Great Traditions In Sport

[Gonzo]

This is something I thought of earlier today that all sports fans can partake in, whether it be North American, European or Australian. What are some great traditions in your favorite sports? Be it a team tradition, league tradition etc.

I'm not a big hockey fan but I randomly thought today was that the winner of the NHL every year wins the Stanley Cup. Part of the tradition that goes along with being champion is that each player gets to have the Stanley Cup in their possession for a week or so in the off season following the victory. I don't know of any other league that does this. Pretty amazing when you consider that the Stanley Cup has been around forever and they let the players handle the real deal every year. Anyways, what are some of yours?

I'll post more as I think of them.

[Gertner]

Ohio State and "dotting the I"

[OssMan]

The Yankees fans taking roll of all the players on the field because that is just an awesome tradition

[Bad Company]

The Haka.

[DaveWadding]

baseball season kicking off in Cincy.

[Gonzo]

The Haka.

What is this you speak of?

Oh, feel free to post videos as well if applicable.

[Bad Company]

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NZ Haka VS Tonga with their War Dance at the same time. In the 2003 World Cup.

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Kapa o Pango, the haka that came about in 2005. This was the first time it was done.
Saved for when the team feels like it :D

[Gonzo]

I had a feeling this was what you were referring to. I played a bit of rec rugby in high school and the coach always talked about this.

[Team Sheep]

Isn't it tradition in the NFL that the Thanksgiving games are always played at Detroit and Dallas?

And how the season always kicks off with the Super Bowl champion hosting.

[DrA]

The Haka

[Innovator]

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[The Genius]

bernie brewer sliding down into a giant beer after a brewers home run.

[OssMan]

baseball season kicking off in Cincy.

Except that doesn't happen anymore

Isn't it tradition in the NFL that the Thanksgiving games are always played at Detroit and Dallas?

And how the season always kicks off with the Super Bowl champion hosting.

always Detroit and Dallas but now they have some shitty game on NFL network at night every thanksgiving, no specific teams

and the thursday night superbowl champions hosting thing is new

[Gonzo]

Yeah I think 2005 or 2006 might have been the first year for the champions starting the new season.

[CSL]

Not a Liverpool fan but 'You'll Never Walk Alone' makes me go cold

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[ct2k]

CSL had to go and ruin the thread:foc:

[Stickman]

Hockey playoffs, after each round teams line up and shake hands.

[Zen v.W.o.]

...and they also dont shave until they're eliminated, so some of the guys look pretty damn hilarious.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Clemson hitting Howard's Rock and running down the hill pregame
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1388811278_350a76127f.jpg?v=0
I don't like Notre Dame but everyone hitting "The Play like a Champion Today" sign on the way out of the locker room
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/205042561_4ca7b8630b.jpg?v=0
Don't like Virginia Tech but the Lunch Pail given out to best defensive performer of the week
http://www.hokiesports.com/rothreport/images/lunchpail.jpg
Uga
http://ijsm.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/uga_five.jpg
War Eagle at Auburn
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/aub/datadump/emplibrary/tigerflight.jpg
The Buffalo sprinting across the field right before Colorado home games
http://www.s-church.net/photo/cu2006/mini-DSC03099.jpg

[Gonzo]

College football has to have some of the best, hands down.

[The Genius]

wisconsin should get a badger and put a red sweater on it. then have it on a leash running up and down the sidelines.

[RoXer]

I was about to say to just look at 90% of college football.

Wrigley fans throwing hrs back.

Detroit Red Wings thowing octopuses.

[El Fangel]

Not to prove ya wrong gonzo, the cup is in each players possession for 24 hours, not a week or so.

[Gonzo]

No biggie, I really was taking a shot in the dark.

Also, isn't there a superstition that if you touch Lord Stanley's Cup without winning it you never will?

[El Fangel]

No biggie, I really was taking a shot in the dark.

Also, isn't there a superstition that if you touch Lord Stanley's Cup without winning it you never will?

That is also true, players shy away from touching before they win it.

There is also the superstition that whichever team beats Detroit in the playoffs will go on to lose in the finals.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Playoff beards :cool:

Possibly the biggest universal tradition throughout any sport is carrying a player/coach off the field after a huge win/milestone. Not even sure how far back that tradition started or what the point of it is.

Also, as mentioned, college football has some awesome ones. I've been to an Army game at West Point and I suppose I'll throw in all the freshmen doing pushups when Army scores. Not sure if the other military schools do that as well.</font>

[El Fangel]

The champagne from the cup, The Captain hoisting it first, I only know of like 2 times in 40 years were the captain didnt do that. Sakic let Bourque raise it first, and Yzerman I think gave it to the guy whose career ended in a summer car crash the year earlier.

[DaveWadding]

<font color=goldenrod>

Possibly the biggest universal tradition throughout any sport is carrying a player/coach off the field after a huge win/milestone. Not even sure how far back that tradition started or what the point of it is.

</font>

Reminds me:

Gatorade bath.

[El Fangel]

Forgot about the Gatorade Bath lol

Touching the ice, symbol of respect for a lost teammate.

[yianni]

In AFL football when somebody kicks their 100th goal for the season there's a pitch invasion by the fans

In world football on the last day of a season or a competition all the games kick off at the same time

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>A baseball one: when watching a game on TV in which a fight breaks out, they ALWAYS have to show a shot of the bullpens emptying and all the pitchers sprinting to the diamond to join in. Always found it funny because they sprint out even during the most minor incidents.</font>

[Stickman]

Hockey fights. It's always 1 on 1 unlike baseball or basketball fights

[ClockShot]

IN-COM-PLETE! over at Mile High Stadium when the Broncos are home.

Bleacher Creatures shouting out roll call at Yankee Stadium

[ct2k]

Merseyside Derby
Old Firm

And any other intra-city derby of significance in football really.