Psychology and Superstition in Sports

[sj-roc]

I do not know if this is a superstition among athletes - can anyone confirm?

Since the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in many cultures, do players refrain from wearing that number?

Are there any famous athletes wearing #13?

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Teemu Selanne, who wore it when he won rookie of the year with the Winnipeg Jets. But he now wears #8 with Anaheim.

Tom Europe wore #13 for us in the 90s.

Mats Sundin and Bill Guerin in the NHL.

I'm sure there's tons to be found if one bothered to research these things (e.g., annual NHL almanacs).

[TheLionKing]

I do not know if this is a superstition among athletes - can anyone confirm?

Since the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in many cultures, do players refrain from wearing that number?

Are there any famous athletes wearing #13?

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Teemu Selanne, who wore it when he won rookie of the year with the Winnipeg Jets. But he now wears #8 with Anaheim.

Tom Europe wore #13 for us in the 90s.

Mats Sundin and Bill Guerin in the NHL.

I'm sure there's tons to be found if one bothered to research these things (e.g., annual NHL almanacs).

I don't think any of the aforementioned has won a championship.

[Robbie]

I do not know if this is a superstition among athletes - can anyone confirm?

Since the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in many cultures, do players refrain from wearing that number?

Are there any famous athletes wearing #13?

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Teemu Selanne, who wore it when he won rookie of the year with the Winnipeg Jets. But he now wears #8 with Anaheim.

Tom Europe wore #13 for us in the 90s.

Mats Sundin and Bill Guerin in the NHL.

I'm sure there's tons to be found if one bothered to research these things (e.g., annual NHL almanacs).

I don't think any of the aforementioned has won a championship.

You are quite wrong about this, LK. Tom Europe was a member of the 1994 Grey Cup Lions. Bill Guerin won the Stanley Cup as a member of the 1995 New Jersey Devils. And while Mats Sundin hasn't won the Stanley Cup, he captained Team Sweden to the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics, and has three additional gold medals with Sweden in the World Hockey Championships.

[Bosco]

I do not know if this is a superstition among athletes - can anyone confirm?

Since the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in many cultures, do players refrain from wearing that number?

Are there any famous athletes wearing #13?

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Teemu Selanne, who wore it when he won rookie of the year with the Winnipeg Jets. But he now wears #8 with Anaheim.

Tom Europe wore #13 for us in the 90s.

Mats Sundin and Bill Guerin in the NHL.

I'm sure there's tons to be found if one bothered to research these things (e.g., annual NHL almanacs).

I don't think any of the aforementioned has won a championship.

Tom Europe was a member of the 1994 Grey Cup champion Lions.

[sj-roc]

I don't think any of [Europe, Guerin, Sundin] has won a championship.

You are quite wrong about this, LK. Tom Europe was a member of the 1994 Grey Cup Lions. Bill Guerin won the Stanley Cup as a member of the 1995 New Jersey Devils. And while Mats Sundin hasn't won the Stanley Cup, he captained Team Sweden to the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics, and has three additional gold medals with Sweden in the World Hockey Championships.

In fairness (LK seems to be implying that teams with a #13 on the roster are jinxed), Guerin wore #12 as a Cup-winning Devil, and #13 was not used on that 1995 squad.