By MIKE MENNELLA

How many times have you spilled salt and then thrown it over your left shoulder? How many times have you knocked on wood, hoping to keep a good luck streak alive? How many times have you avoided walking under a ladder because of bad luck?

If you have done any of these things, it means you are superstitious. Almost everyone is superstitious in one way or another. I think people who gamble are probably the most superstitious of all people.

For instance, people who gamble might wear the same clothes for weeks because they think their clothes are lucky and they're always winning money while wearing them. When they lose, they finally change clothes.

The former manager of the Cubs, Leo Durocher, is a very superstitious man. Last year the Cubs' third base coach was ill for a couple of days, so Leo took over. It just so happened that the Cubs began a winning streak when Leo became the third base coach. Leo decided to stay as the third base coach until the Cubs finally lost.

Why do people do these things? Does it really work? I took a poll and asked some people if they were superstitious. Most people said they were a little superstitious at one time or another.

The reasons why people are superstitious are because they fear and/or are ignorant of the unknown. They can't explain something, so they make up their own answers. That is probably why some people are so very superstitious today.

Some people are superstitious but don't even know it. I'm glad I'm not superstitious, but just to be on the safe side I won't walk under any ladders on April Fool's Day!