Stretching and taking practice shots are mere pedestrian acts of exercise. A King needs to warm up in style. LeBron James, known to fans as King James, has an elaborate pre-game routine known as “the Ritual.” Although his full routine involves a complex sequence of actions ranging from putting on his mouth guard to giving out handshakes, the most visually prominent part of the Ritual is when James tosses moisture-absorbing chalk into the air, giving himself a pre-game baptism of willowy white powder.
Top 10 Sports Superstitions
From the playoff beard to lucky shorts, sport stars are fond of using of unconventional measures to ensure their team's success in the big game. As the 2011 World Series kicks off, TIME takes a look at superstitions that have become intertwined with the wide world of sports