Die meist übergläubigen Fanschörer ligen in den großen Profisportligen
In the world of professional sports, superstitions are a common and intriguing aspect that unites fans and players alike. A recent survey conducted in July 2023 with over 3,000 U.S. and Canadian sports fans revealed some fascinating insights into the prevalence of superstitions across various leagues and fan bases.
The survey found that 44.4% of sports fans wear a certain colour before the big game, either their lucky colour or team colours. This trend was particularly noticeable in the Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS), with MLB ranking third, followed by NHL and MLS respectively in terms of superstition prevalence.
The average age of respondents was 37.9 years old, and the sample was representative of the general population, with 58.6% male, 39.4% female, 1.5% non-binary, 0.4% transgender, and other 0.1%.
Some sports fans go to great lengths to maintain their lucky streaks, such as avoiding placing bets on their supporting team (6%) or following traditions like watching the game in a specific place (8.6%). Others even have specific meals they eat on game day because they believe it brings success to their team (6.4%). Remarkably, 4.4% of sports fans go out of their way to watch the game without a certain family member or friend because they believe they're bad luck.
One intriguing example of superstition comes from the Green Bay Packers fan base, where some fans have a long history of wearing the same pieces of clothing to each game unwashed. Similarly, the Chicago Bears fan base takes fifth place as the most superstitious NFL team, with fans wearing a certain colour, a lucky piece of clothing, or listening to a lucky song.
Notably, the NFL has four out of six teams on the superstitious chart, making it the most superstitious major professional sports league. Among NFL teams, the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers fans are the most superstitious, with the latter tend to play online casino or betting games before the game.
In the MLB, the New York Yankees fans are the most superstitious, with some previous players like Roger Clemens and Jason Giambi having unique superstitions, such as touching a statue or wearing a golden thong. The NBA ranks as the second most superstitious sports league, with Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers fans being the most superstitious across all five major professional sports leagues.
In other professional leagues such as the Chinese Professional Football League (CFL/CSL), there have been recent penalties imposed on teams for using superstitious charms or symbols in competition, showing a notable presence of superstition but also a regulatory pushback against it.
Hockey and baseball leagues, and their respective traditional fan bases, hold some of the most deeply ingrained superstitious cultures in professional sports. In hockey, the Stanley Cup and its associated rituals and taboos make NHL fans and players notably superstitious. In baseball, superstitions such as wearing lucky items, pre-game routines, and avoiding stepping on foul lines are common among fans and players.
In conclusion, superstitions play a significant role in the world of professional sports, with hockey and baseball leagues leading the way in terms of deeply ingrained superstitious cultures. While other leagues like football in China show emerging but often discouraged superstitious practices, the passion and belief in luck that superstitions bring to sports fans and players are undeniable.
- In the Major League Baseball (MLB), some players, like Roger Clemens and Jason Giambi, have unique superstitions, such as touching a statue or wearing a golden thong.
- The NBA ranks as the second most superstitious sports league, with Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers fans being the most superstitious across all five major professional sports leagues.
- Notably, the National Football League (NFL) has four out of six teams on the superstitious chart, making it the most superstitious major professional sports league.
- In the NHL, hockey's traditional fan base, the Stanley Cup and its associated rituals and taboos make fans and players notably superstitious.
- Some NFL fans, particularly those of the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, tend to play online casino or betting games before the game.
- In the Green Bay Packers fan base, some fans have a long history of wearing the same pieces of clothing to each game unwashed.
