[UPDATED] Rockets trying to organize a "Dawg Pound"-like group of fans

Just got off the phone with Brian, and he asked me to mention that current count right now is 30.

Evan

 

Me - 13

2 Kids - 14 & 15

 

Something like this...

 

Also got off the phone with Brian. Super nice guy, by the way. He said that folks from the Rockets organization are actively checking out this thread, and they're welcoming our input and suggestions.

Which, again, speaks not only to their coolness and their good business-sense, but also to the quality and stature of Clutch and this site.

For what it's worth, he recommended wearing red. (Even if we don't have custom t-shirts, let's at least make sure we're all in red.)

A few quickie ideas:

1) What about a hand-out of some noisemakers, clappers, ballloons they wave during free-throws, etc.? The kind of pull-out-the-stops that are usually reserved for playoff games? Could help make a pop.

2) Coordinated cheering. (Yeah, I know that sounds all brokeback, but you know what I mean.) It's basic, but when he's shooting free throws at our end of the floor, even a simple, taunting chant of "Elllllltooooooooooooon. Elllllltooooooooooooon." would be fun. We don't want to be nasty, but remember, the whole goal is to create a hostile environment for our opponnents.

3) Whatever name we use, we should have a big-ass sign or two.

4) Would be great for Clutch to come up in the stands and joins us for a minute or two. Maybe Clutch holds a sign to us, we hold a sign back. Any interaction would draw cameras and attention. I'm referring here to Clutch the mascot, but any interaction with our Clutch would be great, too.

5) Along those lines, maybe Clutch could incorporate a few of the Crazies (or Rowdies, or whatever) as extras into a skit. As the Crazies (or Rowdies, or whatever) run back to our section, again, it draws cameras and attention. Maybe there's not time to turn this around for Friday's game, but something to think about in the future.

6) Any brave volunteers for red face paint?

7) Would be great if we had a version of "Texas! Fight" A sattellite group of the Clutch Crazies could go somewhere else for a few minutes, and then do a "Houston! Rockets!" back and forth or whatever it is we come up with. Could get huge swaths of the crowd involved.

8) The Kings have cowbells. Is there any kind of Rocket-themed noisemaker that we could make our own? Engine-themed? Dunno. Something to chew on.

9) A red beach-ball kid of thing that we toss around in our section.

10) Could do our own simple "fan skits." In the stands, and executable for no cost whatsoever. For example. One of the Crazies dresses up in a Warriors jersey. If we're blowing them out, as he's on the jumbotron, the fake-Warriors fan, shaking his head, strips off the Warriors jersey to reveal a Rockets jersey beneath. Or something like that. Yeah, it's kinda cheesy, but these sort of simple skits on the big screen can get the fans to laugh a little. TThis example isn't the best, but you know what I mean.

11) More important than any of these gimmicks, we need to be loud! LOUD! We should be shouting and stomping the "DEFENSE" chant with all our might. We should be booing our opponnents. We shouldn't cross the line and start cussing, because that would pull the cord on this experiment real quick. But all in all, we should be as wacky and nutty and frenzied as possible.

If anyone wants to hit me offline about anything, I'm at jwilser@clubplanet.com.

 

I will be wearing either my custom shirt (If I can get one) or my red Yao T-shirt.

I have asked about cowbells, but nobody I know has one. How about goat tangs (I am not really sure what these are, but my office mate says he has some and that they are noisy)?

If someone comes up with a few cheers, I will memorize them.

I will volunteer to print and tape up signs if someone wants to help come up with ideas for them.

That would be fun and I would be totally down for it.

Absolutely. If anyone is good with a razor, I will also allow them to shave the Rockets logo on my melon.

No kidding. The whole idea here is to get the crowd into it.

I don't have a beach ball.

I would volunteer to be the Warriors fan who get an "accidental" cake dropped on him by Clutch.

Don't come knockin' when the ClutchFans are rockin!!!

 

They usually have those noise maker in the seat this year, at least every game I've been to.

The chant is a cool idea.

The other stuff, I don't know if the TC would want fans doing "skits" on their own.

Don't think they allow outside noise makers anymore or beach balls.

Oh and everyone better wear red no excuses!

 

Nice suggestions. I'd personally be careful with "the whole goal is to create a hostile environment for our opponnents" in that this needs to stay friendly for everyone in sections around us. Offend a family with small kids by inadvertently becoming obnoxious = a quick end to this experiment. I would think we need to largely focus on being extensions of the Tundra guys. Start pro-Rocket chants, not "Dunleavy Sucks." My perception of our job is to get the people in the lower bowl off their seats and be loud and interactive. We should stand and cheer. Start waves. Wave towels.

But it's important that we not be the drunk hecklers that people want to set fire to. Again, season ticket holders calling to complain --> no more Clutchfan Section.

Red shirts, red towels, Hou-Ston-Rock-Ets chants, standing the whole game, let's make a "splash"!

Evan

 

Agree 100%. Meant to convey that more clearly. We definitely don't want to emulate ourselves after the Eagles or Raiders fans.

 

Update: I just got this e-mail from "Ace," one of the Tundra dancers. This keeps getting better and better!

Yo man...

My name is Ace...I'm one of the TUNDRA dancers...
If u want on friday I can bring all u guys some noisemakers and whatever else I can get my hands on prior to the game... Let the guys on the BBS know to look for me during the end of the first... I'm also gonna try and focus my attention on u guys during tshirt tosses because I think myself and all TUNDRA are tired of these corporate fans who stay quiet and look at us weird when we try to get the crowd going...

I'm jersey number 360 by the way...

I'm glad that the rockets finally decided to do this... I had mentioned this to one of my bosses like 2 months ago so to hear them finally do it makes me happy... Especially now with the playoffs approaching...

Post this if necessary
- Ace

 

YAY!!!! I'm going!!!!

That would be 16 & 17 (me & hubby)

 

I ordered my shirt.

Front - Clutch Crazies (two lines, sized so that the words are 12" wide)
Back - ClutchFans
The best fan
site on the
'net!

andymoon (smaller lettering than the rest of the back)

I am picking it up Friday, so if anyone wants matching shirts, arrange to get $17.50 ($16 plus tax) to me in Clear Lake (home) or Galveston (work) before Friday at lunchtime.

 

already got tickets...teehhheeeheeee....itll be wild.

 

Originally Posted by Rasselas
let's at least make sure we're all in red.
1)/8) noisemakers
2) Coordinated cheering.
3) a big-ass sign or two.
4)/5) interaction with Clutch
6) red face paint
7) "Houston! Rockets!" back and forth
9) A red beach-ball
10) "fan skits."
11) we need to be loud! LOUD!


im down with 1,3,7,9,11...6 but i have no paint. but the thing is i dont have time to get all that ready...anyone gonna bring extra stuff?

 

This is shaping up to be really cool. Wish I could be there.

 

We can meet up at Stacks before the game and take inventory of what all everyone has. I'm sure someone will have extra face paint. I'll try to get some.

Does anyone know the rules about what we can bring in? Pennies in empty water bottles are good homemade noisemakers.

 

I really wish I could be part of this. Hopefully there will be a next time!

 

You, sir, are a true fan. Actually, if you're serious about this, maybe you could e-mail Brian (address in Clutch's OP) and he could point you to the right people; maybe they could actually set this up.

And props for all the volunteering.

Great idea.

 

How long did it take him to email you back? I only sent it last night about 8pm, finally got my friend to commit to going. Just curious, definitely dont want to miss out on this.

I'll probably wear my blue Yao throwback jersey. Would it be better to wear Rockets gear even if its not red or just a regular red shirt?

 

Should be able to call him at the number on Clutch's OP.

I had the same dilemna. I think I'll wear a plain red shirt. How cool would it be if our entire section was one big sea of red?

 

If we were voting, I would vote for red even if it is not Rox gear, though I have an extra red Rox t-shirt if you would like to borrow it for the night. For that matter as close as you are if you would like to ride with us you are more than welcome. If you want to ride, you will have to get new directions as we have moved since you visited me last, but we only moved about a mile away.