The wave is getting a bad rap from a small group of curmudgeons

I like the wave.

I admit it. In writing. For the whole world to see.

Based on the way a lot of people reacted this past weekend when the wave broke out at Coors Field, I’m going to get harshly judged for fessing up to my affinity for stadium-wide antics. Apparently, a certain contingent of fans sees this type of cheering as an affront to their in-game experience.

I don’t get the outrage.

How big of a curmudgeon do you have to be in order to be bothered by the people in your section standing up and sitting down in unison? Seriously, what on earth could be troublesome about the whole process?

For those who don’t know, the “wave” is a coordinated cheer involving the people at a stadium, ballpark or arena. One section at a time, fans take turns standing up, waving their arms and sitting back down; this process repeats itself, creating a wave-like appearance as the cheer makes its way around the stands.

Typically, this will last for a couple of laps around the stadium, before it peters out and everyone returns to their normal behavior. All told, the entire process comes and goes in a couple of minutes.

Yet, it still bothers some people. A lot.

On Memorial Day, these folks took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, chastising Rockies fans for stooping so low and participating in such juvenile behavior. Forget the holiday. Never mind the third walk-off win in four days. It was the darn wave breaking out that was worthy of 140 characters of opinion.

Scrolling through my timeline, one thought kept running through my head: Lighten up, Francis.

Put down the golf pencil, take a break from keeping score, stuff the SPF 100 back in your fanny pack and have a little fun for a change. Stop being such a schoolmarm, trying to police the rest of the crowd.

What kind of stick-in-the-mud baseball fan gets all riled up by fans cheering? What kind of an elitist thinks there’s a right way and a wrong way to root for the home team? What kind of a killjoy watches other people enjoying themselves and finds it off-putting?

Instead, try embracing the wave. There’s a lot to like about it.

For starters, it’s fun. Look at the people taking part in the wave for proof of this claim. They’re smiling, laughing, hooting and hollering. Generally speaking, they’re having a good time. Isn’t that the whole point of going to a game? So what’s the problem with something that adds to the overall enjoyment, that makes a trip to the ballpark money well spent?

Second, it’s a community experience. Part of what makes going to the game better than watching at home is the act of being around other people who are all doing the same thing. It’s fun to cheer, agonize, be amazed and become bewildered together. So why is there an issue with fans creating another way that they can interact? Shouldn’t we be celebrating anything that can get 40,000 people to work in unison?

And finally, it creates an atmosphere. While there is some debate about where the wave originated, there is little argument about where it was perfected. During the 1980s, the Kingdome in Seattle was a raucous place, thanks in large part to Seahawks fans making the wave a recurring part of their in-game cheering. Today’s versions can’t quite match that intensity, but the noise created does add to the game; dialing up the volume is never a bad thing.

So what exactly is the problem? Why does this bother so many people?

Perhaps they think the wave is disrespectful to the game, given that it takes people’s attention away from the action on the field, court or ice. Maybe they believe that it’s manufactured enthusiasm that has nothing to do with the game itself.

Okay, fine. But then the same rules have to be applied to everything.

No more hailing a hot dog vendor other than in between innings, as the transaction will definitely be a distraction. No more cheering the Tooth Trot, Kiss Cam or any other in-stadium promotion, as they’re all created diversions. And no more talking to friends about anything other than the game itself, as that’s what deserves 100% focus.

Sounds fun, right?

Of course not. It sounds like going to a ballgame in the Soviet Union. With your high school principal.

I’d rather have some fun at the game, especially when it drags on for four-plus hours. I’d rather enjoy the party, rather than sitting in the corner and being critical of those who are having a good time.

Have a cold one. Chat up the folks in the next row. Wager some nachos on the toothbrush or tube of toothpaste hitting the finish line first. Buy the kids some cotton candy. Laugh at the Dance Cam. Sing along with Chuck Nasty’s walk-up song. And even do the wave.

It’s all okay. Partaking in these activities doesn’t make you a bad fan or detract from the game. It makes you something other than a total bore.

Yep, I’m a wave guy. You should be too.

Follow @jamesmerilatt