Inside The Hornets: Superstitions
With the Hornets facing the Kings this evening on Friday the 13th, TV
play-by-play announcer Bob Licht sat down with members of the team to
discuss their superstitions.
Question 1: What are your superstitions?
Chris Andersen
(None) besides drinking coffee before the game. I drink maybe a cup, maybe two cups, depending on how I feel. Maybe more.
PJ Brown
I used to be a little bit (superstitious), but not anymore. I do have a usual routine on gameday. I eat at a certain time, take my nap at a certain time, wake up at a certain time, take my shower. Everything is like clockwork and in sequence, and I’ve been doing that for 12 or 13 years. If I don’t do everything in a certain way, then I do feel a little out of whack. So maybe I am little superstitious... I think you talked me into it a little bit!
Rasual Butler
I’ve got some superstitions that make me more comfortable. The only thing I do right to left is let (Hornets trainer) Terry (Kofler) tape my ankles that way, because that’s how he likes to do it. When I get dressed, I put everything on my left leg first. I’ve got to dress left to right. I started that probably when I was in high school. I have to take five sips of a drink before I go into the game. It makes me comfortable for the game.
Speedy Claxton
Normally on game day in the mornings I will drive a different way to the game than I do in the afternoon. That’s probably the only ritual I have. I’ve been having some good games doing that, so I stuck with that.
Desmond Mason
Jumping on the backboard right before the game was something I started doing in Milwaukee. Actually, me and Toni Kukoc both did that (when they were teammates on the Bucks). I jump up, hang on the rim and slap the backpad (on the backboard). (Before a game in Milwaukee) when I turned around (Kukoc) was hanging on the rim, so I would punch him in the stomach. It keeps me comfortable and gets me prepared mentally.
Bostjan Nachbar
I’m not really superstitious, but when Friday the 13th comes up I do think about it a little bit, because I remember all of the movies. I have a few rituals that I’ll keep to myself. There is one of them that I can say: When I go onto the floor, I knock on the wood, just as a good-luck thing.
Chris Paul
I have to do the same prayer before every game and I make sure I finish the prayer right before they go into the last part of the national anthem. I’m superstitious about which songs I listen to every game. I like to listen to gospel, and there are one or two (specific) songs I listen to before every game.
Also, Terry (Kofler), our trainer, has to put Icy Hot on my knees at the same time right before we go out on the floor. At home games, I have to give (assistant equipment manager) Kory (Johnson) a high-five before the game. If I don’t, it’s going to be a long game.
Byron Scott
I’m superstitious, but not that superstitious where Friday the 13th is a bad day. I’m superstitious when it comes to basketball, because I’m an ex-athlete. Eating at the same time, going to bed at the same time – those are my superstitions.
J.R. Smith
Every game I try to wear a different pair of sneakers. It’s a good superstition to have, because I get to wear a new pair every game.
Kirk Snyder
I take showers before the game, because if I step on the (basketball) floor I have to feel clean when all the people are watching me. I can’t have any dirt under my nails. I like to feel clean before I play.
David West
I take a nap before the game, go home and go to sleep until about 3:45. I’m usually in the bed by 12 or 12:15 at the latest.
Question 2: Would you have a problem if you had to wear number 13?
Chris Andersen
Yeah, because my number’s 12. The number 12 comes before 13. Watch out! [an errant basketball nearly hits Bob Licht in mid-conversation].
Bob Licht: See, just talking about the number 13 does stuff!
PJ Brown
I would just refuse to do it. What tripped me out is that in hotels that there is no 13th floor. I think I noticed that in my second or third year in the league. I’ve been wearing number 42 since high school, so I think I would feel a little weird wearing any other number.
Speedy Claxton
Yes, just because so many people say it’s unlucky.
Bostjan Nachbar
I’ve probably worn every other number because I’ve played on so many different teams and all that, but I’ve never come across 13. If I had a choice between 13 and another number, I’d probably take something else before I took 13.
Not necessarily. It’s never been one of my favorite numbers, but I’ve known a lot of athletes who’ve had a lot of success with that number – Dan Marino was a Hall of Famer, so it couldn’t be that bad. Mark Jackson, an ex-teammate of mine, won Rookie of the Year wearing number 13 on the Knicks.
Jackson Vroman
Yes, because I don’t want to change my number. I’d have the same problem if they asked me to wear number 11 all of the sudden.
Question 1: What are your superstitions?
Chris Andersen
(None) besides drinking coffee before the game. I drink maybe a cup, maybe two cups, depending on how I feel. Maybe more.
PJ Brown
I used to be a little bit (superstitious), but not anymore. I do have a usual routine on gameday. I eat at a certain time, take my nap at a certain time, wake up at a certain time, take my shower. Everything is like clockwork and in sequence, and I’ve been doing that for 12 or 13 years. If I don’t do everything in a certain way, then I do feel a little out of whack. So maybe I am little superstitious... I think you talked me into it a little bit!
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I’ve got some superstitions that make me more comfortable. The only thing I do right to left is let (Hornets trainer) Terry (Kofler) tape my ankles that way, because that’s how he likes to do it. When I get dressed, I put everything on my left leg first. I’ve got to dress left to right. I started that probably when I was in high school. I have to take five sips of a drink before I go into the game. It makes me comfortable for the game.
Speedy Claxton
Normally on game day in the mornings I will drive a different way to the game than I do in the afternoon. That’s probably the only ritual I have. I’ve been having some good games doing that, so I stuck with that.
Desmond Mason
Jumping on the backboard right before the game was something I started doing in Milwaukee. Actually, me and Toni Kukoc both did that (when they were teammates on the Bucks). I jump up, hang on the rim and slap the backpad (on the backboard). (Before a game in Milwaukee) when I turned around (Kukoc) was hanging on the rim, so I would punch him in the stomach. It keeps me comfortable and gets me prepared mentally.
Bostjan Nachbar
I’m not really superstitious, but when Friday the 13th comes up I do think about it a little bit, because I remember all of the movies. I have a few rituals that I’ll keep to myself. There is one of them that I can say: When I go onto the floor, I knock on the wood, just as a good-luck thing.
Chris Paul
I have to do the same prayer before every game and I make sure I finish the prayer right before they go into the last part of the national anthem. I’m superstitious about which songs I listen to every game. I like to listen to gospel, and there are one or two (specific) songs I listen to before every game.
Also, Terry (Kofler), our trainer, has to put Icy Hot on my knees at the same time right before we go out on the floor. At home games, I have to give (assistant equipment manager) Kory (Johnson) a high-five before the game. If I don’t, it’s going to be a long game.
Byron Scott
I’m superstitious, but not that superstitious where Friday the 13th is a bad day. I’m superstitious when it comes to basketball, because I’m an ex-athlete. Eating at the same time, going to bed at the same time – those are my superstitions.
J.R. Smith
Every game I try to wear a different pair of sneakers. It’s a good superstition to have, because I get to wear a new pair every game.
Kirk Snyder
I take showers before the game, because if I step on the (basketball) floor I have to feel clean when all the people are watching me. I can’t have any dirt under my nails. I like to feel clean before I play.
David West
I take a nap before the game, go home and go to sleep until about 3:45. I’m usually in the bed by 12 or 12:15 at the latest.
Question 2: Would you have a problem if you had to wear number 13?
Chris Andersen
Yeah, because my number’s 12. The number 12 comes before 13. Watch out! [an errant basketball nearly hits Bob Licht in mid-conversation].
Bob Licht: See, just talking about the number 13 does stuff!
PJ Brown
I would just refuse to do it. What tripped me out is that in hotels that there is no 13th floor. I think I noticed that in my second or third year in the league. I’ve been wearing number 42 since high school, so I think I would feel a little weird wearing any other number.
Speedy Claxton
Yes, just because so many people say it’s unlucky.
Bostjan Nachbar
I’ve probably worn every other number because I’ve played on so many different teams and all that, but I’ve never come across 13. If I had a choice between 13 and another number, I’d probably take something else before I took 13.
Not necessarily. It’s never been one of my favorite numbers, but I’ve known a lot of athletes who’ve had a lot of success with that number – Dan Marino was a Hall of Famer, so it couldn’t be that bad. Mark Jackson, an ex-teammate of mine, won Rookie of the Year wearing number 13 on the Knicks.
Jackson Vroman
Yes, because I don’t want to change my number. I’d have the same problem if they asked me to wear number 11 all of the sudden.
