2008 Woodie Awards
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Penguin athletes share stories of strange habits, superstitions
Aaron Blatch, Sports Reporter
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Sports
Even if they often don't think about them, athletes are some of the most superstitious people around. Sports-related superstitions can be explained simply as being part of an athlete's routine, as a way to avoid bad luck or as a quirky habit that goes largely unnoticed, even by the individual athlete. Superstitions range from the basic to the strange to the ridiculous.
According to reference site http://www.factmonster.com, Michael Jordan always wore his University of North Carolina shorts underneath his Bulls uniform, baseball pitcher Turk Wendell brushed his teeth and chewed licorice between every inning, and baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs only ate chicken on gamedays and drew a symbol that means "to life" in the dirt before every at-bat.
Youngstown State University student athletes prove to be no different, as many perform their own superstitions relating to their respective sports.
Senior basketball player Dwight Holmes said he listens to music to relax before every game, something that he has done since high school. This year Holmes picked up a new pregame habit - showering before his games. His jersey must always be organized neatly and he always puts his socks on first, dressing "toe to head," before games. The senior said he doesn't know why he believes these superstitions will help but he does them anyway.
Penguin tennis player Ryan Trapp has some stranger habits before matches.
"Before every match I turn my doorknob twice to nine o'clock and once to twelve o'clock," Trapp said. "It's something that I just started two years ago."
Trapp said he also keeps his tennis racket at the right corner edge of his bed when not being used and that his team gets together before matches to play a competitive game of tennis on Nintendo Wii.
High jumper Jen Grayson said that dating back to high school she has never looked at the high-jump bar while it is being raised. Grayson is also one for sentimental superstitions. She plays on her boyfriend's last name, Wajda, to help her relax before her jumps, and unlike the others, she has a reason for this superstition.
According to reference site http://www.factmonster.com, Michael Jordan always wore his University of North Carolina shorts underneath his Bulls uniform, baseball pitcher Turk Wendell brushed his teeth and chewed licorice between every inning, and baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs only ate chicken on gamedays and drew a symbol that means "to life" in the dirt before every at-bat.
Youngstown State University student athletes prove to be no different, as many perform their own superstitions relating to their respective sports.
Senior basketball player Dwight Holmes said he listens to music to relax before every game, something that he has done since high school. This year Holmes picked up a new pregame habit - showering before his games. His jersey must always be organized neatly and he always puts his socks on first, dressing "toe to head," before games. The senior said he doesn't know why he believes these superstitions will help but he does them anyway.
Penguin tennis player Ryan Trapp has some stranger habits before matches.
"Before every match I turn my doorknob twice to nine o'clock and once to twelve o'clock," Trapp said. "It's something that I just started two years ago."
Trapp said he also keeps his tennis racket at the right corner edge of his bed when not being used and that his team gets together before matches to play a competitive game of tennis on Nintendo Wii.
High jumper Jen Grayson said that dating back to high school she has never looked at the high-jump bar while it is being raised. Grayson is also one for sentimental superstitions. She plays on her boyfriend's last name, Wajda, to help her relax before her jumps, and unlike the others, she has a reason for this superstition.
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