Why "EEEEEE!"?
by Gregg Pearlman
David Beck and I roomed together at San Diego State University
during the 1980-81 school year. Dave's been my best friend since
high school, and it's fair to say that, on many topics, we have
a language of our own. Perhaps the prime example of this is that
when we discuss the table-top baseball game we spent years trying
to develop, no one else can understand what we're talking about.
We're also lifelong Giants fans, which lends itself to more frustration
than most people would consider strictly necessary.
While we were in San Diego, Dave adopted the cry of "EEEEEE!"
when frustrated, especially while watching the Giants. I eventually
picked up that habit as well. "EEEEEE!" is delivered in a loud,
pinched, anguished, groan, sometimes punctuated by mock sobs,
and usually high pitched, but never falsetto. "EEEEEE!" is also
signified by the following gesture:
Things that are frustrating are "EEEEEE-making":
- Hank Greenwald: Bottom of the ninth... two on... two out... the Dodgers lead
6-4... Barry Bonds at the plate... Here's the 1-and-2 pitch...
Bonds swings! High drive! Right field! That ball is going... it
is going... it is going... foul!
Dave: EEEEEE!
Hank Greenwald: Here we go again... Worrell winds... the 1-2 pitch... Bonds swings!
High drive! Deep right field! Back goes Mondesi... still going
back... at the wall... lookin' up... he's got it! The ballgame is over."
Dave: EEEEEE!
- Hank Greenwald: Here's Bill Russell with the bases loaded and the winning run
on third, here in 1978 or so... Moffitt winds... the 0-2 pitch...
and Russell's heading to first base! He says it hit him! And the
ballgame is over!
Dave: EEEEEE!
Hank Greenwald: And the replay clearly shows that the ball hit Russell on the
handle of his bat.
Dave: EEEEEE!
Hank Greenwald: But the ballgame's still over, and the Giants have lost. Again.
Dave: EEEEEE!
- Hank Greenwald: And the ballgame is over, and the Giants' 1993 season is over.
Dave: EEEEEE!
Hank Greenwald: The Giants, who have won 103 games, still can't reach postseason play, solely because Gregg and Dave want
them to.
Dave and Gregg: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Don't make me explain this again.
Copyright ©1996 by Gregg Pearlman
Last updated 7/15/96
Gregg Pearlman, gregg@EEEEEEgp.com
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