U-S-A! cheer

The U-S-A! cheer is a chant that was first yelled by fans during the 1980 Winter Olympics.Fact|date=August 2008The Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York, USA, where the United States men's ice hockey team defeated the Soviet Union to move on to beat Finland for the Gold in what became known as the "Miracle on Ice". The U.S. fans, who were dismayed by their country's troubles with the Iran hostage crisis, inflation, and the malaise of the Carter presidency, found renewed pride in their country vicariously through the young hockey players.Fact|date=August 2008

During the USA's 2-2 tie of Sweden in the tournament's first game, the crowd began chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" in support of the American team as the Americans scored the tying goal with 30 seconds left. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUrIcAxUEa0&feature=related] The chant became a fixture of the team's remaining games, and gained national attention during the famous "Miracle on Ice" game against the Soviet Union. Since that time, American sports fans have spontaneously chanted that at many international events, and during times of nationalist fervor.

In professional wrestling, Jim Duggan was popularly known for making the cheer during his wrestling matches and inciting the crowd to repeat it after him. The chant has also been used by fans to taunt characters who seemed to hate the U.S., such as Muhammad Hassan and Daivari

The September 11, 2001 attacks found a revival in the chant during patriotic ceremonies at sporting events; the chant was also heard when U.S. President George W. Bush visited the ruins at the World Trade Center site in the week following the 2001 attacks. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010914-9.html]

The chant has even shown up on "The Jerry Springer Show", where it may spontaneously and inexplicably follow the show's standard cheer of "Jer-ry, Jer-ry!" and is also often said by Homer Simpson on "The Simpsons" as a celebration of almost anything, such as when Marge says "yes" to Homer's marriage proposal, often accompanied by honking of his car's horn and flashing of its headlights.

The "U.S.A." cheer has even been banned at a Wisconsin school because it has a second meaning. "One banned cheer in particular, where students chant 'U.S.A.,'" brought parents to a school board event. "Even after learning that the chant had a second meaning to many students — the acronym YOU Suck Ass — parents said that only applied to overly-sensitive ears." [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246322,00.html Wisconsin School Bans 'USA' Chant at Athletic Events] , January 24, 2007]

The U-S-A! chant was used many times during the Republican convention of 2008. The audience chanted in response to portions of speeches by Senator John McCain [http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-giulianitranscript4-2008sep04,0,5260395.story] , Senator Joseph Lieberman [http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-liebermantranscript3-2008sep03,0,72705.story] , former Senator Fred Thompson [http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-thompsontranscript3-2008sep03,0,2929863.story?page=3] , Governor Sarah Palin [http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-palintranscript4-2008sep04,0,3137902.story] , former Governor Mitt Romney [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303559_5.html?sid=ST2008090304308&s_pos=] ,and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani [http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-giulianitranscript4-2008sep04,0,5260395.story] . The audience also chanted when protesters were removed during Senator John McCain's speech [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=113887&d=6&m=9&y=2008] .

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