Pens Fans: PLEASE Stop the “WOO”

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!”