Suchon: The No-No Jinx

by Dog Days on Jul 17, 2005 12:46 PM PDT

Josh Suchon wrote a good article in the Oakland Tribune today that we can probably all appreciate after Thursday and Friday night. My favorite paragraph was the following, which hit home after being at the game on Thursday and calling several family members and telling them to watch, and then listening to Zito's gem on the radio because I didn't want to get up and go see if the TV was free because I just may jinx it:

But what about those of us watching the game from the press box, the radio booth, the stands or on television? Do you call family and friends and tell them to turn on the TV or radio? Do you remain frozen in your seat, even if nature or hunger is calling? How far does the so-called jinx extend?

Anyway, I thought I'd alert AN to the article, given Blez's rule about the jinx and 3e8 and hattebergexpress's performances on successive nights.

Enjoy.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_2866393

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The entire game Harden was pitching

I was convinced it would be THE game. A perfect game. I thought that the entire time (in my HEAD, not out loud, of course). I said nothing other than tried to tell my Dad that he was pitching a "really good game" and that maybe he should check our the line for the A's. I refused to get a soda because I'd been drinking the same one the whole game. I couldn't move from my chair or change anything. I started getting really anxious with every out. I have NO idea what I'd have done if I'd seen the game in person, other than internally freak out. I think as long as no one SAYS anything about it, it's cool.

by rookieoftheyear on Jul 17, 2005 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

Harden's game

I was listening on the radio, and as soon as he threw that 3-pitch K to start the game I was thinking about it. Around the 6th inning, we had to leave to pick up my gf's family from the airport and I was trying to come up with a way to tell her what was going on without mentioning the words 'perfect game.' In retrospect, I probably sounded pretty silly.

by Doug on Jul 17, 2005 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

hee hee

tell my Dad that he was pitching a "really good game"

My wife was coming in and out of the room, so I would try to say things like "wow, Harden is pitching about as well as you can" etc. It took a while for her to notice.

Then the next night the thing that tipped her off was my saying "it's funny how the A's pitchers are always trying to out-do each other" and she got it immediately.

If you are truly hardcore, I think we both went over the line. But there are certain quality of life issues to balance...

by Apricot on Jul 17, 2005 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

But my Dad has been an A's fan since before I was BORN and I just couldn't bear for him to not see it, just in case.

by rookieoftheyear on Jul 17, 2005 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I think it was my dad's fault.

When we were there on Thursday, he was like "This Harden guy is pitching well. No hits!" Of course, my dad has no idea what a no-hitter means. He thinks they do it all the time. Right after he said that, the mother of all evil, Alfonso Soriano, hit the soft liner. I was just thinking, "(^@&)(#$&^&^%@*&%!^%!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Damn.

"I think there's some closet sickos on this team, just waiting to bust out. Even Huston; you can't be a closer and not be a little off." Zito said.

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 17, 2005 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I was nervous.....

I know I would have bee pissed if I was there after the Soriano hit. I was at Nomo's one hitter at Candlestick...freaking infield hit in the 7th...Sooo pissed.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 17, 2005 1:40 PM PDT reply actions

I actually mentioned it by name

I really don't think I can jinx it, so I mentioned it by name as early as the 5th inning on Thursday night. It seemed like it was going to happen.

On Friday night, I tried a different approach and didn't utter the words. Maybe I jinxed it by acting differently. Who knows?

by Dog Days on Jul 17, 2005 3:50 PM PDT reply actions

But Why

Do we believe in jinxes? What rational or even irrational reason is there to think that mentioning a no-no during a game will jinx it? I'm not saying it's stupid, but I can't figure out what the reasoning is (aside from the whole vengeful, spiteful diety thing).
Or is the answer, It's just tradition?

by SportySpice @ Athletics Nation on Jul 17, 2005 7:37 PM PDT reply actions

nature of baseball

is that it's much more failure than success. In the face of this sort of phenomenon, people like to find every little form of power they can, however false.

Personally, I don't believe in jinxes at all. However, part of the social aspect of baseball is that you definitely don't mention a no-hitter by your team's pitcher the same way you wouldn't urinate on the TV or park seat. It's just not done. Depending on your culture, you also don't offend the Woofing Gods by saying stuff like "Street's coming in... we got this game cold" or "We got a two run lead in the 7th, no way the Jays can come back."

by Apricot on Jul 17, 2005 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't talk about jinxes--

it's bad luck.

Nico

by Nico on Jul 17, 2005 8:04 PM PDT reply actions

noooooooooo!

Now you've ruined it! Ban yourself!

by Apricot on Jul 17, 2005 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions

my wife was sooooo pissed...

...that I was insisting on watching a 7-0 game and wouldn't tell her why...of course, the whole pacing and nail-chewing part probably didn't help...

by Schinto on Jul 17, 2005 9:19 PM PDT reply actions

My mom...

made me turn off the Zito game. I was the one that was pissed then. I was frantically pressing all buttons on my phone trying to keep up with the game, refreshing every 2 seconds.

Damn, again.

"I think there's some closet sickos on this team, just waiting to bust out. Even Huston; you can't be a closer and not be a little off." Zito said.

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 17, 2005 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I was kinda glad in a way...

I was supposed to go to that game on Thursday, but at the last minute, I was scheduled for work that night and I couldn't get out of it. When I got out at 9, I turned on my car radio, and I was just able to catch the last inning and all I knew was that Harden pitched a two-hit shut-out. If he did end up pitching a perfect game, I would have SOOO quit my job the next day for making me miss that game.

Bobby Crosby rocks my high socks. =D

by annie517 on Jul 17, 2005 9:26 PM PDT reply actions