# Sports version of "Jump the Shark" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262 "2003-04-03T18:19:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Von\_Erich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@Von\_Erich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Von_Erich)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/1 "2003-04-03T18:19:13Z")
How about coming up with a version of jumping the shark as it relates to the sports world. Perhaps “biting the ear” for Mike Tyson. Some type of phrase that is recognizable to sports fans that will convey the point at which your team, sport or individual athlete “jumped the shark”. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/2 "2003-04-03T18:24:01Z")
The St. Louis Browns’ first game. 😃 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/3 "2003-04-03T18:32:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TexasPlayboy \* > \*\*Perhaps “biting the ear” for Mike Tyson. Some type of phrase that is recognizable to sports fans that will convey the point at which your team, sport or individual athlete “jumped the shark”. \*\* Tyson “jumped the shark” long before his ear-biting incident. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/4 "2003-04-03T18:42:03Z")
The Knicks bit the ear when they signed Houston to such a large contract despite no other comparable offers. The Cowboys bit the ear when Jerry Jones became the GM. The Red Sox bit the ear when the owner was more interested in producing a theatrical production than keeping Babe Ruth. I have no Hockey annecdote. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/5 "2003-04-03T19:01:36Z")
Hockey bit the ear when they opened the “Mighty Ducks” franchise. When the score a goal…there’s a quack. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/6 "2003-04-03T19:02:30Z")
“Bit the lobe” sounds better. ---
**Author:** ![Wyld\_Stallyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Wyld\_Stallyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wyld_Stallyn)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/7 "2003-04-03T19:02:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The Cowboys bit the ear when Jerry Jones became the GM Except for the titles. And I hate the god-forsaken cowboys, so don’t think i’m defending that poser. Wayne Gretzky bit the ear when he left the Kings, although the hosers here on the board may say it was when he _joined_ the Kings. Baseball in general bit the ear after the strike of '94, when it became clear what it was all about. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/8 "2003-04-03T19:04:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\*The St. Louis Browns’ first game. 😃 > > Zev Steinhardt \*\* Well, the original American Associate Browns were a pretty good team, finishing 2nd in the first year, 1883. The AL Browns were probably the best team in the league in 1922, but it was pretty much all downhill from there. So date it from George Sisler’s eye infection in 1923. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/9 "2003-04-03T20:02:48Z")
The Brownies finished 2nd in the American League in 1902, their first season after moving from Milwaukee. But yeah, after that, it was pretty much all downhill (save for 1922 & 1944). For a more modern take: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ first game. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/10 "2003-04-03T20:06:32Z")
How about some version of “bet on his team” or “paid the bookie”. After all, no one has gone from bright baseball story to pathetic whiner quite like Pete Rose. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/11 "2003-04-03T20:54:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mullinator \* > \*\* After all, no one has gone from bright baseball story to pathetic whiner quite like Pete Rose. \*\* Joe Jackson comes to mind. As does Eddie Cicotte (who was a pretty good pitcher too). At least Jackson had the courage to admit that what he did was wrong. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/12 "2003-04-03T22:18:26Z")
Back to the OP might I suggest, “Played for the Cubs.” ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/13 "2003-04-03T22:24:21Z")
“Billing the Buckner” ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/14 "2003-04-03T22:28:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PatrickM \* > \*\*Back to the OP might I suggest, “Played for the Cubs.” \*\* D’oh! :o I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hijack this thread. I misunderstood the OP and thought he was asking for sports “Jumped the Shark” moments, not for a replacement of the phrase “Jumped the Shark.” My apologies **TexasPlayboy**. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Von\_Erich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@Von\_Erich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Von_Erich)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/15 "2003-04-03T23:02:17Z")
That’s okay, I was kind of looking for both. Moments of “shark jumping” in sports and comparable phrases, perhaps coming to a consensus on a new phrase as it relates to sports. Maybe “trading the Babe” for the Red Sox, or some thing to that affect. ---
**Author:** ![Von\_Erich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@Von\_Erich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Von_Erich)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/16 "2003-04-03T23:03:25Z")
I guess I should say “traded the Babe”. The Texas Rangers “traded the Babe” when they hired Alex Rodriguez and gave up on pitching. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/17 "2003-04-04T00:03:41Z")
A hockey one… “put a glow on the puck” “traded the Babe” is my favorite so far ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/18 "2003-04-04T00:11:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manduck \* > \*\*“Billing the Buckner” \*\* Heh … I was going to mention that. There was always the hope that someday the Sox might break “the coise” and actually win the Series, but after Buckner blew that play, you just knew it was never going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/19 "2003-04-04T00:29:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manduck \* > \*\*“Billing the Buckner” \*\* Yeah! That’s great. Maybe “bootin’ the grounder.” Maybe something based on the kicker for the Bills (Norwood?) who shanked that field goal in the Super Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Pollo\_Boyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Pollo\_Boyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pollo_Boyo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262/20 "2003-04-04T00:48:47Z")
How about, “McMahon’ed”? Let’s face it, the guy had the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL Football League. The association seems to fit with a dying franchise. For example, the Bucs “McMahon’ed” at this past superbowl. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-version-of-jump-the-shark/166262.md?page=2)