Would you date a rival fan? (help with academic research)

[sportprof101]

"What does rivalry mean to you?

I'm a college student working with my professors to answer that question and others related to understanding fans' perspective of MLB rivalries. Please take our survey (5-10 minutes) to tell us what rivalry means to Boston Red Sox fans, and we'll come back to share the results once compiled.

 

https://wcu.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_88Pi1EUnafKYGTH&mbsrc=mb0512

 

Thanks in advance for helping with our research! You can see this WSJ article for more about our previous rivalry work in college football (http://on.wsj.com/1zFB6Gd), and we look forward to learning about MLB rivalries as well.

 

(To Mods: Sorry if this isn't acceptable use of the board. If you'd like it posted elsewhere, just please let us know and we'll remove it; however, our similar survey in college football was popular for discussion in the team forums, and we hope your members will also enjoy it)

 

Tyler Mason, Sports Business student at Northern Kentucky University

Dr. Joe Cobbs, Northern Kentucky University

Dr. David Tyler, Western Carolina University"

[sk7326]

Yes. As long as she wasn't one to spike the football after games involving our teams that she wins. I'd certainly promise the reverse.

[yankthis]

Doesn't matter to me. Pro sports contests have no bearing or effect on anybody's life, unless they have some kind of an obsessive personality disorder. I see no difference between a person who is a fan of a particular sports team and a person who may or may not be a Beatles or Rolling Stones fan.

[SoxnCycles]

Considering Yankee fans are obnoxious by their very nature, it'd be a loooong season, sitting next to one on the couch every night.

 

I'm out.

[Palodios]

I once read an article about "missionary dating" (no, not that kind of missionary). Basically, in a relationship with two people of two different belief systems, one has the intention of eventually converting the other. The article summed up the reality that it almost never goes well. There's resentment, and failure, and arguments.

 

Personally, I have found that it is just easier to find someone who doesn't worship Satan.

[Dojji]

Sure why not, if she's informed enough to have a reasonable discussion. You can't spend the whole time talking about the weather.

[Bellhorn04]

Well, I'm happily married and my wife became a Red Sox fan because of me, so this doesn't pertain to me.

 

But I would pose this hypothetical: let's say a Red Sox fan is dating a girl who is a Yankee fan unbeknownst to him. And let's say he is madly in love with her and she is smoking hot (to cover both the deep and shallow attractions). He finds out she's a Yankee fan. I think he'd be kind of a dang fool not to find a way to work around that.

[Dojji]

Agreed. Bear rules notwithstanding you don't give up the love of your life just because of a sports affiliation. We've all heard of a marriage lasting through actual religious differences, much less sports fandom.

[sk7326]

Well, I'm happily married and my wife became a Red Sox fan because of me, so this doesn't pertain to me.

 

But I would pose this hypothetical: let's say a Red Sox fan is dating a girl who is a Yankee fan unbeknownst to him. And let's say he is madly in love with her and she is smoking hot (to cover both the deep and shallow attractions). He finds out she's a Yankee fan. I think he'd be kind of a dang fool not to find a way to work around that.

 

Sports is a silly reason not to love somebody. So she is a Yankee fan. I am sure I have poor taste in aspects of my life also.

[jacksonianmarch]

My wife is technically a Red Sox fan, but she hasn't watched a game on TV intently in years. My bet is she can name maybe three players on the team. If she were a die hard, it would be tough to handle

[Spudboy]

My wife is technically a Red Sox fan, but she hasn't watched a game on TV intently in years. My bet is she can name maybe three players on the team. If she were a die hard, it would be tough to handle

 

I think if you argued and fought over baseball you could have frequent make up sex.

[Spudboy]

I would do it.

 

Of course I'm the guy who married a Republican and then married a Russian.

 

I'm a glutton for punishment.

[cp176]

I would do it.

 

Of course I'm the guy who married a Republican and then married a Russian.

 

I'm a glutton for punishment.

 

Is she related to Putin? Don't piss her off, you'll have the latest version of the Russian KGB after you.

[cp176]

When I was a bit younger and in dating mode, what teams someone cheered for was not part of my criteria for dating. I was too damned shallow I guess.

[Thunder]

Well, I'm in high school, so my opinion might not count for much.

 

In CT, things are split right down the middle between Sox and Yanks. My town is in the East Central part of the state, so it leans just a bit toward the Red Sox. But nonetheless, there are some female Yankee fans that are worth "going through that struggle" for. I suspect many of them are bandwagons, so if they still claim themselves to be Yankees fans at the end of the season, I would gain some respect for them.

[Spudboy]

Is she related to Putin? Don't piss her off, you'll have the latest version of the Russian KGB after you.

 

No. She hates Putin even though they attended the same primary school in St. Petersburg.

 

That would be the FSB.

 

They are all f***ed in the head as far as I can tell. Totally different culture with no ethics or morals.

[seabeachfred]

Well, I'm happily married and my wife became a Red Sox fan because of me, so this doesn't pertain to me.

 

But I would pose this hypothetical: let's say a Red Sox fan is dating a girl who is a Yankee fan unbeknownst to him. And let's say he is madly in love with her and she is smoking hot (to cover both the deep and shallow attractions). He finds out she's a Yankee fan. I think he'd be kind of a dang fool not to find a way to work around that.

 

Pertains to me though Bellhorn. I have been happily married to Linda for almost 45 years and she is a rabid Angels fan. No problem that I can see.

[seabeachfred]

I would do it.

 

Of course I'm the guy who married a Republican and then married a Russian.

 

I'm a glutton for punishment.

 

You also showed a lot of class the first time around. As for the second time, take the words of Frank Sinatra to heart... LOVE'S ALLWAYS BETTER, THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

[SoxnCycles]

Well, I'm happily married and my wife became a Red Sox fan because of me, so this doesn't pertain to me.

 

But I would pose this hypothetical: let's say a Red Sox fan is dating a girl who is a Yankee fan unbeknownst to him. And let's say he is madly in love with her and she is smoking hot (to cover both the deep and shallow attractions). He finds out she's a Yankee fan. I think he'd be kind of a dang fool not to find a way to work around that.

 

Like that's going to happen.

Ever met a Yankee fan that didn't yap about them incessantly?

[GomesBeard]

 

They are all f***ed in the head as far as I can tell. Totally different culture with no ethics or morals.

 

So the same as Washington, DC, then.....

[GomesBeard]

My wife is a Patriots fan (well, bandwagoner ;-) and I am a Jets fan. We agree on all other sports (Sox, Celtics, Bruins). While the 2000's were tough, I'm hoping for a change in the pendulum shortly...

[Youk Of The Nation]

I was dating, and later engaged to, an Orioles fan. Not the same as the Yankees (not as bad), but she was a true die-hard. I've also dated a few Yankees fans, but only casually. As a Steelers and Red Wings fan, I have also as a consequence of my location dated a lot of Patriots and Bruins fans in the past. Bruins fans are alright, but seriously, Patriots fans are the absolute worst.

[SoxnCycles]

I was dating, and later engaged to, an Orioles fan. Not the same as the Yankees (not as bad), but she was a true die-hard. I've also dated a few Yankees fans, but only casually. As a Steelers and Red Wings fan, I have also as a consequence of my location dated a lot of Patriots and Bruins fans in the past. Bruins fans are alright, but seriously, Patriots fans are the absolute worst.

 

Be honest; it's all the "Oh god, Tom! Yes, Tommy, yes!", isn't it?

[Spudboy]

So the same as Washington, DC, then.....

 

No. Much much worse. It's endemic. The culture is just bad.

[afjay]

Wife was a Yankees fan (casually) when we met, told her I couldn't marry a Yankees fan. She's been die hard Sox since then.

[bostopz]

Hell yes!