The Birth of the Wave: A Crowd's Unlikely Impact

The wave is a familiar sight in sports stadiums today. Some fans love it, others find it annoying. But did you know that the wave's origins can be traced back to a hockey crowd in Colorado? It is a bit of a surprise. The wave, as we know it, started in 1981 at the Oakland Coliseum. However, the idea was actually born earlier, in the minds of enthusiastic hockey fans in Denver. So, how did it all begin? It starts with a man named Krazy George Henderson. He was a cheerleader for the Colorado Rockies, a hockey team that played in Denver from 1976 to 1982. Henderson was known for his energetic crowd-pleasing antics. He had a knack for getting fans excited and involved in the game. He was a cheerleader at San Jose State University. He had a friend who brought him to a football game and gave him a drum to play. From there, Henderson's love for crowd work blossomed. He played the drum at San Jose State games and has cheered professionally for Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes for fifty years. Henderson's time with the Rockies was brief, but it was during this period that he had an idea that would change stadium culture forever. The Rockies weren't a great team, but their fans were passionate. Henderson saw an opportunity to engage them more. He had witnessed a similar cheer at San Jose State, where sections of the stadium would stand and cheer in succession. He decided to try something similar at a Rockies game. He picked three sections with the most fans and told them to stand up, sit down, and shout "Go! " when he pointed at them. The crowd responded enthusiastically, and the wave was born. The stadium erupted in excitement, and Henderson knew he had something special. He started using the wave at other events, including high school games. But it was during an Oakland A's playoff game in 1981 that the wave truly took off. The wave has since become a staple in sports stadiums worldwide. Many have tried to claim credit for its invention, but Henderson has video proof of himself orchestrating the cheer earlier than anyone else. And, according to Henderson, it was the Colorado crowd that played a critical part in that historic moment. The wave is more than just a cheer; it's a testament to the power of crowd engagement. It shows how a simple idea can captivate thousands and become a global phenomenon. So, the next time you see the wave at a stadium, remember that it all started with a group of passionate hockey fans in Denver.