I have to get this out there before tonight’s home game…
This could possibly be the most important post I make all season. If you’ve been to a game since the 
second half of last season, you will probably understand why.
The “WOO” has become the most annoying thing to overtake Pens games. Even more annoying than the wave. It started sometime during mid to late season last year and has gotten progressively worse. I don’t know why, but it has now found its way into every single game.
The worst part of the woo-ing…Consol has started to sound like the Verizon Center in DC. That’s right Pens fans, you now sound like the idiot Caps fans. Congratulations. A couple of years ago when the Caps couldn’t fill their arena, we asked an older Caps fans, one of those poor souls who stuck by them through thick and thin and thinner, about the origin of the “woo.” It was initially reserved for Gonchar when he returned to play as a Penguin, as in “woo” there goes the puck as he had frustrated Caps fans for years with blue line turnovers.
As newer fans trickled in with the arrival of that Russian guy, they turned it into something directed at all former players. This irritated the old-timers. Once the Caps began to sell a few tickets, but before everyone’s favorite owner blocked us all from games, we witnessed a game that sounded like a bunch of cartoon birds had been set loose inside the Phone Booth.
So, for some unknown reason, the woo birds made their to Mellon. And, sadly Consol now resembles the Verizon Center and the “woo-ers” sound like a bunch of the idiot bandwagon Caps fans. It has gotten so bad that the woo-ing has made its way on to both the radio and TV side of broadcasts so that all of the fans at home can also be treated to the idiotic sounds of the CEC. Last season it was at the end of blowout games. Now, it sneaks earlier and earlier into games, sometimes regardless of what is going on during the game.
So, I’m begging you to please stop the woo-ing. I’m not alone either. The topic has been discussed on blogs and message boards and all over those Twitter and Facebook things. The good guys over at the Pensblog have already made a plea to their readers earlier this month.
An Impassioned Plea To Stop The Woo
“So we’re asking everyone to please stop the Woo.If you’re seated near someone who woos, stand up and embarrass them in front of the section.You’ll get a standing ovation probably.This plea has nothing to do with what we perceive as our reputation.We were against this before people started blaming us for it.Stop The Woo.Go Pens.”
This is a cause that should unite all bloggers and fans alike who have any self-respect. Just sayin’…
Thank goodness HBO’s 24/7 has taken the approach of staying close to the ice to capture the sounds of the game and what the players say. I would be embarrassed if the captured the crowd woo-ing. What would be worse is if 
HBO captured both the Pens and Caps crowds woo-ing and the rest of the U.S. and Canada confused the two fanbases. Yeah, wouldn’t that be great.
Hopefully HBO doesn’t get too much of the crowd at the Winter Classic. But, you know that NBC will. Between the Pens and Caps fans, the WC is going to be one big freakin’ “WOO” Fest at this rate.
Here’s a novel idea…an oldie, but a goodie…a chant…
“LET’S GO PENS!”
How about you stop caring what people think of you and just do what makes you happy you idiot. Seriously, who the hell cares that you are being compared to those fans. You have to be so up tight to let the woooing bother you. Get over it, enjoy the game, and blog about something a little more interesting next time.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Enough is ENOUGH, don’t want to be a wana be Cap!
I am a firm believer that I was the originator of the Pittsburgh “WOO.” The Pittsburgh “WOO” has no similarites or connection to what Washington Capital fans do at the Verizon Center in Washington and I am shocked that you would compare the two.
The Pittsburgh “WOO” started on Saturday, February 4, 2006 in a Pittsburgh Bar called Shenanigans Bar & Grill located on Babcock Blvd.
It was the day before Superbowl XL and my friends and I went to the Pens game. They lost to the New York Islanders 5-4 in a shootout. We walked across the street after the game and rented a room at the Pittsburgh Marriot to enjoy some pre Superbowl activites in the Burgh. That evening we traveled to Shenanigans to partake in some adult beverages.
Shenanigans was packed and had a great atmosphere because our Pittsburgh Steelers were playing in the Super Bowl the next day. After a few drinks I gave a feel good “WOO” and it was followed by someone else in the bar giving a “WOO.” A little later I heard a “WOO” and returned the “WOO.” The next thing you know everyone in the whole bar was “WOO-ING.” The “WOO” continued until closing time. I was actually standing on table tops “WOO-ING” and actually had a “WOO” wave around the bar.
Since that evening the “WOO” has continued to gain steam at Pittsburgh sporting events. And I am proud everytime someone gives a “WOO.”
The Pittsburgh “WOO” is a feel good thing. It means that your happy and are enjoying yourself. I would recommend you try joining us and see how it makes you feel.
2 cool luv da woo! Woo.
So, it has it’s roots mainly in football. It should stay there.
I still don’t get how it’s feelgood when it’s started at games when we’re losing. No one has yet to explain that concept to me.
I’ll let out a woo after a goal, but that’s it. The other stuff is just annoying.
But, hey, congrats on being one of a zillion people in Pittsburgh who claim they started the woo. You can all put it on your resumes.
Why are we all still talking about this? 🙂
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ugh. OK, people…enough already! LOL
I started and have no plans on stopping the wooo! It started at Mellon Arena in Section C3 and has successfully crossed the street to “The PowerHouse”. Isn’t there some hockey related stuff to be covering?
Ahhh, Schultzie, it would be you. You and I in the arena parking lot.
Hockey related stuff…you should get on it!
With all due respect I must say that I enjoy the wooing!
I don’t beleive that it is even loosely related to the old Murphy whoop…whoop which was deisgned to berate an opposing player.
I am also offended that it would be compared to anything the Caps fans do. This is not the same thing.Caps fans go as far as chanting “Crosby Sucks while their team is playing the Devils!!.I would hope that Pens fans would never stoop to that level of moronic behavior.
The random whoos that circle around the arena are simply a celebratory chant to promote positive energy in the room.
I am all for it.
LETS GO PENS>>>>>>>> WHOOOOOO!!!!
Again, I understand that it doesn’t have anything to do with the origin of the whoop in DC.
I don’t like being compared to Caps fans either, trust me. However, having been to a couple of games at the Verizon Center over the past few years and every game Pens game, they sound a lot alike these days. So, in that way, Pens fans do sound like Caps fans. I never took the comparison any further.
I don’t see the woos as a celebratory chant, especially when they take place when we’re losing. They take place regardless of what’s going on in the game…winning, tied, losing, close game, blowout. I don’t get it as a positive energy either, it’s just noise. A positive energy would be a good loud “LET’S GO PENS” chant that would get the crowd and players fired up.
When a player scores a goal what is the first sound that comes out of their mouth??
If that isnt positive celebratory energy I dont know what is.
By the way I enjoy your work,,, just see this one differently than you do.
I’m all about agreeing to disagree. Heck, I’m just glad that people read and thrilled that people take the time to comment. And, thank you for the compliment!
Yes, the players woo when they score, the whole crowd does. I guess my point is that isn’t the wooing that has been taking place in the latter half of the game…that wooing–to me–seems pointless and has become just annoying. But that’s just my opinion and one that I’ve heard expressed over and over by many.
Besides, like I mentioned somewhere else in the comments, it keeps us from talking about Saturday’s weather. 🙂
I sent yinz a video this morning of mario. can you post it in the comments?
I’m not sure where it was sent, but I’ll pass this along to Krundle.
This video was sent to us via email today and Jeremy asked if we’d post it. Jeremy also said if it’s good enough for Mario, it’s good enough for him:
A different Jeremy than the one below.
BTW – great video!
I’m calling for proof that it’s Mario!
And, we all saw on 24/7 that Ovechkin woos.
Take that, Krundle. 🙂
Please no one take offense here, I haven’t publicly given Krundle crap in a while…he’s due.
I didn’t make the video, it was sent to me in an email this morning. It looks/sounds like HBO 24/7. I will be watching episode 2 & 3 tonight. I’ll let you know if I see it.
I didn’t say you made it…just that I needed to give you crap.
I don’t think it’s from 24/7. I was referencing AO wooing in last night’s episode. I know, I should have said *SPOILER ALERT*…but trust me, I’m leaving all the good parts a surprise.
I made the video from HBO 24/7 episode 2 all real, all Mario – Thanks for posting Phil. It wouldn’t post in my comment this morning.
Save the Woo! Pittsburgh original like Kennywoo! The greatest hockey player ever Mario Lemwoo woos! I woo, you should woo too.
OK, everyone let out a woo when someone scores. Can we then stop the random wooing? That’s the wooing I’m talking about anyway! LOL
end the WOO, just end it. please.
Thank you!
As Todd from over at “From The Point” pointed out, Ovechkin woos…can we stop now?
J like the Woo. Woo!
There always one… 😉
you have a link to the pensblog who started this whole thing and are now trying to stop it they even have fat madden doing it on the radio now
the whooping the caps did of murphy is way different
i have no trouble tuning out the woos after years of practice tuning out steigerwald
I really don’t think the Pensblog started it…using “woo” in your writing doesn’t tell people to randomly “woo” throughout games. Some people have asked “wooers” at games if the read the Pensblog and they had never even heard of it. The link is the Pensblog plea for fans to stop the woo. Given their tweets, they’re just as annoyed by it.
I know the whooping of Murphy, and later of Gonch, is different. But, games after the bandwagoners crammed the Verizon Center sound just like the current “wooing” at Consol. The wooing is a little harder to tune out than Steigerwald to me which you know is coming. There’s a mute button at home with Lange on the radio. At the games, it’s everywhere at random times for no reason…no real way to prepare yourself for it.
The origin of “wooo” in Capland is a little different than described. The sound they made for Gonchar was actually a “whooop”, as in “whoops, another turnover”. This sound actually goes back further than Gonchar. It went back to Larry Murphy in the 80s.
I agree, this isn’t quite the Whoop Whoop that was done for Gonch and Murphy, but if it bothers you that much, they should stop. I know sometimes my kid who hates noises, takes three deep breaths, when noises annoy him. Covering your ears does just as well or screaming STFU at the games helps too! LOL GO PENS!
I stand corrected, I forgot about it going back to Murphy. I do remember that part of the story now. Thank you for reminding me, I was told that by the Caps faithful during my first post-lockout experience there with Gonch.
As far as the woo vs. whoops, I guess I was referring to more of what it has morphed into…or, maybe what it sounds like is a better way to put it.
I just know that the two arenas are starting to sound alike to me. Even worse, Consol just sounds downright annoying.
The deep breaths stopped working a long time ago. Screaming STFU seems to only encourage it. Shocking, I know. It just seems dumb and with no purpose.
Hey, at least we’re not talking about Saturday’s weather forecast. =)
Well good luck. Sounds like they are trying to take over the Arena!
Haha! I’m sure the fans will come up with something else annoying by next season. Until then…