(11-14-2015, 11:47 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: fan jinx.

Like most of you, in the past, there were certain things i would do and not do. Whether it was during the week--or especially on game day--i followed certain routines, did and didn't do certain things based on circumstances, and generally felt that when i did these things it made some kind of difference. Even if i didn't really believe it made a difference, it made me feel more comfortable.

So this year, i haven't done any of that. If something comes up and i miss the opening kickoff (used to be a BIG no-no), like a couple weeks ago when the wife asked me "what's for lunch?" at 12:55, i just went to Kroger and got some skyline chili, tostitos and cheese and made some homemade nachos. Or my past 'routine' where i would follow a specific order of events on Sunday mornings; no more. Whether things are going good or bad, it doesn't matter. I don't sit with my feet or toes or hands in any particular way in order to not break the good or bad streak. I don't wear a particular article of clothing. I don't have the remote in a specific place depending on the quarter. This year i just decided to stay positive and more than anything, enjoy the journey, play to play. Every other football game i watch, i enjoy the back and forth and the drama and when the game is over i'm like, "wow, that was a great game". So i decided to watch Bengals games the same way. Keep the faith, enjoy the ride and not get all stressed out. Much more enjoyable.

Now, i also know that most people do these things tongue-in-cheek and realize they don't really have an effect on the game, but there are PLENTY of people that do think it really makes a difference.

It doesn't.

One more thing. There is no such thing as a Bo Jackson curse, or any kind of curse for that matter. Players play and they win or lose based on their performance. Cheer your face off and enjoy this ride. They don't come along very often.

(11-14-2015, 11:47 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: fan jinx.

Like most of you, in the past, there were certain things i would do and not do. Whether it was during the week--or especially on game day--i followed certain routines, did and didn't do certain things based on circumstances, and generally felt that when i did these things it made some kind of difference. Even if i didn't really believe it made a difference, it made me feel more comfortable.

So this year, i haven't done any of that. If something comes up and i miss the opening kickoff (used to be a BIG no-no), like a couple weeks ago when the wife asked me "what's for lunch?" at 12:55, i just went to Kroger and got some skyline chili, tostitos and cheese and made some homemade nachos. Or my past 'routine' where i would follow a specific order of events on Sunday mornings; no more. Whether things are going good or bad, it doesn't matter. I don't sit with my feet or toes or hands in any particular way in order to not break the good or bad streak. I don't wear a particular article of clothing. I don't have the remote in a specific place depending on the quarter. This year i just decided to stay positive and more than anything, enjoy the journey, play to play. Every other football game i watch, i enjoy the back and forth and the drama and when the game is over i'm like, "wow, that was a great game". So i decided to watch Bengals games the same way. Keep the faith, enjoy the ride and not get all stressed out. Much more enjoyable.

Now, i also know that most people do these things tongue-in-cheek and realize they don't really have an effect on the game, but there are PLENTY of people that do think it really makes a difference.

It doesn't.

One more thing. There is no such thing as a Bo Jackson curse, or any kind of curse for that matter. Players play and they win or lose based on their performance. Cheer your face off and enjoy this ride. They don't come along very often.

(11-14-2015, 05:31 PM)Nights Watch Wrote: Assumption through elimination, it's the whole dead cat in a bad theory, you don't know until you open the box whether there is or isn't a cat in the box. 

(11-14-2015, 12:13 PM)grampahol Wrote: So the dead, rotting horse carcass I have hung over my bed at night to ward off Bengal losses is just a big, smelly maggot infested beast having nothing to do with whether they win or lose? My girlfriend will be relieved that we can have sex without the flies buzzing around.

(11-14-2015, 06:49 PM)BigPapaKain Wrote: It's only weird if it doesn't work.

Maybe your routine was the jinx. I'm not changing anything I do for GameDay - best believe that ya feel.

(11-15-2015, 12:30 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I used to do it all. I just quit this year and you can be sure there was some internal trepidation--just a little. 

I was just defiant in my belief that it didn't mean anything. 

I am now free to do as i feel. Not weighed down by the intense weight of carrying a torch that doesn't really burn.

(11-15-2015, 02:34 AM)Go Cards Wrote: If Bengals could have only gotten you to stop the rituals 20 some years ago we all would have been much happier. lol

Keep up the good work !

 

(11-14-2015, 11:47 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: fan jinx.

Like most of you, in the past, there were certain things i would do and not do. Whether it was during the week--or especially on game day--i followed certain routines, did and didn't do certain things based on circumstances, and generally felt that when i did these things it made some kind of difference. Even if i didn't really believe it made a difference, it made me feel more comfortable.

So this year, i haven't done any of that. If something comes up and i miss the opening kickoff (used to be a BIG no-no), like a couple weeks ago when the wife asked me "what's for lunch?" at 12:55, i just went to Kroger and got some skyline chili, tostitos and cheese and made some homemade nachos. Or my past 'routine' where i would follow a specific order of events on Sunday mornings; no more. Whether things are going good or bad, it doesn't matter. I don't sit with my feet or toes or hands in any particular way in order to not break the good or bad streak. I don't wear a particular article of clothing. I don't have the remote in a specific place depending on the quarter. This year i just decided to stay positive and more than anything, enjoy the journey, play to play. Every other football game i watch, i enjoy the back and forth and the drama and when the game is over i'm like, "wow, that was a great game". So i decided to watch Bengals games the same way. Keep the faith, enjoy the ride and not get all stressed out. Much more enjoyable.

Now, i also know that most people do these things tongue-in-cheek and realize they don't really have an effect on the game, but there are PLENTY of people that do think it really makes a difference.

It doesn't.

One more thing. There is no such thing as a Bo Jackson curse, or any kind of curse for that matter. Players play and they win or lose based on their performance. Cheer your face off and enjoy this ride. They don't come along very often.

(11-14-2015, 11:47 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: fan jinx.

Like most of you, in the past, there were certain things i would do and not do. Whether it was during the week--or especially on game day--i followed certain routines, did and didn't do certain things based on circumstances, and generally felt that when i did these things it made some kind of difference. Even if i didn't really believe it made a difference, it made me feel more comfortable.

So this year, i haven't done any of that. If something comes up and i miss the opening kickoff (used to be a BIG no-no), like a couple weeks ago when the wife asked me "what's for lunch?" at 12:55, i just went to Kroger and got some skyline chili, tostitos and cheese and made some homemade nachos. Or my past 'routine' where i would follow a specific order of events on Sunday mornings; no more. Whether things are going good or bad, it doesn't matter. I don't sit with my feet or toes or hands in any particular way in order to not break the good or bad streak. I don't wear a particular article of clothing. I don't have the remote in a specific place depending on the quarter. This year i just decided to stay positive and more than anything, enjoy the journey, play to play. Every other football game i watch, i enjoy the back and forth and the drama and when the game is over i'm like, "wow, that was a great game". So i decided to watch Bengals games the same way. Keep the faith, enjoy the ride and not get all stressed out. Much more enjoyable.

Now, i also know that most people do these things tongue-in-cheek and realize they don't really have an effect on the game, but there are PLENTY of people that do think it really makes a difference.

It doesn't.

One more thing. There is no such thing as a Bo Jackson curse, or any kind of curse for that matter. Players play and they win or lose based on their performance. Cheer your face off and enjoy this ride. They don't come along very often.

(11-16-2015, 02:47 PM)BengalChris Wrote: Well, I know what you are saying on an intellectual and logical level. However, I made no prediction of points in the first game against Oakland and we won handily, so I've refrained from giving any predictions since - just because.

(11-18-2015, 11:06 PM)xxlt Wrote: It is me. I did not wear an orange shirt and I went to a different bar and I missed kick off. Any one thing could have done it, but the trifecta - it was over before it started. Sorry fans.