When I was 15, I started a 50,000-person “Beat LA” chant at the Braves game. There isn’t a greater feeling in life, knowing that you single-handedly birthed a 3-minute revolution. This is precisely why The Wave Starter exists. He’s tasted the magic and wants nothing more than another shot at glory.

You know the guy I’m talking about. He had 13 beers during the pre-game tailgate. He proudly dons a t-shirt from a sorority function he went to back in ’01 and wears sunglasses with Croakies (even though it’s nearly 8pm). Oh, and he’s always ready to fight. Yes, that’s the guy.

He’ll devote no less than 4 innings to making this wave happen. Eight minutes in, he’s sweatier than any of the players on the field. You think about joining in, but decide against it. Now he’s pissed at you. He keeps telling you (specifically) to Come on! and you do your best to pretend like you don’t notice. At some point, the game on the field is no longer important. All you care about is defeating The Wave Starter and crushing his dreams.

Eventually, the crowd will give in. The wave will make a victorious half-lap before dying out in left-center field. The Wave Starter will tell this heroic tale for the next five decades – how he overcame the odds, defeated the villain (you), and brought thousands to their feet. Then his grandkids will tell him he’s a loser.

Do you know someone who is The Wave Starter? I do.