6 min read

FROM THE MYTH of hair springing from the palms of slack-jawed gooners to the cautionary tales told by the unmedicated adult men of the NoFap subreddit and standalone forum , masturbation and shame are believed to go hand-in-hand.

One of the other myths that has persisted is that a pre-game jerk renders society's jocks impotent on the playing field. To win the 2026 NBA Championship, New York Knicks owner James Dolan encouraged players to “give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” referencing (albeit inaccurately) that the Spartans “denied themselves… so they can have an edge.” Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy was also known for separating players from their partners prior to big games, while Mohammed Ali would practice week-long stretches of abstinence leading up to fights.

This ethos is believed to benefit the average gym bro, too.…