[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Standings

[Joe Thiegs]

>> (but only for the first 10,000 - BOO!!!) ... not the
>> shiny purple shakers, but a start (now add shakers and
>> purple thundersticks for LaSalle homecoming). Also saw
>> that there are still seats left?!?!?!

> First, thundersticks?  Thundersticks!?!?  Please g-d, no.  Unless they 
> come with a free set of ear plugs and an actual stick to beat the person 
> behind you with when they won't stop blowing your eardrums out.  ;-)

Amen, Jonathan.  Those stupid things and a couple of not-quite-yet-mature
pre-teens just about ruined our annual trip to Dyche/Ryan three years ago.
My wife actually left our seats for a while.  As I recall, I politely
mentioned to the offenders that it was all right to bang the sticks together
periodically but asked if they would hold off on doing it non-stop.  I don't
think they responded verbally but stopped for a little while.  Later, when
they started in again and kept at it continuously, I again asked them to
tone it down and later had to shoot them a few really dirty looks (I'm not
too menacing, but I tried) before they'd quit.  I am not at all prone to
violence--in fact, I consider myself quite the pacifist most of the time and
I've never experienced road rage beyond annoyance--but that was probably the
closest I've ever come to really losing it.  For those of us with acute
hearing it's pretty painful.

I was determined to write the company that provided those awful things an
angry letter (I think it was LaSalle Bank that day too, come to think of it)
but never followed through.  Here's a guideline for any and all
promotional/marketing people:  NO LOUD ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS!*  Hand-claps,
stomps, yells, and whistles (even loud, fingers-in-the-mouth whistles)
unaided by manufactured materials are okay.  Thundersticks are not.  If
others think thundersticks are okay, then I suggest we provide portable amps
and microphones to fans so we can create ear-splitting feedback loops.
Either that or airhorns for everyone.  Sure, we'd have to start selling
clean underwear at the concession stands, a number of fans might have heart
attacks, and children would be crying everywhere.  But I bet it would make
things difficult for opposing offenses, and isn't that really the most
important thing?  [eye roll] 

Okay, that's the end of that rant (for now)....  :)

-Joe


* Band members exempt