Paging LeRoy Butler

I've always been interested in NFL endzone dances. In fact, I presented a paper on this topic at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (easily my proudest academic moment).

Anyway, I read with interest that ESPN has ranked the top touchdown rituals. It seems the Worldwide Leader In Sports is less impressed with the "Lambeau Leap" — a celebration between players and fans that is symbolic of the only major sports franchise in the nation that is literally owned by its fans — than with Kansas City fans chanting "we're gonna beat the hell out of you" during the playing of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll, Part II."1

Then again, I'm not as disappointed by this ranking as LAL is with the Brookings Institution report that came out this week ranking Miami ahead of New York City in a list of walkable cities. His reaction: "That list is ridiculous and should be banned from all distribution!"2

1Jason H., who is in the midst of flirting with Kansas City, will probably race to the defense of Kansas City fans. Meanwhile, I wonder what folks in West Hartford do to celebrate touchdowns.
2Complying with his request, I will not share the link to the Brookings report.

Comments

Josh said…
That Patriots' thing is No. 1? Really?

I'm not sure when it started, but I'm pretty sure they never did it at Sullivan Stadium when I was growing up.

Whenever I think about this ritual, I'm conflicted. Celebratory gunfire is more Beruit than Bunker Hill.

"At a moment's notice, these everyday citizens would grab their muskets and cartridges and head off to fight the Brits wearing whatever clothes they had on," says the article. Uh, Paul Revere's ride was in the middle of the night. I'm pretty sure the good people of Lexington and Concord took off their 1775 pajamas and put on real pants.
December 06, 2007
Anonymous said…
As an erstwhile Raiders fan, you'll find no love here for fans of the Kansas City Chieves. And you'll find nothing but seething disdain for anything that has anything to do with the New England Patriots, including Josh's frightening post-Super Bowl victory dance in 2001.

My understanding is that folks in West Hartford rattle their gun racks to reggaeton music.
December 06, 2007
ed002d said…
No, no, that's in Hartford proper. In West Hartford, the city's yuppie cousin, they listen with equal reverence to Maroon 5 and Raffi.
December 07, 2007
dl004d said…
Can a suburb be described as yuppie (Young Urban Professional)? How urban is West Hartford? (And don't say, as Katy is probably tempted to do, that I'd know the answer if only I lived in West Hartford.)
December 07, 2007
Josh said…
Chieves? Is that a pun on chives, or thieves?
December 07, 2007
WFY said…
How picky are you about what is a suburb? Would Arlington be a suburb, even though many parts are urban? What about Brookland?
December 08, 2007
dl004d said…
Silver Spring and Arlington are far more "urban" than West Hartford (or Brookland, for that matter).
December 08, 2007
Anonymous said…
You and LAL are both smart individuals.

These two lists are a joke.
December 10, 2007
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