Saying "We" when talking about sports teams..

[DougW]

Assuming a person has never played for said team, or went to said school.

I find myself doing it, and I've never really given any thought to it, aside from "such and such is my team". I've never analyzed if it's "wrong". Until last night, when my brother questioned someone about it. Just wondering what some others may think.

I "support" the teams, both financially & emotionally. I buy their jerseys, and tickets. I'll be supporting them when the current group of players is long gone, and was supporting them before the current group showed up to town. Sports often talk about "Home field advantage", or "the 12th man", which leads me to believe I'm involved. Then again, I don't catch any pop flies, kick any field goals, or sink any free throws for them.

What say you, FOFC ?

[miami_fan]

Assuming a person has never played for said team, or went to said school.

I find myself doing it, and I've never really given any thought to it, aside from "such and such is my team". I've never analyzed if it's "wrong". Until last night, when my brother questioned someone about it. Just wondering what some others may think.

I "support" the teams, both financially & emotionally. I buy their jerseys, and tickets. I'll be supporting them when the current group of players is long gone, and was supporting them before the current group showed up to town. Sports often talk about "Home field advantage", or "the 12th man", which leads me to believe I'm involved. Then again, I don't catch any pop flies, kick any field goals, or sink any free throws for them.

What say you, FOFC ?

I will look at it from a football(soccer) point of view.

If you are a supporter of the club, then yes it is "we"

If you are just a fan of the club, then no.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Besides all of your points, being emotionally and monetarily invested, it's simply an efficiency thing.

When I use "we", and conversely, "they", it's because it's easier.

"When the Steelers had the ball 3rd and 22, and the Ravens blitzed..."
"When we had the ball 3rd and 22, and they blitzed..."

Sheer laziness is my answer.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

this is a point i bring up all the time in causal convo and it's probably broad strokes in response to your question but...

we're tribal creatures who've built a society that's the antithesis of tribal. as such we're constantly trying organize ourselves into smaller groups ie: i am a christian/republican/braves fan/nra member/country music fan etc. etc.

so when you say 'we' it's not really an exaggeration you genuinely identify yourself as part of that group(tribe). we need to get obama out of office. we need stronger gun control. we need to sign a third baseman etc

that's why online debates can be so heated because you're attacking a person's identity. a mb thread about politics or gun control or the pats being overrated becomes hatfields vs mccoys

[spleen1015]

There was a sports radio personality that would hang up on callers if they did this. I can't remember who it was, maybe Rome?

I don't think it is a big deal. People invest a lot of time, emotion and money into their sports teams.

[Logan]

Pretty sure we've had this discussion on here already. I fall into the camp of "the people who get annoyed by other people saying 'we/us' are the ones with the real problem". Let people say whatever they want to say.

I know Thomkal agrees.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

do jim rome fans call themselves 'we'?

[CrimsonFox]

I've always noticed this. Sometimes found it weird, baffling, silly, and at times annoying, but only minorly. Not that I have a problem with people liking what they want. I don't like watching sports. But others don't like watching things I like. That's all fine. The whole "we" business though. It is definitely a psychological thing. The whole "belonging to a greater purpose" thing. Identifying with a winner. Making myself a part of a whoel and thus it makes "me" better as a person or entity. So if my life is basically nothing or perceivably not successfuol, because I affiliate my likes or my "self" with this large successful entity, that GIVES myself a cause...a purpose...a success. This immediately gets me "friends". Others that like the same team and immediately I have another family. This also gives me an "opposition" and thus another purpose...i.e. to badger or berate someone because they like a team that isn't mine. Gives me arch enemies for teams that regularly play "mine". Some even take it to instantly disliking another person that likes the rival of "my team".

It is a fascinating exercise. I still don't really understand it.
I understand watching the game and enjoying it. But can't you enjoy every game you watch? Why do you have to have "your team" and especially why does "your team" have to be the team of the town you live in?


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[lungs]

I only use it with the Brewers I've noticed. Easily my favorite team and in-state. I don't use it with the Dallas Cowboys. Being a lone Cowboy fan in Packer country, it's not really conducive to using "we" as people will think I'm talking about the Packers.

[albionmoonlight]

I don't say "we." But that has more to do with how little connection I think that the team has to me instead of vice versa. None of the players, coaches, managers, etc. on the New Orleans Saints knows who I am. If I died tomorrow, they would neither know nor care. And, if they could take some action that would slightly improve the profits of the team while causing me great distress, they would do so without hesitation.

They provide me entertainment in exchange for my time/attention/money. In this way, they are no different than any other form of entertainment. And, sure, part of the enjoyment from my end is getting caught up in the tribalism. Just like part of the enjoyment of a good book or movie is getting lost in the story.

So, yeah, its fun to root. And they are "my" team. And I certainly want their opponents to lose and be sad and cry on the field, etc. etc. etc. But I know that that's a one way street and that I will always care about them infinitely more than they care about me.

[Suburban Rhythm]

does jim rome's fan call himself "I'?

Fixed

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

hard to believe a narcissist can't identify with groups.

also, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtPk5IUbdH0) is stuck in my head now

[Peregrine]

To me it seems like people use we more when they are happy with something the team has done - "We made a great trade, we're going to kick ass next year!" But if it's something bad it seems to quickly become "I can't believe what those stupid XYZ did! Never should have signed that guy."

[JonInMiddleGA]

I only use it with the Brewers I've noticed. Easily my favorite team and in-state.

I have a similar tendency to this I think. Hawks & Falcons are never really "we", they're "they". No real emotional connection to them for me. Braves are sometimes we & sometimes they.

GT & the Vols are more often a "we", as are the HS teams I follow. Not exclusively but a great deal more frequently.

[Lathum]

I think it is fine, like Doug said, you are a part of the fan base, spend money, time, etc...and if there were no fans there would be no team ( I'm looking at you Sacramento Kings).

I think if you went to school there it gives you an added reason to.

The thing I always find a bit odd is when someone is passionate about a college team while having no conection to it at all. Not living in the state, etc... Granted, you see this with the Dukes of the world, but I just find it a bit strange.

[molson]

But can't you enjoy every game you watch? Why do you have to have "your team" and especially why does "your team" have to be the team of the town you live in?


I don't have a lot of interest in sports anymore unless it involves watching or following one of the teams I've watched and followed since I was in a kid, or since I attended the college. Which kind of makes it feel like a "we"/habit/addiction kind of thing, though I'd never say "we" in public when referring to one of those teams, really just to avoid this conversation about whether it's the proper term. Otherwise, I'd probably use it, just for simplicity.

[Senator]

I asked my wife if I do this. She said, "you only say we when you coach a team, play on a team, or when you were a partner in owning that soccer team."
But I bet a nickel, I have said "we" before when the team I supported had no idea who I was. Though I can't recall one.

[molson]

I will look at it from a football(soccer) point of view.

If you are a supporter of the club, then yes it is "we"

If you are just a fan of the club, then no.

That's kind of interesting concept I haven't thought much of as a non-soccer fan. We don't really have that "supporter" thing in the U.S. Except in college I guess, then we call then "boosters".

[ISiddiqui]

The thing I always find a bit odd is when someone is passionate about a college team while having no conection to it at all. Not living in the state, etc... Granted, you see this with the Dukes of the world, but I just find it a bit strange.

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?

[molson]

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?

Probably just to be part of the group and to create some reason to be interested in the game and the team. I think a lot of people do a little of this every time there's a super bowl or something they want to be interested in when they don't have any connection to the teams - they try to figure out what team they're rooting for.

[JonInMiddleGA]

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?

Same as we end up kind of rooting for TV shows, bands, etc I think. There's something about them that we find appealing/relatable/admirable/remarkable/whatever. Or maybe they're something we aspire to in some cases (kinda {shrug} on that one, but it seems possible).

[albionmoonlight]

oh, probably worth mentioning that, while I don't use "we," I certainly have no problem if others do. Whatever increases your enjoyment/immersion/etc.

[LloydLungs]

I definitely use "we," it's probably not really justified when it comes to pro teams, but whatever. Of course I actually know some of the coaches and personnel with the University of New Orleans (and am an alum) so that works, I think.

Of course, most importantly, whichever random team I might have wagered on becomes "we" for the day, and every single call against them, including very obvious calls, become part of a grand conspiracy to screw me over personally.

[ISiddiqui]

Same as we end up kind of rooting for TV shows, bands, etc I think. There's something about them that we find appealing/relatable/admirable/remarkable/whatever. Or maybe they're something we aspire to in some cases (kinda {shrug} on that one, but it seems possible).

I think it's slightly different than shows or bands. I don't usually get into shouting matches about shows and bands (well I don't with my team either, but I know some who do who never went to the colleges in question).

[JonInMiddleGA]

I think it's slightly different than shows or bands. I don't usually get into shouting matches about shows and bands (well I don't with my team either, but I know some who do who never went to the colleges in question).

I've seen, and to a fairly mild extent been involved in, "spirited discussions" about both. Bands in particular.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

i don't think there's such a thing as 'zoning' in england. stadiums are smack dab in the middle of residential neighborhoods. easy to see how you'd get attached

[Marc Vaughan]

i don't think there's such a thing as 'zoning' in england. stadiums are smack dab in the middle of residential neighborhoods. easy to see how you'd get attached

There is - however its often not as clean cut, especially in the case of some clubs where their stadium might have been built 100 years ago when such restrictions weren't in place or indeed everything around it was just fields ;)

(most more modern stadiums are built in sensible places - for instance the new Brighton stadium is located on the outskirts of town, whereas our old one was smack in the center of Hove pretty much .... a few streets down from where I used to live when I was at Uni actually, was fantastic being able to stroll down the road to the match :D)

[Buccaneer]

Why would I identify myself with a sports team/player or any kind of celebrity? I am content of who I am and what I have accomplished that I don't need an association with a team to make me a 'winner' (or loser). I think too many people are putting their well-being and faith in the wrong thing. It's fun to have teams that you like and dislike, but it should be no different than movie or tv series or food that you like or dislike.

[BishopMVP]

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?I think part of it is just the nature of having fewer/no professional sports teams. Everyone's at least a little provincial, and as dumb as it is to tie up any of your identity or self-worth in the performance of a team you have absolutely no control over, up here people can bond together some over the Red Sox/Pats/Celtics/Bruins representing us on the national stage, while in Alabama the Crimson Tide Football team (and occasionally Auburn) is their emissary to the rest of the country. Up here, the one state where the highest percentage of non-alums are passionate and supportive about State U. is Connecticut. Part of that us undoubtedly due to recent success, but part of it is due to the lack of fragmentation in the media coverage because there are no professional sports teams.

[Lathum]

Why would I identify myself with a sports team/player or any kind of celebrity? I am content of who I am and what I have accomplished that I don't need an association with a team to make me a 'winner' (or loser). I think too many people are putting their well-being and faith in the wrong thing. It's fun to have teams that you like and dislike, but it should be no different than movie or tv series or food that you like or dislike.

I think you are reading to much into it.

I may say "we " when refering to my team, such as saying " we really shit the bed in the apple Cup this year." That doesn't mean I am going to let it ruin my day or motivate me in some way. Nor do I over blow my teams victories. I say "we" because thats instinctivly what comes to mind, not because I have some sense of added faith or need to be a part of something.

I would imagine most people are like me.

[Lathum]

I think part of it is just the nature of having fewer/no professional sports teams. Everyone's at least a little provincial, and as dumb as it is to tie up any of your identity or self-worth in the performance of a team you have absolutely no control over, up here people can bond together some over the Red Sox/Pats/Celtics/Bruins representing us on the national stage, while in Alabama the Crimson Tide Football team (and occasionally Auburn) is their emissary to the rest of the country. Up here, the one state where the highest percentage of non-alums are passionate and supportive about State U. is Connecticut. Part of that us undoubtedly due to recent success, but part of it is due to the lack of fragmentation in the media coverage because there are no professional sports teams.

I don't have an issue with someone living in Alabama rooting for Alabama, etc...there is a regional tie there. I root for Rutgers because my dad went there and I grew up going to games.

I am talking about the random Duke/ USC, etc... fan that has no ties at all to the team.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The thing I always find a bit odd is when someone is passionate about a college team while having no conection to it at all. Not living in the state, etc... Granted, you see this with the Dukes of the world, but I just find it a bit strange.

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?

I really don't find it that odd at all. College sports are very similar to pro sports, bigger in some areas actually.

People become fans of professional or college teams for all kinds of reasons. Granted, the most common is being from the city/state (for pro teams) or attending the university for college, but there are a ton of other reasons. Perhaps the person's father was a big fan of the team. Perhaps another relative. Perhaps they just really liked the look of the uniforms when they were younger, or perhaps the team was just good when they were young, or had a great player and they started to follow the team and became passionate about it.

There are a ton of University of Michigan fans in Michigan who never went to the school. I think in many cases it's because of some family tie, but another big reason is that college football is pretty big in the state and the Lions have been so bad for so long, that many football fans gravitated to Michigan because at least they were good. People like cheering for successful teams.

As for the original topic, it doesn't bother me when people say "we". I think it is just laziness or habit or whatever. I never pay it much attention. I do it sometimes, but it's never really intentional or done with any meaning.

[Chief Rum]

I find myself doing it on forums like this, and then often times in my re-read, I catch it and correct it, because it feels stupid for me to say "we" about one of my sports teams.

[Poli]

I've been dinged a few times by the head coach for saying "we did such and such...".

"They did such and such, Coach Polston. We didn't."

[BishopMVP]

I don't have an issue with someone living in Alabama rooting for Alabama, etc...there is a regional tie there. I root for Rutgers because my dad went there and I grew up going to games.

I am talking about the random Duke/ USC, etc... fan that has no ties at all to the team.I was responding to ISiddiqui's assertion he notices it more in the South. For yours - I think HB is close to the mark that people want someone to root for and gravitate towards successful teams when they are young. I don't have a problem with anyone who does that as long as they don't switch allegiances when the team is bad (f.e. I'm a Notre Dame football fan - not a very original choice, but they've sucked for 15 of the 20 years I can remember rooting for them and I've stuck with them, so I like to think I'm allowed to call myself a fan of them and don't qualify as a bandwagon fan.)

None of this touches on the original point, but I doubt anyone has any new insight there that wasn't covered in the huge previous thread we had on this topic.

[ISiddiqui]

I think part of it is just the nature of having fewer/no professional sports teams. Everyone's at least a little provincial, and as dumb as it is to tie up any of your identity or self-worth in the performance of a team you have absolutely no control over, up here people can bond together some over the Red Sox/Pats/Celtics/Bruins representing us on the national stage, while in Alabama the Crimson Tide Football team (and occasionally Auburn) is their emissary to the rest of the country. Up here, the one state where the highest percentage of non-alums are passionate and supportive about State U. is Connecticut. Part of that us undoubtedly due to recent success, but part of it is due to the lack of fragmentation in the media coverage because there are no professional sports teams.

Ah, but even when there are professional sports teams, it's the college that gets the attention. Look at the relative following of the Atlanta Falcons & the University of Georgia in Atlanta, when, as far as I can tell, UGa doesn't particularly represent itself as the team to unite all of GA (esp not with GTech an hour away) - whereas the Falcons do represent themselves as Atlanta's team.

[Chief Rum]

I've been dinged a few times by the head coach for saying "we did such and such...".

"They did such and such, Coach Polston. We didn't."

To a point, I disagree with this, especially if the we is for a team-wide concept ("we played well today"), as opposed to something more specific, like running backs fumbling too much ("we had trouble holding onto the ball today"). I think if you're a coach, you are an integral part of the team concept, and "we" is an acceptable pronoun for you to use.

That said, what the head coach says... :D

[Lathum]

To a point, I disagree with this, especially if the we is for a team-wide concept ("we played well today"), as opposed to something more specific, like running backs fumbling too much ("we had trouble holding onto the ball today"). I think if you're a coach, you are an integral part of the team concept, and "we" is an acceptable pronoun for you to use.

That said, what the head coach says... :D

I found it odd as well. Making a coach say "they" seems like the coach doesn't want to accept any personal responsibility, when in fact they should be accepting most of it.

[digamma]

Ah, but even when there are professional sports teams, it's the college that gets the attention. Look at the relative following of the Atlanta Falcons & the University of Georgia in Atlanta, when, as far as I can tell, UGa doesn't particularly represent itself as the team to unite all of GA (esp not with GTech an hour away) - whereas the Falcons do represent themselves as Atlanta's team.

You're right, they represent Bulldwag (intentional) NATION. :lol:

I get Lathum's point about the bandwagon fans latching onto Duke basketball or USC or Alabama football, but for most it is a deep cultural tie to the local team. You sort of have to experience it to understand it.

[JediKooter]

This is pretty interesting. Something tells me it's 'east of the Mississippi' thing in my opinion.

Anecdotal evidence: When I was a kid, I lived for about 4 years in Wyoming. I played sports and my friends all played sports. We NEVER talked about the Wyoming Cowboys or BYU or any other college teams, it was always pro teams. For the kids that grew up there, they were either Broncos fans or Steelers fans.

Now back to southern California, you here about USC and UCLA and other colleges, but, that was mostly from people who went there or knew someone that went there. Plus, there's so many pro teams in California, it makes it easy to pick one over a college team in my opinion. Plus, the weather is pretty much great throughout the year so there's more things to do than be holed up in your house during the winter rooting for Hoosier basketball or sports in general being the only 'outlet', because you can't really do much else due to the weather.

Plus, I never use 'We' when talking about my favorite teams. Especially since I'm not on their payroll. ;)

[Poli]

To a point, I disagree with this, especially if the we is for a team-wide concept ("we played well today"), as opposed to something more specific, like running backs fumbling too much ("we had trouble holding onto the ball today"). I think if you're a coach, you are an integral part of the team concept, and "we" is an acceptable pronoun for you to use.

That said, what the head coach says... :D

I apologize. When I said "we", I was referring to a different school. "One year we did this, that, and the other."

I don't think he'd have any problem with "we" being part of our football program. "We" just can't be part of another.

[Buccaneer]

Exactly. The sensible connection of 'we' if you are a member of the team, otherwise it's 'they'. Same thing about congratulating a fan for the team's win. I feel a coach should use we, never thought otherwise.

Latham, there was a classic study done a long time ago about Pittsburgh and fanaticism. It was very much a personal identity and tied to behavior and well-being.

[Kodos]

Sports give you a chance to root for Good vs. Evil, with no real stakes on the line. I have no problem with people who say "we". For instance, Hoosier Nation helps make IU basketball what it is. It helped IU rise up from their down years after the Sampson fiasco. The fans as a collective are a "we", and they do have an effect on the success of the team. Even if we aren't out there setting screens or shooting three-point shots.

[cuervo72]

Sports give you a chance to root for Good vs. Evil, with no real stakes on the line. I have no problem with people who say "we". For instance, Hoosier Nation helps make IU basketball what it is. It helped IU rise up from their down years after the Sampson fiasco. The fans as a collective are a "we", and they do have an effect on the success of the team. Even if we aren't out there setting screens or shooting three-point shots.

Kinda like "WE ARE."

[JonInMiddleGA]

Look at the relative following of the Atlanta Falcons & the University of Georgia in Atlanta, when, as far as I can tell, UGa doesn't particularly represent itself as the team to unite all of GA (esp not with GTech an hour away) - whereas the Falcons do represent themselves as Atlanta's team.

I wouldn't discount the "team of Georgia" thing quite as completely as you seem to be doing. Just think about all of the "but they're the state university, how could you?" stuff that goes on if you have, say, ACC conference loyalty against them in a bowl game. (Granted, I pull for all but one team in the country against them & in that case I hope for a scoreless tie). Even my own Tennessee transplanted mother-in-law - a Vol fan through & through - can't get her head completely around pulling against an in-state school.

There are also multiple generations of "sidewalk alumni" that treat being a part of the DawgNation as part of their birthright/heritage, and I believe there's a fair amount of patriotism/nationalism associated with that; i.e. it's a common bond that exists from Dalton to Savannah.

[ISiddiqui]

Just think about all of the "but they're the state university, how could you?" stuff that goes on if you have, say, ACC conference loyalty against them in a bowl game.

I have literally never run into this in Atlanta. People understand if Tech fans root for, say, Clemson over UGA.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I have literally never run into this in Atlanta. People understand if Tech fans root for, say, Clemson over UGA.

There's a certain amount of understanding about Good Clean Old Fashioned Hate but in more genteel quarters, you'll even see UGA people root for GT in a bowl game (against any non-SEC opponent). And by "more genteel quarters" I pretty much mean anything outside of the 5 county metro area.

[OldGiants]

The problem I have with people saying 'we' is that they are trying to change a pleasant discussion about sports and it into one about their feelings and emotions and I'm never interested in that topic.

[Logan]

The problem I have with people saying 'we' is that they are trying to change a pleasant discussion about sports and it into one about their feelings and emotions and I'm never interested in that topic.

Unless you didn't mean to generalize so broadly, it sounds like you're projecting this belief on those people.

[EagleFan]

Not a fan of we but if you use it at least have it be for a team that you grew up with. Really don't get it for people that seem to have random association with teams (like one guy that is a Cowboys fan in NFL, Devils fan in NHL, Sixers fan in NBA, Phillies fan in MLB, Michigan fan in college football and North Carolina fan in college basketball). He didn't go to either of those schools and that seems even odder to me (to like one school in one sport and a different one in another sport and having no actual connection to either).

I look at it this way. I am "we" as in "we Philly sports fans" but not "we" as in the individual teams. So no, "we" didn't trade so and so and "we" didn't win and world series but "we" did rock the stadium.

If you are standing next to the star of your team and say to him "we really need to run the ball better"... do you feel like a chump hearing yourself say that? If so, then we is not the way to go when referring to the team.

[frnk55]

Never do I use we. Not sure why but it bugs me when people do.

[ISiddiqui]

The problem I have with people saying 'we' is that they are trying to change a pleasant discussion about sports and it into one about their feelings and emotions and I'm never interested in that topic.

Sports are about feelings and emotions. Why else would you identify with a team simply because they are in a similar geographic area?

[CU Tiger]

(Granted, I pull for all but one team in the country against them & in that case I hope for a scoreless tie).

I'll bite......who :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'll bite......who :)

LSU

[TroyF]

I use WE. Always have, always will. I find it strange people have a problem with it. I can say "We really screwed up on that third and long" or "the Broncos, the team I cheer for, really screwed up on that third and long"

When I talk about "MY" sports teams, I'm talking about it with my friends as a rule. They know I'm not suggesting that I somehow have grand illusions that I actually have something to do with the result.

[britrock88]

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IxQp6Or98U/Tcrn2tws7kI/AAAAAAAAACk/_DjWXVGDuf8/s1600/DannyGreenTeaBag.jpg

[Radii]

+1 - Find it more in the South, but why are people so die hard for college teams they never went to?

no different than pro sports up north I assume? College is *the* main attraction here. I was exposed to UNC/Duke/NC State at the same level that someone from Boston was exposed to the Celtics as a kid. Various SEC affiliations are as strong or more in the other southern states.

[Lathum]

no different than pro sports up north I assume? College is *the* main attraction here. I was exposed to UNC/Duke/NC State at the same level that someone from Boston was exposed to the Celtics as a kid. Various SEC affiliations are as strong or more in the other southern states.

FWIW if you grew up in that area exposed to it I have no issue with you being a fan regardless if you went to that school or not. It's the guy in Seattle who is a UNC fan that I can't figure out.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

if you were white in a northeastern city without an nba team there is a good chance you were a celtics fan. you fall in love with a player and their team becomes your favorite by default. i stopped caring after the bird era (and when they closed the old garden... and fucking antoine walker) but some people stay faithful. pick a team and cheer for them through thick and thin. that's noble fandom, right?

[Buccaneer]

FWIW if you grew up in that area exposed to it I have no issue with you being a fan regardless if you went to that school or not. It's the guy in Seattle who is a UNC fan that I can't figure out.

What in the world does geography or locality has ANYTHING to do with what teams you like??? That is so asinine. You used the examples of college teams but I would argue that it's no difference with pro teams - they are both big sports leagues, like there are many US fans of English soccer teams. I grew up 3000 miles from USC but they were my favorite college team in the late 1960s and 1970s. I went to UNC, the team in your example, but I am not a fan of them - just by going to a school should have no bearing on whether you like their sports teams or not. There are a lot of reasons to like or dislike a college team but geography (while a valid choice) is way down on the list, imo.

[DougW]

What in the world does geography or locality has ANYTHING to do with what teams you like??? That is so asinine.

huh ?

A few things ..

Well, a fan is most likely to go see local teams live than he is far away teams.
Local media coverage tend to focus on the local team first.
Less so now because of cable packages that offer all games for a sport, but without those packages - a person would be able to watch more of the local teams games on TV then another random team.
"Most" of the fans of a particular sport will like the local team (so it becomes natural/easy to talk about them).


All of these things push people to like the local teams. I'd say geography or locality play a big part in what teams people like.

[spleen1015]

Who cares why someone likes a team?

I'm a bigger Duke fan than I am any other team. I've never lived near there. I didn't attend there. I just started liking them because they beat UNLV and I was at an age where sports became really interesting. What's wrong with that?

[cuervo72]

I think Doug hits on most of the major points. I think new fans these days tend to have a little less of a pull from their local team because of ESPN/cable/internet etc, but when I grew up I was basically able to see any Phillies, Sixers, Flyers game locally. I'm not sure I saw any other hockey games, and I'd be able to see an out-of-market MLB or NBA game once a week. That began to change a little in the mid-80s as I got 9 and 11 out of NY for the Mets and Yankees, but by then my MLB ties were pretty well cemented.

Outside of the games, we had nightly coverage on the local news, and when I was old enough to drive I'd listen to WIP. Local stations would have coach and player shows for the Eagles. It was just easier to learn about the local teams and players than teams in other markets.

Oh, there was also the fact that my family (I grew up outside Philly, my parents grew up in Philly, my grandparents grew up in Philly), friends, and nearly everyone I ran into also rooted for these teams. So, common bonding experience.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

huh ?

A few things ..

Well, a fan is most likely to go see local teams live than he is far away teams.
Local media coverage tend to focus on the local team first.
Less so now because of cable packages that offer all games for a sport, but without those packages - a person would be able to watch more of the local teams games on TV then another random team.
"Most" of the fans of a particular sport will like the local team (so it becomes natural/easy to talk about them).


All of these things push people to like the local teams. I'd say geography or locality play a big part in what teams people like.

In my case, geography plays a role because I know some of the players.

-Know the Sundvold family well. They lived in our community and so I followed his career when he went to Mizzou and became a lifelong fan.
-Our family knows three of the players who were on the 1985 Championship team. Idolized them as a kid and have been a fan every since.

If you live in the same areas where the players live, it's easy to get attached.

[britrock88]

Who cares why someone likes a team?

Because someone else likes the other guys! :devil:

[Lathum]

What in the world does geography or locality has ANYTHING to do with what teams you like??? That is so asinine. You used the examples of college teams but I would argue that it's no difference with pro teams - they are both big sports leagues, like there are many US fans of English soccer teams. I grew up 3000 miles from USC but they were my favorite college team in the late 1960s and 1970s. I went to UNC, the team in your example, but I am not a fan of them - just by going to a school should have no bearing on whether you like their sports teams or not. There are a lot of reasons to like or dislike a college team but geography (while a valid choice) is way down on the list, imo.

I never said my feelings on the subject were rational, nor am I trying to convince anyone they are wrong or that I am right. Just how I look at it, not sure why.

[Lathum]

dola- I can't speak for othes, but I think growing up on the east coast may have something to do with my feelings on college teams. In the NE/ NJ/ NY area college sports just aren't that big. People gravitate far more to pro sports. So for me, unless you went to that school, or knew someone who did, parent, etc...you really had no roting interest. It just wasn't as relevant as in the south or near some of the big west coast schools or midwest schools.

[Buccaneer]

I understand why someone would be a fan of local teams but there are no obligations or requirements to do so. A person is free to choose whatever college team they want to be a fan of regardless of geography, school ties or lack of any connections.

[Lathum]

I understand why someone would be a fan of local teams but there are no obligations or requirements to do so. A person is free to choose whatever college team they want to be a fan of regardless of geography, school ties or lack of any connections.

who ever said they dont?

[Buccaneer]

I was simply reacting to your statement - It's the guy in Seattle who is a UNC fan that I can't figure out.

[Marc Vaughan]

If you've never come across them before "That Mitchell and Webb Look" is an english 'skit' show ... well worth a watch, this is their take on this subject -

That Mitchell and Web Look - Sketch where Ray and Colin argue over football and the use of the word 'we' when discussing it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU)

[Lathum]

I was simply reacting to your statement - It's the guy in Seattle who is a UNC fan that I can't figure out.

well I can't figure it out. I also can't figure out why people eat raw fish but that doesn't mean I'm going to tell them they are wrong.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dola- I can't speak for othes, but I think growing up on the east coast may have something to do with my feelings on college teams. In the NE/ NJ/ NY area college sports just aren't that big. People gravitate far more to pro sports. So for me, unless you went to that school, or knew someone who did, parent, etc...you really had no roting interest. It just wasn't as relevant as in the south or near some of the big west coast schools or midwest schools.

Yeah, it's definitely relevant to where you live. In the Midwest, the heated rivalries are between college teams/fans because we're closer to each other in proximity, whereas we don't have many pro franchises near each other.

When I lived out in Baltimore for two years, it became clear why pro sports are the big thing out there. The close proximity of all the major cities creates the hatred/rivalries that are exactly like what we see in college sports in our area. The NY/Phily/Pittsburgh/Baltimore/DC rivalries remind me a lot of college rivalries in the Midwest.

[JediKooter]

I wonder if Tim Brown will ever say, "We sabotaged the game"?

[Kodos]

I tend to hate local teams because of annoying local fans of them.

[BishopMVP]

If you are standing next to the star of your team and say to him "we really need to run the ball better"... do you feel like a chump hearing yourself say that? If so, then we is not the way to go when referring to the team.I think that just points to the need for context. If I (as a fan) use "we" when talking with a coach or player who had an effect on the outcome, then's that presumptuous and would make me feel like a douchebag. But if I'm watching with friends who have the same level of connection as me I wouldn't feel out of place using "we", especially because like I think stevew said it's usually just used as shorthand to save time. I think everyone involved in the latter case can agree subconsciously that "we" might not technically be accurate, but collectively choose to ignore it because it's not the point of the sentence, and we don't want to have this pedantic argument every time sometime slips into using "we" instead of "they" or "the Patriots".

[britrock88]

I was simply reacting to your statement - It's the guy in Seattle who is a UNC fan that I can't figure out.

People (without more innate reasons to pull for a team) love a winner -- UNC, Duke, or anybody else.

[EagleFan]

People (without more innate reasons to pull for a team) love a winner -- UNC, Duke, or anybody else.

That's a weakness in character. The need to cheer for a winner instead of the team this is from your area where you can interact with the masses of fans and feel like a community.

In 1980 were these same people cheering for the Russian hockey team because they were historically winners?

[Buccaneer]

That's a weakness in character. The need to cheer for a winner instead of the team this is from your area where you can interact with the masses of fans and feel like a community.



But that is also a weakness in character, imo, succumbing to peer pressure and going along with everyone else instead of thinking on your own and being independent minded.

[EagleFan]

But that is also a weakness in character, imo, succumbing to peer pressure and going along with everyone else instead of thinking on your own and being independent minded.

That is community.

[britrock88]

So, by becoming a UNC fan when I went there, do I screw up in both your opinions? :D

[Lathum]

But that is also a weakness in character, imo, succumbing to peer pressure and going along with everyone else instead of thinking on your own and being independent minded.

Most of us discover our favorite teams when we are about 10-12, so I think weakness in character and lack of being independant minded can be forgiven.