# Sports cliches you hate **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207 "2005-08-23T01:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/41 "2005-08-23T17:46:57Z")
Also, it strikes me that if “physicality” is a term that specifically and explicitly describes the body as distinct from the mind, it might be a perfect word for describing hockey players. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/42 "2005-08-23T18:24:28Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > That was a clutch post. and “proactive”, but not quite “in your face”… ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/43 "2005-08-23T19:10:02Z")
Also, anything John Madden has to say about “turducken.” It is to shudder. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/44 "2005-08-23T19:12:18Z")
I hate it when football (soccer) commentators say “the woodwork kept the ball out of the net” when a shot hits the post or crossbar. The woodwork defines the area through which the ball must pass to count as a goal, and at least in my eyes, cannot keep any goal bound shot out of the net. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/45 "2005-08-23T19:12:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Also, it strikes me that if “physicality” is a term that specifically and explicitly describes the body as distinct from the mind, it might be a perfect word for describing hockey players. 🙂 Hey, hockey players are perhaps the most humble and articulate bunch out there! Now football players… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/46 "2005-08-23T19:27:30Z")
They’ve got to march down the field and put points on the board. But they can’t try to get it all back at once. And for God’s sake, don’t go to the well once too often! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/47 "2005-08-23T19:51:46Z")
“It’s a game of inches.” No, darts and marbles are games of inches. “There’s no “I” in team.” Sure, coach, but there’s no “U” in winner. At the end of the high school year, the coaches had a convocation to honor the best athletes. According to our HS basketball coach, every one of those guys had a lot of drive and desire (pronounced d’zahr.) “Bump drafting” Twenty years ago, that was called nerfing, or just bashing. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/48 "2005-08-23T19:59:52Z")
There’s no I in team…but there’s a U in doofus. ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/49 "2005-08-23T20:10:30Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Then there’s always the D |-|-|-| signs. Oh good one. I _hate_ those damn signs. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/50 "2005-08-23T20:11:20Z")
> [@](#): > > “There’s no “I” in team.” There is, of course, a “u” in dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![hendy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hendy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hendy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/51 "2005-08-23T20:11:53Z")
There’s no I in TEAM… but there is a M and an E 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/52 "2005-08-23T20:18:14Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Actually, according to the _Oxford English Dictionary_, “physicality” is a word meaning:For definition (1), the _OED_ offers quotations dating from 1593, 1660, 1944, 1948, 1953. > > For definition (2), there are quotes from 1849, 1930, 1964, 1972, and 1977. _sigh_ I knew someone would nitpick me on this. The context I’m talking about is when people use it to mean “physical play”, for example, “The physicality in this game is intense!” ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/53 "2005-08-23T20:27:47Z")
Football season is upon us. I swear to God if I hear one color commentator utter the phrase \*\*"…but they’re playing on a much shorter field," \*\* I’m going to reach into the television and give them a wedgie of immense proportions. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/54 "2005-08-23T21:26:30Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > “The frozen tundra of Lambau field…” > > There is no tundra in Wisconsin! Either Steve Sabol, who coined the phrase, or the guy who narrated it (his name escapes me) later acknowledged that “frozen tundra” is also somewhat redundant. And it’s _Lambeau_ Field, Senator Kerry. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/55 "2005-08-23T21:30:17Z")
The newest cliche in basketball - which went from nobody saying it to everybody saying in one day: “Off the bounce” As in: He can score either by taking a set shot or off the bounce. Of course, he’ll have trouble if his opponenet is “D-ing it up” Also, in a desparate attempt to retain viewers when the score is something like 88-40 and there’s three minutes left , every commentator feels obligated to remind us that- “This game isn’t over yet.” Don’t even get me started on all the race code words/terms out there. When you hear about a person who can compete with players who might be better athletes because that person is able to out work them, understands the game better (beause he has a mind for it), and always seem to get to the right place at the right time just what skin color comes into your mind? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/56 "2005-08-23T21:38:39Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Then there’s always the D |-|-|-| signs. It’s a fence. D-Fence! GET IT? Awww. I love those signs. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/57 "2005-08-23T21:53:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Either Steve Sabol, who coined the phrase, or the guy who narrated it (his name escapes me) later acknowledged that “frozen tundra” is also somewhat redundant. While tundra—whether arctic or alpine—is generally characterised by low temperatures that inhibit the growth of trees, i don’t think it’s true to say that tundra is always frozen. Perhaps one of our resident ecologists could confirm or correct my assertion. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/58 "2005-08-23T21:56:44Z")
I fucking hate John Madden. No, that’s not the cliche. Yet. But he’s made me go off sports now for so long that I can hardly recite cliches. But yeah, stuff that overdoes similarities between (American) Football and war is aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/59 "2005-08-23T22:25:27Z")
The one that always makes my mother chuckle is when the announcer claims that Player X “lost the handle”. The sport in question is basketball- and neither my mother nor I have ever seen a basketball with a handle. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207/60 "2005-08-23T22:27:50Z")
Always delivered with breathless anticipation: “What was going through your mind when…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-cliches-you-hate/318207.md?page=4)