Performances At Sports Events
The first use of the song at an American sporting event was at Mississippi State University. The university's mascot is the Bulldog, and the university school first played the song during football games in the fall of 1998 using the version sung by Chuck Smooth. It was accompanied by the crowd singing along and the team performing a dance on the field called "The Dawg Pound Rock" just before a kickoff. Later the Southeastern Conference ruled that they could not perform the dance on the field, so the team moved it to the sidelines. Several other teams followed suit, and the song quickly became a national phenomenon.
In June 2000, Gregg Greene, then Director of Promotions for the Seattle Mariners, was the first to play the Baha Men's version of "Who Let the Dogs Out" at a Major League Baseball game. He debuted the tune as a joke for the team's backup catcher, Joe Oliver. Two days later, shortstop Alex Rodriguez requested the ditty for his batter introduction music and the song quickly became the Mariners team anthem. The Baha Men played live at Safeco Field during a Mariners game in September 2000. The New York Mets, however, claimed that they were the first MLB team to adopt the song (ESPN.com later commented, "This is a little like scientists arguing over who discovered a deadly virus"). The Baha Men recorded a version of the song that changed the chorus to "Who let the Mets out?" and all the lyrics to reflect the team and its players, which was played at Shea Stadium throughout the Mets' 2000 postseason run, including a live performance on the Shea Stadium field before Game 4 of the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees. The song was written by David Brody of Z100 New York and recorded by the Baha Men initially for Z100. Brody then gave the song to the Mets to play at Shea. Brody has also written songs for the 2006 and 2007 Mets. Richard Hidalgo used the original song as his entrance music while playing for the Houston Astros.
The song was the theme song for Monster Mutt & Monster Mutt Dalmatian (Monster Trucks) from 2003–2008 while freestyling on the Monster Jam circuit.
In the UK, the song was quickly appropriated by Liverpool supporters under then-manager Gérard Houllier. Regular chants of 'Hou led the reds out' by Liverpool fans (a reference to Liverpool's cup treble in 2001) were followed soon after by opposition fans' chants of 'Hou had a heart attack' (a reference to Houllier's illness in October 2001). The song is played after every goal which Dougie Freedman scores for Crystal Palace F.C. at Selhurst Park, with fans singing "Who let the Doug out? Who? Who?" with reference to him. Similarly, Chelsea F.C. fans sing "Who let the Drog out? Who? Who?", in reference to Didier Drogba. The song was also modified by Celtic F.C. supporters to "Who let the huns out? Who? Who?", aimed squarely at supporters of their arch rival, Rangers F.C..
Read more about this topic: Who Let The Dogs Out?
Famous quotes containing the words sports events, performances, sports and/or events:
“The whole idea of image is so confused. On the one hand, Madison Avenue is worried about the image of the players in a tennis tour. On the other hand, sports events are often sponsored by the makers of junk food, beer, and cigarettes. What’s the message when an athlete who works at keeping her body fit is sponsored by a sugar-filled snack that does more harm than good?”
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Since nothing ever happened. That, of course, was the miracle
But you wanted to know why so much action took on so much life
And still managed to remain itself, aloof, smiling and courteous.”
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—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)