‘The Dubs’

Note the cutline here, which calls the Warriors “the Dubs.”

For some reason, that annoys the shit out of me.

Should it?

 

I think I have a post from 2004 floating around where I was bashing ESPN's magazine for starting some story, "So CWebb went down to C-Town to meet up with some friends, one of whom is coaching at U-Dub these days . . . "

After not knowing immediately who went where to meet up with whom, I just left for the old folks' home.

 

Let's see what this headline does to you:

11-Year-Old Curry Impersonater Wows Dub Nation | Golden State Warriors

 

I’m with you. Fine for a SportsCenter anchor to say, but jarring to read.

 

Ex-Cleveland Browns star Dub Jones says hello.

 

While we're at it, fuck the Habs, too.

 

It’s ESPN.

It’s not journalism - it’s a marketing partnership.

 

Going to counter that this is as old as sports reporting. Every team of any note has multiple nicknames from “fans” that get used in stories and headlines. And have been for decades. It’s just sounds odd when a new one gets created because our ears and eyes aren’t used to it.

 

True. The concept is old-school.

 

One of my best friends from high school has lived in New England for most of his life and is an avid Red Sox fan, and I kidded him once by referring to them as the "Crimson Hose." Nearly ruined a 45-year friendship.

 

It's how the New York Highlanders eventually became the Yankees. Plus, the copy editors kept using Yanks and Yankees in headlines.

 

Who the hell are these “Bucs?”

M