If someone asks where you're from, do you say the place you're from then "Go [sports team name]"?
Posted by FinishOrnery2549@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 62 comments
I've seen this a lot in movies and shows and was just wondering whether it was real or not.
MrLongWalk@reddit
Sometimes but often with a bit of irony
FemboyEngineer@reddit
Same—saying I live in Northern Queens does let me half-ironically run into a "Let's go Mets baby get a home run love da mets" ramble, depending on the crowd/vibes
WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit
No
FunTricky903@reddit
Tell me honestly, what’s your goal with using the phrase “sportsball”?
WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit
To be descriptive
We aren’t talking about watching weightlifting or nascar or track here are we?
FunTricky903@reddit
So why not just say “sports”?
WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit
That is less descriptive
Why not just say “entertainment”?
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
That isn't why you do it.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Oh...so you like those competitions.
Adjective-Noun123456@reddit
Imagine actually saying "sportsball" in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty six.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
People using 'sports balls unironically are so insufferable.
FreeKevinBrown@reddit
This might be the dumbest assumption about Americans.
FinishOrnery2549@reddit (OP)
I wasn't even making an assumption? i was wondering if this was just a stereotype in movies or if some people actually did that.
-PeterParker-@reddit
Can you give an example? I don’t think I have ever seen that in a movie or show.
Delicious-Action-369@reddit
As an American I feel like I've seen that in a decent number of random sitcoms or comedy medias. Not necessarily LITERALLY as OP has written but I feel like interactions involving "I'm from location and random sports team information" or "I'm from area" and someone respond with "random sports team information" is in like, a non zero number of things.
Like especially sitcoms with a high usage of a bar or in episodes about sports. It might also translate/localize poorly if you aren't watching the show in English.
Like in Bojack Horseman when Diane's family gets met for the first time this interaction doesn't literally happen word for word but the same essence is there, feel like I've seen it in a lot of family guy episodes too, along with a strong memory of it happening in like Big Bang Theory or one of the Chuck Lorre sitcoms.
-PeterParker-@reddit
I don't watch a lot of sitcoms or comedies. I see how this can be used as a satire or joke not necessarily a common trope found in American interactions.
OldStyleThor@reddit
I have never seen this in a single movie.
Current_Poster@reddit
It does happen in Fargo.
FunTricky903@reddit
What makes you think it’s a “stereotype in movies”?
CupBeEmpty@reddit
That would be a bit odd unless it made sense in context. It happens but isn’t common.
I do however end most public statements with “Boston delenda est.”
Leiostomus@reddit
Roll Tide!!!
daffylexer@reddit
I think you mistyped Geaux Tigers 😆
pdzulu@reddit
What a unique way to say Go Dawgs
Odd_Mathematician654@reddit
No. My city has professional Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey. Why would I mention one over the other? But if asked where did you go to school, you'll hear Gig 'em or Hook 'em from our family members.
CatherineAm@reddit
For Philadelphia, it's more like they say "Philadelphia" and you can reply many things such as "me too", "oh nice", "my cousin went to Temple", "Pat's or Geno's" (don't ask this though; it's outdated and for tourists only) or the modern classic, "Go Birds".
Saying the latter mostly implies "me too", or at least some kind of connection with the place (or these days, now that it is a well-known cultural phenomenon, that you are familiar with their culture), and is really the only sports related, common, greeting.
Will they say "Philadelphia, Go Birds"? Maybe during football season. But it is much more common as a reply.
m00nriveter@reddit
No. I say where I’m from and then say progressively larger area cities until I get to the major urban center that’s about 80 miles away and they finally light up and say “oh! I know where that is!”
kit-kat315@reddit
Me too!
And I scale the answer based on where I am. To someone in the next state over it's "near Binghamton." A couple states over "near the NY-PA border." Another country, "near NYC."
TheOwlMarble@reddit
I'd first have to care enough about sportsball to even know what the local sports teams are called.
InvestigatorJaded261@reddit
I do not.
DragApprehensive9235@reddit
Go Bills! It’s how we say hello.
kit-kat315@reddit
No, but I've heard "Go Bills" as a greeting, and also the end of a commencement speech up in Buffalo.
My daughter is going to college there and people are very keen about football.
I live near a much smaller city and it took a sec to even remember the names of our two sports teams (Rumble Ponies baseball and Black Bears hockey).
TheBimpo@reddit
No, I use my right hand to show them exactly where I’m from.
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
No, I don't.
JohnMarstonSucks@reddit
I have a couple of diehard sports alignments, but that's just stupid.
rockettaco37@reddit
I’m from Buffalo. Go Bills!
But nah, in all honesty I’ve never seen that
dangleicious13@reddit
No
Upbeat_Call4935@reddit
I don’t personally participate, but “O-H”
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
"Sucks."
xxxjessicann00xxx@reddit
Maybe some day they won't need two people to spell a four letter word.
Cheap_Coffee@reddit
No, I don't.
bearss_r_us@reddit
Only if you’re from Philly.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
No. That is stupid.
Unless it is relevant to the rest of the existing conversation.
For what it's worth, even on TV and movies it's usually said with a note of sarcasm or irony.
Basic_Visual6221@reddit
Never been to Eagles territory i see.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
A 'Go Birds' among Philadelphians is not the same as the usual get-to-know-you introductions.
MiserableMemory5149@reddit
Was about to say, go birds! Is the standard Philly hello
mburucuja@reddit
Not unless it’s relevant to the conversation. Like if we were already talking about sports or someone asked what I was doing and it involved sports.
But, Go Pack Go! 🧀
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
FTP
RichardAboutTown@reddit
Not usually, but I believe I have from time to time. Possibly ironically, probably when there's already some sports context.
tygerbrees@reddit
Who Dat!!
ninjette847@reddit
I've literally never heard anyone say that and I'm from Chicago
catiebug@reddit
No, this phenomenon is pretty exclusive to Philadelphia.
Basic_Visual6221@reddit
Well I'm from Philly. Go birds is said as a greeting, salutation, introduction, ending a conversation, starting a conversation, ending a fight, starting a fight with a non eagles fan. Pretty much everything. So yea, if your Philly this is true.
way_faringstranger@reddit
As an eastern PA resident can confirm. My family originally hails from western New York, and it's similar up there with 'go Bills'. Works for greeting, salutations, departure, and interjection.
Typically; though, if I'm explaining where I'm from to a stranger, coworker, etc. the sports portion is left out.
TheFishtosser@reddit
I’ve jokingly said “go blue” before but it was purely sarcasm
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
Fuck no, not unless they bring up sports.
Appropriate_Copy8285@reddit
No, I usually say where im from, followed by "fuck the Patriots".
Ok-Energy-9785@reddit
No
NightOwl173@reddit
Nope.
Allenies@reddit
No. But a bunch of times it's been followed up with "aw cool. You a Cubs fan?". And I say, no.
Hoosier_Jedi@reddit
No. I don’t care about sports.
DukeofBraintree918@reddit
Typically no I don't
Popular-Local8354@reddit
Really depends on the context, I’m much more likely to do it for my college team though.