# Which is more annoying: CheeseHeads or Terrible Towel? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 26, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037 "2011-01-26T11:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/1 "2011-01-26T11:26:50Z")
Which Superbowl fan paraphernalia do you find more annoying? [The Cheesehead Hat](http://a53.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/18/l_89c3ecb9639887b6f43b30df080cc6cc.jpg) or [The Terrible Towel](http://psamp.com/images/stories/terribletowelcake.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/2 "2011-01-26T11:29:59Z")
Neither really bother me. In fact, of all the NFL, I think that these stand out. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/3 "2011-01-26T14:23:23Z")
They’re trying to counter the Cheesehead with a _towel_? Not annoying, pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/4 "2011-01-26T14:28:34Z")
The Cheesehead is amusing. It’s representative of the region. Though probably annoying to be sitting behind someone wearing one. The other is… a towel. A \*terrible \*towel. In the hands of Sam Seed a towel can be a deadly weapon. In the hands of drunken Steelers fans it’s… a towel. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/5 "2011-01-26T14:30:38Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > The other is… a towel. A \*terrible \*towel. In the hands of Sam Seed a towel can be a deadly weapon. In the hands of drunken Steelers fans it’s… a towel. Only in the hands of Ford Prefect does a towel become awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/6 "2011-01-26T17:17:15Z")
At the sports bar I frequent, I have been hit in the head on multiple occasions by blithe idiots waving those stupid towels around. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/7 "2011-01-26T17:49:20Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > They’re trying to counter the Cheesehead with a _towel_? To be fair, the Terrible Towel’s been around for over 30 years, so it predates the Cheesehead by at least a decade (which didn’t come out until the early 1990s). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/8 "2011-01-26T19:04:15Z")
Blessed are the cheesemakers! -_Life of Brian_ ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/9 "2011-01-26T19:07:06Z")
Cheeseheads, by a factor of about a thousand. Really, Packer fans in general are far more obnoxious than any other fan base of any other professional sport. It doesn’t get worse anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/10 "2011-01-26T19:08:43Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Cheeseheads, by a factor of about a thousand. Really, Packer fans in general are far more obnoxious than any other fan base of any other professional sport. It doesn’t get worse anywhere. The least surprising post of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/11 "2011-01-26T19:09:09Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > They’re trying to counter the Cheesehead with a _towel_? > > Not annoying, pathetic. The towel goes back to the Steel Curtain days of the 70’s, long before the first alcoholic Packer fan stuck a wedge of cheese on his mishapen, inbred, freakish head. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/12 "2011-01-26T19:15:46Z")
Meh. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/13 "2011-01-26T19:18:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > To be fair, the Terrible Towel’s been around for over 30 years, so it predates the Cheesehead by at least a decade (which didn’t come out until the early 1990s). 35 years. Also, the money from the towel goes to a school for autistic and mentally challenged children. I don’t think the merchandisers of cheese related novelty items can make that same claim. This thread inspired me to do some googling and I found these compteting articles about [the towel versus the](http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/terrible-towel-wipes-up-cheeseheads/)versus the [cheesehead.](http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/the-terrible-towel-is-terribly-stupid/) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/14 "2011-01-26T19:40:20Z")
Steeler fan here: (I figure that’s known by now, but if it isn’t, folks should know my perspective.) Anyway, I like them both. The Terrible Towel has been around for literally 35 years or more. Myron Cope (wacky voiced Steeler and local news broadcaster) created the terrible towel out of thin air. One day during his news sports segment, the week before either an important late regular season game or playoff game, started babbling about how everyone should get a towel and wave it at the game, in front of the tv set, or wherever you were watching the game. He suggested a dish towel lying around the house… just something to show support for the team. It took off after that. First, someone realized that they could sell towels with “the terrible towel” printed on them. I don’t believe Myron got any money from those. I have one of the original, uber rare black terrible towels with gold printing on it. (During the playoffs, when someone sees it, I become the envy of many Steeler fans because of that towel.) Soon, Myron realized that money was flying out the door, and he created the “Myron Cope - official Terrible Towel”, which was printed on all towels after that first year or two. Most if not all the towels were yellow/gold, with black letters printed on the towel. Myron donated most if not all (I believe it was all) of the money generated by the terrible towel to a special education school in Pittsburgh that was attended by one of his children. After his death, I believe the family or his estate stipulated the money continue to go to that school. So, a lot of good has come from the towel. The cool thing about the towel (and this still holds true) is that you didn’t need to buy one. You could grab a towel and swing it, or make a towel by yourself. With 60,000 of them swinging at one time, no one notices or cares. It’s the ultimate “show your support for the Steelers” item. It’s cheap, easy to come by, make yourself, or buy, carry and store. Much better than a pennant or flag or banner. And it does look great when you are in a sea of terrible towels waving during a Steeler game. It is a very identifiable way the fans show their support for the Steelers, and it’s recognized throughout the country. I believe it was the first of its kind, and any towel waving antics by any other team or sport (I think the Minn. Twins had a “Homer Hankey” or something - all white towel) can trace its roots to the terrible towel. I like the Cheese heads for many of the same reasons. I don’t recall any other sports organization that had some special headgear that pronounced allegiance to a team before the cheese head hat came onto the scene. And now, whenever I see a cheese head, I immediately think “Packer fan”. I think it’s a great item, and one I’d wear proudly if I were a Packer fan. Fortunately, I’m a Steeler fan, so I get to wave my towel with pride! Also, to add some idea of the uniqueness of the towel, if you are old enough, you might remember the beginning of SB 14 against the Rams. They pulled out and displayed a football field sized terrible towel before the start of the game. It was an amazing site. I can’t imagine sitting in the stands being a Ram fan and saying to myself “WTF?” It was like the NFL was endorsing the towel. Can you imagine them bringing out a football-field sized cheese head? The Towel has a cool history and I doubt it will ever go away. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/15 "2011-01-26T19:48:26Z")
I was totally unaware of the Towel and I thought the Cheesehead was a general Wisconsin thing or perhaps a University. Shows how much i follow football. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/16 "2011-01-26T19:56:13Z")
Point of data: you can’t [do this](http://www.balloon-juice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/thenextgeneration.jpg) with cheeseheads (generally). ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/17 "2011-01-26T20:03:25Z")
The first Cheesehead was worn to a Brewers game in 1987. “Cheesehead” was all about embracing a mild slur directed at us fine Wisconsinites. They really got rolling when the Packers first came out of hibernation in 1989 and then into the Favre era. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/18 "2011-01-26T20:08:14Z")
I’ll have to go with the Towel. I’ve never actually heard of the towel (not a football person) but the Cheesehead is made about 2.5 miles from where I’m sitting right now so each purchase of a Cheesehead boosts my personal local economy. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/19 "2011-01-26T20:17:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The least surprising post of the day. I was surprised he didn’t use obscenities to express himself. That’s something I think. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037/20 "2011-01-26T20:24:27Z")
For the Superbowl, Steeler fans should bring cheescloth instead. That way they can wrap up the cheeseheads. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-annoying-cheeseheads-or-terrible-towel/569037.md?page=2)