[BostonCard]

Seems like it is one of those pieces of received wisdom that is impossible to prove or disprove.  And certainly in the cases that something bulletin-board worthy is said about a team, and that team does win (especially if it is an upset), human behavior being what it is, there will be a tendency to link the two.  But of course, all the other times that something bullet-board worthy was said about the team, but the team lost, you never hear about it again.

If this type of external motivation were so important, then players would never trash talk, since it would just serve to motivate their opponents.

BC

[BostonCard]

Seems like it is one of those pieces of received wisdom that is impossible to prove or disprove.  And certainly in the cases that something bulletin-board worthy is said about a team, and that team does win (especially if it is an upset), human behavior being what it is, there will be a tendency to link the two.  But of course, all the other times that something bullet-board worthy was said about the team, but the team lost, you never hear about it again.

If this type of external motivation were so important, then players would never trash talk, since it would just serve to motivate their opponents.

BC