Great post, @nancibriti.
A very controversial topic, especially in places where superstitions are actually considered an integral part of their beliefs system.
Hugo Chávez is the culprit of the bad luck of the whole country (Venezuela).
That much I do believe. There is plenty of empirical evidence.
I always found it stressful to incorporate superstitions to my set of beliefs. There is no way in hell we can remember so many details of what can or should be done to attack good luck or repell bad one.
It's just ridiculous.
The funny thing is that many cults (sort of) have emerged with pompous names and complicated iconography that try to hide the fundamentally supersticious nature of their philosophies.
Superstitions can be considered the ultimate expression of faith.
For me, nothing calls bad luck more strongly than the belief in bad luck.
Sports, especially baseball, thrives with superstitious practices. And it is in baseball precisely where we can prove how absurd those beliefs are. Pitchers, for instance avoid stepping on the line when they enter the field. They do not always have a good day on the mount, though. Fans have seen their teams lose once and againa, regardless of how strongly they pull their backwards caps on their heads. And so on and so forth.