OK, here's a question for you

Larry is irrelevant...

Since we beat him in game 7 in 2008, he hasn't won a playoff game. He was relegated to backup last year behind Mior. Larry had two starts. Went 0-2 with a 5.45 GAA and a very weak .771 Save %.

While its fun to pick on the headcase, lets not confuse doing it with "taking him off his game"... Larry's game is sufficent for losing to the Komets just the way it is...

But it's so much fun for the fans to yell at poor ole Larry! I'm just not sure we as fans could contain ourselves long enough to NOT yell at him. I'm trying to but....I just can't stop myself....LAAAAARRRRYYY!!! See what I mean???!!!

Blake you could very well be right about Larry being used to us getting on him, but it's too much fun to stop. I'll be chanting Laaaryyy, yelling Let's Go Komets through the visiting team introductions, and cheering every easy save that he makes. Along with anything else good that the crowd comes up with tonight.
Throwing stuff at the visiting team and heckling the team after the game - not into that.

Oops, I must've said something bad again, the censors got to it. Since we cannot insert our own answers and must stay to the government's choices here, I'll have to go with just yelling at him. I don't want him to get on a roll and do that little wing flap that he does across the ice. I think when they put him on the split screen with Bozo he goes nuts too. Oops, I wrote about something other than my two choices. In the can this one goes too...

Don't be a total idiot, FW. I'm not going to let you propose doing physical harm to a player on here. Get a clue or leave. Sure, I'll just leave the paper wide-open to a lawsuit if something happens! Get a brain.

I love it when people not named JungleMonkey get yelled at.

Grrrr!!!! Snap!

JungleMonkey is a bad influence!

To say the least! Part of what makes him JM.

Blake, I posted something under this thread an hour or so ago. It's kind of time sensitive to the topic so if it went to spam just delete it. OK?

Go to port h. site and buy a Larry Sterling jersey

++ the tradition of clapping and yelling "Let's go Komets" over the visiting team's introductions.

Alan, check your email please.

I prefer yelling SUCKS! after each individual player is introduced...much more fun.

getting ready to sing rock n roll part 2 tonight quickly followed by LLLLAAAAARRRYYYYY!!!

GM, I'm not trying to start something here but there are a whole lot of fans who don't like it. Maybe that's why there is still only a handful doing it?

Calling a goalie a sieve or telling him it's his fault or calling his name are old hockey traditions and not particularly insulting. Insulting a whole line up from the safety of the stands just doesn't feel right to me. For sure, some individual players and refs might deserve it after an incident or bad call, but then they've earned it for something other then showing up to do what they are payed to do.

When I first heard it a few weeks ago I wondered about it. The response in my section was pretty negative, even from a boy who just finished his last season in high school hockey. A few of us have checked with other fans in other sections and found the same thing. Not that it's an official poll or anything, just the opinion of people we know and fans they know sitting in various areas of the coliseum.

To me it is just a matter of respect. All players (humans too) deserve respect unless they do something to change that. Maybe this is something that will catch on, I hope not. In my opinion it shows a lack of class and Fort Wayne has always been known for the class of its fans.

The boy I mentioned who just finished his season drove home the point last week when it was Shaf's last game. He was introduced and saluted by not only fans and team mates but also the QC players on the ice and bench. The kid said, "I wonder if they think they still suck after seeing them salute Shaf?"

I could be way off base on this, maybe its something I'm too sensitive about. I guess if it catches on we'll see, but so far I know far more fans who don't like it then fans who are yelling it.

Opinions?

the "jungle" is becoming a "petting zoo"

Yet our radio announcer called Brad Wingfield "wingnut" on the radio. Yes he is human, a man of good will:)

Steve you hit that nail on the head with a sledge hammer.

Thanks Blake. I checked my e-mail. I totally understand and agree with your action. Thanks, also, for being the type that takes anothers' feelings into consideration. I just wanted you to know. Enjoy the game.

I agree with you mightbite.

The beginning of "The Jungle" was in the early '90s. The name came from two factors.

1. The product on the ice. This was the days of the Ice Patrol, Steve Fletcher, Andy, and any number of players who played physical hockey. Skate along the boards with the puck and one Komet or another would make you part of those boards.

2. The fans. The fans seemed much more into the game. There was a lot of cheering and applause. "Lets go Komets" started with the introduction of opposing players and repeated almost every power play, penalty kill, beginning of periods, and any number of other times. The crowd was loud and quick to cheer a puck clearing, hit, goal, etc. And the crowd was a good 2000 less then they are today but could get loud enough you couldn't hear yourself think.

Then something happened. To me is started with the move to the UHL, but the physical hockey stopped and so did the noise from the stands. I remember one "Sports Talk" show where a caller criticized the playing of "Welcome to the Jungle" because the team and fans no longer seemed to be into it, the jungle had ceased to exist. Several followup callers seemed to agree.

Today we get "The Jungle" during final playoff rounds and a select times during a game, usually a fight. The rest of the time it is still missing. I've been amazed at near sell out crowds and how quiet it is in there, even if the K's are winning and Icy's flapping his signs like crazy to get a crowd response.

Will the Jungle return? I sure hope so, and imagine we'll see it for the playoffs. After that, who knows?

I have to hand it to Larry. He handed on of his sticks to my girlfriends nephew at the end of game 1.

At least he gave it to someone who knew how to use it.

@Steve: If I said it was "all in good fun" and we've even had players laugh or nod when we yell, would that make it more acceptable?

I believe in sportsmanship and have even applauded the opposing team in certain cases (e.g. Flint making playoffs).

My point: I don't think it's a big deal. We give 'em a rough time and then they go out and play their game.

Just us saying they "suck" doesn't affect much of anything.

Welcome to the Jungle does not Need to be played now.....that was a different time and era. As far as getting to Sterling how about someone handing him a floral arrangment when they come out for warmups. Pink flowers of course!!

The Jungle existed in the old barn in the old days when hockey was still geared towards the adult crowd, IMO. They raised the roof making it more cavernous which equaled less noise so that now we need 10000 fans just to make it seem half as loud when there were 3000m fans in the lower, more closed in roof. I love the new building, dont misunderstand me; but it all contributes. Also, making it more of a family atmosphere contributes to it all. Less people in the building actually paying attention to the game. The old crowds had 3000 people, more or less, following the action. Now you have alot of people there socializing during play...
Again, I'm not saying any of this is bad. It helps the bottom line; but it has made hockey games more of a social event these days...

"ICYYYYYYYY!!!!!!" I don't understand what JR is talking about here....so sit down and eat your dippin dots and shut up so I can watch the Kiss Kam!!!

LOL

If you think yelling "sucks!" is offensive, you definitally haven't been on the road for our teams intros.....

It's all in good fun and the players have fun with it. Several players look over smiling, laughing, and nodding. When people start yelling curse words, then I'll agree that it's offensive. People are way too P.C. nowadays...Lighten up and have some fun.

Also..Go ask an opposing player what they think of it. Ask them if they're offended, asked them if they even care and I garuntee they will laugh and say no. If the player isn't offended, why should anyone else be? If its all about sportsmanship, should we stand a cheer when the other team scores a goal? When the ref misses a call should we yell "That's okay! You'll get it next time!"