A superstitution question

by dprodigy19 on Mar 31, 2008 11:54 AM PDT Comment 18 comments

I'm sorry for posting this seperately than the other thread, but I need some new eyes on the question than will see it buried deep in the other thread, especially considering the time constraint.

Basically, the situation is as follows:
I have a personalized Farmar jersey, UCLA shorts, and special shoes that I have worn to every UCLA game I've attended since his freshman year, including both Final Fours. Since I graduated in 2007, I have only attended the ASU, Zona, Stanford, and Cal games with this attire (note the outcomes in those games...)

Furthermore, I cannot wash the jersey, as it is signed by both Farmar and Coach Wooden and those signatures are already fading. I know some people consider this important, so it's worth mentioning.

Given the history both in-season and in previous Final Fours, what is the prudent course?

Poll

What should I do?

Wear the jersey with some new thing (like a headband or whatever)

9 votes

Wear something entirely different

8 votes

Pie

12 votes

Wear the jersey

22 votes

51 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

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Comments

The last two Final Fours...

did not result in a National Championship so IMHO, you shouldn't be wearing that thing at all.

by UCngLA on Mar 31, 2008 11:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If I have this straight,

The jersey is undefeated since you graduated. The Final Four losses were when you were a student, right?

Wear the jersey. Your student status was the jinx. Ride the jersey to the title this year, then frame that bad boy for your offspring and posterity.

greg in denver

by gbruin on Mar 31, 2008 12:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If my math is right...

Did the poster begin school perhaps in 2003? 2003 = the year grease monkey fled the city. Original poster may actually be the lucky charm, so go with what works already, plus something more. Maybe like 2 jerseys on top of one another?

by bruinhopeful on Mar 31, 2008 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Your math is right- my first year at UCLA was the first as the head coach for CTS and Howland as well.

by dprodigy19 on Mar 31, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It isn't what you wear...never has been.

Despite all my supposed mathematical cynicism with regard to luck, I do find myself trying to hold my hands just right, stand in the right place, wear the proper attire to continue winning.

But for me, what makes it all ok and gives me peace of mind, is taking a deep breath and not caring about the little things. I try to frame my mind in such a way that I put out all the positive energy into the world that I can, in a respectful way, and go about my day as I would any other like it.

If it is game day, I would wear my traditional shirt, not because it has an effect on the outcome, but because I want to people to see how proud I am of my team. If I had a signed jersey, I would wear it until I risked damaging the signature, and then get a new one and have it signed by one of the new players that inspire me.

I am superstitious in reverse. I have to make sure I am not thinking about how my actions might adversely shift the universe's plans, thus doing so. Basically I try to reach a Zen like peace in my mind and let that feeling be my lucky shirt, socks, rabbit's foot, etc.

by isodore on Mar 31, 2008 12:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You must have never played baseball

by UCngLA on Mar 31, 2008 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to say the exact same thing

Jock straps, hats, undershirts, on-field superstitions

I had a guy on my high school team that actually would put his finger through the third base line and then taste it because he thought it helped his power. Whatever works...

by bruinhopeful on Mar 31, 2008 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

New alumni mojo, hmmm...

Ditch one item, replace it with a new one, and see if the mojo can be revitalized and maintained.

"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008

by Meriones on Mar 31, 2008 12:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have the same thing....

going on. My wife game me a UCLA banner for my birthday last year. I have placed it outside our home three times. First was the UCLA vs. $C football game last year. The second was for the UCLA vs. $c game at Pauley. Both of those games resulted in loses. I thought about it all week before the aTm game and decided to put it up...I ended up pulling that thing down at halftime. I don't think it will go up until next basketball season so that it can pick up some good mojo.

by king James on Mar 31, 2008 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My flag only goes up on gameday

However, I thought about putting it up for the entire tournament. That seemed like a good way to acknowledge the team's presence in March Madness. Of course... on second thought, I did not dare.

by UCngLA on Mar 31, 2008 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my superstition

this is probably going to sound truly bad but my personal superstition has been to bet against UCLA. It breaks my heart to have to do it but I figure my luck is so bad that when I bet, I lose. So I bet against UCLA as a kind of sacrifice to the gods of the NCAA. I started doing it at the Memphis game two years ago and it's become my lucky charm.

by oldblueeyes on Mar 31, 2008 2:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Superstition:

must wear my 2007 Final Four shirt under my KLove jersey. And can never sit in my UCLA chair... that thing is baaaaaaaad luck.

by BruinFanBaby on Mar 31, 2008 5:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As for your case,

Prodigy, I would keep the jersey and add something new like a headband. Do you wear a shirt under your jersey? Maybe that would help, too.

by BruinFanBaby on Mar 31, 2008 5:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No such thing as luck.

I wore my football jersey throughout 97, 98, 99, 00 up to the present day. It has seen the highs (20 game win streak, Pac 10 Championship, #7 and #8 against USC) and the lows (Toledo falls apart #1 thru #7 lost to SC, the Miami Game, etc.)

Well, after all that bad, I was there for the win against SC in the Rose Bowl. It will be there for Neuheisel's tenure, good or bad and it will have no bearing on the outcome of the game.

PS: My sugestion to you: After the Final Four, have a professional Embroiderer make those signatures permanent in Black thread. And wash that Jersey. You will always be able to tell people that you had it signed, and preserved in thread. People will applaud you for it and never doubt the veracity of your claim. And, if the signatures are in fact fading, you will have lost nothing after all.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Mar 31, 2008 6:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wear the jersey but...

be aware that the winning energy in it can be inexplicably lost without reason at any given moment. Therefore, keep some backup gear ready in case of an emergency, i.e., a headband, jacket, cap or alternate jersey.

A key trick is to be able to identify when the karma is changing. The Bruins may have a 15 point lead that shrinks shrinks to eight. Is it time to part company with the jersey that's gotten the team this far? If you change too quickly, your lack of faith can upset the delicate balance of nature and the team will be punished for your indescretion. If you wait too long, the result can be catastrophic.

Just like the players, you have a great responsibility to be at the top of your game during UCLA's tournament run. You have to be totally tuned into your gear and be ready respond if called upon.

by Matt Hagen on Mar 31, 2008 8:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Weird

I have the reverse issue...the three hoops losses this year happened when I was wearing the colors. When I was wearing non UCLA gear, we won, including the tourney. No way am I am wearing UCLA gear at the game in SA on Saturday...No way.

by 90Bruin on Mar 31, 2008 9:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

These are all good comments

but frankly, it seems that all the comments are from amateurs. Is there no Bruin who majored in Karma and minored in Mojo around to tell us what to do from an expert's perspective?

(I try to find a doctor to depose on the day of the final. The last time we won I was taking a doctor's depo until the last two minutes of the game. But I don't think that's necessarily acceptable from an expert's point of view.)

by Fox 71 on Mar 31, 2008 9:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs