The Superstitions of Great Athletes

Stage stars and sports superstars are known for clinging to some pretty strange superstitions. So what if it helps them play better and even win! Here are a few examples:

Romanian footballer Adrian Mutu Before a match, he wears his underwear inside out. This, he admits, brings him luck and protects him from bad luck. At least, that's what the Fiorentina player told UEFA's website.

The rider Valentino Rossi, Before mounting his Yamaha, he insists on crouching at the foot of his motorcycle, his hands resting on the footpeg. This ritual has become widely photographed. The Italian prodigy also says that he always dresses in the same order and makes a point of mounting his motorcycle in the same way every time.

Björn Borg, Four days before the start of the Wimbledon tournament, he decided (in 1976) to stop shaving and grow a beard until he lost a match. That year, he reached the final of the prestigious Grand Slam for the first time. Is this what inspired American hockey players who, since 1970, have decided to grow beards until the end of the season, during the Stanley Cup playoffs?

A tennis great, André Agassi, He was known for never stepping on the court lines when returning from behind the service line. He shared this habit with another champion, John McEnroe, who made sure to walk around the lines between each point at Wimbledon.

As for Tiger Woods, An American golf prodigy, he insists on wearing a red polo shirt on the last day of every tournament.

Do you have any of these superstitions?