Though the outcome of every game depends on each side’s skill and preparation, many athletes believe that there’s also something else at work. Sports are full of interesting and quirky superstitions and rituals. For example, Michael Jordan wore his college basketball shorts under his Bulls uniform, while baseball pitcher Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth after every inning. Here are just a few of the most popular athletic superstitions:

• Spitting

Next time you watch a baseball game, count the number of times you see a player spit! Though it’s believed that spitting on a bat brings good luck, this definitely isn’t the most sanitary superstition. Spitting out bits of chewing tobacco or sunflower seeds has also been an integral part of the sport for decades.

• Lucky Gear and Apparel

When athletes win a game or match, they often try to establish a cause-and-effect pattern in order to ensure future victories. For example, a player may attribute his team’s victory to a particular bat or a lucky pair of socks. Often, these players take this conclusion to the extreme by refusing to wash an item, lest the luck be washed away with the dirt, grime, and sweat.

• Pre-Game Meal

Every athlete wants to be sure that his mind and body are adequately prepared before a big game. Sometimes this means gorging on a certain kind of food—baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs famously ate chicken before every game. Other athletes eat chili dogs, steak and potatoes, or other similarly messy meals before their big moments.

Though these rituals and superstitions may work wonders for athletes’ performances, they’re not always the most sanitary or sweet-smelling. In order to make game day a little more bearable, try the odor-eliminating products from OdorBalance. For more information, call us today at (410) 975-5367.