OT-Sports Cliches

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October 8th, 2009 at 3:03 PM
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uniqenam
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OT-Sports Cliches

After looking at all the bally-hooing about the use of the word "trickeration", I would like to hear your guys' input on the worst, overly used sports cliches of all time. My three are:

1) "And wouldn't this win just be great for the entire city of downtrodden Detroit".

2) "The coach is LITERALLY exploding on the sideline"...(I don't think he is).

3) For some reason, the broadcaster for the Tigers/Twins game kept saying that "So and so 'fisted' the ball into right field". That really drove me nuts.

I'm sure there's tons more, I just can't remember any. Your thoughts?

I miss King of Belch.

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October 8th, 2009 at 3:06 PM | I was going to say overuse (Score:1)
david from wyoming
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I was going to say overuse and misuse of the word "literally" before even opening this thread. So instead I'll just literally agree with you.

lol fisted

Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th

I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm

October 8th, 2009 at 3:07 PM | Player XYZ is so scrappy! Why (Score:1)
BlockM
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Player XYZ is so scrappy! Why you ask? Because he has a pale complexion and I wouldn't have expected him to be good.

Also, the fisting thing was just weird. When did that start? I don't remember hearing it before that game, but then again I don't watch a whole lot of baseball.

@pnbloem | Ultra-MGoBoard

October 8th, 2009 at 3:11 PM | Yeah, my friends and I kept (Score:1)
uniqenam
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Yeah, my friends and I kept laughing at the fisting, but after awhile it just started to get really awkward. That and the fact that the announcer called the Twins' player "PUNT-oh" instead of "POOHNT-oh". And the other fact that they talked about how great a defensive replacement Ryan Raburn has been for the Tigers, when in actuality anyone who's watched the Tigers this year know he has sucked in left field.

I miss King of Belch.

October 8th, 2009 at 3:15 PM | It's only because they've (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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It's only because they've only had Carlos Guillen and Marcus Thames to compare him to.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 10:53 PM | I made a comment to my buddy (Score:1)
captainlonghair
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I made a comment to my buddy about the fisting comments..turned into the Chip Caray fisting drinking game.

October 8th, 2009 at 3:13 PM | I don't mind the whole "good (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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I don't mind the whole "good for the city of Detroit" meme. I actually don't think our teams winning offers anything like the tremendous uplifting that the stories like to say, but there's a small, corny part of me that says, "gee, it's nice that they're thinking of us."

The cliche that I don't like, and I harp on this every time the subject comes up, is the "if you're ___ then you ____ " construct that announcers always use. I really hate that.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 3:14 PM | I'm a little confused, what (Score:1)
uniqenam
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I'm a little confused, what do you mean by that? An example would do nicely, please.

I miss King of Belch.

October 8th, 2009 at 3:18 PM | "If you're Tate Forcier you (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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"If you're Tate Forcier you can't make that throw."

"If you're Michigan you have to like what just happened."

There's a zero percent chance that anyone watching is Tate Forcier. And nobody is "Michigan" either. Only acceptable usage: "If you're a Michigan fan you have to like what just happened." That is possible. But we are not Tate Forcier. Just say, "Tate Forcier shouldn't have made that throw." It comes off as a weaselly way to criticize without being overly critical-sounding.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 3:20 PM | Yes, I know exactly what you (Score:1)
uniqenam
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Yes, I know exactly what you mean now. Or the fact that they say, "If you're Brett Favre, you literally CAN NOT throw the ball away." Just once, I'd like to hear the player come back and say, why yes, I can do exactly that.

I miss King of Belch.

October 8th, 2009 at 3:25 PM | What about, "If you're the (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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What about, "If you're the city of Detroit, this would literally be a very uplifting win"?

The problem with "literally" is that announcers seem to think it means "absolutely" as when "absolutely" is used for emphasis - "absolutely destroyed", etc. And yes, it's "literally" one of the dumbest things ever.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 3:28 PM | I call BS. Didn't you know (Score:1)
david from wyoming
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I call BS. Didn't you know that after every Tigers win, the city of Detroit actually rises by 0.00001 cm? It has something to do with expanding gas in the salt mine under the city, or something.

Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th

I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm

October 8th, 2009 at 3:49 PM | I thought Charlie Weis' (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
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I thought Charlie Weis' constant expansion pushed northern Indiana down and southeastern Michigan up through a teeter-totter effect.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

October 8th, 2009 at 3:57 PM | It's an illusion caused by (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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It's an illusion caused by falling lake levels in Lake Michigan - as Indiana sinks, the lake expands to fill in the space but also obviously the shorewaters around Michigan recede. Lake Huron too, they're geologically the same lake.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 3:19 PM | When a play ends close to a (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
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When a play ends close to a first down, I always enjoy hearing football announcers say "it depends on the spot." It's a statement of fact, but it's like saying the outcome of the game depends on the score: it's not something that needs to be said.

Also, this isn't so much a cliche, but it seems like many announcers don't understand the difference between an end-around, a reverse and a double reverse. Every week, it seems, somebody is calling an end-around a reverse or a reverse a double reverse. Actually, last week an announcer called an obvious reverse an end-around, something that really confused me.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

October 8th, 2009 at 3:24 PM | Thank you. It always seemed (Score:1)
noshesnot
Joined: 12/09/2008
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Thank you. It always seemed to me that Brent Musberger was the only one who knew the difference.

October 8th, 2009 at 3:27 PM | Also, this isn't so much a (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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Also, this isn't so much a cliche, but it seems like many announcers don't understand the difference between an end-around, a reverse and a double reverse. Every week, it seems, somebody is calling an end-around a reverse or a reverse a double reverse. Actually, last week an announcer called an obvious reverse an end-around, something that really confused me.

This. This is Stupid Announcer Trick #2 that drives me up the wall. Literally.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 3:24 PM | We had a thread about this not long ago, didn't we? (Score:1)
Six Zero
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I'll say it again. Eddie Olcyzk's dependence on the whole microcosm cliche is pretty much ruining hockey.

October 8th, 2009 at 3:57 PM | "Player X/Team X plays to the (Score:1)
CPS
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"Player X/Team X plays to the level of the opponent."

[Edit: "measuring intangibles", "measurable intangibles", calling something "intangible" that is most definitely tangible, and other variations of these is a close runner-up]

Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence

October 8th, 2009 at 3:59 PM | "Player X hasn't let (injury) (Score:1)
noshesnot
Joined: 12/09/2008
MGoPoints: 2

"Player X hasn't let (injury) affect his play at all"

This was especially evident in the last few weeks with Jimmy Clausen's turf toe.

October 8th, 2009 at 4:07 PM | Thank You. (Score:1)
DeuceInTheDeuce
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I'm sick of the emptiness I see after my nightly typing of "fisting + Charlie Weis" into the MgoSearch bar.

October 8th, 2009 at 4:41 PM | -When an offense can't get (Score:1)
Topher
Joined: 07/05/2008
MGoPoints: 737

-When an offense can't get any momentum, "they can't get untracked." WTF does untracked mean? Isn't derailing a _bad_ thing unless you are Richard Kimble?

-Broadcasters who call complete/incomplete/interception wrong, or touchdown-no touchdown. The only explanation for this is they look away from the field right after the play and don't even look for the obvious signals from the officials (ones we can usually see on TV).

-Needlessly bringing other teams into the discussion as way of explanation: "Florida runs this play and Tim Tebow always makes the play"; "in the NFL this play doesn't work"; "they sure hate Rich Rodriguez now in West Virginia";

-Media product placement in the broadcast: "Is it Monday yet?"/zooming NASCAR wheels/what is Britney doing with her life?

-Talking too much during/after big plays. Keith Jackson was great at drawing out a very short description/impact statement, then letting the scene itself do the talking.

October 8th, 2009 at 5:08 PM | Getting untracked: for years (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
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Getting untracked: for years I thought announcers were saying offenses couldn't get on track. Then one day I realized they were saying untracked, and I became confused. Then I soon realized announcers seldom understand the words that are coming out of their mouths, and it all made sense again. Or, in other words, my understanding got untracked.

Your last point is a great one. Too many announcers think they're much more important than they are, and they'll talk over great moments because they think their words make the moments better. I watched most of last season's NHL playoffs on the CBC, and I noticed something I began to appreciate: when the home team took the ice and the arena was going crazy, the CBC announcers almost always stopped talking and let viewers enjoy the pandemonium. They understood that they couldn't say anything to make those moments any better than they already were, so they shut up and let the crowd do the talking. I remember Brandstatter doing something similar on the radio for Brabbs' game-winning kick against Washington: when the kick sailed through the uprights, he bellowed, "MICHIGAN WINS!" Then he let the radio audience hear the bedlam of the Big House. It remains one of my favorite radio calls in part because Brandstatter didn't ruin the moment by talking over the crowd. He got it, just like the CBC announcers got it.

Sadly, there are a lot of announcers -- and networks -- who just don't seem to get it.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

October 8th, 2009 at 6:37 PM | On track / untracked (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 28969

Like "trickeration", "untracked" is probably a legacy of some influential announcer misspeaking and others trying to copy him. Assuming it's some kind of a train analogy, "on track" makes sense. "Untracked" sounds like the train is going to crash into the side of a mountain.

October 8th, 2009 at 9:55 PM | Some interesting commentary (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
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Some interesting commentary on on track/untracked:

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002148.html

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

October 8th, 2009 at 11:35 PM | Dammit, Sgt! I was gonna (Score:1)
Seth
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Dammit, Sgt!

I was gonna finish up some work and go to bed but now I have to read about every 'egg corn' in the eggcorn database all night.

You can't bust these late-night nerd sites on me like that. It's like I told Randall of xkcd: you may think you're being clever, but then 4 a.m. rolls around and your readers are all sitting maniacally on the couch with their wireless signal split, waiting for some Internet-stealing neighbor to freak out because their websites are all upside-down.

id est, thanks for the link.

(Blogger alias: "Misopogon") This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.

October 9th, 2009 at 12:53 PM | Ha! My evil plan worked! It (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
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Ha! My evil plan worked! It worked mainly because I'm always up late, and it wasn't a plan until you told me of its success -- a method of success I find can be nearly foolproof -- but it worked nonetheless.

And yes, the whole egg corn idea is pretty fascinating. Language is weird.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

October 8th, 2009 at 4:49 PM | Nuke Laloosh (Score:1)
BiSB
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They no longer call me Bisbiño

October 8th, 2009 at 5:00 PM | "They're your friends." (Score:1)
Seth9
Joined: 04/01/2009
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Classic. And true.

+1 to you sir.

October 8th, 2009 at 5:08 PM | I could go without hearing (Score:1)
rlc
Joined: 06/30/2008
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I could go without hearing stud or x-factor.

~rlc

October 8th, 2009 at 5:48 PM | I'm inexplicably annoyed (Score:1)
Captain
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that everyone on the team has "hands" except for the offensive line, who invariably have "paws." See: "Big ol' #76 just got a paw in the air and batted that football away."

We get it, linemen giant monsters of men. But bears they are not.

Colors That Float

October 8th, 2009 at 6:53 PM | Somebody better slap the shit (Score:1)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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Somebody better slap the shit outta that lineman for knocking down his own quarterback's passes.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

October 8th, 2009 at 6:21 PM | Glue Guys (Score:1)
mdaddio110
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"(Insert any Wisconsin basketball player or Graham Brown) is just one those GLUE GUYS that coaches just love."

Usually this means the player has very little talent but can get rebounds and play defense.

October 8th, 2009 at 6:40 PM | I hate when college football (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 28969

I hate when college football announcers feel a need to explain every college rule that differs from the pros. "In college, you only have to get one foot in" . . . "In college, the clock stops when they move the chains" . . . "In college, pass interference is 15 yards." Yeah, we know. We're watching the game because we're college football fans.

October 8th, 2009 at 7:32 PM | No kidding, that gets old (Score:1)
TyroneButterfield
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No kidding, that gets old real quick. Or when they say "On Sunday's that wouldn't have been a touchdown." Who cares? We're watching COLLEGE football...

October 8th, 2009 at 10:59 PM | "In the college game..." - - (Score:1)
captainlonghair
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"In the college game..." - - DRINK!

October 8th, 2009 at 7:29 PM | I get sick of hearing the (Score:1)
TyroneButterfield
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I get sick of hearing the "big uglies up front" followed by a real chummy laugh and some stupid joke. I don't mind them using the phrase every once in a while, but guys like Ray Bentley think they have to say it three times a game and it annoys the hell outta me.

October 8th, 2009 at 9:37 PM | "I get sick of hearing the (Score:1)
Topher
Joined: 07/05/2008
MGoPoints: 737

"I get sick of hearing the "big uglies up front" followed by a real chummy laugh and some stupid joke. I don't mind them using the phrase every once in a while, but guys like Ray Bentley think they have to say it three times a game and it annoys the hell outta me."

I'm sick of this too, and I hate it when announcers who were ballcarriers mock linemen as some kind of fat boorish Neanderthal class that they have to run around on the field.

I also hate the term "skill position," because it means the opposite of what it sounds like. What they mean is skinny guys who are fast and play on the offense, and that's not a skill - the good Lord gave you your skinny and fast.

October 8th, 2009 at 8:39 PM | Trick plays (Score:1)
Tacopants
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Stop calling them "Gadget" plays please. It's annoying. They are trick plays. Gadget is just a worse word for "Trick".

Also, I hate it whenever gadget plays are brought up by announcers, but never deployed on the field.

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