It's probably the most seasoned tradition in all of sports, first performed in 1884. The Haka is also used by other teams neighboring New Zealand, as well as the Hawaii football team, but the Ka Mate remains the golden standard, and it's easy to see why. The International Rugby Federation tried to ban the Ka Mate, because it was a non-sporting act designed solely to intimidate, however the Haka is so rooted in the All Blacks and embedded in New Zealand culture that the motion was overruled. A testament to the strength and weight of the tradition. Its intensity makes it awesome, it's rich history makes it the best tradition in all of sports.
In the early 90s an unofficial practice emerged amongst Australian test players to never replace a baggy green cap, most notably by Steve Waugh. Although there is no official rule against a player obtaining a replacement cap from Cricket Australia, this almost never occurs, and the increasingly dilapidated state of an aging baggy green cap is a de facto symbol of seniority amongst the players in the team. Another tradition instituted by former captain Mark Taylor (but suggested by Steve Waugh, and one that still occurs today) is the practice of all players wearing the cap during the first session in the field of a Test match, as a symbol of solidarity. Even Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, known for their preference for a floppy sun hat, observed this tradition without question. Modern players seldom wear the baggy green cap while batting, choosing a protective helmet instead, especially when facing faster bowlers.
Jersey swapping is said to have originated in 1931 after France stunned England in a friendly match by scoring five goals against the football powerhouse. The French asked for the English player's jerseys as a sign of respect and a way to commemorate their victory, thus jersey swapping was born. Currently, FIFA does not allow the exchanging of jerseys after games but the rule is enforced loosely and players have found a way to swap jersey's in the tunnel out of the prying eyes of the media. You will see them signal to the tunnel when an opponent signals he wants to swap his Jersey .
A tradition used strictly in baseball, a player is usually pied in the face after a walk off hit. However, they may also find themselves pied if they pitch a no hitter or perform some other heroic act for their team. The pie is usually deployed while the player is giving an on-field post game press conference. That way the player is concentrating on something else, can't really run away because they've got equipment hooked up to them and look like a fool on national TV, it's the optimal pieing time. Pies are usually made of shaving cream.
The Gatorade bath is a sports tradition that was started in the mid-80s by NFL players. The Giants claimed they started it in 1985 when they doused coach Bill Parcells, however the Bears would argue that they started it in 1984 when they showered Mike Ditka after clinching the division. The tradition gained fame in 1986 after Parcells was doused 17 times that year, including a Superbowl win (man, that must have sucked). While the tradition may not seem that appealing to coaches the image of someone tipping the bucket on their coach's head can only conjure up memories of euphoria and victory, making this tradition especially sweet (no pun intended).
In 1936, Louis Meyer found himself in the winner's circle at the Indianapolis 500. What's the first thing Meyer reached for? Why, a nice cold bottle of buttermilk to refresh him. Meyer was photographed gulping down the beverage and the image ultimately made its way to the National Dairy Council who saw a golden marketing opportunity: Make sure from that day on, that every winner of the Indy 500 was seen slugging a bottle of milk! A tradition was born, one of the most original ones in sports.
Okay this “tradition” is more of a problem but it occurs while a golfer takes a swing and the heckler shouts out to distract him. Golf is not an ideal sport for heckling. The constant hush, stern crowd conduct rules and vigilant officials make sure that anyone who makes a peep is removed from the premises and beaten with large saps in the parking lot. But it happens (not just on the Golf course but in other sporting codes too) and some have mastered the art so well they have cost many a few golfers a shot or two.
No one does custom and tradition quite like SW19 Wimbledon Championship is famous not olny for its all tennis whites but equally so for its famous consumption of strawberries and cream. A classic British dessert that is associated with tournament in the same way the pumpkin pie is associated with Thanksgiving. The dish itself supposedly dates back to the 1500s, and became associated with Wimbledon at its outset, as strawberries came into season right at the time that the Championships were starting. Or, if you prefer, legend has it that George V introduced it as an ideal pairing when he came to watch in the early 1900s. Either way, the dish has become inseparable from tennis’s most important tournament.
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams signing off
(@Jcba & on IG @Jcba_Official)
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