Irrational Superstition/Mojo/Karma

by Class of 66 on Mar 30, 2008 5:26 AM PDT Comment 19 comments

Don't Mess with It!!!

In real life, I am an academic. Analytic to a fault. Passion based on fact.

In Bruin life -- I am highly superstitious, have to run my rituals, and keep an eye on mojo and karma.

A few thoughts:

Let's not call out Texas, pound our chests, root for them and hope to face them, again. We did that last year with Florida. Bad karma.

Let's look forward to playing the next team in line, no matter which it is.

Let's keep focused on one game at a time. Nestor imposed this and it is working. I don't care who wins the other semi-final game and won't look to how we will match up or play them. Right now, we have a one game season. Nestor created good Karma by asking, strongly, that we not look down the road. "It's not nice to mess with Mother Nestor". (Most of you will be too old to understand the reference. This one's for the Geezers.)

Let's never split a game day thread, again -- unless we need a change in Mojo, which I am hoping we won't. I take full responsibility for WKU's strong run against us. When the game thread started to nest, I asked whether we could start a new one. As soon as we did, they put on their run. MY BAD. Last night, I begged that we not split the thread, and we kept pulling away. I think there is a clear message here.

We have strong Mojo working. Let's not stray from the path that is working.

sjh

PS. For those of you who think my posts are academic and rational, a look at the mad side.

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.

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Shouldering the blame..

..the fault for the WKU second half fade lies solely with me, O Great One. You needn't alter your pre- and in-game ceremonies in the slightest.

I had my proscribed pre-contest Guinness as posted earlier but failed to consume a pre-second-half Guinness occasioning the inability for the Bruins to close the deal in a resounding fashion.

Additionally, I would have liked to report that a steady flow of the dark, uncarbonated, amber elixir passed my lips during the "X" contest but, alas, it wasn't so. I was with my three sons and had to drive, so I opted for tee-totaling (with fingers crossed)..

..so I surmise from scientific and objective analysis that the Basketball Ritual Gods cling to an "all or none" policy.

Pity, I so enjoyed the Guinness.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Mar 30, 2008 8:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

OK

All Solid points.

I will turn around three times and chant "Bruins"
to make sure I understood.

by artybruin on Mar 30, 2008 8:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No need to worry

Your incessant overuse/misuse of "'s" (though not in this post) will always remind us of your non-academic status. :) Go Geezer Pack and Go Bruins!!!

by charnaw on Mar 30, 2008 9:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It was me.

I had to go to a class and couldn't watch the game. I got a halftime text saying "up by 21" so I said "cool, I can relax," turned the phone off and went back to listening to the lecture. I think that is when all hell broke loose.

by UCngLA on Mar 30, 2008 9:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I'm very superstitious. I never watch another game during the tournament. I remember the old story was Coach Wooden never scouted the other team. Before the game, he would say, "from what I understand they're a very good team and if we don't play our best, we won't win." And then of course, we would go out and dictate the pace we wanted. Some people would argue he wasn't a great game day coach but I think he always felt that the team was so well drilled there wasn't much to do but let them use muscle memory. And since we won about 95% of the time, he was probably right.

So, to follow his lead, I never watch any other games, and I never care who we play since I figure that one way or another we're going to have to get through the best other team to take the crown.

by waters96 on Mar 30, 2008 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Same here...

...my superstitious nature caused me to shoulder some blame from all three losses this season. The losses against $C and Texas: I did not wear the usual blue shade of boxers. The loss against Washington: I didn't wear my Den shirt. Once I figured that the combination of Den shirt (hard to do, mind you, as a student working at Pauley's press desk for home games...but still worn underneath my UCLA polo shirt) and blue boxers attributed to the good mojo that has sent us to San Antonio. I'm not worried; I have two pairs of boxers waiting for the occasion(s) and an unwashed 07-08 Den shirt at hand.

by jlegs on Mar 30, 2008 10:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am still wearing

the wristband I got for the club level seating at the Honda Center from the TAMU game. Hopefully it can survive another week!

by 09Bruin on Mar 30, 2008 10:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not superstitious, but...

I almost cost us the Western Kentucky game. I wore my '95 championship t-shirt and light Blue Bruin baseball cap for most of the contest, having worn them in the previous two tournament victories. I didn't realize until most too late that the winning power in the gear had somehow evaporated. As Western Kentucky crept closer and closer, I finally came out of my stupor and switched to my '07 Final Four shirt and navy Bruin cap in the closing minutes, thus preventing the team from losing.

My apologies to all for the scare.

by Matt Hagen on Mar 30, 2008 10:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I almost washed my shirt

Yesterday, before the game, I almost washed the shirt I've been wearing for all of the tourney games.

I actually started to put it in the washing machine....then a little voice from Bruinsnation came into my head. Someone said..."Don't wash your lucky shirts!"

So I didn't.

Born and raised a Bruin!

by ktbruin on Mar 30, 2008 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Please tell me

that understanding the "Mother Nature" - margarine reference doesn't put me in the geezer camp.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

by Class of 86 on Mar 30, 2008 11:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It doesn't, but for those..

..who wish disambiguation take a look for yourself.

Now the question is, are you man enough for Granny Goose?

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Mar 30, 2008 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember the Mexican banditos?

"Hey, what's in the bag, Goose."

"Interesting. Well seasoned. Provocative."

That is way up in my all-time favorite commercial list.

by Fox 71 on Mar 30, 2008 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh man..

(Tangential)

Lessee now,

"No matter what shape your tummy is in."

"I can't believe I ate the whole thing."

"Momma mia, thats-a some spicy meat ball!"

..and that spot where the interviewer asks the guy riding the jackhammer on the road crew what he did for a living.

"I'm a brain surgeon.."

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Mar 31, 2008 6:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geezerdom Is A State of Mind

or a loss of mind, I can't remember which.

And, when you can't -- you know you're a Geezer.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 30, 2008 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's My Fault

I forgot to swirl my "ucla" logo the required number of times in the WKU 2H. It's all my fault.

by Rich1996UCLA on Mar 30, 2008 11:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This season has turned me superstitious as well

I have to keep my ucla hat on my t.v. when not wearing it, and i've been holding onto my road to the alamodome given to us at the cal game throughout the tourney.

I know its gotten bad though because I haven't washed a my light blue polo in two games now...

O.A.

by Ollie on Mar 30, 2008 3:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Laundry

As I was preparing to throw my navy UCLA shirt in the laundry after the game last night I was told to check with BN to see if that was allowable. I have many different shirts to choose from but this is the one I've worn throughout this 2008 tournament. I was going to switch yesterday to the baby blue, but changed my mind. I now think I'll stick with the mojo of navy ..... the question is still; to wash or not to wash?

by 69BruinAlum on Mar 30, 2008 3:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm a believer in the non-wash

But that's just me.

However, I have a question of my own: 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. This year I have only attended the ASU, Zona, Stanford, and Cal games with this attire (note the outcomes in those games...)

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

by dprodigy19 on Mar 30, 2008 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a hard one

On the one hand, consistency is preferred, esp. b/c consistency is what we'll need. OTOH, you wore the same getup the two previous FFs.

I'd say stick w/ the same getup, but w/ a new accessory. Or, you must wash the getup everyday until Saturday. That way, you cleanse yourself of any risidual negative energy, but at the same time still maintaining the essence of the getup combo.

by Rich1996UCLA on Mar 30, 2008 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs