Peculiar 'customs' not so odd
By Erin Hussey
I don't believe in ghosts, but when it comes to a big race, I have to admit, I wear my lucky socks.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a superstition as "an irrational religious belief or practice founded on fear or ignorance." I think they are being rather harsh.
Would you tell six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan that wearing his baby blue North Carolina shorts under his Bulls uniform is an irrational religious belief? Would you call Tiger Woods, the only golfer to hold all four major professional tournament titles at the same time, ignorant for wearing a red shirt on Sunday to close out a tournament?
I think not.
Not washing uniforms, not shaving, listening to a specific song or eating a certain food are all types of superstitions athletes use. They may not be scientifically proven to provide an extra edge, but I think something can be said for routines and rituals in athletics. Especially if the saying about how sports are 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical holds any merit.
A superstition such as wearing a lucky jersey can be comforting. Knowing you have one consistent item with you as you set out to face a challenge with a number of difficult variables can relax you. It's sort of like that childhood security blanket everyone has when they are three: It smells a bit funny, but it's familiar and calming and even seems to give you a slight boast of confidence.
A nutritionist once told me that athletes should stick to their everyday routines before competitions, even if you eat hamburgers everyday for lunch. Even if it is not very healthy on the whole, if on game day you switch to a salad without dressing, you're not going to perform very well -- even if your lunch might have been healthier. The medical profession tells us that keeping a routine is beneficial, and I agree.
There is something special about slipping into my lucky socks on race day. I know in reality that they are just socks and that they don't have any special powers, but on the other hand, if a race day rolls around and I can't find them or they are in the dirty laundry, I'm going to be a little flustered.
Superstitions might not score the game winning basket or strike out the final batter, but they can help an athlete keep their cool and thus help maintain their focus. And focusing does promote success. After all, it couldn't hurt.
* Contact Erin Hussey at (408) 551-1918 or ehussey@scu.edu