Is There Anything More Intimidating in Sports???

[Mayfly]

Than the pre-game Haka by the All-Blacks Rugby team? I have been fortunate to witness this twice. In this video, you can kind of see the Australian players cowering a bit as they are huddled.





What is an intimidating pre-game ritual or thing that you think is the best in sports?

 

[MertWindu]

I would **** my pants laughing at that long before I'd be intimidated by it.

Considering how good the All Blacks are, I doubt it. Either that or you'd end up getting served during the match.

 

[Kritter47]

The All Blacks' Haka is awesome. I'm surprised more teams haven't stolen the idea (though if more than one team did it, leagues and federations might get peeved enough to outlaw it).

And this is what happens when you put New Zealand against Tonga. They both do a version!

 

[statrat]

Its just absolutely primeval. Between that and the roar of the crowd and the fact the All Blacks are the studs of the rugby world, I'm surprised some team's haven't just forfeited right then.

As far as U.S entries go, Trevor Hoffman entering in the ninth inning to Hell's Bells has to be right up there.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Its just absolutely primeval. Between that and the roar of the crowd and the fact the All Blacks are the studs of the rugby world, I'm surprised some team's haven't just forfeited right then.

As far as U.S entries go, Trevor Hoffman entering in the ninth inning to Hell's Bells has to be right up there.

Not even in the same ballpark, not the same league, and certainly not the same sport.

Considering the quality of the All-Blacks, the brutality of the sport, the tradition behind the Haka, and the fact that rugby is not for the squeamish . . . . there is nothing more intimidating.

"Before we kick your ass, we're gonna do this performance. And we'll remember the ones who dare to even crack a smile. The Maori among us, whose history you insult with your amusement, will take great pleasure in ending your ability to have children."

 

[Angola!]

For some reason I thought this was going to be a lame all-star thread about Randy Johnson.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

Am I mistaken, or does the Univ of Hawaii football team do a variation before its games? I think its a Pacific Islander thing.

 

[Kritter47]

Am I mistaken, or does the Univ of Hawaii football team do a variation before its games? I think its a Pacific Islander thing.

UH adopted it last year after a Tongan player taught it to their team (interestingly enough, BYU does it too). There's a bit of controversy over the UH haka because the specific chants belong to the writers and/or the specific tribe that does the chant, and UH never got permission to use the one they did. Not a big issue, but the school made them change it up a bit.

In preps, a high school in Euless, Texas (Trinity High School) does a haka before games going back a couple of years. There's a large Tongan population in Euless, and some Tongan linemen apparently started the young tradition.

Tribal dances of this sort are a Pacific Islander thing. However, a haka is specific to New Zealand. And the All Blacks have been doing this before matches dating back to the turn of the last century when they were a British colony.

 

[slappy4428]

JDV in a pose off?

 

[93Devil]

It is very, very cool.

I'm trying to think about college traditions. The last game for the Illinois mascot on the court was cool, but nothing I can think of compares to the All Blacks.

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

Oh, dotting the I at Ohio State gets us a little closer.

The Army/Navy football game I would say is on par.

EDIT - I was looking at pageantry more than intimidation.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

What, Ray Lewis' entrance at the Super Bowl doesn't qualify?

 

[Chi City 81]

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

I would think the crowd at Anfield singing pre- and post-match is pretty intimidating to the opposing players and fans.

 

[kingcreole]

That was ****ing cool. those dudes they were getting ready to play were finished with that ritual. They looked ready to **** their pants.

 

[IU90]

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

I would think the crowd at Anfield singing pre- and post-match is pretty intimidating to the opposing players and fans.

That is very cool. On a similar note, I imagine every Canuckistani with a soul (that's gotta be at least 50%, right?) had goose bumps after hearing this version of their national anthem:

 

[Ignatius_J._Reilly]

Considering the quality of the All-Blacks, the brutality of the sport, the tradition behind the Haka, and the fact that rugby is not for the squeamish . . . . there is nothing more intimidating.

"Before we kick your ass, we're gonna do this performance. And we'll remember the ones who dare to even crack a smile. The Maori among us, whose history you insult with your amusement, will take great pleasure in ending your ability to have children."

That is the key - - the manner in which most people in New Zealand embrace their nation's Maori heritage. And since the Kiwis follow rugby union with nothing less than fanatical devotion, the reaction to the Haka before an international test match is amazing.

 

[Flash]

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

I would think the crowd at Anfield singing pre- and post-match is pretty intimidating to the opposing players and fans.

That is very cool. On a similar note, I imagine every Canuckistani with a soul (that's gotta be at least 50%, right?) had goose bumps after hearing this version of their national anthem:

That guy is one of the best. The only better time to hear the anthem is at the end of a game when the boys have won the gold medal at the world juniors.

 

[Songbird]

Bill Murray's boom-chaka-laka-laka, boom-chaka-laka-laka is much better.

 

[Angola!]

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

I would think the crowd at Anfield singing pre- and post-match is pretty intimidating to the opposing players and fans.

That is very cool. On a similar note, I imagine every Canuckistani with a soul (that's gotta be at least 50%, right?) had goose bumps after hearing this version of their national anthem:

I alwaks liked this clip even though I am not Canadian. Just a cool moment, especially because the singer stops singing and lets the crowd take it away.
But what is with the weird guy behind the Oilers' players with the bad comb-over just belting it out. He is hilarious.

 

[slappy4428]

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

I would think the crowd at Anfield singing pre- and post-match is pretty intimidating to the opposing players and fans.

That is very cool. On a similar note, I imagine every Canuckistani with a soul (that's gotta be at least 50%, right?) had goose bumps after hearing this version of their national anthem:

That guy is one of the best. The only better time to hear the anthem is at the end of a game when the boys have won the gold medal at the world juniors.

I remember watching that and thinking how eerie it was with the crowd ... good stuff -- both clips...

 

[JC]

Soccer guys, anything in the Premiership compare?

I would think the crowd at Anfield singing pre- and post-match is pretty intimidating to the opposing players and fans.

That is very cool. On a similar note, I imagine every Canuckistani with a soul (that's gotta be at least 50%, right?) had goose bumps after hearing this version of their national anthem:

I alwaks liked this clip even though I am not Canadian. Just a cool moment, especially because the singer stops singing and lets the crowd take it away.
But what is with the weird guy behind the Oilers' players with the bad comb-over just belting it out. He is hilarious.

He has I believe down syndrome and is the Oilers stick boy. His name is Joey Moss, Wayne Gretzky got him the job in the 80's when he was dating his sister. Just anothe classy move by Gretzky.