Ask Dave and Luke: Did announcers’ optimism jinx US gymnast McKayla Maroney

U.S. gymnast McKayla Maroney botches her dismount during the artistic gymnastics women’s vault finals at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. (AP Photo)

Gymnast McKayla Maroney is considered by some to be the best female vaulter in the world, so it was shocking when she fell down during her performance on Sunday missing gold. Luke thinks that the announcers played a role in Maroney’s failure.

“Her vaulting skills are quite incredible,” says Luke. “They kept saying how there was no way she would lose, even if she had her worst vault of all time she would still win because she was just head and shoulders over everybody.”

“You don’t believe that she could hear their play-by-play? Because she can’t,” says Dave. “So this jinx would have to be simply just a supernatural thing that NBC you feel is capable of inflicting on gymnasts.”

Luke says he doesn’t believe in astrology or as he puts it “woo-woo ridiculous magic,” but for some reason he says he does believe in jinx when it comes to sports and gambling.

Ross and Burbank listeners seem to believe in the possibility as well.

Judy in Seattle writes:

Luke,

I agree with you about NBC jinxing our vaulting gymnast. All while they were saying she couldn’t possibly lose, I was yelling at the TV for them to stop saying that. Sure enough, she didn’t get the gold.

Alex in Seattle writes:

SUBJECT: McKayla Maroney Jinx

It almost seemed like the announcer was purposefully jinxing Maroney. I wonder if he was sitting in the booth with a McKayla Maroney Voodoo Doll while he was jinxing her.

Linda in Seattle writes:

McKayla Maroney got what she deserved. She is a poor sport and a bad representation of the USA. If you missed it, watch again how she treated her fellow contestants when she lost the gold.

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