"Go ___!" (Boston cheer) - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Go ___!" (Boston cheer), is a classic piece of Americana that taps into the world of sports fandom. It's a fill-in-the-blank clue that relies on regional knowledge, but the team in question is so famous that many solvers outside of New England will recognize it instantly.

Clue Analysis

The structure of the clue is straightforward:

• "Go ___!": This is a standard template for a fan cheer. We're looking for the name or nickname of the team being cheered for.
• (Boston cheer): This is the crucial qualifier. It narrows down the possibilities to teams based in Boston, Massachusetts. The answer will be a well-known Boston sports franchise.

The puzzle is asking for the three-letter nickname that completes this iconic chant.

Thinking Approaches

There are a few ways to tackle this clue:

1. Direct Association: For many, "Boston" and "sports" will immediately bring to mind a few key teams: the Red Sox (baseball), the Celtics (basketball), the Bruins (hockey), and the Patriots (football). The cheer "Go Sox!" is arguably one of the most famous, and "SOX" fits a three-letter slot perfectly.

2. Process of Elimination: Let's consider the major Boston teams and their common nicknames:

   • Patriots: "Pats" (4 letters, though sometimes shortened to 3, it's less common in this cheer format).
   • Celtics: "Celts" (5 letters).
   • Bruins: "B's" (2 letters).
   • Red Sox: "Sox" (3 letters). "SOX" is the most natural and common fit for a three-letter answer.

3. Using Crossings: If you're not a sports fan, the crossing clues are your best friend. A three-letter word is often easy to solve with just one or two crossing letters. An 'S' at the beginning, an 'O' in the middle, or especially an 'X' at the end would make the answer almost certain.

Background Context

The cheer refers to the Boston Red Sox, one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball (MLB). Founded in 1901, they are a charter member of the American League. Their name is a shortened version of "Red Stockings," the name of a previous Cincinnati team that later moved to Boston.

The "Sox" nickname is also used by another MLB team, the Chicago White Sox, creating a neat bit of crossword symmetry. The Boston Red Sox are famous for their passionate fanbase, their historic ballpark Fenway Park, and their long-standing rivalry with the New York Yankees.

Conclusion

This clue is a great example of how cultural knowledge, particularly in sports, frequently appears in crossword puzzles. By identifying the key geographical marker ("Boston") and the context ("cheer"), solvers can quickly pinpoint the beloved baseball team. "SOX" is a clean, common, and satisfying answer for this clue.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The cheer is for a professional sports team.
2. Hint 2: This team plays in Major League Baseball.
3. Hint 3: The team's name is a colorful plural noun related to their uniforms.
4. Hint 4: They are the American League counterpart to Chicago's "White ___."

The answer is SOX.