There are many variables that can affect the game. Weather, injuries, bad playing surfaces and freak bounces happen to every team over each season. The different kits that a team wears probably doesn't have anything to do with a team's performance but it's always interesting to see how Sporting KC does when wearing their three different kits across the three competitions in 2013.

Ever since the third kit was introduced to the public and to the team in the April 27th match against Portland, fans have come out and said that the black kits are "cursed."

Taking a look at the winning percentages from games where Sporting KC wore the alternate kit, it's hard to argue with the "cursed" claim.

Third Kit: 1 win, 2 losses, 1 draw.

.250% winning percentage, .500% result percentage.

The loss came in their debut, a 3-2 home loss to Portland. Already the kits were bringing bad luck to the team and probably shouldn't have been worn for the rest of the season. They brought redemption in the third round of the US Open Cup when Sporting KC defeated the Des Moines Menace but they lost their mojo in the next round against Orlando City. They then finished their torrid season with a home draw to Real Esteli in the Champions League.

It's definitely a small sample size but the stats do not lie: Sporting Kansas City cannot beat a team higher than the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid while wearing the third kit. The claims of the kit being cursed may have some merit.

Primary Kit: 18 wins, 9 losses, 7 draws.

.529% winning percentage, .735% result percentage.

The biggest sample size we have is with the primary kits, bringing in a nice winning percentage and a really nice result percentage. These kits saw action in most MLS matches, 3 out of 4 Champions League matches and none of the US Open Cup matches. Instead with the US Open Cup both matches had the third kit worn in them, which may explain Sporting's early exit from the tournament.

Going into the Eastern Conference Final match against Houston this may be the kit of choice. They have worn the primary kits in all four match-ups with the Dynamo and are unbeaten in all four. Of course, they need a win but unbeaten never hurts.

Secondary Navy Kit: 4 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw.

.666 winning percentage, .833 result percentage.

Well how about this: The away kit actually brings the best winning percentage and result percentage out of the three choices. Sporting KC used this kit once at home, a 3-0 drubbing of New England. All other times were league matches on the road, their only loss coming at Los Angeles during a cross-country road trip.

This leads me to believe that this kit has the winning formula in it. It has most of its results on the road and its powers were enhanced at Sporting Park when they beat New England 3-0. I'm not going to blame the loss at Los Angeles on the kit since there was no way a team could go from New York to Los Angeles in four days and do well.

If Sporting KC is looking to win their second leg match with the Dynamo next Saturday, they may want to turn to the secondary kit to enhance their skills. Its a small sample size but the stats don't lie: Sporting performs their best in the navy kit.

*In case you haven't figured it out yet, this whole article was just an entertaining filler piece during the international break. The kits that are worn don't have any effect on the performance of the team. Probably.