Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: The wAve
Nov 13, 2024
Dive into the fascinating origins and mechanics of the sports wave, an electrifying collective cheer at stadiums. Discover how this phenomenon kicked off during a Halloween game in 1981 and see the spotlight on key figures who popularized it. Explore the cultural evolution of the wave and the dynamics of crowd participation, complete with humorous anecdotes on its impact on games. Plus, there's a playful debate about the wave's merits versus other team chants that keeps the discussion light-hearted and entertaining!
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Crazy George's Wave
- 'Crazy George' Henderson, a freelance cheerleader, claims to have invented the wave at an Oakland A's game in 1981.
- His version involved sections standing up sequentially, unlike the fluid motion of the modern wave.
Rob Weller's Wave
- Rob Weller, known as the "Yell King", claims he started the wave at a University of Washington game.
- Band director Bill Bissell suggested he send the wave outward instead of upward, leading to the modern wave.
The Wave Feud
- The two alleged inventors of the wave, Crazy George and Rob Weller, have a tongue-in-cheek feud over its origins.
- Bissell, who helped refine the wave, dismisses Crazy George's claim due to the baseball stadium's diamond shape.