Nearly naked cowboys, fighting unicorns, grandmothers, guitar players, kayakers and grizzly bears. These are just a few characters to come out from behind the "Curtain of Distraction" at ASU basketball home games at Wells Fargo Arena.
The idea came out of the 942 Crew, the basketball version of the Inferno student section. It's headed up by ASU associate athletic director Bill Kennedy and gets its name from the number of seats in the student section.
While the new tradition has been going on for the better part of two seasons, the national media somehow just took notice on Thursday night when the Sun Devils took on Utah. Two unicorns were fighting? Kissing? Who knows, but it quickly went viral with multiple media outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report and Lost Lettermen picking up on the ridiculous ideas the 942 Crew was coming up with Thursday night.
VIDEO: Arizona State’s "942 Crew" uses a "Curtain of Distraction" on opposing FT shooters http://t.co/mJDgyRIskX pic.twitter.com/9qjKR21gF6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 16, 2015
Just try making a free-throw against Arizona State: http://t.co/od6N5yaqnS https://t.co/3c0VupU4wc
— LostLettermen.com (@LostLettermen) January 18, 2015
(Vine courtesy: State Press Sports)
It's not just funny, it has actually proven to work too. In the first half when opponents are shooting away from the student section, they've made 158 of 224 free throws, a 70.5 percent clip. In the second half, when opponents are shooting free throws while looking at the distractions, opponents are shooting just 178 of 297 or 59.9 percent.
Thursday night against Utah, the Utes were 12 of 12 from the line away from the curtain and 11 of 18 toward it.
Perhaps the crown jewel of the weekend was the distraction discussion by ESPNW columnist Kate Fagan and LA Times writer Bill Plaschke on the famous ESPN show "Around The Horn" hosted by Tony Reali.
So what does Herb Sendek think about all this debauchery going on at the other end of the court?
"I don't know if I have a favorite (antic) yet," Sendek said "But I know it's working."