Whether it’s the football team scoring a touchdown or the basketball team making a three-pointer, you are almost guaranteed to hear the Mamaroneck student crowd chant “Murda.” The rallying cry has become a cultural symbol of Mamaroneck High School. Used vastly among the student body, it even appears on Instagram usernames for sports teams, clubs, and other school associated projects. To some, the chant is off-putting, and its use among the student body is controversial. It has long been rumored members of school administration loathe the chant, but mounting an effort to combat such a deeply ingrained function of student culture would be an uphill battle. The Globe spoke with students, faculty, and administration to learn where the chant actually came from, and better understand the varied perspectives regarding its place at Mamaroneck High School.
It seems there are many answers to the origin of “Murda,” but generally, it may have come from lacrosse or baseball student athletes in the late 2000s. While the origin of the term remains vague and unknown to the student body, that hasn’t stopped it from spreading across Mamaroneck High School, including to other Mamaroneck sports teams. “Murda” has not only become a well known chant in the bleachers of Memorial Field but also the Hommocks Ice Rink, home of the ice hockey team, and the Palmer Gym, home of the volleyball and the boys and girls basketball teams. The term has also emerged as a nickname on social media. With different sports teams and clubs now utilizing social media accounts as their primary form of advertising, Murda has become a common username. @murdafish (swim team), @murdachess (chess club), and @murdacooks (culinary club) are some of the many Instagram handles that incorporate Murda. In addition, the page on Instagram which celebrates seniors who have locked in their college decisions is called @murdaseniors.
So, where did “Murda” originate? Popular opinion among the student body says “Murda” is a shortened version of “Mamaroneck.” Some students argue it is actually a shortened version of “murder” chosen because it is less directly inappropriate. Mamaroneck’s district-wide Athletic Director Bari Suman believes that the chant was created by a lacrosse-player as early as 2006. Mike Chiapparelli, Mamaroneck’s baseball and hockey coach who has taught at Mamaroneck High School for decades, offers a more complex answer. Chiapparelli says “Murda” originates with the 1927 Yankees, who were one of the greatest baseball teams of all time. The team, particularly the first 6 batters of the order (one of which was Babe Ruth), earned the nickname “Murderers Row” for their dominance. Chiapparelli’s 2008 Varsity Baseball team was also extraordinary, going 30-2 in the regular season with 100 extra base hits. Chiapparelli says the athletes drew inspiration from the nickname of those legendary Yankees, developing “Murda” and sharing it with fans, who used the chant to inspire the Tigers to go the distance, clinching the 2008 New York state championship. Next year, the slogan “Murda” ran across their merchandise. For a second year in a row, “Murda” propelled the Baseball team to the 2009 state championship.
Chiapparelli believes that the chant should be protected, and continued during home games, saying “I’ve only heard it used in a positive way.” He believes that it is a good way for fans and students to show their nonstop support for many of our school’s teams. Mikey Dillion (‘25), the 2023-2024 Varsity Boys’ Hockey Goalie, and one of Chiapparelli’s athletes, says “It does motivate us to hear the chants from the crowd, especially when the student section is chanting Murda.” Dillon appreciates how it always gets the players fired up during the game, which helps motivate them to win.
Suman, however, disagrees with both Dillon and Chiapparelli, and thinks the chanting of “Murda” is “not positive since it sounds like a negative word and could be misinterpreted by opposing fans.” She stresses the importance of sportsmanship in the crowd, and thinks that the “Murda” chant directly clashes with the “positive atmosphere for school spirit” that the athletic department seeks to create. Suman thinks it should be completely banned, saying it is already an athletic department policy to address chanting of “Murda,” one that students can expect when deciding to make the chant at sports games.
In the end, despite administration policy, “Murda” seems to be here to stay, at least for the time being.
