Pittsburgh Penguins: Why is Pittsburgh so angry about the Wooooo?
Recent events across the river from the CONSOL Energy Center have brought out the bane of many of the Pittsburgh Penguins faithful’s existence. The often imitated, often duplicated, never hesitated Wooooo has reared its head in loud fashion at many recent Pirate games.
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The Wooooo, made famous by pro wrestling fighter extraordinaire Ric Flair has been heard in person and via broadcast media in most of the games during the Pittsburgh Pirates recent home stand.
The Pirates manager Clint Hurdle even addressed it over the weekend and noted that the team had heard the Wooooo and acknowledged that the more you ask someone to quit something the more they may do it. It was previously noted in years past that Dan Blysma and Mario Lemieux as well as many of the Pittsburgh Penguins executive management were also at their wit’s end with the Wooooo.
The origination of the Wooooo at Pittsburgh sporting events actually goes back quite a few years to circa 2009 and is rumored to have been stolen from the Washington Capitals. Much of the Pittsburgh Twitterverse, as well as all local social media in general, have taken time to complain about this auditory expression. A large majority of fans for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates have expressed displeasure with those in attendance that have taken to the Wooooo. Usually expressed after outcomes have already come established, and some of the crowd has cleared out, the Wooooo has become a Pittsburgh point of contention.
My question is, why?
Yes, the Wooooo may be annoying, distracting and may not make sense, but why is it so infuriating to the local fan bases? There have been many other annoying crowd participation phenomena that have occurred over the years, these include throwing objects on the ice/field (rats, octopi, batteries, disco records), the chanting of a wide variety of phrases, whiteouts/blackouts, and my personal pet peeve the wave. Unlike any of these phenomena, the Wooooo doesn’t slow the pace of the game, change the viewing experience, or place anyone in an unsafe or adverse position.
Why is the Wooooo creating such backlash amongst the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates fan base? Everyone cannot hate it because it has shown to cross culture and location barriers.
Each individual ticket holder is covered by the first amendment right of the freedom of speech. This covers each paying ticket holder, as long as they obey the rules of an individual facility, from discrimination or bias and provides the opportunity to express yourself however you feel necessary. If going to a sporting event and Wooooo’ing like a wounded quail is how you like to express yourself then so be it. Who are we as fans to tell you how to have fun at a Pens game?
I am not asking the fan base to quit Wooooo’ing, on the contrary I am just asking why you are doing it? Do you do it because other people do it? Do you like the sound of birds in peril? Are you a huge Ric Flair fan?
Also on the flip side, if you feel that the Wooooo adversely effects your viewing experience differently than a drunken fan, a hot dog rocket, or corporate suits sitting on their hands please explain that to me. Those doing the Wooooo are showing up, they are revenue drivers, they are paying customers, like it or not when their ticket is scanned at the gate they can Wooooo all evening long. Please provide some feedback to me on twitter @jkos11, I want to catch the pulse of the region and find out why you are doing a silly yell, and if you are not doing it why it makes you so upset.
Wooooo!
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