If you asked me if I was a superstitious person, I would probably tell you no. I have never thought of myself as superstitious but after the Cubs run to become World Series Champions, I started to rethink that position.
I recently bought a new blue hooded sweatshirt, a color that tends to work well with my complexion and my eye color. Without much thought, I happened to wear it when the Cubs played in the second game of the World Series, which they ended up winning.
I threw the sweatshirt in the laundry and didn’t think anything about it. I pulled the hoodie out of the closet to wear during Beggar’s Night and, as luck would have it, the Cubs won again that night.
It was after that night a thought struck me, maybe I have a lucky sweatshirt. I am a logical person, and I know me wearing a certain sweatshirt 300 to 600 miles away from the game, depending on the Chicago or Cleveland location, really has nothing to do with the outcome of the baseball game. But once it was in my head, there was no way I wasn’t going to wear the sweatshirt during the next game.
Game six came and went with another Chicago win and my beliefs confirmed that I needed to wear the sweatshirt, no matter what.
To get a little extra luck, I decided to wear the sweatshirt the entire day of game seven. With the unusually warm temperatures this November, by the time the game came around I was a little hot, but for the Cubs, I kept it on.
The game, if you didn’t watch, was very intense and ended up going into extra innings. I was sweating and wanted nothing more than to take off the sweatshirt, but if something went wrong and the Cubs didn’t pull it out, I would always have it in the back of my mind.
Well, as most people have heard, the Cubs did win their first World Series in 108 years. I know my new blue sweatshirt really had nothing to do with the success, but I like to think I helped where I could.
After my sweatshirt experience, I started to think of other areas where I am a little superstitious. I always wear Hawkeye gear on game day, all day, even with a win or loss.
I also dress my kids in Hawkeye apparel when there is a game. Since they are kids and tend to get dirty, sometimes they end up in different clothes before or during the game. Now, I know the Hawks aren’t having the greatest year, but it felt like they started playing worse if the girls changed, so now, if possible, I keep them dressed as little Hawkeyes, at least until the game is over.
My husband also joined in last year when he declared he wasn’t shaving his beard until Iowa lost. We could have never predicted a 12-0 regular season or how unruly his beard could really be, but he did stick it out for more than three months.
I know it is all silly and my choice of clothing has nothing to do with the outcome of any sporting events, but it is still fun to play along.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson
at jpierson@newtondailynews.com