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I bought a new hat.

There are rules, you know, regarding baseball cap purchases. Well, not really rules... more like etiquette. Or more like crazy superstition. Myself, I will only buy a new baseball cap during a good game or after a win. Buying a cap during a bad game or a loss infects that hat with Bad Vibes, and it is useless as a rallying tool. I bought my home grey Jays cap last year during a loss, but the Jays scored ten runs in it, so I thought it would be okay.

We all know how that turned out.

I bought a new cap on Sunday, mid-game. I didn't wear it yesterday or the day before, but I wore it again today. Two games, two wide margins of victory for the Jays. Yes, there are sample size issues with my crazy belief system.

I'm taking the new cap with me on my trip tomorrow and will wear it while listening to each and every Jays vs. Boston game on the radio this long weekend, which should give us a good idea of how well it works.

Here's the problem: it's a Washington Nationals cap. Oh well, I've gotta do what I've gotta do.

Last week, in this thread, Gitz and I sorta-kinda worked out the beginning of a new NFH challenge, though it's actually more like a Gitz challenge to me.

First, in response to another post, I said

Simon, what will you do if the Jays get more than 85 wins?
to which Gitz replied
NFH, are you suggesting the Jays will win 85 games? I'm not too keen on a Shea Hillenbrand jersey, but me thinks a new USC sweatshirt would look mighty nice on me in October when the Trojans clobber the Huskies . . .

So there's the groundwork -- if the Jays don't win 85 or more games, I'll be sending Gitz a USC sweatshirt. Since the point was originally about contention, could we add another qualifier? Could either I win or the bet be cancelled if the Jays win fewer than 85 games but finish within two games of the Wild Card?

And then, of course, we need to sort out what I'd get if the Jays win 85 games. Anyone got a suggestion?

Tell me I'm crazy, and a new NFH challenge | 12 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Magpie - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 05:43 PM EDT (#121055) #
Well you could do it like the Dudek challenge. Make Gitz buy and wear a Ted Lilly jersey to a game, and then hand it over.
Named For Hank - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 05:47 PM EDT (#121056) #
My wife says I have too many jerseys already. And she may be right.

But I think it should probably be something in the value-neighborhood of this USC sweatshirt, shouldn't it? I suppose that's up to Gitz and how strongly he believes that the Jays won't win 85 games -- for instance, I'd happily play for a VW Jetta TDI or a giant pile of gold against the sweatshirt.
Gitz - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#121057) #
I do like the idea of something Lilly related, since I'm such an outspoken ya-ha about him.

Aaron, a decent 'SC sweatshirt, purchased at the USC Bookstore, is about $39 US. You've got a new-born, so I can't see myself stealing food from his mouth. Which is fine; we won't deny Theodore his num-nums. But a week's worth of Top Ramen for papa ought to serve him right for making such ludicrous wagers.

So you choose the comparable prize, sir. It won't matter much. The Jays won't win 85 games or come within two of the wild card -- a caveat I allow.
Named For Hank - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 06:25 PM EDT (#121058) #
Woohoo! Top Ramen!

Let me put my thinking cap on. I'd appreciate any and all suggestions from Bauxites.
DJR - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 06:57 PM EDT (#121059) #
Seriously sir, you should be asking Gitz for a few rolls of film so that you can continue to share your good work with us. You'll need it - it will have taken a lot of your mojo if the Jays pull off 85 wins this season.
CaramonLS - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 07:39 PM EDT (#121064) #
Off topic, Joe Borowski was just DFA'd by the Cubs.

Not sure if he would be worth a Minor league contract to see if he could get his career back on track, he has been riddled with Injuries since beginning 2004.
Alex0888 - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 08:00 PM EDT (#121067) #
Maybe you could send me one of those jerseys, NFH ;)
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 08:14 PM EDT (#121068) #
Well, Aaron, you might have enough jerseys, but kids never have enough sweatshirts. Maybe you could get a really nice picture of Ted Lilly, and then send it to Gitz for signature and reproduction on a kid's sweatshirt or hoodie. And you'd get to keep the picture. Theo deserves no less, I say.

I'll be rooting for you.
VBF - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 10:25 PM EDT (#121073) #
I just don't understand, NFH. It's a Nationals cap. What does it matter what sort of luck it has?

Oh, and NFH, do the same rules apply for jerseys too? I'm one paycheque away from an Aaron Hill jersey, and I was wondering what the conditions were since it would be mailed to me, with me having little control of when it came.

Oh, and NFH, should I buy a Chrysler? Wait, is it right to buy a Chrysler?
Named For Hank - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 10:43 PM EDT (#121075) #
Dude, don't buy a Chrysler. Buy a diesel Volkswagen. Trust me, even an old one if it has a clean bill of health.

Yes, the same rules apply to jerseys -- hey, don't you have three already? You're edging towards NFH territory there. I almost won a signed Molitor jersey on eBay last week, but it didn't go up past the guy's reserve. So I still only have five, or six if you count Theo's.

Anyhow, if you order it during a winning game or shortly afterwards, that good luck will surely be transferred to the jersey.
VBF - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 11:02 PM EDT (#121077) #
Good t'know. No, I have two new logo ones. Now with all this Wells banter and Koskie injury, I better lock myself up with Aaron Hill or for a cheaper price, one off the "players who sucked" rack.

I have a couple other ones I also got off ebay. I picked up an original 1977 jersey off ebay, an uncle of mine who's a Mets fan won a Jays jersey from 1994 and gave it to me. If it was someone else, I'd burn it given the year. I got a 2003 Wells one, which just collects dust.
VBF - Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 11:03 PM EDT (#121078) #
Dude, don't buy a Chrysler. Buy a diesel Volkswagen. Trust me, even an old one if it has a clean bill of health.

But isn't good the car with power steering? :)

Tell me I'm crazy, and a new NFH challenge | 12 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.