posted
For years my father and I have joked around that the University of Miami must maintain a babalao (santerķa "witch doctor" type person) on staff to make all of those Wide Rights and Wide Left happen. As the Marlins began their end-of-season stretch, we joked that they must be sharing UM's babalao, as they had last at-bat win after last at-bat win, and many amazing comebacks. Last night, as I watched the freakish eight run eigth, I came to a very important conclusion.
I am the babalao.
Teams I root for generally win--but big deal. Lots of teams win. But the teams I root for always seem to pull out miracles when they desperately need them--but only when I'm watching the game (well, sometimes when I listen on the radio as well.) And it goes far beyond Wide Right and Wide Left, and Foulgate.
I have had a staggering impact on sports over the years.
Bill Buckner? I did that. I would go to any length necessary to avoid the Red Sox winning the World Series, including destroying a man's life. But, then again, he was only a Red Sox. *shrug*
I may have destroyed a Cubs fan's life last night. I feel bad about that, but that's a chance you just take when you root against me.
Kellen Winslow's fingertips grab on fourth and thirteen against West Virginia? That was me.
On January 2nd this year, Cor and I went out with Bob Scopatz, and I recorded the "BCS Championship." No big deal. I have found over the years that my powers do work retroactively, as long as I have no knowledge of the outcome of the game. It's kind of a Schrodinger's cat type of deal. Unfortunately, though, Cor discovered the outcome of the game and spoiled it for me, spoiling it for the Canes as well. If you're a Hurricane fan, or if you had money on them, I apologize.
I am not omnipotent. My powers do have limits. I can mostly just affect the close games, and sometimes I fail. And I'm sorry when my powers inevitably cause sorrow to some. But not too sorry.
I am thinking of renting my services out, for contests in which I do not already have a vested interest. I'm not a big hockey fan, so if you want, maybe you can get me to use my powers to influence your team's games--as long as it's not the Sunrise Panthers. I will not root for them. You have money on a boxing match? Maybe I can help you out.
Need me to influence a wrestling match?
Don't be absurd. I don't do movies or novels either.
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
I don't seem to have any impact on games of chance. It's hard to say, though, because I am very good at blackjack, so am I skilled or just lucky? But since I have never had success on a slot machine (in fact, I seem to have worse than standard luck at slots) I would tend to say no, I cannot influence games of chance.
Tom, good question. I voted for a third party candidate, and I couldn't decide which of the two major candidates was the lesser evil, so it's possible that I may have contributed to the turmoil. Wow. I hadn't thought of that. What a burden of responsibility. *frown*
[ October 15, 2003, 09:10 AM: Message edited by: El Babalao ]
Posts: 39 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I dunno about that. I generally consider the Seminoles to be the lesser evil. But if you invited me over and plied me with beer and pizza, I might be persuaded to pull for the Gators. Remember, though, I mostly just influence close games. Posts: 39 | Registered: Oct 2003
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hey, babs, maybe we can work out some sort of profit sharing thing. it'll be all win win, take money from losers.
Posts: 318 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Arguably, I've always gained, if in no other way than my enjoyment of the outcome, so I guess as long as the gain is not financial I'm safe. Beer and pizza are adequate recompense.
I discovered this in high school when my school team won every football game. Overcome with school pride, I attended one game, and they lost badly.
The previous year I was in the band. We attended every game with the players, and won none. Except one time I couldn't make the game. That night we won.
Ever since then, any game I ignore, my team wins. Any game I watch, my team loses. A few years ago the Rams played the Nashville team in the super bowl. Remember that game? Remember how close Nashville came to winning? I was traveling across country, listening to the game on the radio. When the reception was clear, the rams had trouble. When the reception was poor, the rams kicked bootiey.
I don't do sports any more.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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