Yesterday I finished up last week's Sports Illustrated and the "Point After" by Phil Taylor entitled "That Voodoo That You Do" got me thinking as I mentally prepare for another Red River Shootout between my Texas Longhorns and the hated Sooners of Oklahoma.
Phil basically talked about some of the funny or outlandish things that we do as fans to help our team win or sometimes cause them to lose because we've jinxed them.
The reason it touched a chord was because it made me think of the things I've done through the years wardrobe-wise when it came to my 'Horns, Spurs, or Cowboys.
- I've gone entire seasons wearing the same shirt, jersey, or shorts (washed of course) for each game, that is, until said team lost.
- I've changed outfits at halftime of games.
- I've "rallied" my cap, even though I don't like baseball (unless it's the Horns).
- I've searched the house for either the Longhorn cowbell, the stuffed Bevo that makes noise, or that particular cap I was wearing in some random comeback.
- I've insisted that my wife change shirts because she was wearing my team's color and they were about to play or were in the middle of losing. (disclaimer - this theory was developed by my wife, because she started wearing Longhorn gear and they'd lose. Hence, making her change.)
- I've changed my daughter's onesie, shorts, or put a hat on her, simply because she may have been the cause for whatever bad thing may or may not have been happening at the moment.
- Most of my friends know not to call me and ask any questions during or immediately following a game for fear of ruining the outcome for me (since I often like to DVR games and start them late so as to skip commercials and random commentary/features on unimportant opponents).
- I have insisted that my family leave a wedding reception because the Horns were in trouble. (insert your own reason why you must leave a wedding reception). I then watched for several minutes in my suit once home before I realized that I had to put on my "game attire."
- And finally, I have locked out my friends because they threatened to come back to my house during a Longhorn comeback.
I'm sure there are other things I've done that I just can't remember, and you can be the judge whether we fans have any direct or indirect effect on whether our team wins or loses...but I will not tempt fate. Besides, the last 2 items I listed directly helped the Texas Longhorns win the National Championship in 2005. We left the reception while the Horns were losing to Ohio State at the Horseshoe (The comeback and miraculous catch by Limas Sweed happened after I changed my clothes!). And my buddies John and Tim came to watch the Texas/USC Championship game with me at my house. They left with 5-6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. And after Texas started to comeback they called me asking if they could come back and I told them there was no way they would be allowed back in my house! And you know what happened next...
