DATE: Monday, November 3, 1997              TAG: 9711030330

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   66 lines

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO. . . THE ``YMCA GUY'' WHO DANCED AT ADMIRALS HOCKEY GAMES?

For the past few seasons, Admirals hockey fans have become accustomed to watching and cheering on fellow fan and longtime season ticket holder Grant Shaw as he dances and spells out the letters ``YMCA'' whenever the popular song is played during breaks at each of the team's games.

Since the 1997-98 hockey season began, fans have continued to turn toward Grant Shaw's regular seat behind the press and stats crew table, hoping to see him jump up and do his energetic little dance when the song ``YMCA'' is played. To their dismay, Shaw has not been there to entertain them.

Many fans have become concerned. Is he sick? they wonder. Some have even called the Admirals office to see whether anyone there knows why he hasn't been performing at this year's games. Employees in the office, who had heard a rumor that Shaw was out of the country, have been telling callers that's the reason.

But that's not the case, says Shaw. The 67-year-old retiree from Norfolk said he's doing just fine and hasn't left town. He hasn't been dancing at the games this year, he explained, because he didn't get season tickets.

``I waited too late to get my ticket, and by the time I tried, it was already taken,'' he said. ``I tried to get some other seats nearby, but they were taken, too. I don't know if I'd feel comfortable sitting anywhere else.''

Shaw, who has sat in Seat 17, Row B, for the past five years, said he's become friends with many of the people who sat near him and wanted to keep a seat in that section. Also, his son-in-law, who first got him interested in hockey, wasn't able to attend the games this season.

Shaw said he first began dancing to the ``YMCA'' song when he saw another fan doing it. ``I said, `What the heck,' and I gave it a try.''

He was flattered to learn that fans have missed him. He said he's missed going to the games and likely will begin attending them again soon. And he'll do his dance when he's there, he promised.

That will be welcome news to those who have been disappointed by his absence.

``It's been kind of sad,'' said Pilot sports writer Harry Minium, who has covered the Admirals for the newspaper for the past four years.

``Every time they play the YMCA song, everyone in the arena turns around and looks for him and he's not there. A lot of people have been coming up and asking me, `Hey! Where's the YMCA dude?' They're worried if he's sick or something.''

Shaw has definitely become a staple at the Admirals' home games, said Brian Kelley, director of business operations for the Admirals. The team, the crowd, and even the players and fans of opposing teams love watching him, Kelley said. Once, when the team asked him to come out on the ice and do his dance during an intermission, ``the crowd went nuts,'' he said.

Pat Davidson, a Norfolk resident who has never even been to an Admirals game, became concerned about Shaw when she heard her son and daughter-in-law and even her dog groomer expressing concern about his absence. She called The Pilot to see if anyone there knew where he was.

``I'm glad to know he's all right,'' she said. ``Everybody seems to think a whole lot of him. He seems to be a big inspiration for the Admirals.'' MEMO: Whatever Happened To . . . appears every Monday, and we

welcome your suggestions for people and subjects to update. Dial

INFOLINE at 640-5555 and press 7878 to leave a message for Jane Harper. ILLUSTRATION: Grant Shaw's dancing to the 1970s hit ``YMCA'' has

been limited to his Norfolk home lately; he didn't get season

tickets to this year's Admirals hockey games.

JANE HARPER

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