douglas@noscvax.UUCP (Douglas S. Dickerson) (08/01/84)
While attending the Tiger-Red Sox twi-night doubleheader on 7/27, I was transfixed by a phenomenon apparently called "The Wave". Never having heard of such a thing in laid-back San Diego, questioning a brother-in-law and uncle revealed that it might have started with the Seattle Seahawks, was further refined at the University of Michigan football stadium, and is now being attempted in various baseball stadiums. "The Wave" consists of fans standing with their arms raised, perhaps yelling, in such a sequence that a noisy ocean wave appears to ripple around the stadium. Perhaps it was the energy level and the full house that night (a sweep would have given the Tigers a 70-30 record, best since '70 Reds), but I found it an exhilarating and possibly an intimidating (for the opposition) form of cheering. On at least two occasions I caught the opposing outfielders sneaking a peek at "The Wave" rolling by their position. To complete a complete circuit of the stadium, the level of anticipation must be high, in which case the noise and speed of "The Wave" increases until something happens on the field. I would appreciate any information about the extent and degree of refinement of this particular cheer and any confirmation of it's history would be welcomed also. Doug Dickerson douglas@nosc sdcsvax!noscvax!douglas
psm@asgb.UUCP (08/03/84)
world championship year. You are correct that it came to baseball via U of M football (Bo Schembecler threatened to throw out all the fans one game because his players could not here the signals during the wave. Not to be stopped by this the fans invented the "silent wave" (no yelling).) The Detroit newspapers claim to have traced the source of the wave to two places, the U of Washington and the U of Miami (fla). Both sites claim to have originated the idea. Being involved in the wave is a great time. It starts in the upper deck bleachers in center field. As the wavers become more experienced, you get such exciting events as "wave races" and "wave crashing". Actually, if your in Detriot and would like to be involved in the best party in baseball, buy a bleacher ticket to a Tiger game. You'll be treated to a great game, the wave, and possibly a guest spot in a Lite beer commercial (the bleachers split in half, one side is "tastes great" the other is "less filling"). Yes, there are good times to be had in tiger town! Pat McMonagle Boulder via Ann Arbor
gregbo@hou2e.UUCP (Greg Skinner) (08/08/84)
The Wave lives at Shea Stadium also.
citrin@ucbvax.UUCP (Wayne Citrin) (08/09/84)
I can't tell you how dismayed I was to find out that The Wave is done at Shea Stadium. They do it in Oakland and I hate it, since I want to watch the game and 10,000 bozos are standing up in front of me. But then, most Oakland fans don't go to the ballpark to watch the game anyway. (I can understand that, though, because the A's play the most boring games in baseball.) Candlestick doesn't have the wave, but that's because there aren't enough people in the ballpark to do a wave, anyway. I've been in Boston this summer, and fortunately Fenway isn't shaped properly for a Wave. I don't think the Red Sox fans would stand for it anyway, since they seem to want to watch the game. Wayne Citrin (ucbvax!citrin)
honey@down.FUN (08/14/84)
"the wave" was invented in ann arbor in 1974. peter honeyman