Luuuuke/Cruuuz/Tuuuk/Booo!

The Game Room
1

I’ve noticed over the years that players whose name rhymes with boooo often get their name called out by fans. It struck me because it always sounds like they are booing the player.

Victor Cruz was probably the first one that I noticed, but it happens to Tuukka Rask as well, and others whose names escape me at the moment. I’ve been meaning to start this thread, but was actually prompted it was Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me on NPR – Luke Burbank was on the panel, and the crowd, of course, yelled out Luuuke.

Have others noticed this? Could it be that lots of players get called out by crowds, but I only notice the ones that rhyme with boo? Or, maybe when it rhymes with boo, the crowd does a better job getting synchronized?

(Yes, I know the Simpsons quote about the folks yelling “Boourns…”)

2

Yup. Amari Cooper, wide receiver for the Cowboys, gets the “COOOOOP” chant from Dallas fans.

Back in the day, Daryl Johnston got the “MOOOOOOOSE” call any time he touched the ball.

3

At my first baseball game when I was 9, Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker came to the plate for his first at-bat, and the crowd began to yell “Looooouuuuuu!” Of course I joined right in with a loud “Boo!” My dad quickly corrected me.

4

I forgot to add, Brad Stuver (goalkeeper for MLS Austin FC) gets “STUUUUUUUUUVER” or “STUUUUUUUUU” when he makes a save.

5

It has to be tough as a player, at least the first couple of times.

6

George “Boomer” Scott, 1st baseman for the Red Sox in the late 60s.

7

Absolutely. Cleveland had Sin Soo CHOOOOOOO for a few years. We also had catcher LOOOOUUU Marson for a minute. Way back in the day we had JUUUUUUUULIO Franco.

Kansas City has Mike MOOOOOOustakis

I can’t think of any non-OOO players at the moment but I’m sure they exist… Jose Raimirez has his own chant but it’s “Josaaaay josay josay josay. Josaay, josay.”

8

A few years ago, the Packers had a fullback named John Kuhn; on the rare occasions when he’d carry the ball, the fans would yell “KUUUUUUUUUUUUUHN!”

In the '70s and '80s, Brewers first baseman Cecil Cooper got “COOOOOOOOP!” every time he did something good.

9

So, is it just that fans like yelling names that rhyme with boo? Or, do they all synchronize really well with those kinds of names, so you can’t hear it as clearly when Joe Shlabotnik steps up to the plate?

10

Probably a little of both; probably a lot easier to spontaneously chant a single-syllable name/nickname.

11

BEUUUUUUUKE!

12

A million years ago I asked here at the SDMB who was the first guy to get the “they’re not saying BOOO” treatment. Farthest back anyone could remember was Moose Skowren, who played for the Yankees in the 1950s.

13

“YOOOOOOK!”

For Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox, not that long ago (eta: has it been nine years already?).

14

I remember when Boo Harvey was the star point guard at St. John’s University. One time, after he drove the lane through three defenders and finished with a brilliant scoop shot, the crowd erupted.

“Heh heh… they’re not booing, folks!” the TV announcer said. “They’re just saying BOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

15

I first experienced this with Jose UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUribe of the San Francisco Giants. I think of him every time I hear the “not a boo” call.

16

My dad took me to a Yankee game when I was a lad, in 1978, and he had to explain to me the crowd wasn’t booing, but rather welcoming Lou Pinella to his at-bat.

17

Lou Pinella was my first thought. My second thought was Boog Powell.

18

When Minnesota got an expansion basketball team, I wanted it to be named the Caribou. Then they could just be called the Boooooooo! They went with the Timberwolves, though.

19

That way, no matter how bad they were, they would be immune from booing! Brilliant idea!

20

Way back in the 70s I took an out-of-town friend to her first St. Louis Cardinals game. She was absolutely shocked that the fans would boo Looooooou Brock.