Explaning The Term "Red Sox Nation"

Talk to a Yankee fan and ask them what they think about the term "Red Sox Nation" and I guarantee you will get an answer something like this:  "What a bunch of [expletive] that whole thing is!  Red Sox Nation my [expletive]!  The Yankees have more fans in the United States than [expletive] Boston!  And what about all the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, and Braves fans.  This ain't no [expletive] Red Sox Nation!"

Go ahead.  Try it.  Seriously.

Even Hank Steinbrenner got in on the tirade this season, claiming that the concept of Red Sox Nation was nonsense and that it was contrived by ESPN.  His quote also had an expletive in it, if I recall.

So, in the spririt of good will and education of the decidedly uneducated, let us once and for all explain what the deal is with the term "Red Sox Nation".

No one has ever, ever, ever, claimed that the Red Sox are the official team of the United States of America.  That was the Cowboys who call themselves "America's Team".  Very different phrase, as I'm sure most would agree.  Nor has anyone ever contended that there are more Red Sox fans in the United States than there are fans of other baseball teams.  The idea that "Red Sox Nation" means either of these two things is totally an invention of the folks who are decidedly not Red Sox Fans.

The term "Red Sox Nation" refers to the group of people across the globe who consider themselves Red Sox fanatics.  It is an abstract concept to be sure, but it is not a claim to the bragging rights in any specific geographical sense.  Red Sox Nation is a group, albeit a rather large one, that root for the Major League Baseball franchise located in Boston. Yes, they have official membership cards, for those of the populace that like concrete tangible affirmations.  But there should be no worries about any Boston fans posting signs at ports and boarder crossings that say "Welcome to Red Sox Nation!"  It is not a place.  It is a fan base.

As for the contention that the phrase was coined by ESPN?  I have no evidence to the contrary.  But, then again, who cares?  Someone had to coin it, just like the term "Bronx Bombers" was begun somewhere along the line by one person.  Allow me to coin some phrases and if they catch on, they catch on.  Here they are, presumably for the first time:  Yankee Nation, Brave Nation, Dodger Nation, Giant Nation.  Please feel free to use these as I will be claiming no trademark or copyrights.

My hope is that this has cleared up a misconception that has obviously gotten under the skin of many, many people.  Now that we've gotten this information out, spread it around, because when people make arguments like Hank Steinbrenner's they look really foolish.  We don't want people to look foolish, do we?  Then again, the more people rant about things like the meaning of "Red Sox Nation', the better Red Sox Nation likes it.  Loved or hated, just never ignored.