Stickers

In the 1990s, a tradition percolated at the U.S. Open in the form of stickers. Like a schoolyard prank of sticking “kick me” on the back of unsuspecting students, U.S. Open revelers targeted police officers. One spectator recalled a naive trooper walking the room while unwittingly getting plastered with a sticker stating “I Love Butt.” As he patrolled the room, the officer was oblivious to the reasons behind the laughter that accompanied him. The 1998 Open featured “Toddzilla, the Norwegian Killa,” “Better Dead than Red...USA #1” and “Barrett Christy, Not Just Good, Good Looking.” In 2000, the stickers included commentary on other fringe cultures (“Phish Phuckin’ Sucks”), inducement to inebriation (“Beer is vacation in a can,” “Have you seen my liver?” “Fuck the Contest...I came to Puke”), teenage sexual desires (“Got Milf?,” “My Other Ride is Your Mom,” and “Sleeps Well with Others”), and respect for the fallen (“Byrnes”). A memorable Open featured placards of Vince LaVecchia and buttons stating “I slept with Vince LaVecchia.” Brew Moscarello mused, “For some reason, Vince was the face for that year.... They were everywhere. It was a big thing....Everybody loved him. He’s just a sweetheart.”