Ohhhhhh Canada

[rabbito]

http://www.stat-magic.com/images/celebration_150.jpgIt should have been a given that the Avs would fail, all that hype and the question in goal doomed them from start. Canada gets a team in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in a decade. The Calgary Flames were projected at the beginning of...
Full Article

[kingsfan789]

dont follow hockey much but never wouldve put calgary on the map to win. btw, what is stat-magic?

[rabbito]

It is a theory of mine that when an announcer spits out some stat like "Barry Bonds has never shattered someone's head with a foul ball before" then the next pitch shatters Johnny's head...that is stat-magic.

This is not a plug for my site, visit or don't visit. But this: http://www.stat-magic.com/modules.ph...yes&id_cat=1#1

splain's it's origination.

[jtg33]

I've noticed things like that before, only I've noticed "The Five Out Curse" much more often.

[Ishkur]

Stat magic, eh? In hockey, we call this "jinxing" or "self-fulfilling prophecy".

For instance: it is impolite at ANY TIME during a hockey game where a goalie is on the verge of a shut out, to say the words "shut out". For doing so jinxes the goalie, and the next shot will go in. Every time. Broadcasters (that is, Canadian broadcasters) take extra special care to try not to even think about it in the dying moments of a game, let alone say it. I've noticed ABC and ESPN announcers not having as much tact, brandishing the word around all the time. It makes me want to hurl things at the TV.

Players also have routines, superstitions, and a myriad of other things they MUST do before a game to give them that headspace/comfort zone that will let them excel. Certain pads must be put on in order, right leg first, tape wrapped twice and only twice, etc..... it's crazy. If you ever get to a hockey game early, watch the goalies. Every one in the league has his own pre-game ritual: tapping both posts, balancing under the crossbar, hitting the crossbar with the puck, piling snow up, skating around the net 3 times, or whatever.

In football they just pray. Because, you know, God really cares if you catch the ball or make a first down.

But athletes have always been alarmingly superstitious. Whatever works, I guess. Sorry for the threadjack.

[rabbito]

Originally Posted by Ishkur

Stat magic, eh? In hockey, we call this "jinxing" or "self-fulfilling prophecy".

For instance: it is impolite at ANY TIME during a hockey game where a goalie is on the verge of a shut out, to say the words "shut out". For doing so jinxes the goalie, and the next shot will go in. Every time. Broadcasters (that is, Canadian broadcasters) take extra special care to try not to even think about it in the dying moments of a game, let alone say it. I've noticed ABC and ESPN announcers not having as much tact, brandishing the word around all the time. It makes me want to hurl things at the TV.

Players also have routines, superstitions, and a myriad of other things they MUST do before a game to give them that headspace/comfort zone that will let them excel. Certain pads must be put on in order, right leg first, tape wrapped twice and only twice, etc..... it's crazy. If you ever get to a hockey game early, watch the goalies. Every one in the league has his own pre-game ritual: tapping both posts, balancing under the crossbar, hitting the crossbar with the puck, piling snow up, skating around the net 3 times, or whatever.

In football they just pray. Because, you know, God really cares if you catch the ball or make a first down.

But athletes have always been alarmingly superstitious. Whatever works, I guess. Sorry for the threadjack.

No need to be sorry man, that is what it is all about! Don't talk about a no hitter, etc.

[SatanHimself]

Superstition like that is so silly.

Yes, you don't want to mention to the goalie himself anything about the shutout. DUH.

But saying something about it on TV? Get real.

[rabbito]

Originally Posted by SatanHimself

Superstition like that is so silly.

Yes, you don't want to mention to the goalie himself anything about the shutout. DUH.

But saying something about it on TV? Get real.

I am not saying it happens without fail, but watch sometime...announcers pick key moments to drop stats then the next play, whamo. It is also partly satire ya prick, now go back to sleep.

[boner26]

Originally Posted by Ishkur

Stat magic, eh? In hockey, we call this "jinxing" or "self-fulfilling prophecy".

For instance: it is impolite at ANY TIME during a hockey game where a goalie is on the verge of a shut out, to say the words "shut out". For doing so jinxes the goalie, and the next shot will go in. Every time. Broadcasters (that is, Canadian broadcasters) take extra special care to try not to even think about it in the dying moments of a game, let alone say it. I've noticed ABC and ESPN announcers not having as much tact, brandishing the word around all the time. It makes me want to hurl things at the TV.

Players also have routines, superstitions, and a myriad of other things they MUST do before a game to give them that headspace/comfort zone that will let them excel. Certain pads must be put on in order, right leg first, tape wrapped twice and only twice, etc..... it's crazy. If you ever get to a hockey game early, watch the goalies. Every one in the league has his own pre-game ritual: tapping both posts, balancing under the crossbar, hitting the crossbar with the puck, piling snow up, skating around the net 3 times, or whatever.

In football they just pray. Because, you know, God really cares if you catch the ball or make a first down.

But athletes have always been alarmingly superstitious. Whatever works, I guess. Sorry for the threadjack.

I was like that in High School. I wore the same pair of underware, socks, and undershirt for every soccer game my senior year. And yes I washed them after each use. I put on each shinguard the same way, taped my socks around the ankles the same, wore the socks on the same foot each game, ect. I didn't even shave or get a haircut for 6 months.

In fact I still have all the undercloths packed away in a box somplace. They have special meaning because we went to the state semi's that year - a first in 14 years.

[rabbito]

Yeah I had a sleeveless Grateful Dead t-shirt my brother gave me when I was in high school that I wore under my jersey for every basketball game I played in both HS and College. The ONE friggin game I didn't have it on (banged some dirty whore in college and she woke up and put it on without me knowing one morning, I thought I lost it) I blew my ankle and knee out.

worst.day.evar

[boner26]

Originally Posted by Stat-Magic

Yeah I had a sleeveless Grateful Dead t-shirt my brother gave me when I was in high school that I wore under my jersey for every basketball game I played in both HS and College. The ONE friggin game I didn't have it on (banged some dirty whore in college and she woke up and put it on without me knowing one morning, I thought I lost it) I blew my ankle and knee out.

worst.day.evar

That friggen sucks. I tried to carry that over to college too, but when you put you underwear on and you balls are hanging out the holes, then it's time to put them away. Besides, our team sucked! We were 4-12-2 my first year and 9-7 my second (I play community college, hence only 2 years played). I still have the undershirt, I wear that on ocassion under my jersey for our mens league games.