Top 10 Most Fascinating Sports Rituals Ever
#10: Ecuadorian National Soccer Team's "Witch Doctor"
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the Ecuador national team went to amazing lengths to win. They enlisted an Ecuadorian mystic – or, if you will, a Witch Doctor – to banish spirits from all of the pitches that Ecuador would play on. And can you blame them? The 39th ranked Ecuadorian team beat 29th ranked Poland and 26th ranked Costa Rica in the group stage, allowing them to advance to the Round of 16. In the end, they lost to England by a single goal, but it still begs the question: why don't all teams have Witch Doctors?
#9: John Henderson's Pregame Slap
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The grounding effect of rituals often provides an athlete an increased sense of comfort and control before a big performance, regardless of the stakes or stage. John Henderson’s ritual turns this convention on its head by having his assistant team trainer slap him in the face prior to every game. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle explained that being slapped in the face was a crucial part of his preparation because the attendant pain and adrenaline would stimulate him to reach the intense mental state needed for a football game.
#8: MLB No-Hitter Silence
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The ritual surrounding a no-hitter in progress is a perfect example of how far superstitious minds will go to find reasons for bad luck. When a pitcher has a confirmed no-hitter on the horizon, a number of rituals are observed, and one of these is the complete lack of mention of what is happening by the television announcers. This dates back to 1947, when a Yankees no-hitter was ended on what would have been the final out, moments after it was mentioned by the broadcaster. Despite the physical distance between the broadcasters and the pitcher, many people still believe that any mention of a no-hitter or even a perfect game will bring bad luck.
#7: Chatting with the Bike
Pre-game sport rituals often revolve around an athlete’s equipment, and many athletes are very careful with how they prepare their gear. MotoGP star Valentino Rossi takes this one step further, as he literally has a conversation with his motorcycle as part of his pre-race ritual. After watching the event prior to his, he ties his boots a very specific distance from his bike. Once this is done, he kneels next to his motorcycle, grabs the right footpeg, and has a brief discussion with it to make sure they are both on the same page.
#6: Drinking Milk After Winning the Indy 500
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For decades, it has been tradition for the winner of the Indianapolis 500 to generously drink a bottle of milk moments after their victory. This began in 1936, when Louis Meyer - a frequent milk drinker - consumed his preferred beverage after winning the race. Legend has it that this scene was noticed by a Milk Foundation executive, who insisted on having milk presented to the winners of subsequent races. A brief period between 1947 and 1955 notwithstanding, drinking milk became a tradition at Indy - all because a milk executive wanted to increase his sales!
#5: Soccer's Exchanging of the Jerseys
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This humanizing display of sportsmanship originated in 1931, when an over-matched French team was so excited to have beaten England that they asked to keep their opponents’ jerseys to commemorate the unlikely accomplishment. The tradition lives on today as a safe haven for sportsmanship in the otherwise ruthlessly competitive world of international football. This ritual is very special for the fans and the players, as the turmoil involved in cheering or playing for major football clubs is put aside for a few moments, all for players to express their mutual respect.
#4: Patrick Roy Talking to His Goal Posts
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One of the most superstitious goalies in the history of the NHL, Patrick Roy was a dominant force for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche throughout his career. But Roy was also known to have a number of very particular habits. Before a game, he would always follow a very specific order for putting on his equipment. Then, once the game started, Patrick Roy would not step on the lines on the ice. The strangest of these rituals, however, involved regular conversations with his goal posts, usually to thank them for deflecting the pucks out of the net.
#3: Michael Jordan's Powder Clap
Michael Jordan is one of the fiercest competitors of all time, even when his competition is a courtside announcer. Before the start of games in which Johnny Kerr was commentating, Jordan would try to clap his hands with powder right in front of Kerr’s desk, in order to cover his suit with the white dust. This ritual was caught a number of times by the cameras, as Kerr would respond creatively with props to avoid the mess. On one such occasion, he had an umbrella ready for the attack, causing Jordan to laugh at his foiled attempt.
#2: NHL's Playoff Beards
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As far as sports go, hockey has some truly out there rituals - see Detroit's Octopus obsession (xref) - but few are as grizzly as the NHL playoff beard. Started in the 1980s by the New York Islanders, playoff players refrain from shaving until they reach total victory, or elimination. This ritual provides a strong sense of kinship and pride among the players, representing the pain they’ve endured, and the length of time since the beginning of the playoff journey. Meanwhile, players like Joe Thornton and Brent Burns have taken the hockey beard aesthetic to new heights, and this has translated into a number of fantastic playoff beards. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Beer Shower at the DFB-Pokal Final The Green Bay Packers Lambeau Leap Nadal's Water Bottle Fixation
#1: New Zealand Men's National Rugby Union Team’s Haka
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This might be the fiercest display of competitive energy we have ever seen. A traditional war cry that challenges the opponent and tells of the tribe’s history, the Haka was first performed at a rugby game by the New Zealand Native team in 1888. Used only at away matches until 1986, this Māori challenge, or posture dance, is now a pregame ritual for every All Blacks game. While the opposing teams respond to this ritual in various ways, it always has an extremely powerful effect for the athletes that perform it. The Haka is so dear to rugby players that it was performed at the funerals of rugby greats Jonah Lomu and Jerry Collins.
