http://www.wedg.com/superstition/

Playoffs mark a special time for sports fans... time to become so engrossed in the game that we believe in our hearts - every little bit we can do will help our team to greatness. We're all for that. In fact, we'll help you.

We've put together a panel of superstition board members that, with your help, will make superstition become law. Together with our rabbit's feet and smelly unwashed socks we can help our team accomplish the task at hand. Feel free to contribute your stories, questions, examples and amendments at the bottom.

SECTION I: "LUCKY" CLOTHING

A. Lucky Clothing
Any item of clothing worn during a win is considered "lucky". The clothing items worn closest to your skin, such as underwear and socks, are more "lucky" by design.
B. Lucky Clothing Maintenance
Lucky clothing items must not be washed, and must be worn during consecutive games. Undergarments may be washed, but only on an even day and only if there is no game on the even day. No lucky clothing items may be washed on game day. Ever.
C. Lucky Tokens
Similar to lucky clothing items, lucky tokens are also known as superstition TNT. They can be extremely effective, but are also known to be volitile and complicated.
Tokens are sticklers to routine. If you hold a token in your hand for one game, you must hold it the exact same way the next for it to work. If you forget your token, you are doomed. In fact, don't even watch the game... you're better off reading the headlines in the paper.

Tokens are also known for abandoning a habit within an instant. If you are usuing your token correctly and your team runs into misfortune, your token is being a bitch - YOU MUST ADOPT A NEW HABIT IMMEDIATELY! You will know when your token is happy with it's new routine.

Examples of tokens: Rabbits feet, Coins, rubber nipples, etc...

(Amendment credit to Domenic Licata)

SECTION II:  JINXING

Read closely as this is the most powerful superstition known to man. A. Jinx
A jinx is better known as a curse. Making predictions or stating a fact that can be overturned is a jinx. "Our team has never lost when we're up by 3." "Woah, we could have a shutout" are examples of jinxing.
Some jinxes are more potent than others. The most powerful jinxes contain an "absolute" (like always & never) an d/or one of the "7 Dirty Words of Superstitions".

B. God Complex
This term only applies to conversations with fellow fans. When conversing with opposing team fans see...
Part of superstition is the understanding that you have some control over the outcome of a match you're not physically participating in. This power must be humbled. You can easily upset and temp fate by making a prediction based on nothing. To make a prediction you must cite seven facts.

C. Wood Knocking
Knocking on wood has been done for centuries in all aspects of life to ward off evil and avoid the tempting of fate.
Knock at least two times on a piece of wood to combat a jinx. More potent jinxes require more forceful and frequent knocking.

D. The Woody
We recommend that you have a piece of wood, referred to as a "woody" with you at all times. We understand that this can be a security risk in some venues we will allow and recommend the option of a travel size woody. Woody size does not matter as long as the surface area is wide enough to accommodate four leprechaun knuckles… we speculate this to be two and a half inches in width. Better make it three to be safe.
Woody's may only be touched by a person rooting for your team.

D. Seven Dirty Words
Repeating any of these words is against the law within 1 hour of game time, during the game, on the property where the game is being played.
1. &hutout
2. &weep
3. We're gonna win that cup (especially when followed by "yeah yeah")
4. &weep
5. &hutout
6. &hutout
7. We're out of Bud Light.

Ok so there's 10 words.

SECTION III:  FACIAL HAIR

A. Forming of "Playoff" Facial Hair
Playoff facial hair is a commitment.
Facial hair is considered a "playoff beard" or "rally stash" only when it is announced OR worn during two consecutive wins.

If you announce that your facial hair is growing for luck, it is a play-off beard. If someone else points out that you have facial hair and mentions the words "playoff" or "rally" within seven words of "beard" or "stash" it IS a play off beard.

The only exceptions to this rule are military personnel or Chuck Norris.

B. Acceptable forms of facial hair
The following are acceptable forms of playoff facial hair: Full Beard, Mustache, Holywoodian, Mutton Chops, A la Souvarov, French Fork, Handlebar Mustache with and without chin puff, Van Dyke, Friendly Mutton Chops, Balbo, Short Boxed Beard, Goatee, Chin Curtain, Hulihee, Petit Goatee, Franz-Josef, Anchor, and Napoleon III Imperial.

B. Maintaining Playoff Beards and Rally Stashes
1. You must NEVER change the style of facial hair for the entire playoff run. For example, you may not start with a Van Dyke and switch to a Blabo at any point during the playoff run.
2. You may not trim around your facial hair on a game day. In fact it is best to trim around your facial hair only on even days.
3. Do not trim your beard or stash at all during the play off run. If your beard is growing widely out of hand and your job is at risk, we recommend combing your beard with conditioner.
4. Braiding your facial hair is unacceptable unless you are in a band.

SECTION IV:  RULES AND HABITS

A. Seating Habits
At the start of a game, viewers may watch from any seat or space of choice. "You move, you lose" rule will apply until the first goal that is scored in your favor. Wherever you are seated at the time of the first goal in your teams favor is your permanent seat for the duration of the game. If you leave your seat, you have the right to demand it back. If the person in your seat refuses to give it back, they are a nay-sayer and must be treated accordingly.
B. Forming Of Habits
1. As a general rule, all habits are to be repeated in precisely the same manor for each instance.
2. Forming of Habits
A habit is formed if an act or action is performed precisely the same way during consecutive wins.
A habit is considered a necessary habit if the streak continues for five or more games. Necessary habits may not be discontinued.

3. Habits may only be discontinued if the amount of losses exceeds the amount of wins.

SECTION V:  OPPOSING TEAM FANS

A. Traitors
A traitor is a person who resides in the same 50-mile radius as you, but roots for an opposing team. Handle traitors with caution, as they can also steal your wife and your food. Whenever the opposing team scores, the traitor must be verbally abused or pelted with objects. Note, woody's must not be thrown. Your woody may only be touched by persons rooting for your team.
Traitors may only be addressed by an incorrect pronunciation of the opposing team. They gave up their identity when they chose the opposing team.

B. Bastards
Opposing team fans are to be treated as traitors. True opposing team fans are given due respect only if they reside in the city or area which the team is from. Due respect comes in the form of double the amount of heckling and profanity used when communicating with opposing team fans.

SECTION VI:  POSITIVITY

If your team is losing or you're experiencing a great deal of negativity around you there are five things you can do to fend off the demons. Be advised: the more you do any of these the less strong they are. Save them until the past possible moment when you're in dire straights. 1. Rally Cap - Turn your hat inside out.
2. Rally Jersey - Turn your jersey inside out.
3. Sing the national anthem "loud and proud".
4. Confess a deep secret with a stranger. (note phrases like "I have crabs" and "I ate the last donut" may fill the room with negativity).
5. Pray. To whatever you believe in... and pray well.

SECTION VII:  NEGATIVITY

It's very important to eliminate all negative feelings and worry come game time. If you have a bad feeling about the upcoming game... it's probably due to one of these negative personalities in your presence. A. Nay-Sayers
If an individual that does not believe in superstitions is in your presence during a game, that person is a nay-sayer. Nay-sayers must be referred to as "it" and must not be looked in the eye for the remainder of the game.
We've found this to be extremely difficult when loved ones display nay-sayer personality symptoms. We recommend taking the above action followed by a statement like "I think I got all crazed from eating the nutmeg" after the game. Your loved one will assume you were "trippin on the meg" and will ignore your seemingly rude behavior.

B. Bad Vibers
If a group or individual is in your presence for two consecutive losses, that group or individual are now bad vibers. They ruin the positive aura and must not be allowed to view the game in the same 30-foot area. The only exceptions to this rule is arenas, hot chicks, and chuck Norris.

SECTION VIII:  CELEBRATION

Celebrations should be treated as habits (see "Habits Section"). Celebration may occur at any point during the game as long as a precedent is met. For example: If you celebrate a successful penalty kill by your team, you must always celebrate a successful penalty kill by your team. Don't celebrate everything unless you're in it for the "long-haul." A. Acceptable Forms of Celebration
The Cheers – touch bottles, glasses.
The Hatrick - throwing your hat to the ice when a member of your team scores three goals in one game.
The High Five (all variations acceptable . For example: . Low five, two handed or double slap)
The pound (two fists meet activating wonder twin powers)
Chest bumping is acceptable only for females
Lesbian acts

B. Unacceptable Forms of Celebration
Hugging
Hand Shaking
Slapping of the buttocks
Silence
High five routine (also known as frat boy hand shakes)
Calling someone on a cell phones

SECTION IX:  ANDREW PETERS CLAUSE

If Andrew Peters scores a goal rules do not apply for the duration of the game. Anarchy ensues.