This is only the start of what is going on inside of Consol Energy Center this season
Anyone who has watched the Pens for as long as we have knows that something is different about the way people act at Pens games this season. We would say the origin of the change would be a few years ago when people would start wooing in the 3rd period when the game was basically in hand. The wooing continued into last season but eventually died out. It made a brief return this season, but some uglier trends are starting to occur. From beating up pregnant women to "Bombay Sucks" chants at last nights game against the Ducks. Here are some things that have been going on in the past few season (including this one) at Pens games.
- Wooing - Ok we are all for being happy over a Pens win. But what is the point of the wooing? The guys over at The Pensblog made a point about this last season. Last season people were wooing at the halfway point of the 3rd period of a 2-1 game. It doesn't really help that the Pens changed their goal song to a song that says "Wooo Hooo". Last night at the beginning of the 3rd period in a tie game the wooing made an appearance. Why?
- USA Chants - The Pens have 6 Americans on their team. The rest are Canadian or somewhere overseas. The USA chants usually come out when Canadian teams are in town although they did come out last night against the Ducks. Why we have no idea. Do the people doing the USA chants realize three fourths of our team isn't American? The 2 best players on the team are Canadian and Russian. Also the do realize that one of the owners is Canadian too right? RIGHT?!?! And without him this team is probably playing in Kansas City right now. Stop the USA chants please.
- The Wave - For the love of God stop the wave. Last night at the game the same person tried to start the wave for a period and a half. It worked 0 times. Hell it barely got out of the section this guy was in. Unless you have a full section ready to do the wave and others you are just making yourself look like an idiot trying to start the wave. Not to mention it pisses people off behind you who are actually trying to watch the game.
- You all know by now about the woman that got beat up. We don't need to go there.
Some things that were heard at last nights game:
"Go Orpy"
"Get it Jeffreys"
LET'S GO PAUL MARTIN"
"I'm begging for the lord to give the Pens a goal damn it"
"Bombay sucks. Bombay sucks"
"Jonas Swiss Cheese Hiller"
LET'S START THE WAVE!!"
A fan, who will remain anonymous, was walking into the game at 6 o clock and someone came up to him/her and was already drunk. Come one.
It is getting to the point where it is almost unbearable to go to Pens games anymore. The experience is being ruined by people who probably just started watching hockey 3 years ago. Games in the 2003-2004 season were more bearable to go to than this and that team sucked. The atmosphere at games is different now then it was 10 years ago and that isn't a good thing. 10 years ago people cared about the outcome of the game no matter how bad the team was. Now, they get more excited about being on the jumbotron.
A lot of these issues came about when the team started winning. When we used to go to the games during the Dark Ages from 2001-2006, it was the equivalent of being a diehard Pirates fan. People might have laughed a bit at you, but you had dedication and probably understood the game. It was possible to have an intelligent conversation with other fans about Rico Fata's potential, despite the limited opportunities that provided. Being at the game meant you really cared about the game and the team, wanted a cheap date with your girlfriend who you were trying to get rid of, or you were trying to score with one of the girls from the Penguins Patrol. When the team started winning, going to games became more of a status symbol, and people are using the "I have tickets tonight" line to invoke jealousy in others. Along with the team's success comes the bandwagon, and unlimited puckbunnies who go to games with the hope that Tyler Kennedy will go five hole on them after the games.
Is there a solution? Unfortunately not.
A lot of these issues came about when the team started winning. When we used to go to the games during the Dark Ages from 2001-2006, it was the equivalent of being a diehard Pirates fan. People might have laughed a bit at you, but you had dedication and probably understood the game. It was possible to have an intelligent conversation with other fans about Rico Fata's potential, despite the limited opportunities that provided. Being at the game meant you really cared about the game and the team, wanted a cheap date with your girlfriend who you were trying to get rid of, or you were trying to score with one of the girls from the Penguins Patrol. When the team started winning, going to games became more of a status symbol, and people are using the "I have tickets tonight" line to invoke jealousy in others. Along with the team's success comes the bandwagon, and unlimited puckbunnies who go to games with the hope that Tyler Kennedy will go five hole on them after the games.
Is there a solution? Unfortunately not.
My complaints from last night:
ReplyDelete1. couple making out in front of me the whole game
2. female part of that couple constantly elbowing me in the knee trying to massage her ugly boyfriend's neck
3. the "pens can do nothing right" complainer behind me who called Fleury "Luongo Lite"
4. woo-birds
5. people in my section trying to start the wave (or noticed the guy in your section since we were close by)
Wooing and waves suck
ReplyDeleteUSA chants is supporting the USA Ducks (D2), but why?
Gordon Bombay does not suck. Maybe it's the "Crosby Sucks" type thing?
I'm almost opposed to hopelessly romantic couples attending the game anymore. The two next to me were having Cuddlefest 2012 and then left for all of the 2nd period (thank god). Then they came back. But every time we cheered or tried to chant "Go Pens" the guy leaned away and looked all offended that we were shouting in front of his woman. What was he expecting at a hockey game?
ReplyDeletelol what section were you in? I think our couple missed quite a bit of the second period. I can't remember if they came back for the second or just returned for the third.
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ReplyDeleteI was at the game last night, and had a great time. Every sporting event I have ever been to has the idiots that try to ruin it for everyone, but it is up to you to ignore them and focus on the game. It was my first hockey game, and I have been a fan for a long time... does this make me some bandwagon jumper searching for status?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks for adding one of my quotes too. It's gotten so bad now at CEC. The guy who started the woo birds didn't think it would get so bad. He only used them in blowouts. The new arena is probably attracting some of these stupid fans.
ReplyDelete