The Tale Of Gymnast Dannell Leyva And His Magic Towel

Dannell Leyva has been one of the breakout stars of the Olympics this year. He won the bronze medal in men's gymnastics in the men's all around. Not bad for a guy no one had ever heard of. His secret? Why a magic towel, of course! Dannell can be seen before a competition silently hanging out with his blanket on his head. He doesn't go anywhere without it. He's like a Cuban Linus from the Peanuts cartoons, only ripped and wearing speedos. Some people think this is weird behavior. Someone even started a Twitter feed called @LeyvasTowel. But I'm not surprised. I'm Cuban-American too and this isn't all that weird for us.

It's not an exaggeration nor a stereotype to say a lot of us a reallllllly superstitious. My cousin thinks a special rosary he wears will keep him from dying, my grandmother once climbed a mountain in Cuba on her knees to appease the Virgin Mary, and my dad had someone sacrifice a chicken the day I was born. So, I'm not surprised that he thinks a towel his tia gave him brings him good luck. Who are we to say it isn't true? Do you have a bronze medal? No. So, leave the guy and his banky alone.