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Reds fans have definitely stepped up their own game this season and become much more vocal and strategic with their cheering, a great turn of events. For example, we’ve adopted the practice of clapping when Reds pitchers have two-strikes on opposing hitters. We stand and scream during the bottom of the ninth as Aroldis Chapman (or Jonathan Broxton or J.J. Hoover) tries to nail down a save. There seems to be more appreciation for defensive gems this year. The postseason games promise even more.
The Reds organization deserves ample credit here. While they’ve always prodded fans to “make some noise” at key times, scoreboard prompts have been more aggressive this season. For example, the scoreboard operators consistently encourage the two-strike clapping. It took a while to catch on, but fans now do it even without the suggestion. The Reds have also produced compelling – stylish, in fact – videos to mark the arrival of bullpen pitchers (and not just Aroldis Chapman). Fans respond. Combine the smart promotion with the team’s actual play, and the park has a much, much more intimidating atmosphere.
Most any fan involvement at Reds games is positive. But the emergence of the “howl” is a step in a random direction.
I experienced the Great American Bawl Park in person last week. The first “whooooop” occurred around the fourth or fifth inning. In the last two innings it became pronounced. And annoying. It’s not the noise – although it can be jarring when someone near you squeals loudly with no warning – it’s not the noise, it’s the utter randomness. The whooooops don’t appear at strategic times or for celebrations.
Contrast that with the way the “whooooop” is used at Redleg Nation – it’s basically timed to when something good happens, like in the title of a game recap for a win. That’s definitely not how it works at the howl park, though. There’s no rhyme or reason when fans whooooop. A perfect example was the guy sitting directly in front of me. For eight innings, he paid absolutely no attention to the game. He seemed mainly concerned with trying to kiss the woman next to him. But at the end of the game, instead of getting a room, he howled like an animal. He didn’t watch the at bats. He didn’t offer the slightest bit of support for JoeyMVP, Homer Bailey or Super Todd. But he howled at the top of his alcohol-fueled lungs. Sadly, that guy is the face of the howl in person.
Imagine, if right in the middle – oink! – of a sentence, the writer – baaah! – inserted random animal noises.
And it’s not like whoooooping is unique to the Reds, like the Angels’ rally monkey, which has its own Wikipedia page. It appears the whoooooping started in Pittsburgh. The stupid Cubs fans were doing it this week.
I get that I’m in the minority on this. The howl is mindless fun, so who cares? (It’s certainly mindless.)
If you’re at the game, cheer for the team when it matters, preferably in a human language. That’s my first choice. But if you must howl tonight and beyond, time your whooooops strategically to coincide with something actually happening in the game. You know, support the team. Howl during the buildup to Mat Latos’ next strikeout pitch, not at the moon. Whooooop it up in appreciation of Brandon Phillips’ next Gold Glove play, not at the wind.
If the latest fan fad becomes correlated to the game and not simply blood-alcohol levels, who knows, it might become a howling success.
Steve, I have been to many games this year when people were doing as you described above (minus the howling). Yes, it’s annoying. Why can’t all fans that go to the games go for the love of the game versus trying to impress their friends with how much $8.25 beer they can drink?
On opening night, I was in the 2nd row of right field and there was a group behind me with some flag that apparently resembled something with Mat Latos. It had a red dot in the middle, that’s all I remember, but every time he came up to bat or struck out a batter, they held it up like he was going personally go out and give them a high five.
I know where you are coming from.
“And it’s not like whoooooping is unique to the Reds…”
So what you are saying is… we need something unique to the Reds. I’ve been saying for years that the Reds need something equivalent to the Bengals’ “Who Dey!”. (Some may argue that “Who Dey” copies New Orleans’ “Who Dat” and therefore isn’t unique, but that doesn’t change the fact that “Who Dey” is only used by the Bengals).
But personally, I find the “Woo” annoying. It reminds me of those stupid horns that became popular during the World Cup a few years ago, only without the horn.
I personally like the “Woo.” I just think it’s the sound of the New Red Machine powering up.
I was at the initial “wooo” game, and everyone in the ballpark HAD to have been sober by that point in the night. Alcohol sales ended at least 2 hours before the first “whooo’s” were heard. I do agree that it would sound cooler if it came in waves depending on the situation, rather than a slow, steady stream of them.
For the record, I could not disagree more with this post. And I told Steve that before he posted it.
I think it’s dumb fun, and I love it.
Never let it be said that I rule RN with an iron fist. This is at least three front page posts in the last ten days with which I disagree. I like having a range of viewpoints to discuss.
Heck, I’m getting ready to argue (in another of the postseason roster series) in favor of Logan Ondrusek and Wilson Valdez being on the postseason roster. Not sure how I can argue that, but I’m going to try.
Ondrusek?? Seriously?? He has about as much business on a post-season roster as the man in the moon does. I can’t wait to read your arguments in the pro column. You could fill up a con column as to why Ondrusek should NOT be on the post-season roster.
Please let me know when you’re going to do this, so I can try to figure out how to put you on my blocked poster list!
I’m still waiting for a victory song to be played immediately after Reds wins at GABP .. something similiar to the ..”Hey Chicago .. what do you say etc” tune at Wrigley. The “I’m a Reds fan ” tune just doesn’t seem to cut it . We should be able to come up with something better than the mindless , beer induced , “Wooooo” started by people who would rather not be at the game anyway ..
Good God, please no!
That Cubs song is as bad as they come.
@renbutler:
I agree with many of your posts, but I think I’ve never agreed more.
Truth. And Marty would never allow it. He bashes the Cubs for having the song.
However, when the Dodgers walked off against the Cardinals last weekend, they played “I Love LA” by Randy Newman, and it sounded pretty cool.
But maybe I just liked it because it meant Cards lost…
See, I’ve given this great thought and come up with a solution. Simply tweak the lyrics to this iconic 80s TV show:
Baby, if you’ve ever wondered,
Wondered whatever became of me,
I’m rootin on the Reds in Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, GABP.
I’m at GABP in Cincin-naaaaati.
You get some local Cincinnati Celeb to record it.
Play it after the last out of every game.
Call me maybe.
I attended two of the games at Wrigley this week and wanted to share a couple of observations. One, I would say that the vast majority (if not all) of the “howling” came from Reds fans. Honestly, independent of my personal opinion on the matter, I thought it was kinda cool that we were once again making our presence known in Chicago.
Second, from what I noticed, the howling usually corresponded to a nice play or a particular player coming to bat. Perhaps the fact that it was only a few fans led to more sophisticated howling behavior.
I will preface this by saying that I’m an out-of-towner, and have only been to GABP once, so I can’t speak to the current situation, but it seems to me it is a two-sided sword. I’m a lot happier to hear the “whoops” than to hear crickets like in Miami. It’s certainly all in good fun, and I would think that in most cases it’s an expression of excitement about the team.
On the other hand, I’d hate for GABP to turn into the Wrigley bleacher. When drunkeness becomes the main purpose for attending a game, it does make it less fun for real fans of the game to be there, and that’s a shame.
@corfy:
I made the same comparison last week when the Woo was getting started. Very annoying. But if it must be, maybe confine its usage to the 8th and/or 9th innings when the other team is batting.
I’m with Chad. I love the Woooing. It’s just another fun part of a fun season. And the fact that it annoyed the hell out of the Cubs announcers made it even better. It’s not about drunkenness; it’s a way for the crowd to get fired up and get involved in the game.
I have yet to experience the “wooooooo” in person, but I will tomorrow (which is hopefully Clinchmas Day!).
All I can say is that I would put up with all the random woooooing in the world if it meant that fans would stop walking up and down the aisles during the innings. I don’t know if it’s something that happens in all ballparks but it is the most annoying thing at a game – way more than a woo because it actually causes you to miss seeing the action. When I take my father with me, he goes all “get off my lawn” on people in the aisle! It’s kind of fun.
Go Reds!
Just scored 4 NLDS Game 3 tickets via phone this morning…..nice.
I recall seeing a post here that included the playoff schedule, but I can’t seem to find it now. Can anyone help? I can’t get to the MLB page from work.
The “Game 3″ will be played ONLY if the Reds are a #1 or #2 seed, AND the series goes to five games. If the Reds are a #3 seed, they would host only two games in the series, rendering the third home game meaningless. In a way, I hope you get to use them, because it would mean the Reds haven’t dropped to the #3 seed, and also that they would have actually won a couple postseason games this time. But I guess it would also mean they LOST two games.
Most or all game times will not be released until all playoff spots are clinched.
@beavertucky: The first game played in Cincinnati will depend on whether they are the #1 or #2 seed or if they finish as the #3 seed. Odds are that they are the #1 or #2 seed and play games 3, 4, and 5 at home.
The schedule is below. It will depend on what seed they are. The #1 seed will get the extra day off and start on Sunday on the road vs #4. The #2 seed will play on the road vs the #3 seed, starting on Saturday.
NLDS Game One Saturday, October 6
NLDS Game One Sunday, October 7
NLDS Game Two Sunday, October 7
NLDS Game Two Monday, October 8
NLDS Game Three Tuesday, October 9
NLDS Game Three Wednesday, October 10
NLDS Game Four* Wednesday, October 10
NLDS Game Four* Thursday, October 11
NLDS Game Five* Thursday, October 11
NLDS Game Five* Friday, October 12
So far I have been to 4 games this year and none were after the start of the “flair Woo”, but I will be at the Division clinching game on Sat vs. the Dodgers and look forward to hearing and taking part of the Wooo from the bleachers…
This is from the vantage point of my couch, but I don’t notice it at home until the latter innings. Maybe the second night they did it, it wasn’t noticeable until after the 7th inning stretch.
Though either interaction is amplified by booze, if I had to choose between the twos, I’d rather hear the Wooo’s than the booo’s.
@Greg Dafler: Thanks man. Is there any info out there on start times? I assume there will be some day games in the NLDS based on 2010.
This is going to be an interesting weekend. We stand at the magic “2″ with a wounded Dodgers team coming to town needing probably to sweep us to keep their WC hopes alive. They trail the Cards who have what should be a very easy weekend vs. the cubbies. We on the other hand are now just playing for playoff position, so it will be interesting to see how we attack the games.
Weather for tonight’s game may be iffy, but I doubt the Dodgers want any part of another DH this week as already having to play one on Tuesday. The Cards debut some young pitcher tonight for them..Name of Carpenter…Chris Carpenter I believe…making his first start of the year…
@beavertucky: The times on the MLB site are “TBA”.
And congrats on the tickets!
So let me get this straight: We’re trying to tell people HOW they can and can’t cheer, WHEN they can and can’t cheer, WHO they can and can’t cheer for, WHY they can and can’t cheer….
Jesus, come on, it’s a BASEBALL GAME, it’s meant to be FUN for a lot of people. If people like to “WHOOOO” it up, let them. Does it really detract from your own enjoyment of the game that much? Maybe YOU annoy people when you start clapping when the pitcher has 2 strikes on a batter.
Do you hate “The Wave” too because it’s random and has little to do with what’s going on on the field?
It’s positive, it’s fun, it doesn’t have to be unique. What’s the big deal?
Maybe I missed it in a comment, but no, you aren’t getting it straight.
Steve is just stating that he doesn’t care for it. He’s not telling people how to cheer, when to cheer, whom to cheer for, or why they should cheer.
Big difference.
Yep, as another poster said, if Steve isn’t trying to tell people how, when, why, and who to cheer for, how do you explain these lines:
“I experienced the Great American Bawl Park in person last week. The first “whooooop” occurred around the fourth or fifth inning. In the last two innings it became pronounced. And annoying. It’s not the noise – although it can be jarring when someone near you squeals loudly with no warning – it’s not the noise, it’s the utter randomness. The whooooops don’t appear at strategic times or for celebrations.”
“He didn’t watch the at bats. He didn’t offer the slightest bit of support for JoeyMVP, Homer Bailey or Super Todd. But he howled at the top of his alcohol-fueled lungs. Sadly, that guy is the face of the howl in person.”
“If you’re at the game, cheer for the team when it matters, preferably in a human language. That’s my first choice. But if you must howl tonight and beyond, time your whooooops strategically to coincide with something actually happening in the game. You know, support the team. Howl during the buildup to Mat Latos’ next strikeout pitch, not at the moon. Whooooop it up in appreciation of Brandon Phillips’ next Gold Glove play, not at the wind.”
So basically, he’s saying he hates it because it’s not happening when he wants it to, it’s not happening how he wants it to, it’s not happening for the people he wants it to happen for, and basically it just doesn’t fit his definition of a cheer at a baseball game.
As I said, it’s positive, it’s fun, what’s the big deal? Does it really detract from the game that much?
It’s hilarious irony for you, of all people, to make remarks like this, given the contempt you bring to this site for just about every viewpoint expressed.
You know, the blog is “meant to be fun for a lot of people” too. In fact, that’s all it is. Yet you bring such hostility here.
Since you mention it, I’m not a big fan of the wave at the baseball game for the reason you state. And yes, it did detract from my own enjoyment when the drunk in front of me kept squealing at the top of his lungs at random points of the game. I think I mentioned that.
Hey, it’s just my non-capitalized opinion. As I say, I know I’m in the minority.
I think perhaps you are misinterpreting snark as “hostility”, or maybe you just think anyone who doesn’t agree with your opinions are “hostile”, but the bottom line is, you are hostile to your fellow fans at a baseball game just because they aren’t behaving the way you think they should.
I go to a baseball game and I say live and let live. People are free to cheer however and whenever they want and it doesn’t bother me one bit. I find it kind of hilarious that you let some little thing like this bother you to the point where you felt like writing such a bitter and negative piece about it on RLN.
Fair point. We probably both exaggerate the tone each other is taking. Stupid internets. I don’t feel I expressed hate or bitterness. Although I’ll confess to negative feelings toward drunken misbehavior. Otherwise, I was pretty complementary overall to my fellow fans. I was simply encouraging the whooooopers to focus their whooooops on what was going on in the game. It was an attempt to channel whatever energy and excitement whoooooping demonstrates toward constructively supporting the team. Your capitalization, which I associate with shouting, is probably why I misinterpreted the stridency of your remarks.
Yeah, I don’t mean the capitalization as shouting, I mean it more for EMPHASIS. Perhaps I should rely on italics instead.
I do agree that drunken behavior can get out of hand at baseball games sometimes, but I figure as long as people aren’t being beligerant or hostile, let them have their fun. I don’t mind if people cheer when there’s nothing in the game to cheer for, I think it adds a certain flavor to the live experience of watching baseball. I think it would be boring if people just cheered at the “appropriate” times in the “appropriate” manner.
I stayed through the 14 innings when the “woo” started. It felt like there were about a thousand fans left in the ballpark, yet, due to the advent of the “woo,” the energy from the fans exceeded it when there were near 20,000 people.
My biggest beef with GABP, as a fan who watches every moment of the game, whether at the park or not, is that the park usually feels like it’s lacking in fan energy or participation. I would prefer fans that go to the park, make noise, create an energetic environment, and pay attention intermittently than a stale group who are “locked in” to every moment, feel that they are the “true fans,” and scowl at anyone and anything that seems to even slightly threaten what they deem “fan etiquette.”
For me, the line is crossed when someone is so drunk they can’t stand, feel the need to fight, or significantly disrupts the experiences for others. I understand ‘significant’ is relative, but these people would likely even offend the inebriated “woo-ers.”
The “woo-ing” is just for fun and it provides an easy way for fans to create an energetic environment that is discernible and hardly disruptive to others’ experiences at the ballpark. Just like the wave (which I greatly dislike) you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to.
Steve, just so you know, I will be in the Reds TweetUp section tonight and will most definitely be woo-ing. You might want to bring ear plugs.
@renbutler: “If you’re at the game, cheer for the team when it matters, preferably in a human language. That’s my first choice. But if you must howl tonight and beyond, time your whooooops strategically to coincide with something actually happening in the game. You know, support the team. Howl during the buildup to Mat Latos’ next strikeout pitch, not at the moon. Whooooop it up in appreciation of Brandon Phillips’ next Gold Glove play, not at the wind.”
Most certainly sounds like he’s doing just that.
@EmoMorales: Okay, well I read it differently. It’s a suggestion, or a petition. (“That’s my first choice.”) He doesn’t pretend to exercise any authority. I doubt he really believes he can tell people what they “can and can’t” do.
1. It’s “wooooo,” not “woooop.”
2. You’ve got nothing better to do than complain about what sounds people make at a publicly funded stadium? If 40,000 people are at a baseball game, chances are that some people are going to annoy you somehow. It happens to all of us.
I almost never comment on RN articles, but I had to for this one. Why? I commented because the other articles make worthwhile points upon which reasonable people could disagree. But this article is really not in the spirit of RN; it just sounds like pointless complaining. I suggest more positive, constructive, and frankly more useful articles in the future.
This isn’t tennis or golf. . . . Also, the WOOOOO! was organic to begin with and will likely be associated with the ’12 team. . . . If they go out and roll through the playoffs, it may stick. If not, I suspect it will peter out over time.
Also, I’m not sure how the flow of a baseball game equates with speaking a sentence. The murmur at the game is interrupted at predictable times (a hit, and error, etc.) and at unpredictable times (think concession workers). The WOOOOO! just happens to be one of the latter instances. If it annoys a few and causes more than a few to get just a bit more excited, then I say WOOOOO!.
I think with any cultural phenomenon, it’s human nature that there will be different opinions on the matter. Some will go along with it, some will oppose it and some will be apathetic towards it. I think it’s in our best interest to just let it be. Allow it to run its course, however long that may be and let whatever outcome come what may. It could morph into a more reasonable structured time of when it’s appropriate to be used. It may fizzle out with disinterest. It may ramp up, it may do this or do that but let’s not get upset with each other. Free will, let people be and the whooo will find it’s place and either exist or die.
@EmoMorales: Welcome to Redleg Nation!
@beens999: I was trying to be constructive. The post isn’t any more or less pointless than any other. None of these posts make any real difference. They all just express opinions about something related to the Reds and Redleg Nation. And it’s not the only post here.
@CI3J: You are right that I’m trying to encourage what, when and how. That’s no different from any other post here advocating a way of thinking about something. Your language that I was saying what “can and can’t” be done takes it a little far. Obviously, I’ve got no authority here, other than the force (or apparent lack of it) of my persuasion.
I’m sure you can be quite persuasive in a “Say hello to my little friend” kind of way.
What’s wrong with you? Sheesh.
I was at the balance two Reds/Pirates games .. and the Woo was present. I actually really liked it, because it made me feel the fans cared instead of what often times it is so silent. I’m not sure if its the fans just intently watching the action? But from what I could tell, the Woo, while random on some level, it did become more intense when fans were hopeful for an important SO or hit.
And … evidently at least one Red’s player has come out in favor of it.
As per JJ Hoover’s twitter on Sept 11: Loved the howling last night and tonight. Good job Reds Fans!!!
@Steve Mancuso: Thanks! I read this blog daily, but usually prefer to be a by-stander rather than take time to comment.
This topic just struck a chord because of how often I seem to observe the judgmental eyes and comments coming from “respectable fans” to the “other fans” at GABP. I think this is mostly due to the incremental increase in fan attendance in the last few years due to the success of the team. This will only continue and is probably worth embracing, celebrating, and doing whatever it takes to be more flexible in our social expectations.
Believe me, there are times that I miss the days of no line at the concessions or crowded bathrooms, but I mostly just enjoy the ballpark being increasingly filled and our wonderful Reds getting the attention (though not always full attention) they deserve.
I get what you’re saying. I’m not one of those people who get upset when fans stand up to cheer or make noise. Just the opposite. I’m one of the first to stand up (probably annoying some behind me). I clap and yell a lot. I certainly wasn’t encouraging fans to stay home or the Reds to take some kind of official action (as if they could) against whooooops. Just trying to raise the issue that the energy could be channeled on the team.
I do hope you’ll take the time to comment more often, even if you’re disagreeing with me.
I love the Woooo!!!!! Probably because of Ric Flair. I would much rather hear people randomly shout Woooo, way to go, or any other positive cheer than have to sit through the mindless walk-up music for each at-bat or the mindless song they play when a rally starts. In fact, I would prefer silence over any of the music played at the park. I am there to watch a baseball game, not hear snippets of a player’s favorite song (I love the Stones but I don’t want to hear 30 seconds of ‘Paint it Black’ every time Votto comes to the plate, and don’t get me started on Coldplay) or any other song played over and over again. I thought that’s what MP3s were invented for, to take your own music on the go and listen to it with headphones. Sorry for the rant.
Checking the Reds web site, it appears the Woooing isn’t keeping people away, I am betting for sure Sat. game is going to sell out…
I’ll be at GABP tonight & tomorrow and see if I can get this corrected.
More importantly, to see the guys bring home the division title.
@renbutler:
Tix are for Game 3 of the series, Game 1 in Cincinnati
You need to double check on that. The Reds absolutely have NOT locked up the higher seed. For those of us who won the opportunity to buy tickets on Wednesday, it was clearly explained that games were being sold for potential #1, #2, and #3 HOME GAMES, and that the numbers did NOT directly match the game numbers in the series.
Whether or not the WOOOO!(ing) survives, I just hope the Red Headed Kenny Powers guy lives on forever.
Finally, a voice of reason.
I hate the wave. It makes me want to say “Hey, look at that, there’s a GAME going on, too.”
@Jared: I understand the argument against the wave (it’s rooting for yourself, not for the team, etc), but I still remember the first time I saw the wave as a kid. It was SOOO awesome. All those people moving in unison. It’s sort of mind blowing for a young child.
@BenL: The wave is a lot better suited for a football game than a baseball game… get one going in a rounded out stadium, it’s harmless fun. Most baseball stadiums are a little too broken up in design. You get the fast wave, the slow wave… sometimes just goes on too long though.
@renbutler: In other words, if you did indeed get home game #1, it could very well be NLDS game #1 if the Giants pass the Reds for the #2 seed.
@renbutler: I’ll split hairs and say it’s different to use an already written song to signify victory vs. having one written about the team for the occasion like a jingle. But mostly it’s because the Cubs are stupid.
In loosely related news, Steve would like to point out that he agrees with Tim McCarver that Deion just doesn’t respect the game enough and with Tom Coughlin that the Bucs were way out of line.
He would also like you kids to turn sown that infernal rock and roll music you keep playing.
Insert smiley face icon here.
I see where Melky Cabrerra removed his name from the NL batting title race. Can Votto get enough at bats to qualify?? I am not sure how many AB’s are needed to qualify. Votto has 339 right now and could have 375 or so at seasons end. That just doesn’t sound like enough.
@WVRedlegs: I’ve understood it to be 502 PA’s, not AB’s. That’s why Cabrera could still qualify because no matter where you left off, they will tack on as many “O-fers” needed to get you to 502 PAs. So Joey is at 426 PA’s now. Whatever he gets to by seasons end, then add in a “hitless” streak of 0/25 (or whatever) into his average.
I must confess, I haven’t been to a game since the whole wooooo thing started. But I think I too would be annoyed if I was trying to watch a game (which, by the way I’ve paid money to do), and the enjoyment of that is taken away because some guys who are not there to watch the game are whooping it up.
I get that going to the game is ALL about the experience. If you just want to watch the game you can watch the game at home just fine. But part of that experience is feeling the awesome swell of the crowd when something happens. The wooooo doesn’t fit that definition. I’m probably not the best person to comment on this because I must confession sitting next to an isle is annoying for me. I hate having to watch the same kids running past me all game. I would rather sit where I can see the entire field (nose bleeds or bleachers), without anyone to who wants to talk to me at random times, or point out some chick 5 rows away, with my AM radio and sit focused intently on the game. That’s how I enjoy my experience. When I hear the crowd noise swell I get caught up in it. It’s not very manly to say, but it gives me chills every time.
Now, all that said, sitting at home…. I love it.
Love the Woooooooooo!
I could not disagree more with this post. The WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO is awesome. Like sports itself, it’s pointless, joyous, and spontaneous.
The night that stuff started was the most fun I’ve had watching the Reds all year. That probably says more about me than the Reds, but it’s true.
Dont’ stop woooing.