Comments on: The “us” of being a fan http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/ Lowell Cohn's pertinent and impertinent take on sports Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:19:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Von Dahlk http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40689 Von Dahlk Wed, 19 Dec 2012 01:08:18 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40689 Fans are the backing.. No fans, no team... We. Fans are the backing.. No fans, no team… We.

]]> By: Steve http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40688 Steve Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:47:56 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40688 I absolutely am an "Us" or "We." I participate in the experience and enable the building of Stadiums through my taxes and ticket purchases. I purchase World Series DVD's, hats, shirts et al. I pay for satellite TV so that I can watch every Giants game and the 49ers when they are not broadcast over the air. If not for me (and people like me) who give their money and time, there would be no sports teams. I am every bit a part of the Giants and 49ers and when I refer to the great game we played on Sunday night, I absolutely mean WE. I absolutely am an “Us” or “We.” I participate in the experience and enable the building of Stadiums through my taxes and ticket purchases. I purchase World Series DVD’s, hats, shirts et al. I pay for satellite TV so that I can watch every Giants game and the 49ers when they are not broadcast over the air. If not for me (and people like me) who give their money and time, there would be no sports teams. I am every bit a part of the Giants and 49ers and when I refer to the great game we played on Sunday night, I absolutely mean WE.

]]> By: Seth http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40593 Seth Sat, 15 Dec 2012 23:35:34 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40593 It's not an "us" in the literal sense, but more of an "us" as an emotional attachment. I guarantee you there are fans that are just as emotionally attached to their respective team as the players on that team. It’s not an “us” in the literal sense, but more of an “us” as an emotional attachment. I guarantee you there are fans that are just as emotionally attached to their respective team as the players on that team.

]]> By: Capts http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40591 Capts Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:19:09 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40591 The Raiders and the A's were always a connecting point between family member. My father and I don't share much in common, but we always had the Oakland teams to discuss and get excited about. They are part of our community's social fabric and while the owners, players, coaches may change the colors and idea behind the teams remain. Although, basing one's self worth on a team's performance is going way too far and unfortunately, I see it a lot nowadays. The Raiders and the A’s were always a connecting point between family member. My father and I don’t share much in common, but we always had the Oakland teams to discuss and get excited about. They are part of our community’s social fabric and while the owners, players, coaches may change the colors and idea behind the teams remain. Although, basing one’s self worth on a team’s performance is going way too far and unfortunately, I see it a lot nowadays.

]]> By: b4huxley http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40586 b4huxley Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:12:21 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40586 I agree with you Lowell, I look at the team with a complete non bias, they are not my family not my friends, they are a team I love due to years of sentimentality built up through shared experinces with those I love around their franchise. By saying we or us I feel like I somehow take credit for their actions and effort, I am not running and sweating with them, I am not their ball boy or even their water boy, I am merely a flag waving fan, I will forever be on the outside clammoring for their success and excellence. To state we or us to me cheapens their efforts and achievments, I have not earned a single shred or slice of their superbowl trophies or rings. It is laughable to believe that I deserve to claim what they have rightfully earned fought for and won. I agree with you Lowell, I look at the team with a complete non bias, they are not my family not my friends, they are a team I love due to years of sentimentality built up through shared experinces with those I love around their franchise. By saying we or us I feel like I somehow take credit for their actions and effort, I am not running and sweating with them, I am not their ball boy or even their water boy, I am merely a flag waving fan, I will forever be on the outside clammoring for their success and excellence.
To state we or us to me cheapens their efforts and achievments, I have not earned a single shred or slice of their superbowl trophies or rings. It is laughable to believe that I deserve to claim what they have rightfully earned fought for and won.

]]> By: Jumbo Shrimp http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40578 Jumbo Shrimp Sat, 15 Dec 2012 06:35:24 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40578 We "Americans" We "humans" We "fans" Imagine how much more entitled Seahawks fans must feel, having had the #12 retired in order to recognize the importance of fans. If homefield really does provide an advantage, then perhaps fans are actually entitled to say "we." Of course, I'm not a stadium visitor, dispassionately preferring my couch within 50 feet of everything I need for 3-4 hours of escapism. I don't say "we," and I understand your question. We “Americans”
We “humans”
We “fans”

Imagine how much more entitled Seahawks fans must feel, having had the #12 retired in order to recognize the importance of fans. If homefield really does provide an advantage, then perhaps fans are actually entitled to say “we.”

Of course, I’m not a stadium visitor, dispassionately preferring my couch within 50 feet of everything I need for 3-4 hours of escapism.

I don’t say “we,” and I understand your question.

]]> By: Loneraider78 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40572 Loneraider78 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:58:31 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40572 There's no home field advantage in an empty building. We matter. We are part of what the team is. We built the leagues up to what they are. Case closed. There’s no home field advantage in an empty building.

We matter. We are part of what the team is.

We built the leagues up to what they are.

Case closed.

]]> By: Mike in N. Oakland http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40567 Mike in N. Oakland Sat, 15 Dec 2012 01:12:09 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40567 If someone buys stock, then they feel like they own a piece of the company and could say "we did well today" or "i got my butt kicked today" if Wall St. goes up and down. If someone is watching the team, they are an investor as time is money. If someone buys a jersey (or any item the team has rights to), they are an investor as merchandise sales go back to the team to spend on ways to make the team better. Without "us" the fans, there is no team. So my opinion for this semantics issue: the "we" is certainly fine to use. (Don't get me started on the whole RBI vs. RBIs thing either! It's an acronym. Pluralize an acronym by putting an s on the end. I have an IOU. I have two IOUs. "Two RBI" sounds silly and I refuse to say it.) If someone buys stock, then they feel like they own a piece of the company and could say “we did well today” or “i got my butt kicked today” if Wall St. goes up and down.

If someone is watching the team, they are an investor as time is money.

If someone buys a jersey (or any item the team has rights to), they are an investor as merchandise sales go back to the team to spend on ways to make the team better.

Without “us” the fans, there is no team. So my opinion for this semantics issue: the “we” is certainly fine to use.

(Don’t get me started on the whole RBI vs. RBIs thing either! It’s an acronym. Pluralize an acronym by putting an s on the end. I have an IOU. I have two IOUs. “Two RBI” sounds silly and I refuse to say it.)

]]> By: KauaiRobert http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40565 KauaiRobert Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:26:26 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40565 It's more fun that way. . . . ~ALOHA~ It’s more fun that way.
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~ALOHA~

]]> By: Steve the cat rescuer http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16690/the-us-of-being-a-fan/comment-page-1/#comment-40561 Steve the cat rescuer Fri, 14 Dec 2012 23:06:30 +0000 http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=16690#comment-40561 Interesting post by mbabco. Reminds me of a couple of middle aged friends who always use "we" and "us" when referring to the Niners or Giants. I always respond with "How many runs did you drive in?" or "How many passes did you catch?" I'm a fan and appreciate enthusiasm for teams, but I think there are better ways to express it than we and us. Interesting post by mbabco. Reminds me of a couple of middle aged friends who always use “we” and “us” when referring to the Niners or Giants. I always respond with “How many runs did you drive in?” or “How many passes did you catch?” I’m a fan and appreciate enthusiasm for teams, but I think there are better ways to express it than we and us.

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