Who started the towel waving in sports?

The prototype of the modern rally NFL towel, created in 1975 by former Pittsburgh Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope, was known as the Terrible Towel, although Figo Carvella of New Castle, Pennsylvania originated the towel waving at Steelers games. read more

Roger Neilson started the towel waving in sports when he was coaching the Vancouver Canucks in the 1982 Campbell Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. After a series of calls by the officials that went against Vancouver, including a Canucks goal being disallowed and a fourth straight Chicago power play that led to a Blackhawks goal, Neilson had had enough. read more

Fans started waving white towels—first at the airport when the team returned to Vancouver, then at the next game—and "Towel Power" propelled the Canucks to victory in the series. The first rally towels in baseball came from the Minnesota Twins. read more