The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want fans to “Siege the Day.” That is according to the team’s latest slogan.
But CBS sports wants you to know that’s not really the most appropriate way to instill faith in a team.
Aside from the well-known meaning of the word siege that brings to mind pirates, stolen boats and bountiful booty – probably where the Bucs marketing guys were going with it – there is another, less appropriate meaning.
“A prolonged period of misfortune.”
That’s the third definition listed when you Google the word. By that meaning, it’s not a very positive message being sent out to fans in advertisements, billboards and various other modes by which the team is marketing the new play on the phrase “seize the day.”
The Bucs went 2-14 last season. That’s pretty unfortunate. Is that the misfortune that will be prolonged?
The team clearly wants to go all carpe diem on this season for a multitude of reasons. One, to make up for the crap storm of last season. Two, it’s the team’s 40th birthday. Three, they nabbed the NFL’s number one overall draft pick, Jameis Winston, to lead the team as an all-star quarterback.
Those are some great reasons to seize the day, but guys, do you really want to siege the day?
Even if we look at the first two definitions of the word, both pertaining to cutting off supplies during some sort of hostile takeover, shouldn’t the sieging be imposed on other teams not a day? Under these more traditional definitions, “Siege the Day” translates to cutting off supplies from the day.
If the day is Game Day, does that mean no beer and hot dogs? Can I get a soda or a bottle of water? How about some popcorn? Or are you cutting off all those supplies in order to siege said day?
The bottom line is, siege is not a good word. It means bad things. It sounds nifty and some folks might genuinely be like, “Oh, I see what you did there,” but still.
This definitely should have been better vetted. Not well-played, Bucs marketing.
