Sox fans - simple question

[Taverner]

Been watching the ALCS and the Sox have been nothing sort of impressive. Last night Curt Shilling pitched an amazing game, despite the bleeding - and the whole series has been nothing short of miraculous.

HOWEVER, what's the deal with the batting helmets? I can see leaving them a little dirty, but that mud is caked on...what's up with that?

GO SOX!

[mr_hat]

1. It's dirt stuck to pine tar. It's also image.

[MallRat]

2. It's a superstition thing.

Trot Nixon has been doing it for a few years. I don't know when or why, but half the team is doing it now, too.

-MR

[Onlooker]

3. The Band of Idiots

At least that's how Johnny Damon described the team. Between their helmets and their hairdoos, they don't look like a lot of other teams. I think it's their thing, and it only serves to make them even more appealing.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Pine tar from the bats

The tar gets on their hands, the use their hands to adjust their helmets several times per at-bat, after 162 games the helmets become caked. Trot Nixon started the trend years ago with the Sox.

[LisaM]

5. I LOVE it - I love their rag-tag look

it seems so gutsy and working class. Good for them.

[Taverner]

7. I'm cool with it too...but i swore the helmets looked...burned

but hey, gotta respect a streak...

"A player on a streak has to respect the streak. You know why? Because they don't happen very often. If you believe you're playing well because your getting laid or because you're not getting laid or because you're wearing women's underwear, then you are!" - Bull Durham

[chelsea0011]

6. My understanding is ownership doesn't care but MLB

doesn't like the logos mucked up and have complained.