Fire the Wave? By George, it's tradition!

by JediLeroy on Aug 1, 2006 7:10 AM PDT

Having grown up in Sacramento and not having much money or transportation, the game or two that we were able to attend at the Colosseum each year was extremely special. With televised games being very limited to non cable subscribers, I gained my love for the A's though Bill King and Ray Fosse. Any trip to the Colosseum was a chance for me to see, to feel, and to participate in the game. The voice of Roy Steele on the PA, the dot races, the hat game, the trough urinals, having my ears bleed to shouts of "Red Ropes!"-- it was all part of the experience. I remember fondly how we'd sit down by the visiting bullpen and taunt the pitches with a chorus of "dooooooooOOOOOO!! DOOOOOOooooooo" chants. And then, there's the wave.

Ah, the wave. I've often wondered why there has been so much bitterness directed by A's fans towards the wave. Many say that it's an immature distraction that taints the game, and they'd rather have needles in their eyeballs than participate. Others argue that it screws up the pitchers' deliveries and that its use should be restricted to blowouts, top halfs of innings, or any time Loaiza's pitching. With all the wave-hatin' going on, it comes as a surprise to me to find that we may owe it all to an A's fan. It turns out that we're nearing the one-year anniversary of the last wave-related diary, and I believe it's time for another.

Krazy George is the man to whom we may owe it all. According to Krazy George, he accidentally invented the wave at an Edmonton Oilers game, where he was trying to get people on the other side of the stadium to jump up and raise their arms in response to his side's cheers. The response was delayed, and then the adjacent sections also jumped to their feet until the whole stadium had been encircled by The Wave. Krazy George then took it with him to Oakland, where as a rabid A's fan, he orchestrated the maneuver with 47000 fans on the 15th of October, 1981. Since then, it has spread like a virus to other venues and has become a staple in sports.

I attended my first A's game in 1989 against the Red Sox. The A's lost, but I fell in love with the atmosphere of the Oakland Colosseum. It is easy to see why those who have the opportunity to attend many games might just want to soak it in and ingore the antics of the fans. To some, baseball is a diversion. To others, it is an art. I respect the right of those die-hard fans to not participate in the wave, or to use the dot races as an opportunity to visit the beloved troughs. I just hope that you'll understand those of us that don't get a chance to come out to the ball park very often. You were there before the introduction of certain antics, including the wave. But it's all I've ever known.

(Maybe we can pool our strength and do away with the "You Suck!!" chants.)

Poll

What do you dislike the most?

Dot races

4 votes

The hat game

5 votes

The Wave

41 votes

"You Suck" chants

16 votes

People who move down for the later innings

6 votes

The urinals

7 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Example...

...last night it is a 1-0 ball game. It was intense. Some Angels fans in the second deck decided to start the wave, and people soon joined in. Of course, it takes a few rounds to get started, so every couple of seconds, people jump up in front of you.

In a close game, you are focused on each pitch; every time Haren threw, you focused on the ball, then the batter, and to be distracted from that by the wave is just really frustrating. Unlike other cheers, the wave seems to distract from the game itself, instead of enhance it.

"I'm living in a cuckoo clock!" ~HollywoodOz
"I'm your huckleberry." ~grover

by baseballgirl on Aug 1, 2006 10:23 AM PDT reply actions

That makes complete sense..

..although if you were to stand with them, you would have no problem keeping your eyes on the game. I know, I know. Blasphemy.

It's a shame that families get torn apart by something as simple as wild dogs. -Jack Handey

by JediLeroy on Aug 1, 2006 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions

the wave as self reinforcing.

Now it makes sense that it spreads. To defend one's self from the Wave, you must join it.

Kinda like a rock concert where you can't actually sit in the seats cause the folks infront of you are standing.

by MobiusKlein on Aug 1, 2006 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

The beloved troughs?

I don't think I'd go that far. To truly regard the troughs as beloved, I think you need to be willing to do this.

I voted for the Hat Game, which of course is not unique to the (e)Coli. Roy Steele always used to introduce it as "the old shell game," which it is. If I'm gonna cheer for a game designed to sucker the unwary, I want the real thing: Put three card monte on the video board, and let sharps play the saps for pigeons. Red Sox fans, bring your wallets.

"I don't want to 'Wear It.' It doesn't match my shoes." --Jennifer

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 1, 2006 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

Hate the Wave!!

HATE, HATE, HATE the Wave!! Why does it always start in one run games? Why does it always start when I want nothing more than to focus on the game? Why do people think that it is cool? It should be stopped.

Once a guy in my section was trying to start the wave. It was a one run game. He was standing up saying, "Get up, on the count of three stand up!" I stood up just then and said, "IT IS A ONE RUN GAME!! SIT DOWN!! NO WAVE!!" and the people around me laughed and said, "Yeah, sit down! No Wave!" And the guy sat down!! That made me happy!

"This is the best hug in the major leagues, right here!" - Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Aug 1, 2006 10:32 AM PDT reply actions

Seems a little ironic..

..that it started with the A's.

It seems to me that in Krazy George's mind, it was intended to get the fans involved.

It's a shame that families get torn apart by something as simple as wild dogs. -Jack Handey

by JediLeroy on Aug 1, 2006 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions

I normally don't care for the wave...

but when we Cal fans did it last year at the Big Game, it was awesome. Why? Because the game was at Stanfurd.

by calgbear on Aug 1, 2006 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I was at the opposite corner of the same end zone

and the view of the wave was much better there. What I found hilarious was how it stopped dead each time it hit the red and white part of the crowd. Leave it to the blue and gold to pull off a wave in an opposing team's stadium. Having been to / experienced the shenanigans of the Cal fans in the past decade, I don't think I can be surprised by anything we do anymore. To wit, here's what Cal football fans have done in the Big Game in the past 10 years -

Storm the field, AT stanfurd stadium ... AFTER a loss, pulled down their goal post, rolled it up the stands, and tossed it over the stadium.

Storm the field (at home), after a loss, tore the stanfurd tree to shreds (yeah, I've got a keepsake).

Storm the field, again after a loss, despite the presence of newly installed chain link fence whose purpose was to prevent said field-storming.

Required the presence of SWAT teams for the next couple Big Games after the prior events.

Storm the field, after winning (finally), tore down the goal post, marched it out the stadium, down the street to the campus admin office.

The only thing we have done is - clinch a Rose Bowl berth with a win in the Big Game in a way that cannot be revoked by computer rankings.

by Rickeyfan on Aug 1, 2006 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

'haven't' on the last remark

by Rickeyfan on Aug 1, 2006 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Ha...

I was there for a few of those (but on the other side)

You missed a subtle point on one of yours:

Storm the field (at home), after a loss, tore the stanfurd tree to shreds (yeah, I've got a keepsake).

Should read:

Storm the field (at home), after a loss, tore the stanfurd tree to shreds (yeah, I've got a keepsake). Also rip turf from our own field (thus destroying it) and throw it at Stanford fans. Oh yeah, AND take shoes off of our own feet and throw them at Stanford fans (who didn't really have any incentive to return them...)

I always liked the rivalry and thought of it as a fun thing (of course, when I was there, Stanford never lost) but man, you guys were getting pretty pissy by the end of the last streak...

All in good fun though, I mean hey -- at least neither neither school is USC!

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Ah yes, I had forgotten about the turf shredding

That was pretty idiotic in my opinion ('It's our own field people!) And trust me, 8 years of losing (my freshman year was the last year the axe was in our possession, and the first of 8 losses) can really get under one's skin. Especially since, in '01, I publically stated that I did care if we lost the rest of our games as long as we won the last one. Lo and behold, that's what the team did ... except terrorists caused the rutgers game to be postponed until after the Pac-10 schedule.

by Rickeyfan on Aug 1, 2006 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

More on previous decade

Storm the field, AT stanfurd stadium ... AFTER a loss, pulled down their goal post, rolled it up the stands, and tossed it over the stadium.

1997. The chain-link fence was already there. For some reason, they opened up the fence right by the stanfurd student section, who then rush the field, come over to the Cal student area (still behind the fence) and begin chanting "Kiss our Axe" and "Cal's our b*tch". Considering the actions of the previous year (see below), not exactly the smartest idea. Cal students proceed to tear down fence, rush field, tear down goalpost, splitting off an upright and almost rolling it up out of the stadium. Had they tossed it out of the stadium, it would've been a much bigger story, because of all the people it would have crushed when it landed. The rest of the goalpost - IIRC - was used like a cow catcher, putting the 'furdies back towards their end of the field.

Storm the field (at home), after a loss, tore the stanfurd tree to shreds (yeah, I've got a keepsake).

1996. Yell leader lost his position over this, as he joined in when some of the students, in the waning minutes, started chanting "Kill the Tree!" BTW - that year's tree looked like one of those push-pops with some leaves on top. Even uglier than normal. I've got a souvenir as well. :)

Storm the field, again after a loss, despite the presence of newly installed chain link fence whose purpose was to prevent said field-storming.

See above (1997). There was motivation to get those fences out of the way.

Required the presence of SWAT teams for the next couple Big Games after the prior events.

1999 and 2001. Total Barbara Streissand, IMO. They placed the SWAT teams (in full riot gear, I might add) around JUST the Cal sections in the middle of the 3rd quarter. TIIC failed to notice that in the previous years, both sides had rushed. Putting them there when they did was just daring someone to do something...

Storm the field, after winning (finally), tore down the goal post, marched it out the stadium, down the street to the campus admin office.

2002. That was fun. :) The student section was so packed for that game (even though I graduated in 2000, I still cheer from the heart of the student section), for the entire second half, everyone had to stand at an angle. Oh, we actually tore down BOTH goalposts, one of which did end up leaning against Sproul Hall.

The only thing we have[n't] done is - clinch a Rose Bowl berth with a win in the Big Game in a way that cannot be revoked by computer rankings.

2006 (I hope). Actually, I was somewhat pissed that people were handing out roses after the 2004 game, because I knew there was still a game left. I SO want to have to be in Pasadena for New Year's...

One final note: the Cal student sections like to rush the field (I've probably done it 10 times), but at least we don't do it during a play.

The Bear will not quit. The Bear will not die.
GO BEARS!!!

by calgbear on Aug 1, 2006 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I can see how you might remember it differently...

... but the SWAT teams were in front of the Stanford Student section as well in '99 (though I don't remember seeing them anywhere in '01). We were pissed too, and there was much complaining about all over campus the next week.

The SWAT teams were gone the next year ('00 game was at Kal), but what they came back with was (arguably) much creepier. There were cops positioned at the base of the student section with DV cameras, recording our every move. The idea being that we would be identified and disciplined if we were to step onto the field. Big Brother was watching... ugh, it still creeps me out to this day!

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Your memory is better than mine

even though i only graduated in '99. Events are getting fuzzier but the main pt exists. Although, I seem to remember the controversy being whether he said 'Get the Tree' or 'Kill the Tree' (both of which were accomplished - I loved how the football players didn't even both defending the tree).

This is the year .. this is our best shot at a party in Pasadena and the return of Blue and Gold (ours hopefully, not Michigan, though they're welcome too) in the Rose Bowl.

Oh, and Rickeysteals? IIRC, we never had our mascot 'liberated' ;)

by Rickeyfan on Aug 1, 2006 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

That was a first-rate prank

I'll give credit where credit is due... although I thought the Tree's response was pretty solid.

Once he got the costume back from you guys, he burned it (as it had been desecrated) and constructed a new one. Seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

Of course, we've never had the Axe stolen from us when it was in our posession... :-)

(I have to say, I find a rather amusing synergy between our usernames here on AN...)

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Ummm....

Of course, we've never had the Axe stolen from us when it was in our posession... :-)

You sure about that? I seem to recall some baseball game in SF on April 15, 1899... It has also been stolen in 1946 and 1967 (see here)

As far as pranks go, I think my favorite was this one (from link above)

Stanfurd students awoke one morning to find large Cal-Blue footprints scaling the outside of Hoover tower. When officials ordered that the prints "come down immediately", their wish came true when, two days later, the Cal-Blue footprints descended the other side of the tower.

by calgbear on Aug 1, 2006 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Ha...

I had conveniently managed to forget those "incidents"

The footprints were damn impressive though

One of my favorites from that site:

Stanford engineering students assaulted the Big "C" in broad daylight. They used jack hammers and brute force to turn it into a "red S".

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

'Jackhammers and brute force'

meh ... I like pranks that fit under the categories of 'seize the opportunity' (unguarded mascot? why thank you very much) ... or require intricate / clever logistical planning ... or involve all sorts of hijinks (all the axe stealing) ...

That said, I do give credit where credit is due, and I admire the prank played after The Play where all the Daily Cal's were replaced by mock editions announcing the reversal of the result. That was clever and ballsy.

However, even that was topped by yet another Cal loss prank ....
100th Big Game, stanfurd stadium
Ref's microphone hacked.
'Penalty. Excessive Arrogance. stanfurd sucks'

For the guy to be so devoted, that he posed as a stanfurd student for the entire season to work his way into finding out the right frequency - that's ingenious and commendable.

by Rickeyfan on Aug 1, 2006 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

The way its told as legend...

... the split was already there ('cause Memorial Stadium is built on a fault line) and the engineering students just figured out that if they pushed the right way, they could make it into an S...

I was there for the microphone thing... but we were pretty confused. It sounded a bit garbled, so we had a hard time figuring out what had happened. With that said, I have to admire the dedication...

I gotta say, stealing crap from our band (like the tree) isn't really much of a challenge - they have an illustrious and storied past... but I can't think of a single story that involved them being careful...

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn't know the C was split already

but it definitely wasn't built on the fault ... the stadium is, but the Big C is definitely away from the fault line itself (even if it's only a couple hundred yards).

As for the microphone thing, it was sorta confusing ... I think us Cal fans took a couple seconds to realize what was said before erupting. ('did we just hear what we thought we heard?! YEAH!!!')

Agreed about the notoriety about the 'band' though. It's a shame that even stanfurd alumni get embarrassed by their antics, though.

by Rickeyfan on Aug 2, 2006 1:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Who said anything about embarrassment?!?!

The only alums that get embarrassed have a severe sense of humor disorder... I think they're hilarious... sometimes I'm laughing at them and not with them but they're still hilarious.

I dunno, I've always liked the fact that our band didn't take themselves seriously. It makes much more sense to me than those bands that wear funny hats and silly costumes and march around like they're important. But that could just be me...

by RickeySteals on Aug 2, 2006 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I was there too

Best. Wave. Ever.

It was at one of the most appropriate time too, during a TV break. The wave was a celebreation of the Golden Bears trouncing the Cardinal on the Farm.

However, most of the times I see the wave at a baseball game I really can't stand it.

I really don't mind the wave when done appropriately. Which means never during a close game. I can't stand it when people start the wave during a one run pitchers' duel.

"it's like an alarm clock, WOOT WOOT!" -Bubb Rubb

by secret ASian man on Aug 1, 2006 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Quoted for truth

Since then, it has spread like a virus to other venues and has become a staple in sports.

(emphasis mine)

I dislike the wave incredibly much. I ESPECIALLY dislike it when the A's are pitching, because I imagine it's distracting to the pitcher to have his backdrop all stand up as if they've been simultaneously poked in the rear.

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 1, 2006 10:54 AM PDT reply actions

The Wave should not be fired...

It should be taken out and maimed. And then it should have all the Angels' and Dodgers' beach balls stuffed down its throat until it chokes, gurgling and convulsing to its miserable death. Sure, it gets fans involved... in watching The Wave! WATCH THE F'N GAME!!!

"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 1, 2006 11:28 AM PDT reply actions

I said "You Suck"

but the wave is a close second. It ALWAYS starts in close games as others have said. Just like last night when there's a great game going on, and suddenly there's a BEACH BALL in the outifeld (Dodger fan wannabes). If the wave starts up in a 15-0 game, I don't mind nearly as much, but please, not in a close game.

by Flyin As on Aug 1, 2006 12:52 PM PDT reply actions

One thing I gotta admit

Doing it at the Phoenix Open every year while waiting for the next round of golfers to come through the 16th hole is kinda fun.

by Flyin As on Aug 1, 2006 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions

To me the Wave is fun

for kids at the game who frequently have the attention span of gnats. Especially for a slow moving game like baseball where there is a lot of thinking involved.

I personally hate it when everyone does it because it does distract from the attention on the field and action, but I can understand the joy that a little kid gets out of it getting all excited watching it go around the stadium waiting for their time to stand and throw their arms up. I would've condoned it 100 percent before I had a child myself and saw the way other little kids seem to enjoy it. Course, I'm going to try and teach my little one all about the game so she always has something to pay attention to ON the field. But other parents who just want to go and enjoy an atmosphere of a ballpark, I can understand it. I also hate the dot races and the hat game. But again, with kids, any little distraction is a help.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 1, 2006 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

Little kids

like running into the street, and playing with matches too Blez -- that doesn't mean you let 'em do it!!!!! (Just kidding.) :-)
No, to me, doing the wave is like talking on your cell phone during the game, or leaving in the 7th inning -- you just don't do it. It's amateur -- it's bush league -- it should be left to pretenders like Angels and Giants fans.
Any self-respecting Athletics fan would never DREAM of doing it. Shame on you.

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Aug 1, 2006 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

I think UW would dispute Krazy George...

From Wikipedia

Also, as noted in the article:

It must be noted, however, that despite the spectaular sight of an entire stadium performing the wave, it is often a signal of an uninteresting performance of the actual sporting event, which forces the audience to seek for something to entertain themselves.

I think one of the main reasons for the animosity towards the wave here is because it is done when the game IS interesting, thus very distracting.

by calgbear on Aug 1, 2006 2:26 PM PDT reply actions

The Wave Sucks

As a kid, I never really got into it... now, I just hate it.

It distracts from the game, it pisses off fans who don't want to participate, but most of all, it just plain sucks. I have been on the receiving end of several wave-induced drink spilling incidents, none of which were pleasant (people -- seriously -- if you're going to do the wave, keep track of your drink!).

I have fond memories of Krazy George from my childhood (imagine trying to explain his antics to an Italian penzione owner during the '94 world cup) but I really don't think I can ever forgive him for this one.

Perhaps my greatest disappointment with the World Cup this year was being at a game and seeing the wave start up. Granted it 5-0 at the time, but still, it was the principle. My friend at the game said that it is huge at games in South America. I immediately threw up a little in my mouth. America has exported many things, some good (rock 'n roll) but very few as vile as the wave. I think we owe it to the world to try and get the crap back into the horse (such as it were)... who's with me?

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 2:41 PM PDT reply actions

They did the wave at my WC game, too.

Portugal v. Mexico in Gelsenkirchen.

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 1, 2006 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

It was surreal...

There we were, at the greatest sporting event ever... watching one of the greatest team performances ever (Argentina vs Serbia)... and the wave started! WTF?!?!?!?!?!

Absolutely bizarre!

by RickeySteals on Aug 1, 2006 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Much ado about nothing, IMO.

It last a few seconds at most, maybe once a game. Big effing deal. Live with it.

"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 1, 2006 5:01 PM PDT reply actions