Often times in sports we get so caught up in the wins, losses, business of the game and end results that we forget to praise the fun and savor the journey.
One group of Ram fans who haven't lost track of what it's all about -- having a boatload of fun -- go by the name the "Sons of Shaka", the hilarious group of Ram fans that often adorn themselves in elaborate costumes and sit near the bench of visiting teams at VCU home games.
Manny Juranis, Gary Watkins, Matt Greene and Brian Curran make up the core group of VCU die hards and have been cracking me up for years. Their WWF legends costumes, Village People getups and Kiss outfits add a ton of fun to an already rocking Siegel Center and even draw smiles from opposing coaches and players.
I hope they never stop and in an attempt to help Manny and the guys keep things fresh I figured I'd offer up some costume recommendations for this upcoming season.
1. GWAR[/HEADING=3]
One group of Ram fans who haven't lost track of what it's all about -- having a boatload of fun -- go by the name the "Sons of Shaka", the hilarious group of Ram fans that often adorn themselves in elaborate costumes and sit near the bench of visiting teams at VCU home games.
Manny Juranis, Gary Watkins, Matt Greene and Brian Curran make up the core group of VCU die hards and have been cracking me up for years. Their WWF legends costumes, Village People getups and Kiss outfits add a ton of fun to an already rocking Siegel Center and even draw smiles from opposing coaches and players.
I hope they never stop and in an attempt to help Manny and the guys keep things fresh I figured I'd offer up some costume recommendations for this upcoming season.
1. GWAR[/HEADING=3]
<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/GWAR.jpg.pagespeed.ce_.GcJhvJbPH3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-13994" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/GWAR.jpg.pagespeed.ce_.GcJhvJbPH3-300x225.jpg" alt="GWAR.jpg.pagespeed.ce.GcJhvJbPH3" width="300" height="225" /></a>There's probably no group of costume wearers as famous as legendary Richmond punk band, Gwar. The VCU art school grads turned punk legends have taken their act all over the world yet have kept the city of Richmond their home base since 1984 and create their props in a nondescript building just over one mile from the Siegel Center on the Boulevard. What better way to intimidate an opposing team than to have a Gwar-looking group seating near the end of their bench? Gwar prop-master, Bob Gorman, recently made foam ram heads/hats that we semi-recently sold on VCURamNation.com. I'd love to see him commissioned to make some intimidating full-on Gwar-ish Ram costumes for the sons of Shaka. It might also be a nice tribute to Gwar member Dave Brockie, who sadly passed in March of 2014.
2. THE OTHER TEAM[/HEADING=3]
This one might sound odd because in general you don't want your fans showing up at the arena in the other team's colors, let alone uniforms. But I think the proximity to the opposing teams bench could make for some real fun here. Ideally you'd want to do this against a team with purchasable uniforms like VCU has, but perhaps a trip to the fabric store and a sewing machine could get the job done as well. Include one SofS as the coach and you've got a mini bench next to the actual oppositions bench. It's basically a more elaborate version of Pav's famous Blaine Taylor impersonation, a proven success.
3. ANYTHING IN DRAG[/HEADING=3]
What's funnier than grown men without an ounce of feminism dressed as women? Not much. There are so many directions you could go with this one as well: opposing team's cheerleaders (my top choice), opposing teams girlfriends complete with pics of their "bae", Disney princesses, Baywatch lifeguards, anything really. All four of the Sons of Shaka would look absolutely hideous in drag, which would make for an entertaining nightt.
4. COBRA KAI[/HEADING=3]
<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/karate-kid-cobrakai.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-13995" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/karate-kid-cobrakai-300x172.jpg" alt="karate-kid-cobrakai" width="300" height="172" /></a>Maybe I'm just a sucker for 80s movies but is there anything more intimidating than Johnny Lawrence, his karate bully gang and Cobra Kai founder, John Kreese? Besides, their karate gis (gi? what's the plural form of that?) match VCU's colors.
"We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition: A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy." - John Kreese
5. VOLDEMORT AND THE DEATHEATERS[/HEADING=3]
Maybe this one would make me laugh harder than most other people in the Stu, but the idea of a group of adults dressed up as Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape (who technically wasn't a Deatheater, but that's beside the point) casting spells on the opposition all game would have me rolling. Relatively easy costumes to pull off, they fit the black and gold theme, plus you get a little drag action in there and you really can't go wrong with this group. "Avada Kedavra!"
<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Bellatrix-and-Voldemort-with-Death-Eaters-bellatrix-and-lord-voldemort-28197181-1600-670.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-13998" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Bellatrix-and-Voldemort-with-Death-Eaters-bellatrix-and-lord-voldemort-28197181-1600-670-1024x429.jpg" alt="Bellatrix-and-Voldemort-with-Death-Eaters-bellatrix-and-lord-voldemort-28197181-1600-670" width="618" height="259" /></a>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38Ab1KAQb1s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
This one might sound odd because in general you don't want your fans showing up at the arena in the other team's colors, let alone uniforms. But I think the proximity to the opposing teams bench could make for some real fun here. Ideally you'd want to do this against a team with purchasable uniforms like VCU has, but perhaps a trip to the fabric store and a sewing machine could get the job done as well. Include one SofS as the coach and you've got a mini bench next to the actual oppositions bench. It's basically a more elaborate version of Pav's famous Blaine Taylor impersonation, a proven success.
3. ANYTHING IN DRAG[/HEADING=3]
What's funnier than grown men without an ounce of feminism dressed as women? Not much. There are so many directions you could go with this one as well: opposing team's cheerleaders (my top choice), opposing teams girlfriends complete with pics of their "bae", Disney princesses, Baywatch lifeguards, anything really. All four of the Sons of Shaka would look absolutely hideous in drag, which would make for an entertaining nightt.
4. COBRA KAI[/HEADING=3]
<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/karate-kid-cobrakai.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-13995" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/karate-kid-cobrakai-300x172.jpg" alt="karate-kid-cobrakai" width="300" height="172" /></a>Maybe I'm just a sucker for 80s movies but is there anything more intimidating than Johnny Lawrence, his karate bully gang and Cobra Kai founder, John Kreese? Besides, their karate gis (gi? what's the plural form of that?) match VCU's colors.
"We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition: A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy." - John Kreese
5. VOLDEMORT AND THE DEATHEATERS[/HEADING=3]
Maybe this one would make me laugh harder than most other people in the Stu, but the idea of a group of adults dressed up as Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape (who technically wasn't a Deatheater, but that's beside the point) casting spells on the opposition all game would have me rolling. Relatively easy costumes to pull off, they fit the black and gold theme, plus you get a little drag action in there and you really can't go wrong with this group. "Avada Kedavra!"
<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Bellatrix-and-Voldemort-with-Death-Eaters-bellatrix-and-lord-voldemort-28197181-1600-670.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-13998" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Bellatrix-and-Voldemort-with-Death-Eaters-bellatrix-and-lord-voldemort-28197181-1600-670-1024x429.jpg" alt="Bellatrix-and-Voldemort-with-Death-Eaters-bellatrix-and-lord-voldemort-28197181-1600-670" width="618" height="259" /></a>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38Ab1KAQb1s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/karate-kid-cobrakai.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-13995" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/karate-kid-cobrakai-300x172.jpg" alt="karate-kid-cobrakai" width="300" height="172" /></a>Maybe I'm just a sucker for 80s movies but is there anything more intimidating than Johnny Lawrence, his karate bully gang and Cobra Kai founder, John Kreese? Besides, their karate gis (gi? what's the plural form of that?) match VCU's colors.
"We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition: A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy." - John Kreese
