Let's (not) make a noise!

"‘LET’S MAKE A NOISE FOR THE MIGHTY WESTS TIGERS!’ the ground announcer shouts to the crowd, his voice booming through portable speakers that are spread around the oval.

"‘I CAN’T HEAR YOU, TIGERS FANS,’ he continues, ‘I SAID MAKE A NOISE!’

"Why sporting administrators feel the need to fill breaks in the game with pumping music or high-pitched screeching of ground announcers is beyond me.

"Can you imagine an Ashes game at Lords, thousands of the Barmy Army singing, trumpets playing ‘Jerusalem’, and all of it drowned out by ‘We Will Rock You’ or ‘Hells Bells?’ Can you imagine decades-old home-grown supporters’ chants of an old firm clash between Rangers and Celtic interrupted by the shrieks of a ground announcer, or the cheery drunken chaos of the Bay 13 crowd of a Boxing Day Test match drowned out by rock music? They just can’t let us enjoy the natural noise of the game. ...

"The groans of despair at a last-second loss, the jubilation of an unexpected come-from-behind win are sounds that add to the atmosphere of the game, not the loud music and cliched slogans of chant champions and ground announcers. Why can’t we just enjoy the unscripted barracking of the game?

"‘AND NOW,’ the ground announcer’s voice blasts through the speakers again, ‘HERE COMES YOUR WESTS TIGERS.’"

~ Paul Harman from his post 'Time’s up, Ground Announcer'