List of sports clichés

This is a list of clichés related to sports

Clichés

Sports clichés used in business

According to Dr. Don R. Powell, licensed psychologist and president of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, sports clichés are used in about 50 percent of corporate boardrooms. They provide a shorthand to quickly communicate ideas. According to Dr. Powell, "We have a love/hate relationship with cliches. Although we complain about them, we are enamored with them. That's because they always seem to fit."

• "They're a team player."
• "They dropped the ball."
• "It's gut-check time."
• "They don't pull any punches."
• "They always step up to the plate."
• "They talk a good game."
• "They're in a league of their own."
• "They want to play hardball."
• "The ball's in your court."
• "They answered the bell."
• "We knocked it out of the park."
• "That was a hole in one."
• "It was a slam dunk."
• "Monday-Morning Quarterback"

Sports clichés used in sports announcing

• "Alligator arms"
• "They have to have a great game for their team to win."
• "They have to get on the same page."
• "The media are blowing this out of proportion."
• "That will come back to haunt them."
• "I'd like to thank my Lord and savior."
• "Throw under the bus."
• "D-Line or O-Line."
• "A lot of open looks at the basket."
• "It doesn't get any better than this."
• "He's a warrior."
• "Defense wins championships."
• "The best defense is a good offense."
• "Charity Stripe"

Sports film clichés

• A down and out coach is offered one last shot.
• The coach can't get along with his star player.
• Someone doubts the protagonist's abilities, and is made to believe in them.
• The players overcome race relations or gang violence, and are brought together by being a team.
• The opposing team is larger, better dressed, better equipped yet end up defeated by the protagonist's team.
• A death or injury provides the main character with the extra incentive to win.
• The main character is considered too old to win, yet does.
• An emotional speech inspires the protagonists.
• Near the end of the movie it will seem that the protagonist's team has no chance of winning, but they quickly bounce back with little time left.
• The protagonist's team makes a valiant comeback effort only to fall just short at the last second (Puck hits the post, shot rims out, etc.). This is immediately followed by a dramatic montage with tear soaked hugs of players and coaches who are genuinely better off for the experience.

Criticism

According to Michael McCarthy, a USA Today sports television writer, sports announcers overuse clichés during their broadcasts. Sports critic Bill Mayo disagrees, saying that sports clichés are used "just the right amount," and "it is what it is."

National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback-turned CBS broadcaster Phil Simms devotes a large portion of his 2004 book Sunday Morning Quarterback to examining football clichés such as "winning the turnover battle", "halftime adjustments", and "managing the game."

References

Athletes' Day-to-Day Drivel http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/net/nov00/net111400.asp

Caught on the Web: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.postgazette.com/sports/other/20010918caught0919ap6.asp

Note to Copy Editors http://www.spokesmanreview.com/library/siteseeing/siteseeing.asp?ID=011209

External links

• Extensive list of sports cliches