# "They're not booing, they're saying 'Bruce'."
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [October 8, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132 "2012-10-08T21:01:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/41 "2012-10-12T01:09:45Z")
Yooooooook!
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/42 "2012-10-12T01:11:29Z")
> [@cmkeller](#):
>
> Jeff Francoeur, though, they’re genuinely booing.
They’re not booing, they’re saying ‘yoooooooooou suck!’
---
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/43 "2012-10-18T13:58:40Z")
Here in Cleveland, we root for Shin-soo Choooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
> **[Shin-Soo Choo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin-Soo_Choo)**
>
> KBO
> Shin-Soo Choo (Korean: 추신수; Hanja: 秋信守; RR: Chu Sinsu; Korean pronunciation: \[tɕʰu.ɕin.su\]; born July 13, 1982) is a South Korean professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the SSG Landers of the KBO League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers.
> Choo was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Pitcher of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup as South Korea won the event. Choo signe...
---
### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/44 "2012-10-18T14:13:26Z")
1,000,000 BC
Raquel Welch in an animal skin bikini.
A stadium full of Neanderthals intone: “BOOOOOOOOOOOOBS!”
---
### Author:  [@Outpits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Outpits)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/45 "2012-10-23T18:41:44Z")
The “[Big Woo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Worster)” ran for U. Texas in the late '60s – and so postdates the two baseball players discussed above – but hearing a full house in Austin calling “Wooooooo” after each of his runs was pretty intimidating to this Razorback fan. On the television broadcasts the announcers would always let the audience know the fans were not booing. Of course, we only got a game or two a week of college football on TV “in the day”, so most non-UT fans would have no idea of this tradition.
---
### Author:  [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/46 "2012-10-24T20:08:13Z")
> [@astorian](#):
>
> But my older relatives in New York remember Yankee fans doing it for Bill “Moose” SKowron in the Fifties.
>
> It COULD go back a lot longer, but it’s at LEAST that old.
The first I heard it was in the early Sixties whenever Elmer “Moose” Vasko of the Chicago Blackhawks touched the puck. I guess the announcers by then didn’t need to say it, so it was up to my dad to explain to me that the fans weren’t booing him, they were saying “Moo-oo-se”. He started his NHL careeer in 1956 though I don’t have any idea when fans began chanting his name. I see that Skowron’s first year in the majors was 1954 so I’d guess that he predates Vasko as far as the “oo-ing” goes.
---
### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/47 "2012-10-24T20:28:56Z")
In recent years, Redskins fans would chant “COOOOOOLLLLL” for tight end Chris Cooley.
---
### Author:  [@Allezgatta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allezgatta)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/48 "2012-11-02T19:27:33Z")
On one of the episodes of PBS’ “History of Rock n’ Roll” series, Tom Petty talks about opening for Bruce Springsteen and being rushed off the stage to a chorus of boos from the crowd. His manager or someone offstage says, "They’re not booing you, they’re shouting “Bruuuuuce!” to which Petty replies, “isn’t that the same thing?”
---
### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/49 "2012-11-02T19:43:54Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> To speak to the second question, I nominate George Kell. Back in the '70s, Tiger fans gave Lou Whitaker the “louuuuu” treatment regularly. And at least once per televised home game, George Kell would inform us, “They’re not booing, they’re saying Louuu”.
I remember that, but in the 80’s, not the 70’s. I’m sure they did it his whole career.
---
### Author:  [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/50 "2012-11-02T20:49:15Z")
GB Packer fullback John Kuhn. Sounds like he’s being booed everytime he gets the ball.
---
### Author:  [@jdubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdubs)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/51 "2012-11-02T20:54:48Z")
> [@echo7tango](#):
>
> I can’t remember that far back, but when the Baltimore Orioles had Boog Powell in the 60s and 70s I think the fans called out, “Boog!”
This is what I’ve always heard started the trend.
---
### Author:  [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132/52 "2012-11-02T22:11:21Z")
YOUK!
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-booing-theyre-saying-bruce/637132.md?page=2)