November 2, 2022

Photo of Krazy George resized during the production process – Daily Democrat

Due to a production error, a photograph of Krazy George Henderson on page B1 of Thursday’s edition displayed incorrectly. Here is the full picture.

File photo of A fan aka Krazy George Henderson cheering on the crowd as part of his return to the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland to celebrate the WAVE’s 25th anniversary during the game against the Angels on Friday, September 22, 2006. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

This week, Henderson will celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Wave, the stadium phenomenon the teacher-turned-pro-cheerleader launched into sports history to the delight (and occasional eye-rolling) of fans of the whole world.

For anyone who hasn’t watched a live sporting event in the last four decades, the wave is a visual spectacle created by fans raising their arms, standing up and sitting down in unison, section after section. Henderson — a former high school teacher who turned cheerleading into a second career when the San Jose earthquakes hit in 1974 — started it in a playoff game between the New York Yankees and the A’s. Oakland on October 15, 1981, and it’s been going on ever since.

Krazy George will celebrate the 40th anniversary on Friday night at San Jose State’s 7:30 p.m. football game against San Diego State. He plans to launch an anniversary wave during the game.