A player who set his alarm for 33 minutes past the hour and scheduled his wedding for 3:33 p.m. A champion who hid a secret beneath his baggy shorts. A legendary athlete nicknamed "Mr. Vomit" whose pre-game routine kept trainers on standby with a bucket.
Those are just a few of the stories Meg Wastie plans to unpack at the Livingston Public Library on Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. The free lecture, titled "Sports Superstitions: Luck, Rituals and Winning," explores the rituals, lucky charms and deeply held beliefs athletes swear by in their quest to win.
Wastie brings an unusual background to the topic. She spent 32 years as an English and Drama teacher at Columbia High School in Maplewood, then served 15 years as Curator of Education at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison. She now presents programs to schools, senior groups and public organizations across the region.
The program is part of the library's adult lecture series and is supported by The Friends of the Livingston Public Library, a volunteer nonprofit that funds programming at the branch. The NJ Hills/West Essex Tribune first reported on the event.
The talk runs from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the Program Room at 10 Robert Harp Dr. in Livingston. No registration requirement appears on the library's event page, though residents can call (973) 992-4600 to confirm availability. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Adult Summer Challenge wraps up Monday, Aug. 10, so the sports superstitions lecture offers a fresh reason to visit the library the following week.
Upcoming at the Livingston Public Library:
- Sunday, Aug. 16: Tiny Art Show with painting and public voting
- Monday, Aug. 17: Sports Superstitions: Luck, Rituals and Winning, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 21: Bingo afternoon session
