It’s an attempt to bring certainty into an uncertain world. Soldiers do the same thing every occupation with a lot of uncertainty.

The reason the article is reprinted so much, I believe, is that it’s a reminder that we’re no different, … Sure, these tribal people have all these beliefs and practices that seem so weird –...

Most players today would deny being superstitious. It’s kind of pejorative. But if you ask them what they do to give themselves confidence, they’ll tell about their rituals and beliefs, how they like to get...