I like to think of the Alan Michael Show as a place where weird is welcome. I would wager though that the types of oddities we broach on this show often include dark topics like conspiracies of collusion and dark forces. Today I would like to tackle another area of strange, but far less sinister in context. It is the world of superstitions, particularly the world of hair superstitions. And not to brag but this is a kind of area of expertise for yours truly; you see not only was my tee ball team as a child sponsored by a local Pittsburgh hair salon, “Hair with Flair,” but my mother is also a world class hair stylist, and I myself partake in follicle fashion of fate.
For centuries athletes have been trying to sway the hands of fate in their direction through various superstitious ceremonies and choices of attire. Some say wearing the same under garments for weeks at a time because it was thought to be lucky dates back to the Roman Chariot races. Then we have the popular superstitions of modern times including playoff beards, buzz cuts, stylized hair-dos, hair coloring, and even toe nail painting. Hockey players and Baseball players are believed to be some of the most superstitious groups of athletes. I will not argue that although you have many football players and fighters who are just as worried about tempting fate. Chris Leben famously dyed his entire head blood red on the very first season of UFC’s Ultimate Fighter and the Argentina national Soccer team had the same guy cut the hair of the entire team’s hair and some credit this man for giving Maradona the power to utilize the Hand of God. Other sports are littered with hair superstitions but Baseball and Hockey do indeed take the cake.
Hockey of course owns the distinction of inventing the “playoff beard.” A superstition that spans all sports and walks of life. Not only do players go unshaven during long stretches of time in hopes it will help them win, but so do bachelors on a hot streak (if you know what I mean) and even radio men looking for a really good rating during the ratings period. I myself grow a playoff beard for all of my favorite teams. My Pittsburgh Pirate beards have never really gotten past the stubble stage.
You may call it O.C.D., but Sidney Crosby looking like Zorro has brought him three Stanley Cups. That is why I am glad Paul Mainieri caved when pressured to allow Kramer Robertson and the other LSU Tigers who changed up their hair hoping it would bring better fortune to the team. Sure it can be attention grabbing and your players look ridiculous, but Mainieri needs to understand that what his players have done was a ritual that resulted in a victory. Players will grow or change their hair, not only in hopes that it will provide good luck, but to also tap into an even deeper confidence that the comfort of the superstition brings and when you are in places like Omaha for the College World Series confidence is all that matters, whether it’s brought on by a superstition or not.