This is a topic that has gotten a lot of attention on the radio, TV and Twitterverse lately. And since I haven't done a blog post in a while, this might be a good one to jump back in on.
After that fateful 14-inning, 5-hour marathon against the Pirates last September, it seems the Woo has been present at every game since. Was it an homage to the dogs that had been in the seats for "Bark in the Park" that night? Was it a shout-out to the great Ric Flair and his backhand chops to the opponent's chest? Was it some bored kid who couldn't figure out what else to yell after 14 innings of baseball? At this point, it doesn't matter. What we do know is that the next night, the Woo was out in full force. And the night after. And so on. It even traveled with the team to Pittsburgh. At first, many found it entertaining.
"Hey, those nut-jobs are doing the Woo again."
"Man, that stuff is funny."
Until it was happening constantly. And it made it to the national broadcasts during the playoffs. Then those that publicized it began to condemn it. It was made out to be a manace. But the Woo-ers soldiered on. As the 2013 season began, some hoped that the Woo had long-since been forgotten; an ugly reminder of the how the 2012 campaign had ended. However, as each game begins to dwindle into the late innings, and some of the crowd starts to head for the exits, one lone wolf can be heard beginning the howl. Then others respond. And so it goes.
According to Jim Day's twitter last season, some of the players didn't like it. Now which players and with what frequency are matters of debate. And I'm sure the Woo-ers would cite some sort of unwritten "ticket-purchasers rights" to continue barking. But if I'm supporting a ball club, and the players speak out that they're having trouble performing well because of something I, in the crowd, am doing, I think I might stop. But that's a personal choice I'd make.
It seems in this young 2013 season that divisional lines have been set. You either like the Woo or you don't. Supporters cite their "leave us alone, we're havin' fun, makin; noise" attitude. Detractors suggest the Woos are annoying and distracting. We're only 20 games in, so the sample size is small, but at 11-3 at home, it doesn't seem the Woo has affected performance on the field.
Will the Woo die? It's hard to tell. Did the vuvuzelas disappear at the 2010 World Cup? Have the Braves' fans stopped doing the tomahawk chop? Sometimes things that people want to go away are the things that stick around the most.
I personally thought the Woo was funny at first. Recently, I've found it less necessary. However, if you find that you need to let out a barbaric yawp from time to time, I don't mind. But to those that don't like the Woo, I suggest this: COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER. The Woo-ers, for the most part I assume, are bored. They're entertaining themselves, and they know it bothers you. Distract them with something else. I would suggest coming up with soccer-style chants. Actual words that the team and the city can be proud of. But change must come from the people.
If you want the Woo silenced, it can be done. But not with #StopTheWoo tweets and "Boo the Woo" cardboard signs. This will only fuel the fire. The Woos feed on your hate. You must drown out the Woos with your own chants and cheers. Only then will they realize the Woo has run it's course and this new chant is the hot thing.
If South Park has taught me anything, it's that people love fads. And that if you give them something new to gravitate toward, they'll give up on what they're doing.
That, or getting their parents to think the fad is cool.
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