Rant
Just once, I aspire to cover a playoff game where fans do not wave towels. Not to sound like Andy Rooney here, ranting about how things used to be, but why does every team feel the need to issue its fans rally towels upon entrance? Fans get them in Philadelphia. Fans get them in Milwaukee. Fans get them here at U.S. Cellular.
Cheap imitations, they are.
In my first years as a sportswriter, I got the know the late Myron Cope, the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster and the inventor of the Terrible Towel. The Terrible Towel works for one reason: It's original. Once, I had the opportunity to watch a Steelers-Colts game on television with the already-retired Cope. When he saw the fans in Indy's RCA Dome waving, of course, white towels, he dismissed them as "dust rags."
And he's right. Sameness undoes the colorful spirit of sports. Cheering should be vibrant, original, based in tradition. Just personally, I don't want every stadium to resemble a windblow Bed Bath & Beyond. Enough with the towels! Enough! Enough! Enough! I'm sure Andy Rooney agrees with me, by the way. I was trying to reach him for comment, but he doesn't own a phone.
By
Chico Harlan
|
October 5, 2008; 2:26 PM ET
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Posted by: ce | October 5, 2008 2:35 PM | Report abuse
OTOH, waving bobbleheads doesn't really make it. Just doesn't have the same effect, somehow.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 5, 2008 2:37 PM | Report abuse
My friends called the towels passed out to Indian and Rockies fans last year "crying towels." Other than the Steelers (Weren't they yellow and not white?) and the Twins' Homer Hankies in the late 80s nd early 90s, does anyone remember a Super Bowl or World Series champion embracing these things?
Posted by: PTBNL | October 5, 2008 2:47 PM | Report abuse
Hear hear! The other stupid thing about the towels is that they actually have the effect of *quieting* the home crowd, which is not what you want as the home team. It's kind of hard to clap your hands when you're waving a towel.
Now, as far as noisemakers are concerned, don't get me started on the thunderstix. Those things should be outlawed.
Posted by: Coverage is lacking | October 5, 2008 2:57 PM | Report abuse
Welcome to A Few Minutes with Chico Harlan. Next week we will address Astro Turf and the Designated Hitter...
I don't mind the towels so much. Thunderstix, however, are an abomination.
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 5, 2008 4:12 PM | Report abuse
Bring back the Green Weenie?
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 5, 2008 4:15 PM | Report abuse
Towels are better than those boom whacker things they used in Anaheim a few years ago . . .
Posted by: Philly Phan in Phairfax | October 5, 2008 4:16 PM | Report abuse
Thunderstix. That's what they were called. Yes. Those things are lousy.
Posted by: Philly Phan in Phairfax | October 5, 2008 4:17 PM | Report abuse
I *did* like the Rally Monkey, though. I know. But still.
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 5, 2008 4:43 PM | Report abuse
Chico, where would your reasoning lead us? The wave would have stayed in the Mexican soccer stadium where a festive crowd invented it; your Steeler's new mascot, Steely MacBeam, couldn't follow the careers he represents to China, where we've sent them; and we could only sing Sweet Caroline at Fenway!
Posted by: flynnie | October 5, 2008 9:38 PM | Report abuse
Sweet Caroline should only be sung at Fenway.
Posted by: DR | October 5, 2008 10:25 PM | Report abuse
Chico's far too used to the napping Nats audience. Wha? There's a game going on? zzzzz
Posted by: Chris | October 6, 2008 8:40 AM | Report abuse
Can anybody tell me what inning we're in?
Posted by: Miller High Life deliveryman | October 6, 2008 9:03 AM | Report abuse
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Now, white hankies, that's different. They even had a song to go with it.
Of course, we'll be waving goodbye to Ozzie with them, this time, but still.