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Luck: The story of a little green headband
I’ll admit it — I have a superstitious side. With the Mavericks on their playoff run, each game is a nerve-wracking roller coaster ride, and I’m always examining my actions to see if something is “good luck” or “bad luck.”
Before Game 1 of the Mavericks vs. Memphis series, I whipped out a fresh green headband to work the game. Don’t want to go into the playoffs with a grimy headband, of course!
NBA fans will already know that the Mavericks won Game 1. I didn’t attribute the win to my headband, but I certainly wasn’t going to change headbands after an important win. I wore the headband for all four games of the Memphis series, and the Mavericks won all four.
During the first game of the San Antonio series, however, I forgot to wear the headband. And what happened? The Mavericks lost. Some people would blame the loss on poor free throw shooting. Me? I blamed it on not wearing the headband.
I brought the headband back for the next three games, all wins for the Mavericks, as they went up 3-1 in the San Antonio series. For those keeping score, this made the green headband 7-0. A pretty impressive stat.
After that 3rd game, a home game, I was feeling great after thinking that the Mavs had that series won for sure. Walking out of the building in plain clothes, a kid recognized me from working the game and asked for a tshirt. I was like, hey, sorry bud, I’m out of stuff — catch me next time. So the kid then asked for the headband I was wearing.
I quickly gave a safe response — “Oh, no way dude, it’s soaking wet and covered in sweat. I’ve worked like 4 games in this thing. It’s gross.”
And much to my surprise — and my chagrin — the kid responsed, “Oh, awesome! It’s game worn! Please let me have it!”
What could I say to that? I told him it was lucky, and that if I gave it to him he’d HAVE to wear it during Mavericks games, and gave it to him.
Historians know what happens next: the Mavericks lose two games in a row. At this point, I’m about to put out an APB for this headband. I’ve got my finger firmly planted on the panic button. Game 7 is coming, and there’s no headband. I had tried a different green headband for game 5, and a blue headband for game 6, with no luck. Do I try a white headband? Maybe a ballcap?
I had to really force myself to give up trying to find something lucky. I got a few inner members of the posse together for a quiet, focused watching party with no headgear. And the Mavericks won.
We declared that group the “lucky” group and I got the 4 guests tickets to Game 1 against Phoenix — which the Mavericks promptly lost. So much for that.
The Mavericks have since won 2 games in a row against Phoenix, and I haven’t done anything in particular special. I think the concept of “luck” is clearly a human construct devised to feel in control of a situation you have no control over — I just forget that sometimes. I think the universe is trying to reinforce that.
Either that, or the kid remembered to wear the headband again.
Mon May 29th, 2006 11:30 pm
Filed under Dallas Mavericks, Life
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I don’t remember which game, but I tried battle meditation to improve the Mavs performance. Ya know in Return of the Jedi, when the Emperor is looking out of the Death Star at the battle and the Rebels are getting their clocks cleaned. Like that, except I’m not a Dark Lord of the Sith (yet).
So I tried that, and it seemed to work OK, but it required a lot more focus than I can muster when there are six dogs in the house. So I decided to let the Mavericks be professionals and just play. Seemed to work out OK.
Yeah, at games, I do that on free throws. I do everything I can to will in Maverick free throws and will out opponent free throws. The Hoop Troop leads the free throw distraction, but along with that I try to send miss rays. I think it works sometimes. Six dogs in the house???????
I bet the kid just remembered. I believe in luck, but it’s complicated how I believe in it. Like, I think we believe hard enough that some fucking energy swirls around, and something happens. It’s all about molecules and shit.
But you know how I roll, when it comes to god and all that other woo woo stuff.
I do know how you roll. And I don’t think the Bible explicitly says that God is a guy sitting on top of a cloud with a big beard and trident or something. I think the whole “God as ‘energy’” is not only valid but completely consistent with established religions, if not “accepted.”
Maybe karma / luck / whatever works sort of like an election. One green headband alone won’t do, but if you put 3,000,000 of them together, then the tide turns. Your vote alone won’t win the election, but if a lot of people think like you, each individual vote is still important. Or something along those lines.