the Terps hat while walking Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle on football game days, but my Otto the Orange hat TO the Syracuse games.
I’m like your hubby. I yell bad things at the TV screen because it will help my squads play better, too.
When my best golfing buddy and I had a friendly match against two other pals a few years ago during the Ryder Cup, I went out and bought us matching golf shirts as a team uniform. I tolk him he had to wear black shorts that day, and I had matching Syracuse Jazz Fest hats for us, too. Yeah, we psyched them out and won the match, thanks to the clothes, of course. And when I have an important golf game now, I’ve been known to pull out the uniform. 🙂
Mets-Royals, right? Knock on wood.
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BAHAHAHAHA! I love the notion of matching golf uniforms…suppose my hubby will wear a white skort and rainbow socks?
I meant to keep an eye on Syracruse yesterday, but was too busy watching KSU lose in the last 2 minutes of the game.
I obviously wore the wrong shirt!
Thank you SO much for sharing your rituals – it’s what makes the fan feel like a part, right?
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I wore the wrong shirt, too, Michelle, and Syracuse lost to South Florida. Yikes! I followed the K-State score on the crawl and hated to see that late score. Ack.
Your matching golf uni with the hubby would gain some attention on the front nine, back nine, and at the 19th hole. I think folks would be buying him a beer, no? Wait, buying you a wine?
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Yes sir!!!
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Congrats on the ball! I’m a Royals fan since my friend Dayton became the GM. He and his family are wonderful people we met when he was the scouting director for the Braves. Glad to know they treat fans so well. I’m more of a college football and basketball fan. And I love my Falcons! No real superstitions and I like the DVR because I can pause and fast forward. Hard to beat the experience of live though, I just don’t have anyone in the family who likes to go. Someday, a son-in-law, grandson or granddaughter though!
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OMG!!! I met Dayton!
The photo of me with the ball and microphone? That’s me asking him for help in getting it signed. I felt bad cuz I put him on the spot in front of ~100 people. As you can imagine, he was great and we LOVE having him in Kc
So cool that you shared this story with me.
Love college football, too. Heading to Kansas State/TCU right now. Need somebody to go with? Tag along with me any time.
Thank you, Mark!
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I’m sure he handled it well, but I love that you put him on the spot. Someday, I need to get to a KC game for sure. Good luck in the playoffs.
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Too funny Mama! Great pics, as usual – I don’t follow sports enough to have any traditions – sorry.
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Don’t even be sorry about that, Paul!
I think I could get so much more accomplished if I wasn’t always carving out time for my obsessions.
Have a happy Sunday!
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Oh, by the way Mama, I just did a post over at Willowdot21’s https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/if-we-were-having-coffee-august-232015/ if you have the time to drop by.Thank You.
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Will do, Paul! I’m back in the office on Thursday 🙂
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I love this post. When I clicked on that link, I didn’t realize it was your home run moment until I saw you jumping up and down. How exciting to actually SEE the moment.
As for my sports superstitions, I’ve pared ’em down…but I still have a few go to rituals. In high school, I used to wear an Iron Maiden shirt under my football gear, and I wore it inside out. This was the result of having scored a couple touchdowns, after which I noticed I had worn the shirt inside out when I peeled it off after the game. I stuck to doing it that way from then on.
When I watch my team on television, I point both of my remote control devices directly at the television. Pointing forward means progress, it means we’re heading in the right direction. This is very important. Another ritual is numbers. Whatever I do, it has to correlate with a number from the given team. In other words, if Jeter was up I would tap the chair I was sitting in twice since his number was 2. Another thing I absolutely will never do when my team is rallying is cross my arms or legs. This stunts the progress they are making…obviously.
Like I said Mama, there’s no help for what we got. And really, thank God for that.
Peace and love.
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Oh yes!
I KNEW there had to be someone else out there as crazy as me. I get the Iron Maiden shirt (Inna Goddavita?), but the remote control and number tapping are a new thing even for me! The crossed legs might explain our KSU loss against TCU last night. We were leading by 3 going into the last 2 minutes of the game – I got cold – crossed my legs and arms and hunched over in the stands as I watched TCU score a TD to win. I’ll know better for next time.
Thank you for watching the video. My son (who watched the game at home) thought it was awesome and recorded it on his phone. Then, the next day, his buddies busted his balls about his crazy mom – cool factor gone.
You are so right. There is no help for what we have…and I’m kinda glad.
Happy Sunday, my friend!
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You got your irons mixed up, that’s Butterfly.
Like I said, these rituals are slightly complex and on the face of it, they seem pointless. But they work. Except when they don’t……
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Wouldn’t be the first time I got my irons mixed up…the 6 and the 9 look the same in a golf bag 😉
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All this, and she golfs too. Lady’s got it all.
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It’s gonna be hard for very many to beat TCU.. they have an amazing team this year and they sooooo got screwed last year because of TV Ratings?? Really?? That was so unfair! 😦
(hey at least I am rooting for your other team, right??) 😀
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TCU totally got screwed last year. They are amazing. And babe, any friends of yours are friends of mine – even if they are rival sports fans!! xo
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Cash just had the audacity to tell his father that he should just record the Cowboys game so that he can fast forward through the commercials. I’ve never seen my husband show such restraint. He replied, “Do I even know you?” 😉
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Bahahaha! Love it!
Guess what chicken butt??!?!
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I’m not much of a sports fan and I don’t have any superstitious rituals. I’m boring that way. I don’t think my husband or sons do either. On the other hand, if they do, maybe I don’t want to know about them. That “golden thong” thing has got me concerned… 😉
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A golden thong on anyone is concerning 😉
Thanks for reading, Carrie!
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–I’m def. not a sports fan, but the rest of my family is! CRAAAAAAAAAZY.
Mr. L. coaches college soccer, so I do dig soccer (a bit) & I do like David Beckham!!
xx
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I say yes to David Beckham, too 🙂
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Can I just tell you how excited I am that the Royals are doing so well!!!??? (only because my boys completely blew it after an awesome season…grrrr) It looks like to me it is gonna be Mets vs Royals and YOU CAN TAKE ‘EM! I’m sure of it!!! We should have known the Cardinals would flub the playoffs because it is impossible for them to have BOTH a good season AND win the Pennant!! Bad season?? no problem! We will wildcard our way into the playoffs and walk off with the World Series! Great season?? Yeah… we are gonna “ef” up the playoffs and quit early!!! GRRRR!! It is such the M O for the Cards… I don’t get it! LOL!
I am rooting for the Kansas City boys now!!! And the Mets… because they have GOT to beat those other guys! ha ha ha ha!!! ANYONE but the Cubs!
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Oh, my friend!! What I wouldn’t give to go to a sporting event with you!
I am shocked regarding the Cardinals, too. What happened to them is what I predicted for my Royals. Baseball is just a crazy game, no?
Thank you! Thank you for reading this and being such an awesome friend. I love how these things make the mile between us seem not so far. Have a great week!!
Michelle
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Ok…. gotta do something! Where is the mojo?? Your boys gotta win this thing! Can’t be lettin’ Toronto get any more runs!! We want them to have the pennant so they can win the series!! 😀
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YOU must have brought us the Mojo. That was a route last night!!!~!
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I KNOW, right?? Now they just have to win one more!! Then it’s ON to the World Series! The Mets need to MoJo now! Gotta get those Cubs OUT so the Royals can walk away with the whole thing! 😀
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Hahaha! I love reading stuff like this. OH MY GOSH there is a Moth Podcast from… 2012 probably? That you NEED to hear! It’s all about this stuff and it is craaaazy.
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*Googles Moth podcast….
Crazy? Who me?
(Thank you for stopping by Aussomesauce!)
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YAH ROYALS!!!!!! CONGRATS on your awesome team pulling forward! I watched it all the way to the end last night! So happy they won!! 😀
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YOU ARE THE BEST!! Thank you for staying up, C/K. I love you for it!
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