Is it "we" or "they" ?

[iortiz]

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.

 

+1

[iortiz]

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']

 

Damn Yeah! :thumbsup:

[Emmz]

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.

 

No, the fans do not work with the team or anything like that. We sit at home with pizzas and burgers and complain most of the time while they do all the work. If there were no players, then we wouldn't give a crap about baseball anyways to begin with, because it doesn't exist. Without the fans, the sport exists, but there is no marketability. This does not entitle them to consider themselves part of the team.

 

The fans cheering isn't the issue here, it's the money. The ego is only secondary. Without the fans, there's no one buying gear, no season ticket holders, no people buying their massively overpriced ballpark food, no nothing. Thus, the athletes could not get paid, because there's no reason for it. The fans are the big factor here, however, this should not entitle us to anything other than being a fan.

[Emmz]

Yeah. I mean' date=' 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.[/quote']

 

But do you put on a uniform and perform for the team? Nope, you're just a fan. You're part of the community. I'd like to think that was enough for most of us.

[SoxFanForsyth]

No, the fans do not work with the team or anything like that. We sit at home with pizzas and burgers and complain most of the time while they do all the work. If there were no players, then we wouldn't give a crap about baseball anyways to begin with, because it doesn't exist. Without the fans, the sport exists, but there is no marketability. This does not entitle them to consider themselves part of the team.

 

The fans cheering isn't the issue here, it's the money. The ego is only secondary. Without the fans, there's no one buying gear, no season ticket holders, no people buying their massively overpriced ballpark food, no nothing. Thus, the athletes could not get paid, because there's no reason for it. The fans are the big factor here, however, this should not entitle us to anything other than being a fan.

 

The fanbase is absolutely part of the team. Obviously nobody here gets on the field and goes out and throws an inning, but think about home field advantage. Think about "the 6th man" in basketball, "the 12th man" in football. Always talking about the fans. Why? Because the fans get you amped up. They increase the intensity and the players perform better. Everyone plays on a different level when there are 37,000 people standing up cheering. The fans may not be part of the team, but they can absolutely have an impact on the games. You refer to them as "we" because you're not an outsider, you're a fan, you watch every game, write on message boards, etc.

[Palodios]

My father is a Red Sox fan. My grandfather was a Red Sox fan. His father was a Red Sox fan. I've paid a good deal of money on tickets, and I've cheered on this team through good times and bad. I think I have the right to use the pronoun "we" although I don't use it often.

[Emmz]

The fanbase is absolutely part of the team. Obviously nobody here gets on the field and goes out and throws an inning' date=' but think about home field advantage. Think about "the 6th man" in basketball, "the 12th man" in football. Always talking about the fans. Why? Because the fans get you amped up. They increase the intensity and the players perform better. Everyone plays on a different level when there are 37,000 people standing up cheering. The fans may not be part of the team, but they can absolutely have an impact on the games. You refer to them as "we" because you're not an outsider, you're a fan, you watch every game, write on message boards, etc.[/quote']

 

BZZZZZT! Wrong, the sixth man comes out onto the field (court in basketball) and plays. Getting amped doesn't mean squat other than the fans getting amped up and maybe a few spilled beers. They aren't a part of the team. You aren't. They played, you watched them play. You are a fan that is part of the community, and if you feel entitled to more, go try out for a team, maybe you'll work your way up the ladder some day.

 

Like I said, I'd like to think the fans were content with just being the fans.

[Emmz]

My father is a Red Sox fan. My grandfather was a Red Sox fan. His father was a Red Sox fan. I've paid a good deal of money on tickets' date=' and I've cheered on this team through good times and bad. I think I have the right to use the pronoun "we" although I don't use it often.[/quote']

 

That's great, but you forgot that you're not on the team, so you're not a "we". You're a "we" of the Red Sox Nation, and that's about it.

[Palodios]

That's great' date=' but you forgot that you're not on the team, so you're not a "we". You're a "we" of the Red Sox Nation, and that's about it.[/quote']

 

There is a very large distinction between saying "We won the world series!!" and saying "We've put a very good team on the field this year" or "We need a new starting pitcher to fill in this rotation".

[SoxFanForsyth]

BZZZZZT! Wrong, the sixth man comes out onto the field (court in basketball) and plays. Getting amped doesn't mean squat other than the fans getting amped up and maybe a few spilled beers. They aren't a part of the team. You aren't. They played, you watched them play. You are a fan that is part of the community, and if you feel entitled to more, go try out for a team, maybe you'll work your way up the ladder some day.

 

Like I said, I'd like to think the fans were content with just being the fans.

 

Yeah. You're right. No players every credit the fans for pumping them up and getting them to the next level.

 

Oh, wait....

[Emmz]

Yeah. You're right. No players every credit the fans for pumping them up and getting them to the next level.

 

Oh, wait....

 

*ever

 

And lol, you're still not a member of the Boston Red Sox. If you think the players really think the fans make a huge difference and aren't just looking for PR for the most part, that's your issue.

 

I don't pretend to know how fans impact the game out on the field, so from what I can see, it's very limited. That's just me, though. I also don't recall ever saying the players never credit the fans for pumping them up and what not. We've got straw here folks! Get your straw!

[Emmz]

There is a very large distinction between saying "We won the world series!!" and saying "We've put a very good team on the field this year" or "We need a new starting pitcher to fill in this rotation".

 

I agree, but that's because it's not putting yourself on the team like you did something other than cheer.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I'll say we all I want. Obviously I'm not on the field. The Red Sox are my team. I buy a shitload of their merchandise, I bust my ass getting my dad to buy mlb.tv, I watch nearly every game. I think any fan deserves to use "we". I don't think anyone will complain if we say "we're going to the World Series" am I right?

[InfernoOrangeSS]

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

 

This. I don't care if it bothers anyone. I'm a fan, if anyone doesn't like it...too bad.

[SoxFanForsyth]

*ever

 

And lol, you're still not a member of the Boston Red Sox. If you think the players really think the fans make a huge difference and aren't just looking for PR for the most part, that's your issue.

 

I don't pretend to know how fans impact the game out on the field, so from what I can see, it's very limited. That's just me, though. I also don't recall ever saying the players never credit the fans for pumping them up and what not. We've got straw here folks! Get your straw!

 

Yeah. I'm sure members of the Red Sox would much rather go play for the Marlins who are lucky to get 8,000 people on a weekday game, which turns into low revenues, which turns into poor players, which turns into losing. But I know that's far too convoluted for you to follow. I'll put it into simple terms for you. Fans = Revenues. Revenues = Good Players. Good Players = Winning.

 

But no, strong, loyal fan bases that stick around through s*****, losing seasons have no bearing on a teams success. You're right. The money pumped into the system is not at all tied to the fanbase.

[mvp 78]

I contribute tons of $ and time while at Stop & Shop. Doesn't mean I should use "we" when I'm in the produce section and asking something like "where do we keep the arugula?"

It's they unless you've been sent a W2.

[Palodios]

I contribute tons of $ and time while at Stop & Shop. Doesn't mean I should use "we" when I'm in the produce section and asking something like "where do we keep the arugula?"

It's they unless you've been sent a W2.

 

Do you shop exclusively at Stop and Shop, and no other supermarkets, ever? Do you wear clothes that say Stop & Shop on them? Do you scream loudly in support when you notice how fresh the produce or meat is? Do you post on TalkStop&Shop.com ? Do you spend 20+ hours a week watching the building, and all its staff from the security monitors? Do you have an intense hatred of all Hannaford/Big Y/Price Rite stores? Has your family been devout Stop and Shop supporters for 90 years?

 

Not a valid comparison.

[mvp 78]

Except the argument was made that solely concerned $ spent on the Sox.

 

Still should be a they.

[Palodios]

Except the argument was made that solely concerned $ spent on the Sox.

 

Still should be a they.

 

Time and money =/= just money.

[RedSox_Ruszkowski]

i say "we". i say we because, as a fan, we get so wrapped up in the game. look at us, we spend all day long talking about the sox. we go to games, we support the team, we speculate on trade rumors at teh deadline. we feel like we can do better than the manager. we get emotinoally involved. we FEEL like we're part of the team. we feel that if we wear our favorite sox shirt that we can bring some mojo to the team and help them get out of a slump. we say we as being part of the nation!!

[Steagles]

As long as I purchase merchandise, tickets and support the Sox finacially, it's my right to refer to myself as part of the Red Sox, as we all should. No fan base = no BoSox. Red Sox nation is part of the organization and always will be, until every person stops buying licensed stuff and tickets, which is absolutely never. We are the Sox.

[Dojji]

Screw your linguistic tyranny.

 

Which pronoun I use is not your business. I will use the one I feel like, and you can read it if you want to, or not, and that's the end of the relationship between my word choice and you.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Plain and simple, the Red Sox do not exist without the fans. The fans do not exist without the Red Sox. There is a dependence on both sides. The Sox depend on the fans for revenues, the fans enjoy watching them play. It's "we".

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Damn right it's "we". As long as I'm a part of Red Sox Narion I will continue to say "we".

[mvp 78]

How about: if you haven't been to Fenway, you can't say we.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I will eventually.

[BornToRun]

It's "we", it's to the point where I'll get asked by my dad or brother, "How'd you do last night?" and know exactly what they're talking about.

[Spitball]

But do you put on a uniform and perform for the team? Nope' date=' you're just a fan. You're part of the community. I'd like to think that was enough for most of us.[/quote']

 

I agree. The guys putting on the uniforms, sweating through workouts, being away from family for days at a time, pulling muscles, breaking bones, enduring public criticism, and actually having the talent to be employed by the team have earned to right to be part of the "we."

 

As fans, we might feel entitled to use the term "we" but we are not officially part of the real "we." We can miss some innings because we have other commitments. We can criticize without consequences from our employers. We won't be fired, traded, or sent down. We are fans. We are part of one of the greatest and most faithful groups of fans in all of sports...but we are not invested in the whole picture that goes with the "we" no matter how much money we spend or time we spend on the team.

 

Like I said before, I don't have a real problem with the "we" because I am not really part of the team. If I was, I would feel differently. I have almost a stalker type infatuation with the Red Sox and have been for about fifty years, but I am not really a Red Sox. I am just a fan.

[SCM33]

When the Redsox won the World Series, what did you say......honestly????

 

Did you say, "I cant believe they finally did it!!!!!"

 

or

 

Did you say, "I cant believe we finally did it!!!!!"

 

Most people will say that they cant believe THEY finally did it. Therefore, its THEY, not WE.......us fans do not get paid by them, we dont have baseball cards and we arent mentioned in the official program. Hell, none of us even work for Aramark selling peanuts and soda (even they have more of a right to say "we", as they work there).

 

WE are fans....THEY are the organization.

[iortiz]

The fan base is part of the team. It is symbiotic, so...WE!