# Stupid things sportscasters say **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 18, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433 "2008-08-18T15:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/1 "2008-08-18T15:55:34Z")
I had a choice of about 3 forums to put this in, but since it’s sports-specific, I figured it would go best here. I was watching the Jets-Redskins preseason game on Saturday, and one of the sportscasters said that the Jets placekicker, Mike Nugent, shows “flashes of consistency.” I laughed for about five minutes. Anyone else got some good nonsensical humdingers from sportscasters? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/2 "2008-08-18T16:14:38Z")
I think it was Joe Morgan (who could fill this thread single-handedly) who recently said “if the Phillies want to win the rest of the season, they’ll have to rely on outscoring their opponents”. Profound, Joe. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/3 "2008-08-18T16:17:45Z")
“This team came to play!” ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/4 "2008-08-18T16:24:31Z")
“Boom goes the dynamite”? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/5 "2008-08-18T16:26:07Z")
[QUOTE=Drain Bead] I was watching the Jets-Redskins preseason game on Saturday, and one of the sportscasters said that the Jets placekicker, Mike Nugent, shows “flashes of consistency.” I laughed for about five minutes. [/QUOTE] Dude, what? That made me laugh like a tard! Did he really say that? Joe Also, Madden likes to say things along the line of “Now THIS is a FOOTBALL team!” like the other guys are synchronized swimmers or something. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/6 "2008-08-18T16:53:36Z")
(about a top 400 metre runner speeding up on the back straight): “he’s opening his legs and showing his class!” ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/7 "2008-08-18T16:54:51Z")
One of my favorite Madden-isms. The offense had just gone for it on 4th and 1. The guy who was not Madden (I think it was Al Micheals) said something like, “If they didn’t get it, they missed it by just inches - maybe even centimeters.” Madden replied with, “Maybe even cubic centimeters.” Which, while dumb, wasn’t the end of it. Micheals said, “Nope, I don’t think you’d use that here, John.” To which he replied, " I really think cubic centimeters comes into play here." [sup]1[/sup] Not enough headsmacks… :smack::smack: 1. All quotes are approximate. The general idea is the same whether or not the exact words were used. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/8 "2008-08-18T17:01:29Z")
Heard from former Timberwolves radio play-by-play announcer Chad Hartman when Kevin Garnett went up for a dunk: “Kevin Garnett…spreads his legs and rips it with the right hand.” (Remember, this was radio. One has to provide one’s own visual) ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/9 "2008-08-18T17:46:21Z")
AIUI Frank Gifford had a reputation for bringing some truly amazing things to his commentary. The one that I’ve read about is that apparently he once began a broadcast with, “Hello, Frank. I’m everybody.” ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/10 "2008-08-18T17:58:02Z")
Isn’t asking for stupid things sportscasters say sort of like asking people to list words that have letters in them? Ah, well–never mind the nitpick, here’s one from a local guy covering a high school football game, long ago: “He’s on the forty! The fifty! The sixty! Uh…he’s on the thirty!” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/11 "2008-08-18T18:16:25Z")
During the '87 Canada Cup, one of the commentators (I think Ron Rousch) said “A 2 goal lead is the worst lead in hockey.” For years and years after that when watching hockey with friends we’d make comments about “the dreaded two goal lead” after someone scored to go up by 2. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/12 "2008-08-18T18:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=Gorsnak] During the '87 Canada Cup, one of the commentators (I think Ron Rousch) said “A 2 goal lead is the worst lead in hockey.” For years and years after that when watching hockey with friends we’d make comments about “the dreaded two goal lead” after someone scored to go up by 2. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard that bit of wisdom repeated many times on ESPN, mostly by Barry Melrose I think. I get the logic, but it’s one of those epxressions that should be dropped because it sounds so stupid and the reasoning is questionable. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/13 "2008-08-18T18:25:45Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I’ve heard that bit of wisdom repeated many times on ESPN, mostly by Barry Melrose I think. I get the logic, but it’s one of those epxressions that should be dropped because it sounds so stupid and the reasoning is questionable. [/QUOTE] I don’t really follow sports, so could you explain the reasoning to me? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/14 "2008-08-18T18:26:10Z")
[http://forums.rotoworld.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37917.html](http://forums.rotoworld.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37917.html) They are called Maddenisms for a reason. He is comedy relief. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/15 "2008-08-18T18:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=wheresgeorge04] Dude, what? [/QUOTE] That was pretty much my first reaction as well. My husband and stepfather were there too and both started cracking up at the same time I did. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/16 "2008-08-18T18:47:21Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally] I don’t really follow sports, so could you explain the reasoning to me? Thanks. [/QUOTE] The reasoning, such as it is, is that teams will either let up or move into a defensive posture after going up by 2, allowing the other team the opportunity to get back into the game. With a lead of just one you won’t do this, and with a lead of 3 or more you should be safe just playing defense. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/17 "2008-08-18T18:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=Gorsnak] The reasoning, such as it is, is that teams will either let up or move into a defensive posture after going up by 2, allowing the other team the opportunity to get back into the game. With a lead of just one you won’t do this, and with a lead of 3 or more you should be safe just playing defense. Or something like that. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that’s always the way I understood it. Up by one goal, you have to stay sharp. Up by two, you relax, and if the other team scores, they have momentum (and we could probably do a thread just on dumb quotes involving THAT word) while you are back on your heels and have not been running your offense. Up three goals, I guess it’s too big a lead for it to make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/18 "2008-08-18T18:59:51Z")
My all time favorite, from the incomparable John Madden: (When you are a running back carrying the ball) “You have to keep your feet moving!” Gee, ya think? Thanks, John. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/19 "2008-08-18T19:04:50Z")
I had always heard that it was the 3 goal lead that was so dangerous, but living up here I get more Don Cherry than Barry Melrose. I always thought it was stupid, because you never see a team shut it down with a 2 goal lead in order to avoid getting the dreaded 3 goal lead. ETA: I saw a game last year where one team took a 3-0 lead and eventually won the game 3-2. The announcers considered this another instance of the dangerous 3-goal lead, ignoring the fact that that 3 goad lead is what allowed them to win the game! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433/20 "2008-08-18T19:11:54Z")
[QUOTE=Manduck] I had always heard that it was the 3 goal lead, but living up here I get more Don Cherry than Barry Melrose. [/QUOTE] Maybe it’s an exchange rate thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-sportscasters-say/460433.md?page=2)