Not a usual here, but I have a random question for you

derky17

Do you refer to the teams you root for in an everyday sense as "we"?  As in, "the last time we went to the Superbowl I was living in Phoenix?" 

I used to refer to the teams I WORKED for in a "WE" sense--as in "We have a game tonight or we're away"...because that actually did affect me in both my professional AND personal life.  My check and the players check came from the same person and although I wasn't on the playing field, I was part of the organization and actually had a stake in the outcome of games and how well/poorly the team did.   

So, I'm curious--is that common?  I can't actually remember how I acted as a fan before working professionally in sports, so maybe I too used the "we."  

roar

DH and I do NOT refer to professional teams as "we."  Neither of us work for a pro team, we do not play for them, we have no affiliation with pro teams other than being fans.

However, DH works in collegiate athletics and the college he works for, when they play, both of us will refer to the team as "we" because, well, DH gets a paycheck from that university.  He knows the coaches and players on a personal level.  They are part of the "we."

As alumni, we also refer to our alma mater as "we."  We paid good money to go to school dammit, so alma maters are defintely "we."

What gets confusing for us, is that DH will still refer to the last university he worked at as "we" and that university is in the same conference as our alma mater, so sometimes I have to get him to clarify the "we" he's talking about.

Did any of that make sense?  I realized I used a lot of pronouns. 

madelyn07

roar:

DH and I do NOT refer to professional teams as "we."  Neither of us work for a pro team, we do not play for them, we have no affiliation with pro teams other than being fans.

However, DH works in collegiate athletics and the college he works for, when they play, both of us will refer to the team as "we" because, well, DH gets a paycheck from that university.  He knows the coaches and players on a personal level.  They are part of the "we."

As alumni, we also refer to our alma mater as "we."  We paid good money to go to school dammit, so alma maters are defintely "we."

Pretty much this. 

My husband is a college coach. The team really is "we"...our lives revolve around the sport, our main source of income is because of the sport through the university...the team is, essentially, an extension of us and our family. 

Molly Jean

When I worked for a hockey team I referred to us as 'we'.  But WE were like a family considering if you work in sports you work 70 hours a week. 

As far as just being a fan, I think it depends.  Sometimes I will talk about how 'we' really need our defense on point today or 'we' need to score a touchdown on this drive. 

But other times, with other teams, I just refer to them by their name.  Like "f-ing Cubs broke my heart again."

Haha

derky17

roar:

DH and I do NOT refer to professional teams as "we."  Neither of us work for a pro team, we do not play for them, we have no affiliation with pro teams other than being fans.

However, DH works in collegiate athletics and the college he works for, when they play, both of us will refer to the team as "we" because, well, DH gets a paycheck from that university.  He knows the coaches and players on a personal level.  They are part of the "we."

As alumni, we also refer to our alma mater as "we."  We paid good money to go to school dammit, so alma maters are defintely "we."

What gets confusing for us, is that DH will still refer to the last university he worked at as "we" and that university is in the same conference as our alma mater, so sometimes I have to get him to clarify the "we" he's talking about.

Did any of that make sense?  I realized I used a lot of pronouns. 

Yep.  Totally makes sense--and I too would refer to my alma mater as a "we" too if it were in context. 

derky17

Molly Jean:

When I worked for a hockey team I referred to us as 'we'.  But WE were like a family considering if you work in sports you work 70 hours a week. 

Haha

Ding ding ding.  Though I think a lot of us would refer to our time together more like a Frat house/ family.   

Molly Jean

derky17:

Molly Jean:

When I worked for a hockey team I referred to us as 'we'.  But WE were like a family considering if you work in sports you work 70 hours a week. 

Haha

Ding ding ding.  Though I think a lot of us would refer to our time together more like a Frat house/ family.   

Umm TOTALLY.  A dysfunction, but hilarious, family to say the least.

jacki_sue

Hm, I guess I'm the first one to admit to this!   When I'm referring to "my" teams, I say "we."  

"What are we gonna do for a closer?!"
"Martz really effed us with that playcall."

*shrug*  Never really gave much thought to it, I guess.

J

tjlovesthepokes

I think I'm guilty of saying "we" when it comes to my team. Maybe it's because I'm passionate about them...? My life pretty much revolves around football season and somewhat around basketball season.

I use the term "we" whether we're doing amazing or whether we're sucking it up. For instance: in football we're projected to do awesome next year. In basketball, we're not doing well at all.

I really don't mind the use of we or them... but it really bugs me when it's "we" when the team is doing well but when the team is shiit it's "they/them/whatever".
I don't like bandwagoners or fairweather fans. It's all or nothing.

suzannepdc

I totally do this and am not embarrassed to say that I do.  I always use "we" and "us" when referring to my teams.  I have been a fan of the Washington Redskins since before some of the members of the team were born!  And seriously, I am much more a Redskin than Fat Albert Haynesworth!  I think most people do this - sports fandom can be a very personal thing.

GatorMrs_Esq

Yup. And if I'm talking to a fan of an opposing team, I'll say 'you' to refer to his/her team.

Vikki2pay

I'm guilty of using we and we're when talking about "our" teams, but ususally only when talking to another fan of the team. 

I don't say it to people that don't care about that team.

nchambers1123

Yep.. quilty as charged.

blueandgold749

I say 'we' all the time for all my sports and don't think twice about it.  It's no big deal.

2bAEBurbey

I switch, but only in certain contexts. "They are in Chicago tonight." "We're winning/losing." I'm definitely not in Chicago, but the team includes the fans who cheer them on. If the fans aren't as pumped the players generally aren't as pumped.

I think fans are included in the team. The players are playing, but with an empty stadium there isn't much of a team.