Not the usual kind of fannish insanity.
So, I have to confess something.
Playoff hockey makes me deeply, genuinely batshit crazy.
I am in all seriousness convinced that my wearing of a black hoodie (the same one I was wearing when flying to Detroit and back two weeks ago, during which time the Red Wings won both of their games, which I missed watching) with a t-shirt designated lucky by being worn during a previous win (so far: the T.Oro t-shirt, the Dalek t-shirt, the Original Six Hockey t-shirt--I was seriously lying awake last night trying to remember what t-shirt I wore on the Friday, as that one should also be Lucky) has some sort of impact on the outcome of the game. It is my responsibility as a fan to don the correct lucky clothing.
This morning I actually briefly considered that it might be necessary to burn the Red Wings jersey which had been my previous standard playoff wear--but which had been bought in 2003, after they were eliminated from the playoffs for that season. Not only that, but adopting the new black hoodie regime came as something of a relief, because I had long suspected that the jersey might be unlucky, having been purchased after a losing season; they haven't won a Cup since I bought it. Nonetheless, until tonight, I couldn't admit to anyone that I wasn't wearing my jersey during games; if one has a jersey one must wear it. But the logic of the black hoodie is inescapable, especially after tonight's crushing victory by the Red Wings.
Still, this constitutes an improvement in sanity from the 2002 season, when the playoff-game-watching routine in my household included the lighting of a special candle and, during the series against Colorado, ritual abuse of a Patrick Roy voodoo doll (the Detroit News distributed cut-outs for that purpose) through each game and then burning it on the sidewalk each night.
On the other hand, that was the last time we won a Cup.
Anyway, as of now, the Wings have won tonight's game, and thus won their series in a sweep; maybe the black hoodie is enough.
I just can't wash it for the next month, that's all.
Playoff hockey makes me deeply, genuinely batshit crazy.
I am in all seriousness convinced that my wearing of a black hoodie (the same one I was wearing when flying to Detroit and back two weeks ago, during which time the Red Wings won both of their games, which I missed watching) with a t-shirt designated lucky by being worn during a previous win (so far: the T.Oro t-shirt, the Dalek t-shirt, the Original Six Hockey t-shirt--I was seriously lying awake last night trying to remember what t-shirt I wore on the Friday, as that one should also be Lucky) has some sort of impact on the outcome of the game. It is my responsibility as a fan to don the correct lucky clothing.
This morning I actually briefly considered that it might be necessary to burn the Red Wings jersey which had been my previous standard playoff wear--but which had been bought in 2003, after they were eliminated from the playoffs for that season. Not only that, but adopting the new black hoodie regime came as something of a relief, because I had long suspected that the jersey might be unlucky, having been purchased after a losing season; they haven't won a Cup since I bought it. Nonetheless, until tonight, I couldn't admit to anyone that I wasn't wearing my jersey during games; if one has a jersey one must wear it. But the logic of the black hoodie is inescapable, especially after tonight's crushing victory by the Red Wings.
Still, this constitutes an improvement in sanity from the 2002 season, when the playoff-game-watching routine in my household included the lighting of a special candle and, during the series against Colorado, ritual abuse of a Patrick Roy voodoo doll (the Detroit News distributed cut-outs for that purpose) through each game and then burning it on the sidewalk each night.
On the other hand, that was the last time we won a Cup.
Anyway, as of now, the Wings have won tonight's game, and thus won their series in a sweep; maybe the black hoodie is enough.
I just can't wash it for the next month, that's all.