Is it "we" or "they" ?

[Spitball]

I have noticed several of us say "we" when refering to the Red Sox? This will probably ruffle some feathers, but is this the correct reference???

 

I know when I played sports, it really, really irked me to hear non-players/management refer to the team as "we." It might be Red Sox Nation, but I doubt if any of us are actually in the real "we" catagory.

 

I am probably alone in this belief, but I have been wondering about this since joining the board. Any thoughts on this subject?

[AtWork]

I am of the belief that it doesn't really matter because the Red Sox don't care what we say anyways.

[a700hitter]

I have noticed several of us say "we" when refering to the Red Sox? This will probably ruffle some feathers, but is this the correct reference???

 

I know when I played sports, it really, really irked me to hear non-players/management refer to the team as "we." It might be Red Sox Nation, but I doubt if any of us are actually in the real "we" catagory.

 

I am probably alone in this belief, but I have been wondering about this since joining the board. Any thoughts on this subject?

With the trade deadline looming and with us or they trotting crap out to the mound like Miller and Wakefield, do we, us or them need to discuss us, we, them or y'all?

[Spitball]

In my opinion, if you are on the field and being judged by non-players, it matters.

[SoxFanForsyth]

As long as I continue to contribute to the Red Sox payroll via MLB.TV, jerseys, hats, tickets, concessions, etc, and I'm a huge fan, it's "we".

[jacksonianmarch]

If the Red Sox are going to market their Red Sox Nation ******** as everyone being in it for life, then you guys saying "we" is appropriate. They are making millions off that marketing campaign, so you guys get the opportunity to use the term "we"

[a700hitter]

In my opinion' date=' if you are on the field and being judged by non-players, it matters.[/quote']they really are our employees when you boil the whole thing down to it's essence. Without the fans there is no them, so we should probably call them them.

[AtWork]

If the Red Sox are going to market their Red Sox Nation ******** as everyone being in it for life' date=' then you guys saying "we" is appropriate. They are making millions off that marketing campaign, so you guys get the opportunity to use the term "we"[/quote']

 

The Yankees wish they had such an effective marketing campaign. They also charge for membership of "Yankees Universe" or whatever they call it.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

lol

[Dojji]

The Yankees wish they had such an effective marketing campaign. They also charge for membership of "Yankees Universe" or whatever they call it.

 

I got good value out of my Red Sox Nation membership. They bundled in Gameday Audio which I would have paid the exact same amount of money for, and I got some cheap bling besides.

[AtWork]

I got good value out of my Red Sox Nation membership. They bundled in Gameday Audio which I would have paid the exact same amount of money for' date=' and I got some cheap bling besides.[/quote']

 

Baaa... Baaa...

[jacksonianmarch]

The Yankees wish they had such an effective marketing campaign. They also charge for membership of "Yankees Universe" or whatever they call it.

 

Yes they do, hence why I use the term "we" when dealing with the Yanks. I am a paying customer, they are reaching out to us as fans and hence why I use "we".

[Spitball]

I appreciate the responses. Some of the posters I admire most have responded. I just have an issue with "we." I was at a class reunion once when someone refered to the football team. "We had tenacity despite our record." WTF! The guy was in the band! He was not a "we." How does a guy in the band show tenacity?

 

Anyway...when I say "they," I hope everyone understands.

[AtWork]

I never had an issue with fans referring to my team as "we". I thought it was great that they cared enough to show up in the first place.

[stevece80]

Unless you work for the team, it's "they". Hell, I still feel weird saying "we" at work because I'm not in management or any revenue generating arm of the company.

 

"We" is just incredibly entitled sounding. The only ones who feel anything tangible from games are those who play in them; luckily enough you can get on with your life if you try hard enough.

[Dojji]

Baaa... Baaa...

 

I was only in it for the freebies. Like I said I'd have paid the exact same amount of money for GDA anyhow, so why on earth not?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Oh god.

[stevece80]

they really are our employees when you boil the whole thing down to it's essence. Without the fans there is no them' date=' so we should probably call them them.[/quote']

 

Without the team there are no fans. Lest anyone forget that no one gave a s*** about the team for 40 years until the Impossible Dream. The team created the fandom, not the other way around.

 

Granted the sometimes strange obsessiveness has been what has allowed a smaller city in Boston to field a large market team, but it's clearly not a chicken/egg thing. If not for our parents' generation of fans, the team would be closer to what the metro area would dictate: read - a team with a budget in the 5-10 range in the league.

[a700hitter]

Without the team there are no fans. Lest anyone forget that no one gave a s*** about the team for 40 years until the Impossible Dream. The team created the fandom, not the other way around.

You are completely wrong about this.

[Emmz]

I say "we" all the time, just by habit. It is correct to say "they", not because "we" is entitled sounding, but because like Jerry Seinfeld said: "No, THEY won, YOU watched".

 

I'm hypocritical I guess, but only because of habit, I actually try to say "they" as much as I can, I just forget all the time. Fans are definitely sort of part of the team if they're buying merchandise, being a part of the community, etc.

 

I still don't think it's correct to say "we", but some people really make a big deal out of it. It doesn't matter, but it still holds true "they won, you watched". Sort of disrespectful of the athletes when you think about some of the slobs who say "we" that are sitting on the couch, most of which are criticizing the team all season, pissing & moaning, etc.

[Emmz]

Without the team there are no fans. Lest anyone forget that no one gave a s*** about the team for 40 years until the Impossible Dream. The team created the fandom' date=' not the other way around.[/quote']

 

Totally wrong, without fans, there would be no professional sports. Professional sports is all about fans. The fans were the inspiration for rich guys to pay people so they could entertain the fans and make profits. You could not be any more wrong about this one.

[Emmz]

I am of the belief that it doesn't really matter because the Red Sox don't care what we say anyways.

 

Do you know Red Sox players personally to get a accurate feel as to whether or not this holds true in reality? I have a feeling you're just making a wild guess on this one, which may or may not be true.

 

Regardless, it would be pretty blatantly disrespectful to say to David Ortiz maaan we really killed 'em tonight didn't we? I'm sure he wouldn't care really, considering you're a fan who may or may not contribute to the team's wealth. Regardless, in the back of his mind I'm sure he would be thinking "who the hell is this guy, and why is he a 'we'?"

 

It's pretty tacky to be honest.

[AtWork]

Do you know Red Sox players personally to get a accurate feel as to whether or not this holds true in reality? I have a feeling you're just making a wild guess on this one, which may or may not be true.

 

Regardless, it would be pretty blatantly disrespectful to say to David Ortiz maaan we really killed 'em tonight didn't we? I'm sure he wouldn't care really, considering you're a fan who may or may not contribute to the team's wealth. Regardless, in the back of his mind I'm sure he would be thinking "who the hell is this guy, and why is he a 'we'?"

 

It's pretty tacky to be honest.

 

I don't personally know any Red Sox, no

 

I think it's safe to say that they don't care whether we refer to them as "them" or "we" on TalkSox though.

[iortiz]

We; since it is our team.

[Spitball]

I don't personally know any Red Sox, no

 

I think it's safe to say that they don't care whether we refer to them as "them" or "we" on TalkSox though.

 

Hmmm...exactly...

[SCM33]

It is "The RedSox" and "The Yankees".

 

When referring to the Redsox OR Yankees......its "they".

 

When referring to the specific fanbases, we can say "we".

 

"We" should never be used when talking about either baseball team. We are not part of the team. We are fans, they are players.

[Cocos Disciples]

"They," since I am not a part of the team.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I always say we, out of habit, and because it's the easiest way to communicate amongst fans. It doesn't make me feel like a part of the team.

 

Anyway, I don't think it's wrong to say we. The fans and the players work together in a way. It's like a symbiotic relationship. If there isn't players, then the sport basically doesn't exist, therefore no fans. If there is no fans, there is no point to the sport. Sure, players can play in an empty stadium in front of only themselves, but why would someone want to do that? You have a talent you worked hard at, you want people to see you use that talent. You want to be cheered and have atmosphere. Not have what you do show up as some number in a newspaper.

[redsoxbeatz]

As long as I continue to contribute to the Red Sox payroll via MLB.TV' date=' jerseys, hats, tickets, concessions, etc, and I'm a huge fan, it's "we".[/quote']

 

Yeah. I mean, who would the team (as in the players) be without all the fans paying their salaries? Fans play a huge part. Ever been to or watched a Tampa Bay home game? That stadium looks like s*** w/no one in the stands and their mediocre record @ home & lack of $ to pay players proves it.

[Dojji]

I'll use either one depending on how I feel at the moment.