Snappy puns, surname innuendo and over-the-top adoration are the calling cards of a fan’s hand-drawn sports sign.
At a televised contest, you’ll see acronyms for national broadcasters that spell out such profundities as Talent Surpasses Nerves! At a hockey game, you might see a Sharpied message about NHL commissioner and perennial goat, Gary Bettman. Signs insult refs, propose marriage, and invite bites from Alex Burrows or compare Toronto BJs to New York Yanks. Sometimes there is glitter. Othertimes a grammatical error.
In Vancouver, teenage fans have their own subculture of signs. You’ll see a dozen such posters at a volleyball game despite fewer than 100 people in attendance.
Some great signs at the @VSB39 volleyball championship tonight. These girls manage to only slightly distract the teenage boys on the court. pic.twitter.com/gauBwNPlbO
— Megan Stewart (@MHStewart) November 4, 2016
Read more: Van Tech fends off Killarney to win Vancouver boys volleyball title
The messages are personalized, creative and as loud as the cheers from the teenage girls who lift them high overhead.
“They play better. I feel like they give it their all,” said Tiffany Trieu, a Grade 10 student at Eric Hamber secondary and a Griffins junior girls volleyball player. “We’re good friends and it’s important to cheer them on.”
During the senior boys city championship earlier this month, Trieu sat with a few teammates in the bleachers to watch over the volleyball courts at Van Tech secondary. She had double-sided posters with different messages for specific players.
One sign teased Griffins outside hitter Daniel Luu for his resemblance to popular YouTuber, RiceGum. Another simply said “Go Hamber,” and a third featured a striking image of a Griffin, Hamber’s mascot, and the promise: “I hope you like animals cuz griffins r beasts.” Points for efficiency.
Trieu sat alongside her Griffins junior girls volleyball coach, Alex Agustin, whose cousin is an alumni of the school. “We like to support the boys because a couple come help with our practices,” she said.
Although the senior girls and senior boys tournaments were running simultaneously at Van Tech secondary, there were only signs on display for male athletes. Every one had been done by female schoolmates, many who are also players.
David Thompson Trojan Patrick Chiu laughed at a sign that said, in essence, he was loved by no one.
“He does have a girlfriend, but we’re teasing him,” said Cathy Do, a Grade 12 student at the same school.
“It’s our last year,” added Do. “We were louder than everyone else. We spent time together making these and it was fun.”
Trojans outside hitter Vincent Barretto was gifted with a sign with a burrito and a generous backside. Van Tech Talisman Coltyn Liu was praised and his teammate, libero Eric Truong, was singled out, too.
The AAA senior boys and AAAA senior girls Lower Mainland volleyball tournaments continue this week.
The Van Tech Talisman and Burnaby’s Moscrop Panthers play in the final game at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Nov. 18) at David Thompson secondary.
The senior girls AAAA quarter-finals play out at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lord Byng secondary. North Vancouver rivals, Handsworth and Carson Graham, meet on one side of the bracket while Vancouver teams Lord Byng and Killarney play on the other. The tournament final is the same day, 1 p.m. at Lord Byng secondary.
