Words into deeds. James Kerr writes, "ritualize to actualize." Rituals become reality.
Rituals are personal. Bill Russell vomited in the locker room pregame. Cardinals reliever Al Hrabosky held psych up sessions behind the mound. UNC women's soccer wears 'pinkie tape'. Kevin Garnett meditated and pounded the basket. LeBron James throws chalk in the air.
I asked a former NFL player's wife if he had any pregame rituals or superstitions. She said, "sharpening his nails...to gouge his opponents' faces". They don't call it the No Fun League for nothing.
"Pinkie" tape (left hand).
Rituals help athletes and teams prepare for competition. But they require meaning, personal significance. Repping the haka in suburban Boston would be out of place unless a connection existed.
In the horse-racing trade, trainers often placed goats with a horse for the calming effect. Unscrupulous trainers would sometimes steal the goat, leading to the expression, "getting your goat", as their horse became disquieted.
We make a difference. "The stories get passed on." We own our narrative.