What do athletes believe in? 5 beliefs that even Ronaldo and Ovechkin reckon with

Almost everyone has their own superstitions, omens – small or big, some are taken seriously, others are adhered to unconsciously. Some always look in the mirror if they have to return home, and some avoid black cats. Athletes are also superstitious people, especially when it comes to potential victories. And in each sport luck is attracted in a different way. In a special project of “Championship” and McDonald’s, which for the eighth time organizes Monopoly, we tell you what real pros believe in.

The playoff beard

This is perhaps one of the most recognizable sports omens in the world. Players in leagues ranging from amateur to the NHL don’t shave during the playoffs. For the final games, real beards take to the ice. Three-time world champion Alexander Ovechkin, the captain of the Washington Capitals, also lets his beard go during the season.

This tradition was born almost by accident – in 1980 and, of course, in the NHL. Back then, the New York Islanders were playing almost consecutive games – the players barely had time to recover, let alone shave. Coincidence or not, the Islanders won several games in a row, and beards became their mascot. That season, the team won their first Stanley Cup. And then, still growing beards, took the main trophy four more times in a row. Then even the most unbelieving NHL players had to believe in the omen.

Step from the right

The legendary Brazilian Ronaldo was one of the first to talk about this omen. The footballer admitted that he tries to go on the field only with the right foot – then the match is successful and the victory is sure to be for his team. Cristiano Ronaldo is of the same opinion. The Portuguese also steps onto the pitch only with his right foot.

Both Ronaldo and Ronaldo are right-handed, so this omen can be explained somehow. But it is interesting that Roberto Carlos, who, unlike his colleagues, is left-handed, also believed in it.

Luck spit

To attract good luck, many baseball players spit on their gloves. Some believe this has a practical purpose – it’s supposedly a way for players to get rid of excess dirt on their gloves and improve their grip on the ball. But spitting on the ball is forbidden in baseball – by the official rules of Major League Baseball.

It’s hard to say who was the first to observe this tradition. But actively spit baseball players since the XIX century – then chewing tobacco was popular and even athletes were fond of it.

Covers are the key to success

Skaters have a lot of superstitions connected with skate covers. Before going out on the ice, athletes themselves remove them from the blades and carefully unfold them. Until the performance is over, no one should touch or move the covers. It is believed that if someone touches them (some competitors even do it on purpose), the skater will certainly fall.

For example, Ilya Averbukh always put the covers on the side of the ice arena, and parallel to each other. And many pairs skaters, including Natalia Bestemyanova and Andrei Bukin, put the covers flat and synchronized.

“The curse of white lines.”

Almost all tennis players – even those who won’t admit it – try to avoid the white lines until the ball is put into play. Some blame their failures on the court on the “curse of the markings.” Maria Sharapova and Goran Ivanisevic, for example, adhered to this omen.

In general, tennis players are among the most superstitious athletes. Almost every player has his own omens, and not one or even two. For example, some hit the ball on the ground a certain number of times before serving, and others eat bananas just before the start of the match.

Victor Terentyev (St. Petersburg)

winner of the McDonald’s Monopoly, won an apartment in the last drawing.

To be honest, I don’t have a specific ritual. But I still believe in some omens. They say if your left hand itches, it’s good for money, right? I’ve had it a couple times. In general, we didn’t chase prizes, and in general, we didn’t really believe that we could win something serious.

I was at work when I got a call from an unknown number and a girl told me that I had won an apartment. I didn’t believe it at first and started looking for information on the Internet. I told my wife – she didn’t believe it either, she said that I had been scammed by jokers on the phone. In general, I really realized what had happened only when I came to the apartment and got the keys.