The Wave: Really invented at the Coliseum?

by AlamedaAphid on Nov 10, 2004 8:40 PM PST

I'm going to preface this question with an important disclaimer: I hate the goddamn Wave. I hate the Wave the way I hate car alarms and cute cellphone ring tones. I'm the grumpy, bitter old bastard who always barks at the fresh-faced kids to sit their sorry ass down when they try to get a Wave going during The Crucial Moment in a nail-biting 1-0 game (yeah, punk, you'll be punching a clock for The Man in the salt mines and praying for a painless death soon enough- have your fun now while you can, heh heh heh).

Right. So, here's the deal. I remember going to a game during the BillyBall era- 80? 81?- and I was sitting in some really sucky edge-of-the-bowl Upper Reserve seats. Crazy George spent the whole game frantically trying to get us all to do... something. Beating on his drum, screaming, gesturing. We couldn't figure out what he wanted, but it was clearly way more complicated than "Make a lot of noise when Rickey gets on base!" Finally, late in the game, the little light bulbs went on over our heads... he got our section to stand up and then sit down... then the next one... you know the whole stupid drill. But the novelty made it seem less stupid, at least to my not-quite-so-cynical-as-I-am-now teenage self.

The game stopped as the players stared, confused, while the Wave roared around and around. It made the TV news that night. It was special.

So, was this The First Wave? Or The First Baseball Wave? Or The First Oakland Baseball Wave? Or maybe just one of the many signs of the impending collapse of civilization?

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Wow

That's a really cool story. If the players stopped the game to check out what happened, then it probably was either the first wave or baseball wave.

On the topic of the wave, I haven't seen a good one since 2002 at an A's/Yanks game. I've it when the Yanks come to town. It' really livens up the place.

YANK-EES SUCK!

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb." - Spaceballs

by secret ASian man on Nov 10, 2004 10:03 PM PST reply actions

San Jose Earthquakes

I think Crazy George started that sh*% with the SJ Earthquakes in the late 70's, but he made it mainstream at A's Games. However, there are a few cities that lay-claim to the wave, like Seattle or something like that.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Nov 10, 2004 10:19 PM PST reply actions

Here's some links

Yeah, I got bored and googled "the wave" here's what I got.

http://www.krazygeorge.com/indexFS.html

http://www.ocolly.okstate.edu/issues/2000_Fall/001013/stories/still.html

So I guess the first wave was at the Coliseum.

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb." - Spaceballs

by secret ASian man on Nov 10, 2004 11:11 PM PST reply actions

Jeez, I didn't ever remember it was a playoff game

Or that it was the Yankees. See, the Wave served its intended purpose: distracting me from all that confusing stuff happening on the field.

by AlamedaAphid on Nov 11, 2004 10:47 AM PST up reply actions

I'm on the Collapse of Civilization Tip

Amen to all that, AlamedaAphid.

But what about Dot Racing and the Cap Caper?

I have in my possession top-secret documents that undeniable demonstrate that Dot Racing and the Cap Caper were invented at the RAND Corporation in the late '60s as an urban-pacification technology. The CIA quickly appropriated them for use abroad (Arbenz in Guatemala was done in by a highly advanced and lethal version of Dot Racing).

As for how these insidious forms of crowd-control leaked out into MLB, I've heard rumors about a former Texas Rangers owner with paternal ties to the CIA ...

by monkeyball on Nov 11, 2004 8:44 AM PST reply actions

Think that's right

I read a Ludlum novel about that very subject. It was an ex-special forces doctor that leaked it through the CIA channel and all attempts to cover failed. The only option was to release it where they knew fans did not show up (The Oakland Coliseum), and hope that it did not spread.

It's still a great thing for the kids. I despise the attempts now, but my son gets into it, so if I can keep him going by riding the "train," doing the wave and eating cotton candy, I am a happy man.

"Not the fucking ducks again." Tony S.

by rook on Nov 11, 2004 9:14 AM PST up reply actions

That explains a lot

Although I always suspected Dot Racing was a way to prepare fans for the team's move to Vegas... they'd have Dot Racing clerks taking bets in the stands, much like they do with Keno in casino buffets. "BLUE! $20 on BLUE!"

Hey, if they did move to Vegas, they could have Opening Day feature the White Sox as the visiting team... all dressed in reproduction 1919 uniforms, of course...

by AlamedaAphid on Nov 11, 2004 10:53 AM PST up reply actions

So much hate

So much hate. Hate the wave. Hate the dot racing. Hate the cap caper. Is there hate for the organ (or what passes for it) music? "That damn 'charge' song again." What about the intro music for the individual players? Do they really like JaRule that much? What about the fans choice highlight? Does everybody hate that? Ooo.. watching grass grow won again.

People are supposed to goto the game and sit there. No smiles. Just watch the game. Sit Damn it. Damn wave.

A's fans hate the wave? Makes me laugh. We all just wish there were more people to do the wave with. Then ownership might throw BB some cash to work with. Damn wave..

By the way.. Blue always wins. Check the report.

"You either play by the rules, change the rules, or get out, altogether." - Michael Eisner

by Parklife on Nov 11, 2004 1:15 PM PST reply actions

Hate the game, not the player

I've got nothing but respect for all our valiant Dots and Caps.

But Dot Racing and the Cap Caper were and are a diversion. By supporting both of these quixotic adventures, you put our Dots and Caps unnecessarily at risk.

The A's are not safer while our Dots race and our Caps caper, and our enemies in the American League West are still at large.

Dot Racing and the Cap Caper: the wrong war at the wrong time.

by monkeyball on Nov 11, 2004 1:32 PM PST up reply actions

Rollin Right along

MB you are on fire today.

Nothing but distractions...been going to games along time, and I am glad they keep coming up with stuff during the innings to keep my family in their seats...we get in trouble when we all start walking around during an inning...oh I need that hat, mmmm churros....some lemonade....ropes are good...hey that's a good shirt for what his name....$100 later the game is back on. So in a way, keeping my wife and son happy and entertained during the games, saves us all.

Now if we could just bring back "Celebration" after every A's victory, I would be happy. Nothing like hummin that song on the way to Bart...we gonna have good time tonight, let's celebrate, its all right...we gonna...

"Not the fucking ducks again." Tony S.

by rook on Nov 11, 2004 2:00 PM PST up reply actions

imminent threat

You make a great point. Watching grass grow has proved to be an imminent threat to the health and well being of A's fans everywhere. It is clear, the 'moral values' of Athletics Nation is under siege from the axis of AL (West). As long as the Angels, Rangers and M's roam the streets we will not be safe.

I propose adding additional dots and caps. This would bolster our defence and end the threat. I have a plan to win the war and win the peace.

"You either play by the rules, change the rules, or get out, altogether." - Michael Eisner

by Parklife on Nov 11, 2004 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

And don't forget ...

... the Axis of Al (Davis) ...

by monkeyball on Nov 11, 2004 2:27 PM PST up reply actions

But what about ...

... the Dot-Cap Tax-Gap?

by monkeyball on Nov 11, 2004 2:28 PM PST up reply actions

It's not all the wave.

I hate the wave. I hate waving, too. BUT I think the "wave" is often confused with what I like to call the "Whoa!"

The average fan has a few adult beverages at the game, right? A hundred bucks and a 5.8 BAC later, average fan has to take a potty break but no one has figured out how to have a vendor do that for them yet. Average fan gets up from the seat they have occupied for approximately two hours with disastrous results. "Whoa!" Swooning. Nausea. Average fan decides to sit back down. Ten minutes later, unable to remember what happened the last time a potty run was attempted, average fan tries to get back up.

The wave: stand up. Sit down. Pause. Repeat. Cheering optional.

Easily confused.

by Jennifer on Nov 11, 2004 1:41 PM PST reply actions