Panthers coach Ron Rivera embraces superstitions amid win streak - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

simmytbone · 11-25-2015, 02:31 AM

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/panther...6901--nfl.html

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera points to his wife in the stands after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. The Panthers won 44-16. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Panthers coach Rivera embraces superstitions amid win streak
By STEVE REED (AP Sports Writer)
7 hours ago
AP - Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- It is Sunday morning at Ron Rivera's house and the Carolina Panthers coach sits down to eat a familiar breakfast of cinnamon french toast and ham steak prepared by his wife.

It's the same thing he eats before every Panthers Sunday home game - at the same time.

He talks with Stephanie over coffee. At precisely 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time - exactly 4 1/2 hours before kickoff - the fifth-year coach's ride arrives to take him to the stadium.

Once there, Rivera has a whole new, lengthy set of superstitions, culminating a week full of rigid rituals.

He dons a black shirt - ''Not for any specific reason other than the last time I wore it we started winning, so I keep doing it,'' he says - and puts on the same set of black Nike shoes he has worn for three years. They are reserved just for game day.

He eats a peanut butter and oatmeal cookie his wife has made for him.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, right, greets Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, left, after an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. The Panthers won 44-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

He walks out of the stadium tunnel careful to avoid going through the large Panthers inflatable on the field.

''That's for players only,'' he says.

After sidestepping the inflatable, Rivera jogs out to the 20-yard line, turns to the crowd to find where Stephanie is seated and signals ''I love you'' to her with his left hand.

''Then I'm ready for the game,'' he says.

Rivera's superstitious rituals seem to be working.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera walks around the tunnel for player introductions as he takes the field before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. Rivera makes no qualms about it _ he's superstitious. If it's not eating the same meal before every game or wearing the same colors, it's flashing the I love you sign to his wife during warmups from the same spot on the field. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The Panthers are 10-0 this season and have won 14 straight regular-season games overall, which only increases his superstition.

''Unfortunately, winning sort of does that,'' Rivera says with a laugh.

Rivera's players have noticed some of his superstitions. Tight Greg Olsen says it's nothing unusual.

''I think everybody in the football world is superstitious,'' Olsen says. ''As players, we order out from the same restaurant on Thursdays and we've sat in the same seats to eat it for 10 straight weeks. ... We try to do the same things.''

Quarterback Cam Newton arrives for his Wednesday press conference and sits alongside reporters in press row and chats for about five or 10 minutes before stepping behind the podium. It's something he started earlier this season and has continued every week as the win streak continues.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, left, signs an autograph before the NFL football team's practice in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Rivera has other superstitions, some of which he just refers to as just ''routines,'' like making sure power points during game week are in the same order. He doesn't deny he's superstitious by nature.

He wears the same colored clothes to practice depending on the day. And he makes certain to wear a different outfit to every press conference.

''I'm bad now, but I was much worse as a player,'' Rivera concedes.

Rivera played nine seasons at linebacker with the Chicago Bears. He was part of the dynamic 1985 championship team that started 12-0 and came within one victory of a perfect season, losing only to Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins on a Monday night.

Rivera wore only two helmets during his career, forced to go to a backup after his original cracked.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, right, shakes hands with Cam Newton, left, before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. Rivera makes no qualms about it _ he's superstitious. If it's not eating the same meal before every game or wearing the same colors, it's flashing the I love you sign to his wife during warmups from the same spot on the field. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

He wore the same wristbands. He wore the same socks. He went through the same rituals before every game, such as organizing his stretches in a certain order.

But Rivera claims he never took it too far, like some of his teammates who refused to wash certain articles of clothing for fear of breaking the winning streak.

''Oh yeah, I washed. Trust me,'' Rivera said with a long laugh. ''We had a couple of guys that didn't wash certain things and their lockers got pretty ripe.''

Most players had some kind of superstition or ritual, and some were good for a laugh, Rivera said. Steve McMichael, a Bears defensive tackle who eventually became a professional wrestler, needed help from Rivera to complete his routine.

''First of all, he really loved his looks,'' Rivera says. ''So he'd get dressed and ready to go, and then he'd come stand in front of my locker and look at me, and I'd say, 'Yes, you are the best-looking defensive tackle in the league.' And then he'd say, 'All right, I'm ready to go.'''

credit: sports.yahoo.com

MrCleveland · 11-30-2015, 02:14 PM

They're now the only undefeated team out there.

The only undefeated team ever is the 1972 Miami Dolphins!

11-25-2015, 02:31 AM	#1
simmytbone Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 1,513	Panthers coach Ron Rivera embraces superstitions amid win streak http://sports.yahoo.com/news/panther...6901--nfl.html Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera points to his wife in the stands after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. The Panthers won 44-16. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn) Panthers coach Rivera embraces superstitions amid win streak By STEVE REED (AP Sports Writer) 7 hours ago AP - Sports CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- It is Sunday morning at Ron Rivera's house and the Carolina Panthers coach sits down to eat a familiar breakfast of cinnamon french toast and ham steak prepared by his wife. It's the same thing he eats before every Panthers Sunday home game - at the same time. He talks with Stephanie over coffee. At precisely 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time - exactly 4 1/2 hours before kickoff - the fifth-year coach's ride arrives to take him to the stadium. Once there, Rivera has a whole new, lengthy set of superstitions, culminating a week full of rigid rituals. He dons a black shirt - ''Not for any specific reason other than the last time I wore it we started winning, so I keep doing it,'' he says - and puts on the same set of black Nike shoes he has worn for three years. They are reserved just for game day. He eats a peanut butter and oatmeal cookie his wife has made for him. Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, right, greets Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, left, after an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. The Panthers won 44-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) He walks out of the stadium tunnel careful to avoid going through the large Panthers inflatable on the field. ''That's for players only,'' he says. After sidestepping the inflatable, Rivera jogs out to the 20-yard line, turns to the crowd to find where Stephanie is seated and signals ''I love you'' to her with his left hand. ''Then I'm ready for the game,'' he says. Rivera's superstitious rituals seem to be working. Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera walks around the tunnel for player introductions as he takes the field before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. Rivera makes no qualms about it _ he's superstitious. If it's not eating the same meal before every game or wearing the same colors, it's flashing the I love you sign to his wife during warmups from the same spot on the field. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Panthers are 10-0 this season and have won 14 straight regular-season games overall, which only increases his superstition. ''Unfortunately, winning sort of does that,'' Rivera says with a laugh. Rivera's players have noticed some of his superstitions. Tight Greg Olsen says it's nothing unusual. ''I think everybody in the football world is superstitious,'' Olsen says. ''As players, we order out from the same restaurant on Thursdays and we've sat in the same seats to eat it for 10 straight weeks. ... We try to do the same things.'' Quarterback Cam Newton arrives for his Wednesday press conference and sits alongside reporters in press row and chats for about five or 10 minutes before stepping behind the podium. It's something he started earlier this season and has continued every week as the win streak continues. Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, left, signs an autograph before the NFL football team's practice in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Rivera has other superstitions, some of which he just refers to as just ''routines,'' like making sure power points during game week are in the same order. He doesn't deny he's superstitious by nature. He wears the same colored clothes to practice depending on the day. And he makes certain to wear a different outfit to every press conference. ''I'm bad now, but I was much worse as a player,'' Rivera concedes. Rivera played nine seasons at linebacker with the Chicago Bears. He was part of the dynamic 1985 championship team that started 12-0 and came within one victory of a perfect season, losing only to Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins on a Monday night. Rivera wore only two helmets during his career, forced to go to a backup after his original cracked. Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, right, shakes hands with Cam Newton, left, before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. Rivera makes no qualms about it _ he's superstitious. If it's not eating the same meal before every game or wearing the same colors, it's flashing the I love you sign to his wife during warmups from the same spot on the field. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn) He wore the same wristbands. He wore the same socks. He went through the same rituals before every game, such as organizing his stretches in a certain order. But Rivera claims he never took it too far, like some of his teammates who refused to wash certain articles of clothing for fear of breaking the winning streak. ''Oh yeah, I washed. Trust me,'' Rivera said with a long laugh. ''We had a couple of guys that didn't wash certain things and their lockers got pretty ripe.'' Most players had some kind of superstition or ritual, and some were good for a laugh, Rivera said. Steve McMichael, a Bears defensive tackle who eventually became a professional wrestler, needed help from Rivera to complete his routine. ''First of all, he really loved his looks,'' Rivera says. ''So he'd get dressed and ready to go, and then he'd come stand in front of my locker and look at me, and I'd say, 'Yes, you are the best-looking defensive tackle in the league.' And then he'd say, 'All right, I'm ready to go.''' *credit: sports.yahoo.com*
	__________________ Lisa Marie Varon, Lisa Moretti, Jazz, Lilian Garcia & Dawn Marie The Fab 5-Underrated, but AWESOME in my book Atlanta Falcons: RISE UP

11-30-2015, 02:14 PM	#2
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	They're now the only undefeated team out there. The only undefeated team ever is the 1972 Miami Dolphins!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)