USMNT- and the Thuderstix Trend

Another reason for the mainstream press to hate soccer.

 

Ugh - I actually remember this and thinking, WTF when I was watching it on TV. I had never seen it before, didn't like it then, hate it even more now - it's as if they are insulting the fans intelligence that they can't make up funny or inspiring chants. Yet another sign of the dumbing down of culture. (OK, that last one is a bit much.)

Of course, after Tabare's last positive contribution to the Nats, I could not have given a damn what the fans were cheering with.

--Tom

 

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/murphy/021014.html

Brian Murphy recanting his experience at Pac Bell Park

On a related note, it's not Bay Bridge II, but it will do....GO GIANTS!!!

 

I don't see how these things insult fans intelligence. How is it any different than clapping your hands during a chant, or beating on a drum? Seems to me, that if they were used properly they would make chants and cheers louder. That can only be a good thing if you ask me.

 

I hate those things; it's all just hollow empty noise.

 

Reminds me of that Simpson's episode, where Homer goes to talk to the Ad agency about his snowplow business, and the guy tells Homer that he was the one responsible for that particular jingle that they play all the time on the radio that you can't get out of your head... whereupon Homer stands up and punches the guy right in the face. The guy then says, "yeah, I deserved that..."

Wouldn't it be nice to punch the guy who imported the thundersticks into this country?

Actually, the thundersticks do supply a lot of noise. Perhaps the supporters groups just need to do a better job coordinating chants and songs with the thundersticks. I mean, many chants involve simultaneous clapping of hands--why not just trade the clapping for the thundersticks?

 

Did anybody else notice the writing on the cheer sticks at the angels' game's that said "YES WE CAN" basically biting the "si se puede" slogan that mexico started using during the 98 Cup (i think it was 98). I did a double take when i saw that... i guess they finally figured out that soccer crowds and their chants/slogans/atmosphere are the best!

 

Is that right? I remember seeing them at RFK during the 1996 Olympic soccer games. Though, i do suppose the first game I saw them en masse was the Korea game..

 

Actually, the Angels were using the "Yes We Can" chant in their earlier play-off appearances all the way back in the '80s, so it didn't originate with Mexico.

Though if they want to take credit for it, let them. And we should let the "wave" be called the "Mexican Wave" like it is in Europe, for that matter.

And as for the thunder sticks, I'll say what I've said before: if you give those things to the Dalai Lama, within 10 minutes he'll be whapping everybody in his entourage. No one seems to be able to resist the urge to whap someone else with those suckers.

 

Si se puede

Though I wouldn't assume that the Angels invented the slogan "Yes We Can," it was the main chant at Angels games in the mid-1980s during the Wallly World era. But really, it's a pretty easy slogan to "come up with," and I imagine some team used it before the Angels.

As for the cheer sticks/thunder sticks - it was nice to receive something in Portland, both the CR game and the Kuwait game.

And I'd be fascinated to hear the reasoning why the sound from the thunderstick is fudamentally different from the drums we find so integral to futbol fandom.

 

Re: Si se puede

Oh I see said the blind man....
I had never heard about that being the main chant for the Angels... i guess thats what i get for being a young buck in the mid 1980's...

 

Farthorns. We had a batch of them at Giants Stadium after some dumb give-away. A few even crept into 101, in the front frow of the ESC.

Couldn't get them to quit blowing, so we sang:

"One note.
You only blow one note...
(aka. "Blue Moon")

The malefactor shook his head, tightened his armature, and blew an octave. So we sang out:

"Two notes.
You only blow two notes..."

I don't mind drums, (real) trumpets, and bagpipes,
but nothing beats singing team anthems and humorous, off-color songs.

"With a packet of sweets
and a cheeky, little smile..."

 

i dont mind them at all. its the only things you can get into the stadium with that make noise! i had a foghorn that i used to bring, and i started chants with it at games, but its been banned since 2000 if i remember right. o well.

SUPAH REVOLUTION!!!!

cheers, fiero

 

I've never liked those darned donkey condoms.

 

I like the farthorns. Sort of makes me feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone.

 

Keep the thundersticks

You can not put a price on the comedy that ensues when a group of friends fail to comprehend the logistics of the thundersticks. Even better is when they start trying to explain to each other that their method is superior to that of their friend's, when in reality both are wrong.

Just look for them during the World Series/next US game - they're out there.

 

back in the day? thats STILL all you hear

 

I just use mine as a condom.

Sachin

 

Of course, therein lies the problem. They are never used properly. They are just noisemakers to no purpose. Could you imagine what would happen if everyone had drums - that would be annoying as anything. So instead of being creative, fans slam those stix together like mindless sheep.
On another point I will say the temptation to misuse those things is godawful

 

I suppose you've got a point. I remember bugging the hell out of my ex-girlfriend for the US-Paraguay game back in 98. I was one of those annoying guys, that kept banging the stix together for the entire 90 minutes. It was a load of fun. Although if I would've been in a cheering section, I might have used them properly.