I also remember a game in the heat of Dallas with the Eagles, and the Eagles drank pickle juice before the game, and totally destroyed the Cowboys.
A friend's college B-ball team went to the Soviet Union in the 1980s on some kind of goodwill exchange. He said at half-time, the Russians gave them hot tea with lemon and ginger root.
They were angry - where's our Gatorade? Where's the sports-drink? What's this weird-tasting old-lady drink in teacups? Clearly, the Russians were trying to subtly sabotage them, so the home team would win.
Then they realized - oh, that's what the Soviet athletes drank also.
Was it pickle Juice, or PickleBACKS?
Switchel used to be a popular hot weather drink with farmers and others working outside in the heat. It's made from apple cider vinegar and molasses, so pickle juice doesn't sound all that bizarre.
Pro tennis players drink pickle juice mixtures to avoid muscle cramps. If they start cramping they will use 100% in hopes of quick recovery. Have seen many tennis players go to their knees and have to be taken off the court in wheel chairs.