WE CHALK IT UP TO YOUR SUCCESS
Weightlifters and gymnasts have been using chalk for years. But two men elevated chalk from utility to sacrament of athletic rites over the years.
One man with his pregame chalk clap and another with his pregame chalk toss turned chalk into an airborne signal of success.
Much like christening a boat before its maiden voyage, this duo's respective chalk rituals blessed their on-court battles.
CHRISTEN YOUR LIFTS
A boat christening aimed to appease the gods of the sea, otherwise, if not performed, devastating consequences would befall the boat for life. No one wanted to incur the wrath of the sea gods.
According to ancient legend, the sea gods Neptune and Poseidon, live on the ocean floor, assuring safe passage to sailors respecting their doctrine and protocols. The gods kept a "Ledger of the Deep" that logged every seagoing vessel's name. If a boat wasn't properly named, renamed or christened, a series of mysterious misfortunes afflicted it, like fires, long periods of nasty weather, injuries and accidents to the crew, collisions and the ship sinking.
If ceremonies and rituals for the boat were dutifully performed, the vessel would be purged from the "Ledger of the Deep." Boats that didn't follow proper protocol became the unluckiest ships due to defying the gods.
RITUALS MAKE CHAMPIONS
Let us help you appease the weightlifting gods and christen your each and every lift during your journey to excellence. Oh, and one last thing.
Those two men and their pregame, chalk rituals?
Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
