Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site noscvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!sun!idi!pesnta!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!noscvax!douglas From: douglas@noscvax.UUCP (Douglas S. Dickerson) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Query: "The Wave" Message-ID: <558@noscvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 1-Aug-84 12:02:58 EDT Article-I.D.: noscvax.558 Posted: Wed Aug 1 12:02:58 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 3-Aug-84 07:46:02 EDT Distribution: na Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center Lines: 24 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