What are your favorite sports traditions?
 

As the Super Bowl nears and I prepare for the traditional party it made me think about some of my other favorite traditions in the sports world. Oddly enough, some of my favorites are centered around teams/people that I sincerely dislike ...... but that's just me and my love of sports I guess.

I HATE the Yankees :) I think everybody knows that by now .... and Bald Vinny is an idiot .... but the "Roll Call" is a tradition that I hope lasts forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJchfpOhmG0

Another team I sincerely dislike is the Baltimore Ravens, and as a Steelers fan, I doubly dislike Ray Lewis ..... but come on ..... can his entrance ever be beat by a single player?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiMbtlNdIWM

Ray Lewis can only be topped by an entire team..... "The Hive" from my Ohio State Buckeyes is by far the best entrance in all of sports. Such a showing of unity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qku56wtKPk

What are some of your favorite sports traditions?

Love the Roll Call...awesome stuff right there!

Hey Steve...Steelers suck :)

out of all the Yankees .... past or present ... who has your favorite response to the roll call? I always like Granderson's "heart attack" from Sanford & Son.

"THIS IS THE BIG ONE ELIZABETH" :) good stuff right there.

Honorable mention: Notre Dame football. STEEPED IN TRADITION.

I'm not really much of a Notre Dame fan (go Buckeyes) but since my daughter will be attending school there I don't have much negative to say.

2 years ago I had the unique experience of getting V.I.P. treatment at the Notre Dame v. Navy game and I was in awe the entire day. From the moment I stepped foot on the campus I had goosebumps. We visited the Gold Dome, got pics with Touchdown Jesus, went to Catholic Mass with the players before the game, followed the band as they marched across campus and into the stadium before the game, and of course cheered like hell at "Shipping up to Boston" while the students threw each other up in the air. Truly a memorable day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akpHp-3cTYw

The Lambeau Leap :D

'We' were told that, besides football, only one other sporting event is allowed to take place on the Notre Dame football field: the annual Sunburst marathon finishes on the field. That was partly why I ran it one year as my Boston qualifier.

Probably obscure unless you are from Nebraska, but when the balloons are released when Nebraska makes it first score.

Lighting of the Olympic torch.

My favorite player celebration was Merten Hanks chicken neck dance

the handshakes at the end of a playoff series in hockey

Seeing two boxers touch gloves mid-ring at the start of the final round in a title fight.

Baseball quirks (not really traditions):
1) Big Poopi step out of the batters box, re-velcro his gloves, and spit on his hands in between EVERY pitch.
2) Jim Leyritz the way he use to twirl his bat like a baton in between pitches.
3) "Enter Sandman" when Mariano Rivera comes out of the pen
4) (Okay this is a tradition) 7th inning stretch singing "take me out to the ballgame"

NCAAF:
A core of 6 of us tailgate for every UCONN football home game and usually each invite a person. We always get there when the gates for the parking lots open. Not as big as other football schools, but still fun.

Football:
1) Once a year we go to a Patriots home game and tailgate. I go with friends who are Patriots fans (I'm not) and I find a way to tease the team. This past year I wore a shirt which only read "18-1" in big font :D
2) Steelers Terrible Towels
3) The cheerleaders!

Basketball:
Jason Kidd blowing a kiss with every free throw

Hockey:
Playoff beard

Soccer:
shirt over your head when you score a goal

Tradition??? maybe its been going on forever I guess -

Rain Delay Fun - Players sliding across the tarp in the rain - (many examples but the robin ventura comes to mind when he was immatating Piazza)

I love how baseball managers and coaches wear the uniform and cleats!

Chief Osceola riding onto midfield and sticking a flaming lance at Florida State home games.

- cutting down the nets after the NCAA tourney

- Army/Navy football game

- Stanley Cup going home with each winning team member for a day

"Drivers, start your engines"

To hear drivers fire 'em up at any NASCAR event is pretty awesome. Can't wait for Daytona this weekend!

Always loved the Haka.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4LNjNXt1yM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fYIUdVNFgU

Been to my share of great sporting events but without a doubt my fav is the traditional Beanpot Hockey Tourney held in Boston each Feb. Just wish I get to see Northeastern win one soon !!!

haha, too funny. Can't believe I missed this when I first read the thread. Me and my Dad use to call him "neck". His neck was attached to his torso via a slinky!

Presidents race at Nationals Park.New tradition I know but my son goes wild.This is Teddy's year to win!

"Wooo Pig Sooiee RAZORBACK!" ---University of Arkansas fans

"OOOOOHHH!"--Baltimore Orioles fans during the national anthem.

Red Wings
 

The winged wheels are my team.
I love the octopus being flung onto the ice!
I also love the crowd singing along with Journey on "Dont' Stop Believin"
..."born and raised in South Detroit!"
I also love the "3 Stars" awards that only hockey does...I wonder why that never caught on for the other sports.

What I don't like:
Sack dances in football.
Human rain delay in the batter's box.
Almost anything about NBA.

ohio state football games marching band "dotting" the I.

As a New York Rangers STH the "Potvin Sucks" chant heard at every game since 1979 is probably mine.

I love to hear Frank Sinatra singing NEW YORK NEW YORK in Yankee Stadium after a win.

I remember that from when I was a kid attending games at MSG. That and "beat your wife, Potvin, beat your wife" and "you, you, you, you F*** you!" from the cheap seats and "Boston sucks" even when they aren't playing. Man, that was a rough crowd when beer sales were unrestrained.

I'd also add these:

--NY Yankees fans wearing "Boston sucks" T shirts to every game no matter who is playing.

--When I lived in SF I saw "Forty F***ing Niners!" slogans everywhere.

--Beachball tosses at Dodgers Stadium

Murr beat me to my favorite, though.

I have to agree with Orioles1954, calling the Hogs with the whole stadium shaking!