Jarrod Dyson “Thou shall not jinx”
Forget about not changing your socks…
If you really want the Kansas City Royals to prevail over the Baltimore Orioles and go on to win the World Series, read my lips: t’s not about the good luck charms or ritualistic behavior, it’s about not jinxing.
Take today’s front page newspaper story about baseball superstitions. It was all about Royals fans not messing with the team’s good juju by varying the everyday things they wore, did or ate. Too narcissistic, like people can merely stay the course in their lives and send the team on to victory.
Just don’t jinx them would be the better advice.
Like Royals star Jarrod Dyson did when he popped off about the team not playing any more ALCS games in Baltimore.On which he then doubled up on his jinx by stating that the Orioles agreed with him – talk about laying down a textbook jinx bunt.
Anna Faris
Forget the so-called bulletin board effect of Dyson’s statement, MLB players at these levels don’t need high school motivational inspiration to win championships, they’ve got seven figure paychecks.
So what Dyson actually did was jinx the Royals at a time when the very last thing the team needs now is bad luck.
The definition of a jinx: “a person, thing, or influence supposed to bring bad luck.”
Until now the Orioles have been the ones suffering from jinxes.
Like when their fans in the right field concourse threw the home team under the bus by smashing pies in one another’s faces before yesterday’s game – a tribute to what Orioles outfielder Adam Jones did to fans after the team clinched the American League East last month.
That was a jinx of the first order.
Equally bad was The Baltimore Sun newspaper calling on local celebs and notables to “predict” a victory in the American League Championship Series against the Royals.
One by one, 43 “celebs” – from Baltimore Ravens players to the Dean of the Peabody Institute – anted in mindless predictions of an Orioles victory and Royals loss.
Take Anna Faris, the Baltimore born star of the CBS sitcom Mom who picked the Orioles to win the series in 6 games with a below-the-belt shot at George Brett.
“I can’t root for Kansas City, because of that Lorde song,” Faris snarked.
Mike Rowe
Or Baltimore refugee Mike Rowe, the Discovery Channel host of Dirty Jobs: who picked the Birds in 1, “Because they are so dominating and so impressive that after getting beat in the first game, Kansas City will simply lay down their bats and gloves and say ‘uncle.’ ”
I’m not sure that even Rowe knew what he was trying to say, but whatever.
Stephanie Drake, an actress from Mad Men, picked the O’s in 6
Maryland football coach Randy Edsall also had the Birds in 6.
“Orioles’ pitching, defense and long ball will win out over the Royals’ speed. Plus, you can tell the Orioles are on a mission to win it all. Won’t be denied.”
Mark Turgeon & former KU coach Larry Brown
About the only dude that seemed to register a top secret vote for the Royals was former KU guard and Maryland men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon.
“I don’t know who’s going to win, but either way I win.” (Turgeon is a Kansas native and longtime Royals fan who says he has rooted for Orioles since moving to Maryland.)
And Turgeon rooted for the Wichita Wingnuts when he was coaching the Shockers.
The Exalted David Cordish declare KC Royals DOA
Even Cordish Co. head honcho David Cordish stuck it to KC…again.
“We can’t be stopped! World Series will be O’s vs. Cardinals,” Cordish said, picking the Orioles in 5. “Reason being, the Cardinals and Cordish are partners in [a] project called Ball Park Village next to Busch Stadium.”
So much for the tax breaks Cordish fleeced KC Mayor Kay Barnes for at the Power & Light District, not to mention the Royals rallies his company’s hosting for each and every Royals playoff game.
Here”s the deal.
Anytime you line up everybody in town that halfway matters and coerce them into predicting the exact same silly thing, that’s a Grade A Jinx.
Not that KC doesn’t have its’ own jinxes to overcome, both Dyson’s and the Star’s between-the-lines, marching orders telling readers not to change their underwear or socks until after the World Series is over.
When instead it should have advised readers on best way of avoiding sports jinxes was to ixnay on bold the predictions – a-la-Dyson – and, as mind-you-reality.com advises:
“How Not to Tempt Fate – Just Keep Quiet!”
Thank goodness nobody in FYI thought of calling everybody here who mattered to get Royals will win it predictions…yet!
that’s right, that’s right… don’t talk about it, don’t brag, don’t change your routines, just stay the course. no more predictions, just (dare I say it) believe the team will continue to bite, kick and scratch their way to another two wins.
speaking of jinxes… Bob Fescoe was heard this morning repeating the statistic that no team has EVER come back from two losses to win the LCS. dammit, we didn’t need to know that!! now that’s some motivation for the Orioles.
I think at this point mike t. Fescoe’s oft repeated reminder qualifies as too much information
Or not enough information.
The 2004 Red Sox not only came back from two games down to go to the Series…but they came back from THREE games down and won it all.
Weird, I seem to remember the Sox being down 3-0 to the Yanks in 04 coming back to win.
You are correct, Bill…
However you know how baseball-loving statisticians love to split hairs. The deal or qualifier here is about where the games were played
The Yankees didn’t win the first two games on the road, they won them at home..
If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of Royals fans that believe it was YOUR lucky shirt, socks, hat, underwear, game time meal, chair, et al that has propelled them to the first 2 wins in the ALCS……..well, good for you. Exactly which person’s “lucky” garment did it. Mine? Yours? Weird Uncle Joe’s?
Good thing none of the Royals were on the cover of SI and have that jinx bite them in the butt. Oh, wait……
Like I said, Jim aka BWH, it’s a bit narcissistic.
That Joe Raytown believes that the way he did or didn’t shave, shower, etc. could affect the outcome of a sporting contest.
Then again, there are the players like Tim Tebow who seem to think that their prayers are the ones God will answer, as opposed to the players on the opposing team.
That’s why I like the jinx angle slightly better.
Especially when it applies to larger scale jinxes like Dyson’s, the Baltimore Sun’s and groups of fans at the game smashing pies in one another’s faces.
Somehow those seem weightier that Craig using the same condom over and over for a month straight
what youshould do…
have glaze write his famous “IT’S OVER” quote 1000 times til October 28.
That worked.
Tell your boy to continue saying the royals are sh*t….then we’ll win it all.
I’m working on that H Man, just one problem…
Glaze thinks, they-might-go-all-the- way!
‘ITS OVER!”
then there’s the opposite… the anti-jinx move. see, I pulled this by saying no way the Royals would take two in a row in Baltimore, thus setting them up to do exactly that!
Been there, done that too, mike t.
But that’s more like the people who won’t be brushing their teeth for another two weeks.
Again, I like larger scale jinx (or reverse jinx) action
I heard harley isnt going to change out of his Superman Underoos until the series is over.
no one would notice… he’s stinky already. and certainly no one but no one wants proof.
well, maybe Paul, because, you know, he OWNS him.
Really? Its over, stop dreaming.
Everyone thank glaze. His saying ITS OVER lead the royals to the world series.
Now glaze….rest up….starting Tuesday…start chanting…ITS OVER…ITS OVER
ITS OVER….ITS OVER….ITS OVER…AND WE’LL HHAVE A CHANCE TO BE
WORLD CHAMPIONS.
Can’t wait….help us out.
Everyone…heard glazes new spot is great…food is grrat…and that eventually
he’ll start bringing in the big gun talent.
thanks glaze for being a good sport.
good luck!!!!
Harley