Who started the Wave

[anniswan]

Just watching the game, shocking injury to Lappin, but who on earth started the Wave?

[Piobaireachd]

personally I think the wave is a non issue. Pity about the injury though. Lappin is a deadset good guy

[desredandwhite]

The wave was actually started a couple of times even before that, so it wasn't really in any way connected with the Lappin injury. It just gathered momentum when we had the break for the stretcher. I don't like it at the best of times anyway, I think it shows disrespect to the game in the middle - are you there to watch the game or watch 40,000 people stand up and sit down?

Just as the wave is normally started on the hill at the SCG, the wave(s) was started on the concourse behind the goals at the right side of camera - Away cheer squad and (I think) mostly casual ticket holders. Their priority is to get 100% entertainment out of a day out, so the wave tends to be started there.

[Mrspebbles]

Re: Who started the Wave

Originally posted by anniswan
Just watching the game, shocking injury to Lappin, but who on earth started the Wave?

Funny you mentioned that Anni. I was sitting here watching the game and thought WOW some poor guy is injured and the crowd is doing the wave.

[Cher]

The wave started before the break in the game, I think some of those casual fans got bored because we were leading by a few goals

[ugg]

Probably from the same group that brought the beach ball.

[ROK Lobster]

Black arm-band view of football.

[anne]

I was embarassed watching it and thought it showed Sydney fans as ignorant and uncaring. It will give the media and other team's supporters fuel for further critcism of Sydney football fans(unfortunately). Supporters in Melbourne can be feral and annoying but they would never do that.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by anne
Supporters in Melbourne can be feral and annoying but they would never do that.

I'm not sure supporters at the SCG would either ~ it made me very disappointed.

[barry]

I was in the crowd doing the wave. I, along with most, didnt realise the extent of his injury until the stretcher came out. The wave had already started by then.

I think we are getting a bit precious if a wave can be seen negatively after 3 hours in the hot sun with the game decided an hour before hand.

Also, good to see a beach ball back. Never understood how they can possibly be any harm in them.

[Go Swannies]

Context. This seems to be more of an issue with those who watched on TV than those who were at the game. And I bet it wouldn't have been mentioned if it was anywhere other than in Sydney and so indicative of Sydney's lack of knowledge of the traditions of true football.

In fact it was a pretty boring game as there was no competition. And half of us were baking in the sun. So, towards the end of the game, some clowns down near the goal were tossing a giant beachball around. I think security tried to get it at some stage and the roar down there when the ball stayed in play was loud enough that some players on the ground turned to see what it was about. The wave seemed to start around the same area. But it was pretty half hearted - as it should be when there's footy being played. Then the game stopped for the extended break while Lappin was taken off (and it took quite a while after they first indicated the stretcher was needed and it finally arriving). So there was a bored crowd sweltering in the sun and so the wave really got going.

Lappin was clapped off the ground. When play resumed, the wave didn't last very long, I'm glad to say. Disrespect? Maybe, but most people at the ground didn't know who was injured. And it's probably up there with the crowd at the Olympic closing ceremony (same venue, 2000) waving foam coolers with lights in them while the Greek dancers were taking possession for the Athens Olympics. But Sydney crowds don't grow up surrounded by Olympic culture either.

[desredandwhite]

Originally posted by Ruckman
I'm not sure supporters at the SCG would either ~ it made me very disappointed.

Well, I can tell you that they do. I've seen it a few times, almost always started on the Hill, and usually when we are leading/trailing by 10+ goals, and it's a quiet few minutes of play late in the game.

I hate defending the wave (as mentioned, I don't even like it!!!) but it had NOTHING to do with the injury. It had already done a few laps of the stadium before the actual event. What can you do to stop it though? By that stage, the outcome had been decided, Brisbane were content to flood 18 men back and clog it up. The crowd behind the goals was getting restless, a group of people started the wave, and off she went. I doubt that everyone realised what was going on for a while. I clapped Lappin off, as did many near me, but you can't speak for everyone.

The injury was an unhappy coincidence, but the audience was NOT deliberately dancing a jig on Lappin's grave by doing the wave at that time.

[Dave]

I don't see the big deal.

I really don't think people were doing it out of disrespect to Lappin, more the fact that it was a long break in play and people were in a good mood and maybe a bit restless.

If you were reading it as "hey someone broke their leg - lets celebrate!" then you are a bit wrong.

Anyway, what's so offensive about the wave anyway?

Get over it.

PS No, I didn't start the wave.

[giant]

I was there yesterday as well & tho I felt a tad umcomfortable abt the wave while Lappin was being stretchered off, the momentum had certainly started before that incident.

Brissie were basically playing all 18 back by that time so it was a trifle dull. And Lappin was clapped off the ground by the crowd as befits a champion in those circumstances. I wouldnt read much more into the wave than that.

[Charlie]

It's bad enough that a Mexican Wave started during the game - but it should have stopped immediately as it became apparent that a player was seriously injured. I'm not buying the 'we didn't know how bad it was' line... the only reason I knew it was happening was that the people directly behind Lappin, who had a clear view of everything that was going on, were doing the Wave while the stretcher was out. As I said yesterday... very embarassing.

And I bet it wouldn't have been mentioned if it was anywhere other than in Sydney and so indicative of Sydney's lack of knowledge of the traditions of true football.

Rubbish. We are all Sydney supporters with an interest in defending the Sydney crowd. Sometimes, however, they do things that are hard to defend. Like leaving once the Swans get four goals up or doing a Mexican Wave whilst there's a champion with a broken leg on the field.

Perhaps the other side of the coin to the distinction you drew is 'people who were doing the wave are defending it, whilst those who saw it were embarassed by it'.