Men can only root for 1 team!

[falafel]

In the NBA, your two favorite teams from different conferences play each other only twice until the Finals. In baseball, because of interleague play, your two favorite teams from different leagues could play each other 3-6 times. In fact, in baseball your 2 favorite teams can play each other more than in AFC/NFC matchups in the NFL or the NBA.

Baseball is not your best way to illustrate the separation factor for your two favorite teams. In fact, it may be the worst.

[Hot Lunch]

I have no idea what Scott Van Pelt subscribes to. But I'll shoot him an email. Maybe he can settle this debate for us on air!

Invite him to CUF, he would be a great addition.

[beelzebabette]

According to Scott Van Pelt on ESPN radio, men cannot have a 2nd favorite team. That is something that only women are allowed.

Without reading the rest of this thread, I'm on board with this. I'm so glad SVP has now granted me permission.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Without reading the rest of this thread, I'm on board with this. I'm so glad SVP has now granted me permission.

Funny, you were the person I thought would appreciate this best as I was listening to in on the radio.

[beelzebabette]

Funny, you were the person I thought would appreciate this best as I was listening to in on the radio.

[CJF]

Lawyers are funny.

[il Padrino Ute]

I have no favorite child. Do you?

Nope.

I disagree with Van Pelt. Of course, I don't have a favorite NBA team; I kind of have a favorite NFL team, but I don't really care about the NFL any longer; I do have a favorite MLB team, but there are several other teams in both leagues that I do like.

In college, I have 2 favorite teams, though I really only follow one because of proximity. If I lived in Poughkeepsie, I'd follow both Marist and the U equally.

[TripletDaddy]

Agreed.

However, admittedly, if you ignore the times when two baseball teams from different leagues play each other during the regular season, then they basically never play each other until the post-season. Hence your special exemption for baseball, I guess?

[falafel]

Agreed.

However, admittedly, if you ignore the times when two baseball teams from different leagues play each other during the regular season, then they basically never play each other until the post-season. Hence your special exemption for baseball, I guess?

Correct (although I'm not sure you're really agreeing with me... ). Teams in the NL Central, for example, will play each other 15+ times a season. Interleague play accounts for maybe 3 or 4 games against one team from the opposite league, and each team has only a few interleague series. Even under most extreme situation, an NL team will only have seen a certain AL team 4 times during the year. It will never play against the vast majority of AL teams, even if it made it to the world series. The two leagues are almost entirely separate until an 7-game series in October.

Contrast the NBA, where each team will play teams from the opposite conference at least two times every season. You still would only play teams from your own conference 4 times a season at best. Rivalries can be made for any combinations of teams.

[wuapinmon]

According to Scott Van Pelt on ESPN radio, men cannot have a 2nd favorite team. That is something that only women are allowed.

Discuss.

falawful, you'll notice that he says "favorite team." In that sentence, the adjective "favorite" modifies the noun "team."

You can only have one favorite team in each sport or simply one favorite team across all sports?

By definition, how can you have more than one favorite team in each sport? How can you have 2 favorite football teams? You can follow 2 teams, but how can they both be your favorite?

You're maintaining, in grammatical terminology, that "favorite" is the superlative of 'liked.'

The maxim is mistaken.

favorite:
a. One that enjoys special favor or regard.
b. One that is trusted, indulged, or preferred above all others, especially by a superior: a favorite of the monarch.

Both are acceptable. Thus, in theory, it IS possible to have more than one favorite. However, per Scott Van Pelt (and me), definition 'a' violates the spirit and unwritten rules of sports fanaticism.

Whoa there, compadre. You've given us the noun definition, not that of the adjectival form of the word.


When the OED speaks, the discussion ends.

adj.

1. a. (Not regarded as an adj. by Johnson, who places quots. 1711 and 1725 under the n.) Regarded with especial favour, liking, or preference; beloved, chosen, favoured above others.
1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 262 {page}9 Every particular Master in this Art [criticism] has his favourite Passages in an Author. 1725 POPE Odyss. I. 402 So Fathers speak..Their sage experience to the fav'rite child. 1747 GRAY (title), Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat. 1816 BYRON Ch. Har. III. xxxix, When Fortune fled her spoiled and favorite child. 1830 F. A. KEMBLE Let. in Record of a Girlhood (1878) II. iii. 106 Portia is my favouritest of all Shakespeare's women. 1870 E. PEACOCK Ralf Skirl. 52 Their favourite anecdotes had all been told.

You'll note that the noun definition really refers to one who is favored by a superior. However, you'll also notice that the examples include "favourite anecdotes," implying a plural meaning. So, perhaps favorite is not solely the superlative of 'liked' like DDD holds. From what I can tell, you have to do a Wynona Rider-like "most favorite" in order to get the superlative meaning.

I guess I'm not a man.

When it comes to college football and basketball I have two favorite teams: BYU and UNC. I have strong ties to both schools and when they play each other I feel conflicted over who to root for. In the end I have to tell myself that I can't lose, because regardless of the outcome my team is going to win.

That's how I felt during the Tulane/BYU rout, even after Lebowski guilted me into saying that I was solely a BYU fan.

[falafel]

falawful, you'll notice that he says "favorite team." In that sentence, the adjective "favorite" modifies the noun "team."

Whoa there, compadre. You've given us the noun definition, not that of the adjectival form of the word.

Its not going to make a difference. If I said "the Cubs are my favorite team, but the Angels are my second favorite," the meaning is identical. In this instance, "favorite team" is equal to the noun "favorite." Thus, while the first use of "favorite" is technically an adjective, it is used to modify a noun. Therefore, the noun definition is indeed relevant here.

When the OED speaks, the discussion ends.

The OED only ends the discussion if we care about how the word was initially used in print. The first reference the OED gives is 1711. The last is 1870. Come back when you have something discussing usage of the word in the last 25 years. Sure you're not so simple as to believe that the definition of "favorite" has remained static for nearly 300 years.

[wuapinmon]

Its not going to make a difference. If I said "the Cubs are my favorite team, but the Angels are my second favorite," the meaning is identical. In this instance, "favorite team" is equal to the noun "favorite." Thus, while the first use of "favorite" is technically an adjective, it is used to modify a noun. Therefore, the noun definition is indeed relevant here.



The OED only ends the discussion if we care about how the word was initially used in print. The first reference the OED gives is 1711. The last is 1870. Come back when you have something discussing usage of the word in the last 25 years. Sure you're not so simple as to believe that the definition of "favorite" has remained static for nearly 300 years.

You're saucy today. You'll soon learn some respect. I have use for you on the master's sail barge.

[John McClain]

:clap:This is a truism. The Apostle James reminds us that a "double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." I have enough instablility in my life; I don't need it to bleed over into sports. A quick look in my closet and you will not find any other gear other than BYU gear.:clap:

[TripletDaddy]

:clap:This is a truism. The Apostle James reminds us that a "double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." I have enough instablility in my life; I don't need it to bleed over into sports. A quick look in my closet and you will not find any other gear other than BYU gear.:clap:

You and Jay Santos share the same closet, apparently!

[John McClain]

You and Jay Santos share the same closet, apparently!

The difference being that Jay Santos has come out of the closet.