# The Best Traditions in Sports. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 14, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381 "2009-05-14T03:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/41 "2009-05-15T21:33:36Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Back to the OP, I’d second the nomination for the Ohio State’s marching band’s performance of “Script Ohio” at each game. It is quite a stirring thing to see. First done by University of Michigan of course. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/42 "2009-05-15T21:52:48Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > FWIW, the Cal (ie, University of California, Berkeley) rugby team played New Zealand at some point in the distant past (1960s or thereabouts), and brought the Kamate haka back with them. While I was a student, there was a half-hearted attempt to make it a regular cheer for football games, but it never really caught on. But I can say that I have recited it in a group. It \*is \*pretty cool. > > My favorite tradition is Ralphie the buffalo charging onto the field before Univ of Colorado home games, with handlers hanging on for dear life. [This was Ralphie V’s first run at the Spring game in 2008. She tramples one handler, shakes three others, and is one guy away from charging around the field untended.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrIm3LDjswI) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/43 "2009-05-15T22:06:13Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Naw, I’m not buying that. At the bottom of the 7th fans have sung “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, communally and badly, from well before Veeck got Carey to sing into the Comiskey mic. Fans went to, and continue to, go to the restroom when they need to. 😉 You can think that if you want, but the preponderance of evidence disagrees. My version of the story is a hallmark of baseball lore and has been written about time and time again. That’s not to say that legend is always right, but baseball is as well reported and chronicled as anything and I’d be surprised if this story could have the legs it does if it’s not largely true. Baseball geeks love nothing more than proving each other wrong. The song dates back to 1908 and has always been well known and popular at the ballpark, but the tradition as it is now is different than it was before Harry and Veeck. In any case, the Cubs originated the PA music concept as well (prior to 1941 there were barbershop quartets and roving brass groups but no stadium wide music) and it’s almost certain _Take Me Out…_ was a feature. I have no doubt it was sung before Harry, but it was a more laissez faire affair. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/44 "2009-05-16T01:51:37Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Naw, I’m not buying that. At the bottom of the 7th fans have sung “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, communally and badly, from well before Veeck got Carey to sing into the Comiskey mic. Fans went to, and continue to, go to the restroom when they need to. 😉 > > Back to the OP, I’d second the nomination for the Ohio State’s marching band’s performance of “Script Ohio” at each game. It is quite a stirring thing to see. The honor of dotting the “i” is reserved for a senior sousaphone player each year. In Ohio, if you are a tuba player, that’s the highest aspiration one can have. IIRC, only two people have ever dotted the “i” who were not a sousaphone player. One of them was Jack Nicklaus, a graduate of The Ohio State University. I’d vote for the Green Jacket, for what it is worth. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/45 "2009-05-16T05:44:03Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > You can think that if you want, but the preponderance of evidence disagrees. My version of the story is a hallmark of baseball lore and has been written about time and time again. That’s not to say that legend is always right, but baseball is as well reported and chronicled as anything and I’d be surprised if this story could have the legs it does if it’s not largely true. Baseball geeks love nothing more than proving each other wrong. > > The song dates back to 1908 and has always been well known and popular at the ballpark, but the tradition as it is now is different than it was before Harry and Veeck. In any case, the Cubs originated the PA music concept as well (prior to 1941 there were barbershop quartets and roving brass groups but no stadium wide music) and it’s almost certain _Take Me Out…_ was a feature. I have no doubt it was sung before Harry, but it was a more laissez faire affair. The preponderance of evidence consists of Cub fans’ and Chicago-based writers’ opinions, who researched the topic by asking people at the Cubby Bear Lounge. SABR hasn’t weighed in on this topic to my knowledge. If I’m wrong, cite me to the info. I say Cubs/Wrigley Take Me Out to the Ballgame announcer sing-along tradition is limited to the Cubs and Wrigley. The other clubs play the song during the stretch, and the fans sing badly without the benefit of an announcer leading them, but sometimes having the words printed on the scoreboard to sing along to, as they’ve always done it. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/46 "2009-05-16T05:47:42Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > IIRC, only two people have ever dotted the “i” who were not a sousaphone player. One of them was Jack Nicklaus, a graduate of The Ohio State University. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ohio_State_University_Marching_Band#Honorary_.E2.80.9Ci.E2.80.9D-dotters) lists some others, but you’re right that it’s a very rare honor indeed. Other notable guest dotters have been Bob Hope, Buster Douglas, and former OSU coach Woody Hayes. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/47 "2009-05-16T05:48:58Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > First done by University of Michigan of course. 😉 Regrettable, but true. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/48 "2009-05-16T06:49:12Z")
One tradition that did begin at Comiskey (in 1977, I believe) was “Na na, hey hey goodbye” sung by the crowd led by Nancy Faust on organ. Steam, the band that had a #1 with it in 1969, presented her with a gold record in gratitude. That team also popularized curtain calls after home runs. Hal McRae, in ridicule, waved his helmet all the way around the bases after a home run for the visiting Royals one day in July. That second game of a doubleheader averted a four-game sweep for the Sox, and cut their lead to four-and-a-half over the Royals, who would eventually bury them. Still, the tradition did catch on some around the league. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/49 "2009-05-16T06:57:19Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Cleveland teams ripping the hearts out of their fans year after year. I can’t tell you how hard I laughed at this. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/50 "2009-05-16T11:05:25Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > The preponderance of evidence consists of Cub fans’ and Chicago-based writers’ opinions, who researched the topic by asking people at the Cubby Bear Lounge. SABR hasn’t weighed in on this topic to my knowledge. If I’m wrong, cite me to the info. I say Cubs/Wrigley Take Me Out to the Ballgame announcer sing-along tradition is limited to the Cubs and Wrigley. The other clubs play the song during the stretch, and the fans sing badly without the benefit of an announcer leading them, but sometimes having the words printed on the scoreboard to sing along to, as they’ve always done it. What in the love of god are your arguing? First you say everyone has always done it, and now you’re saying the announcer sing along is a Cubs thing. Which is it? The Cubs started the tradition of having a pipe organ. The Sox and Harry Caray started the tradition of leading the crowd in song. Is this really in doubt? Or are you just pissing into the wind because you can? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/51 "2009-05-16T11:18:03Z")
[Woooooooo Pig Sooie!](http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&KEY=&ATCLID=1514554) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/52 "2009-05-16T16:19:48Z")
> [@Mycroft\_Holmes](#): > > I get goose bumps every time I see that. Me too. I was living in Liverpool when Shankly died and when they were winning their European Cups. I got a similar feeling when the Welsh rugby fans sang their national anthem - and that was at Twickenham - it must be quite something else in Cardiff, as shown [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMI5wpwXTCY). ---
**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/53 "2009-05-19T05:41:09Z")
Rene Rancourt singing national anthems in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/54 "2009-05-19T10:31:49Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > As a Notre Dame fan, I think it’s a nice touch that the Band of the Fighting Irish will play the opposing team’s fight song if their band was unable to travel for the game. I think this is common among the Big Ten teams as well. My Michigan State band has always done it, even if the other team’s band is there. In that case each band will play the other’s fight song which is kind of fun since they play it just a little differently. The MSU band leader said on a radio show that the band really gets a kick out of it when they do it for a bowl game, the other school’s fans aren’t expecting it and react very positively when they hear their school’s song. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/55 "2009-05-19T12:17:07Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think this is common among the Big Ten teams as well. My Michigan State band has always done it, even if the other team’s band is there. In that case each band will play the other’s fight song which is kind of fun since they play it just a little differently. The MSU band leader said on a radio show that the band really gets a kick out of it when they do it for a bowl game, the other school’s fans aren’t expecting it and react very positively when they hear their school’s song. I was in Northwestern’s marching band. This is correct in that all Big Ten teams play the opposing team’s fight song, both in pre-game shows and post-game shows. And this is done even if the opposing team’s band has travelled to the game. And often, the bands will do a joint post game show, in which frequently each will play the opposite’s fight song as part of the post game. Though, everyone has a different arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/56 "2009-05-19T18:12:10Z")
Strawberries and cream at Wimbledon Women wearing utterly outlandish hats at Royal Ascot Three Lions sung at England v Whoever football matches ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/57 "2009-05-19T18:15:23Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > One tradition that did begin at Comiskey (in 1977, I believe) was “Na na, hey hey goodbye” sung by the crowd… That reminds me; This year the Montreal Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 75 years, and they put on a show at the Bell Centre which intertwined symphony music with the 100th season of the Montreal Canadiens. I didn’t go, but I’ve seen footage, and I wish I had been there, because taking a symphony and mixing in sports/Habs traditions resulted in things like; [Na na, hey hey goodbye](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLxv4ZzxNnc&feature=related) [Ode to Joy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8sfGbQgSik&feature=related) in CAC jerseys (poor video, sorry, _mais cé beau en ostie!_) [The Hockey Night in Canada theme song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv944nWOkCA&feature=related) by an orchestra [The Wave](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsQTvOKFfCM&feature=related) (skip to about 3:40, because the filmer’s voice drowns out everything else anyways… in fact, turn off the sound!) and the [Olé Olé Olé](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNqG4ObypXM&feature=related) to the Habs veterans (sure, we know it started with soccer, but Montreal kidnapped it and isn’t giving it back) I think it’s cool how so many sports traditions become such a part of a culture, like the baseball ones in the States and hockey ones here (with some overlap, of course). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/58 "2009-05-19T18:33:22Z")
Two from college sports: Kansas’ [Rock Chalk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddXfc0mQfxc) chant Alabama’s [Rammer Jammer](http://www.rammerjammeryellowhammer.com/weblog/2007/10/multiple_youtube_rammer_jammer.html) taunt ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/59 "2009-05-19T20:14:38Z")
How about the crowd going crazy during the national anthem at Hawks games? Do any other teams’ fans do that? My personal fave is probably Chief Illiniwek doing his dance at halftimes. What do you say…? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381/60 "2009-05-19T20:19:22Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > My personal fave is probably Chief Illiniwek doing his dance at halftimes. What do you say…? That WAS my favorite. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-traditions-in-sports/496381.md?page=4)