Annoying phrases -- sports version
Among the comments on our TGIF -- annoying phrases list, Jenn blew the whistle on athletes' cliches. Her complaint: "I also hate when people, particularly athletes and guests on "Maury," go above the figure of 100% in talking about their efforts or their certainty that they are, in fact, not the father. You can't physically give more than 100%. You can't give 200% or 110%, you can only give 100%!!"
I'm with you 110%, Jenn. Here are a few more football phrases I hate:
Physicality -- as Todd Heap, shown here, said Sunday "In the first half we didn't [play with] the physicality we wanted."
Seasoned veteran
Smash-mouth football
Throw the football (as opposed to what, a cat?)
Comments
I nominated "athleticism" to be banished in 2002. Wow, an athlete showed atheleticism? How surprising.
Posted by: sarahkk | November 11, 2008 11:39 AM
I would be the one who brings up annoying phrases in sports.
One of my favorite in sports is "There is no 'I' in team." I know how to spell, but thanks for sharing. Cliche sports phrases never stop, no matter what the sport. Some other favorites:
"David vs. Goliath"
"The game is on the line"
"One game at a time"
I could go all day. Just listen to a coach's post-game press conference. All he'll give you is a bunch of cliche phrases strung together. If he doesn't spout cliches, then he'll most likely end up in one of those Coors Light commercials.
Posted by: Jenn | November 11, 2008 3:13 PM
Some interesting reading on this topic: an essay by George Orwell entitled "Politics and the English Language", a criticism of clichéd speech. I just went back and edited "damning critique" down to "criticism"-- guilty!
Posted by: Thomas Bechtold | November 11, 2008 5:24 PM