My Wave

The following statement was taken from me during the height of controversy between the University of Washington and myself over…

The issue came to a boiling point in the months preceding the twentieth anniversary of the WAVE. This letter documents in detail all the proof needed to, once and for all, make it completely apparent that I and 47,0000 Oakland A’s fans invented the first wave in history on October 15 th, 1981 – two weeks before the University of Washington documents their first wave. (Case Closed)

As promised, following the rash of message board rantings of the woefully duped and misinformed, I will take a moment to prove and substantiate once again the fact that I, Krazy George, invented, created and otherwise started the most famous fan participation routine in the history of the world known as THE WAVE.

Let this be known always: I did not start this debate. For those who want to know why I am having to state my case, just look at the outrageous postings by University of Washington fans on gameops.com. Professional buyers of major leagues, minor leagues and colleges that hire my services see this site. After reading the abusive attacks posted here, you will clearly see why this action is necessary.

The Wave that I created has become a worldwide sport's phenomenon and certainly a piece of American pop culture. Those who might say that this is frivolous have never created anything that made the entire world stand up and cheer and then have someone else try to take the credit.

What came over the Internet from people who hide their identity behind screen nicknames like "Purplehaze, Lulu and RealDawg" was ill-informed, hateful and vile. Their reason for believing their "facts" was at least partly fueled by misinformation and false claims from people either associated or loyal to the University of Washington. Claims and records were not completely researched in the beginning and became part of campus lore, websites and media guides.

I also wish to recognize gameops.com and their message board for being a neutral provider of communication for this debate. They provide a valuable service to the professional and college sports operations industry. The misinformed (and unidentified) have chosen to attack Gameops and this group of professionals for no apparent reason.

I, KRAZY GEORGE, INVENTED THE WAVE. I ORCHESTRATED IT ON OCTOBER 15, 1981 BEFORE A NATIONALLY TELEVISED AUDIENCE AND A SOLD OUT STADIUM DURING THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFF SERIES BETWEEN THE OAKLAND A's AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES.

The University of Washington continues to claim that Rob Weller invented The Wave on October 31st, 1981. This can currently be viewed (as of this writing) on their website (listed as http://depts.washington.edu/hmb/thehmb/history4.shtml). Further, it has been mentioned, in the vicious message postings, that this same claim is in the University of Washington media guide and engraved on a plaque that is attached to Husky Stadium.

1. The archived video footage of the October 15th, 1981 game mentioned above. MLB Productions owns the rights to this video. I have seen all segments that vividly recorded me conducting The Wave on three occasions. No one who looks at this could ever refute that The Wave didn't hit Oakland that night.

2. The Oakland A's 1981 Highlight Film. There I am again leading The Wave. Please note that the A's season ended on October 15th, 1981 and that I am on this video leading the wave. Rob Weller and UW claim to have started it on October 31, 1981. Unless you can show me how the calendar in 1981 got screwed up and actually put the 31st before the 15th, then this argument is over.

3. The Dallas Morning News article dated November 15th, 1984 titled "Making Waves Over The Cheer". Pay close attention to this because there are some who tried to say that my Wave wasn't a real Wave. Obviously they either didn't see it live on TV and video or they are in total denial of the truth. This article, written by Chris Welin, researched the claims of myself (Krazy George) and Rob Weller. We pick it up from here...

“Weller was a cheerleader for the university
from 1968 through 1972. On Oct. 31st, 1981, he and other past school boosters returned to cheer at Washington's homecoming game against StanfordUniversity.
The Washington Wave began when Weller pointed to different student sections and asked them to stand and shout. ‘The last time he tried it, it didn't stop with the student sections.

The Alumni did it too’, says Pat Carroll, UW's sports information program assistant. ‘We're claiming it (the Wave) and we always will’ she said.
Washington's claim has turned Krazy George even krazier. However, there are witnesses who are backing him up. NBC sports commentator Joe Garagiola, for one, was calling the game that day. He says what he saw was definitely a Wave.

‘I remember during the game that all of a sudden the fans started getting up and then sitting down,’ Garagiola said from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.

‘As I remember, it looked the same or better than what they're doing now. Our producer, Don Ohlmeyer, was trying to get the cameraman to catch the Wave, but he was always one section behind. He (Ohlmeyer) kept pounding on him (the cameraman) saying, "Get it! Get that thing!"

4. Eyewitnesses. Some of the people that were there and saw it included: Reggie Jackson (then with the A's), Ricky Henderson (A's), Andy Dolich (then A's Business Operations Director, now Business Operations Manager for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies), Joe Starkey (Sports Director at KGO radio), Frank Colarusso (currently GM for Tacoma Sabrecats), Joe Fonzi (currently with FOX TV). Oh and of course over 45,000 fans in the stadium and millions of TV viewers (probably including Rob Weller. Wonder where he got his idea?)

5. Howard Cosell. Yes, Howard himself corrected Dandy Don Meredith during a Monday Night Football game and told him that Krazy George was the creator of The Wave. I was watching and even though I knew he was right, I still fell out of my chair.

6. Here's one just for fun. Hollywood Squares asked the question: "Who created The Wave". The answer was (of course) "Krazy George". Put an X on that square!

I was told on the message board attack that "Show us the proof or remove the outrageous claim (from my website)." from screen name "Lulu" 5-6-00 posting. ...and... "Either put up or shut up. Either provide proof via this message board by midnight Monday or take down your website. The great institution that is the University of Washington demands justice and maintains its continued claim to the original wave on October 31, 1979 (where did he get 1979, even UW is claiming 1981?) - from screen name "Bagman" 5-12-00 posting.

My proof has been presented. My website will stay. I remind you again, I did not ask for this debate. But since there are those who made demands - here's mine…

DEMAND NUMBER ONE: If indeed the University of Washington Media Guide contains information that UW started the first Wave and wishes to continue publishing this lie - I demand that they print a bold warning on the cover of future Media Guides warning readers that some information contained within is fictional, based solely on misinformation intended to mislead and give the university a better than deserved reputation.
DEMAND NUMBER TWO: According to another posting (from "RealDawg" 5-6-00) "There is even a bronze wall piece affixed to the side of Husky Stadium in commemoration of this (The Wave)." If this is true, either this plaque comes down or the university President must issue a national media release stating that the University of Washington is a bastion for mistruth and lies and further wishes to prove it by continuing to affix a bronzed statement of lies to their most hallowed monument of national sport's recognition - Husky Stadium. The only permissible variance to this demand would allow the UW plaque to remain affixed only if a gold plaque of equal or larger size and readability were prominently affixed at all times next to the existing bronze plaque. It must read: "The true inventor of The Wave is Krazy George, who invented it on October 15, 1981 in Oakland, California. Sixteen days later Rob Weller copied it and the University of Washington has tried to take credit for it ever since."
DEMAND NUMBER THREE: If either of the first two demands are not fully met, The Sports Information Director for the University of Washington must change his title to Propaganda Minister.

These are my demands, they are not negotiable. I repeat, I did not start this debate. I also told you in my first response that I was just getting warmed up. News flash: I haven't even started yet!

P.S. Oh, by the way. I have video of my wave on October 15th, 1981. Do you have video of yours?