While sitting at a football game on a recent night, my friends and I cheered loudly.
We happily called out “Defense!” with the crowd, chanted “Hey-hey you-you get out of our way!” and all but came out of our seats as we bellowed, “Watch for the onside kick!”
Oh yeah, we were just that good.
Despite our cheering and our best attempt at playing good sports fans at a sporting event, the other team scored. Then our team failed to block the extra point and had a miserable run when it came to the kickoff.
Realizing that Lady Luck was not on our side, my colleagues and I took a good look around us and took inventory. Trixie had on her lucky hat, Genny was sporting her blessed necklace and Mabel was wearing none other than the same pair of green socks that she had worn to every game since our team began its winning season last August.
Some might think our actions illogical and others might think that we are nothing short of superstitious. Still, anyone who is anyone knows that the best sports fans leave little to chance, and if a kid wearing his lucky skivvies is what it takes for your team to have a winning season, then so be it.
When our receiver fumbled the ball, we knew that something had to be askew. It was our Karen, who is wise beyond her years, who realized what it was.
“Nancy,” she called out in a state of near panic, “you’re seated to the right of me when you always sit to my left!”
“Good heavens!” Nancy replied as she echoed the terror in Karen’s voice, “you’re absolutely right!” They both then jumped to their feet and exchanged positions, and need I say that it was none too soon for our opponents had the ball and they were driving up the field.
With the switch complete, it was only a moment before the quarterback on the opposing team wasn’t able to get out of the pocket and our guys tackled him for a threeyard loss.
Go us!
Now there are those who would firmly contend that the victory we enjoyed that night was directly related to tough practices, dedication of the players, and maybe want to give a little credit to the coaching staff.
Yet there are those who feel beyond a shadow of a doubt that the win had something to do with the lucky hat, special necklace, and lest we forget the skivvies? Much less the way we adjusted our defense by switching our seating arrangement.
A selfless act if ever there was one.
More than likely, a number of you are scoffing. But it’s just this kind of doubt that led our very own Lawrence to go to a college football game with his dear friend, Slines.
Lawrence knew that attending the game with Slines would certainly lead his beloved team to a loss.And he knew it in his heart of hearts since he’d attended one game a season with Slines for the last three years and each one was a blowout that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Color me crazy, but the facts don’t lie.
“It’s just superstition,” I told him as I handed him a four-leaf clover, my horse shoe and a rabbit’s foot key chain.
“Are you sure?” Lawrence asked as he donned his lucky shirt, his blessed hat and his large No. 1 finger.
“Yes, honey,” I said with a confidence that wanted to believe but that I didn’t really believe. “The outcome of the game will not be determined by whether or not you’re seated in the stands next to Slines.”
It was a statement that I began to doubt after the opponents had two long scoring drives. They were words that I began to distrust when they had a fumble return for a touchdown. And as the third quarter wound down and our team couldn’t buy a complete pass, those were words that I wished I could somehow eat.
Later in the day, Lawrence walked into the kitchen with his head hung low. “It was a miserable game,” he said, “and it was all my fault.”
Next time I’ll see if he can borrow that kid’s lucky skivvies.
Lori Clinch is the mother of four sons and the author of the book “Are We There Yet?” You can reach her at www.loriclinch. com.