Why do people say 'we'

[jrmasm]

when discussing sports if their participation is only from the sidelines?

 

[mommasita]

Team spirit?

 

[sue1013]

Good question I've always wondered that myself.

 

[mrsltg]

when discussing sports if their participation is only from the sidelines?

Same reason men say, "We're pregnant!"

 

[jrmasm]

Same reason men say, "We're pregnant!"

Huh. That's interesting. Most people I hear say that are women.

 

[Galahad]

I think it's odd when folks say that about a professional team. But when they say it about, say, their college team it makes more sense. At least in the last there was the affinity that you and the team at least chose the same college and share the same space and experiences. But professional teams are just paid entertainers for the most part. In many parts of the country most of the members of the team don't even live in the city their team calls home. So to say "we" or especially to "trash talk" with another city about the prowess of "their" teams seems pretty silly.

 

[Acklander]

I say "we" when referring to my Patriots and my Red Sox - but I've paid a lot of money over the years (tickets, t-shirts, watching them on TV, etc....) so as a financial contributor to the big picture I feel entitled to say "we won the game this week". If it weren't for the people on the sidelines would their be people playing on the field???

 

[jrmasm]

eh, I don't buy the financial support angle. I drive and pay for my kid's sports activities. But come game time, it's all her.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It's a pet peeve of mine as well -- in pro or college sports. I especially hate it when TV commentators use 'we' -- they're not down there playing with the team.

 

[prprincess]

Ditto. It especially bugs me when the players are being criticized for not playing up to par. Most of the people who use the term probably couldn't do as well!!

 

[Jennasis]

Oooh I HATE that!! "We" didn't do anything...."they" did!

 

[KelNottAt]

I think I learned in sociology that rooting for sports teams is the modern day version of rooting for our "tribe" in battle. Millions of years ago the warriors (team) really were an extension of ourselves and we depended on them for basic survival. Today, when we refer to our teams as "we," some scientists would argue we can't help ourelves because we're "programmed" to belong to the tribe/team.

The habit really doesn't bother me at all. It makes it easy to tell two teams apart. "We and us" versus "they and them." What's the alternative? They and them versus they and them?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Same reason men say, "We're pregnant!"

Oh gag me. I hate it when people say that.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I see it alot in the kid's sports. Moms will say "We got 2nd in the tournament!" uh, well I personally didn't even place. I sat in the stands and ate a bag of popcorn.


reminds me of my son's current math teacher....
She sends me an email every week.

"We turned in all our assigments this week. Our grade on the weekly quiz was a B-."

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

With a college team, I say "we" because its a team representing a school I paid good money to attend. I was a part of campus life, attended games, etc. In my case that means I can, but do not always, refer to the UNC Tarheels, Duke Blue Devils, and UNC Charlotte 49ers as "we".

A bit trickier on the pro level. I do sometimes say "we" when referring to the Carolina Panthers. While I am some what financially invested in them, I supsect it has more to do with emotional regional attachment similar to what another poster said about the Patriots and BoSox. FWIW, I tend to use the "we" only on sports talk boards and such and not so much IRL.

 

[Missy1961]

I have often noticed that it's "we" won & "they" lost! :

 

[mommasita]

I have often noticed that it's "we" won & "they" lost! :

That is so true

 

[BuckyFan04]

Green Bay Packer fans are known for referring to the Packers as "we." The Packers are not owned by one single person, but are owned by the City of Green Bay and their fans. This helps to ensure that the Packers will never be moved from Green Bay to another city. A number of fans hold shares of stock in the organization. There is a limit to how many shares of stock the person could buy in order to prevent one person from holding too many shares and claiming ownership of the team.

From http://www.packers.com:
Of all the reasons that make the Green Bay Packers and their story so incredible and unique, the most significant is simply this: The team is literally owned by its fans.

Presently, 111,967 people (representing 4,750,925 shares) can lay claim to a franchise ownership interest.

Shares of stock include voting rights, but the redemption price is minimal, no dividends are ever paid, the stock cannot appreciate in value, and there are no season ticket privileges associated with stock ownership. No shareholder is allowed to own more than 200,000 shares, a safeguard to ensure that no one individual is able to assume control of the club.
---
Also, I refer to the Badgers as "we" because they represent the university that I attend.

 

[kasar]

For the same reason grown men wear someone else's jersey. Just in case Tom Brady gets hurt they can grab that guy in section 215 - he's all suited up and ready to play! To be part of something, I guess.

I don't understand the amount of time and energy devoted to pro sports but obviously I'm in the very small minority. I'm fine with that.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I have often noticed that it's "we" won & "they" lost! :

Not necessarily...I seem to remember saying "God, we suck!!" when talking about my beloved Miami Dolphins the last few years!

I have no idea why I say "we" when talking about the Fins, Heat, and Marlins...I just do.