CelticsStrong
Other Discussions => Other / General Sports => Topic started by: PhoSita on June 13, 2016, 08:23:13 PM
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Around here I think pretty much all of us spend a lot of our time reading and listening to sports talk and analysis. That kind of discourse tends to involve some common trends in terms of phrases, word choice, and sentence construction.
What are some examples that stand out to you? What bugs you the most?
One that comes to mind for me is the overuse of the word "historical."
Also lots of use of the nonsense phrase "very unique."
Then of course there's the rampant use of passive language, apparently to make normal occurrences sound more momentous.
Finally, one I find myself doing a lot in addition to hearing all the time - - constantly referencing players as "guys," as in, "He's a guy who can really help you on defense."
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I always like whenever they ask someone like Jay Bilas on draft night what position a guy will play in the pros and he says, "he's a basketball player." ::)
(http://img.pandawhale.com/post-33745-What-No-way-gif-Jason-Segel-Ba-IF15.gif)
Off the top of my head, I also hate the terms rim protector, floor spacer, basketball iq, can guard multiple positions (which is, often times, completely unsupported by reality), and how a player can play both sides of the ball ::). Since when does a basketball have sides? It's a sphere, not a square. Ugh.
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I get bugged by the words "Wingspan" and "Measurables" and how those terms are used. Especially when the athlete they are used to describe is Black. I mean, it's only been about 150 years since people would buy other people at auction based on their "Measureables"
The draft kinda carries this weird racial charge for me too. These kids are people and their person-hood is being completely ignored based on their past physical performance and estimated future upside.
I also don't like the idea of "Sacrificing the body" as something which should be praised. Each athlete's body should be more important than the team or the game. I think that idea is really gross.
That said, I still love the draft and see the importance of physical measurements--I wish that we as fans had more access to the mental/personality side of things which teams use to judge prospects.
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"potential"
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
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'Ball Screen(s)' and 'Bully Ball' ::). Since when is exploiting a match up/mismatch in the post akin to any form of bullying? Lol, no wonder no one plays inside anymore - who would want to have a reputation as a bully in any part of their life?
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I also hate 'historical' because they really should use 'historic'.
General sports comments, not just basketball.
'It was a game of two halves'. As games that are played that way always are.
'Gave 110 %'. Cliche and impossible.
Players saying an experience was 'surreal' when the mean amazing.
Anybody arguing that illegal play should have been allowed because the player committing the illegal play - 'wasn't interfering with play'. Anybody on a field or court is interfering with play.
'Taking things one game at a time'. Try doing it any other way.
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I hate the Patriots football weekly guys when they say anything lol. I can't stand it when they call everybody "Jags"
If NFL football players are Jags, than what does that make some idiot commentator.
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The "both sides of the ball" one is hilarious when you think about it, Beat LA. Another similar one is "he left his feet." Where did he leave them?
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I get bugged by the words "Wingspan" and "Measurables" and how those terms are used. Especially when the athlete they are used to describe is Black. I mean, it's only been about 150 years since people would buy other people at auction based on their "Measureables"
The draft kinda carries this weird racial charge for me too. These kids are people and their person-hood is being completely ignored based on their past physical performance and estimated future upside.
I also don't like the idea of "Sacrificing the body" as something which should be praised. Each athlete's body should be more important than the team or the game. I think that idea is really gross.
That said, I still love the draft and see the importance of physical measurements--I wish that we as fans had more access to the mental/personality side of things which teams use to judge prospects.
along the same lines, it bugs me when a white player is called "heady" and a black player is called "athletic".
"What a heady play by Dan dickau"
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
The WAR phrases bug me too. when a spoiled NBA player is willing to go TO WAR... ::)
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
The WAR phrases bug me too. when a spoiled NBA player is willing to go TO WAR... ::)
This doesn't bug me at all, though I understand it does seem to many others. First of all, sports were developed as mock war. Why not use some of the same terminology and mindset?
Secondly, analogies make the world more relatable and understandable. They aren't meant to be literal. Understanding this makes for a richer life experience (and a more interesting, diverse language).
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" they marched down the field" in football.
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
The WAR phrases bug me too. when a spoiled NBA player is willing to go TO WAR... ::)
This doesn't bug me at all, though I understand it does seem to many others. First of all, sports were developed as mock war. Why not use some of the same terminology and mindset?
Secondly, analogies make the world more relatable and understandable. They aren't meant to be literal. Understanding this makes for a richer life experience (and a more interesting, diverse language).
because it isnt and that is a good thing. other teams are not ISIS. no one is going to die, nor should they.
it isnt war, which intentionally inflicts death, destruction, and damage on huge numbers of human beings. basketball is a sport for entertainment of people. let's not confuse one for the other.
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The saying "You can't leave your feet". Your feet leave the ground, you don't leave your feet.
Hate that.
The term upside bothers me also. Isn't that potential?
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Kinda awesome that this thread is in the latest forum topics as well as a thread titled "Its like a chess match"
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I get bugged by the words "Wingspan" and "Measurables" and how those terms are used. Especially when the athlete they are used to describe is Black. I mean, it's only been about 150 years since people would buy other people at auction based on their "Measureables"
The draft kinda carries this weird racial charge for me too. These kids are people and their person-hood is being completely ignored based on their past physical performance and estimated future upside.
http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/nazi-eugenics/
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
Yeah, no joke. I'm taking Larry every time.
Not sure if this one counts for this discussion, because I've heard only one person say it, but I loathe it nonetheless—Mark Jackson's "Hand down, man down!"
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I hate it when human beings are called "assets"
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"He came to play"
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
The WAR phrases bug me too. when a spoiled NBA player is willing to go TO WAR... ::)
This doesn't bug me at all, though I understand it does seem to many others. First of all, sports were developed as mock war. Why not use some of the same terminology and mindset?
Secondly, analogies make the world more relatable and understandable. They aren't meant to be literal. Understanding this makes for a richer life experience (and a more interesting, diverse language).
because it isnt and that is a good thing. other teams are not ISIS. no one is going to die, nor should they.
it isnt war, which intentionally inflicts death, destruction, and damage on huge numbers of human beings. basketball is a sport for entertainment of people. let's not confuse one for the other.
It is a higher function of human beings to be able to make analogies and still not confuse things.
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Bang!
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"National Football League" or "football" as a needless adjective, like "you've gotta make football plays if you want to win football games in the National Football league" instead of "you've gotta make plays if you want to win games in the NFL". Enough with the false gravitas.
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"First time, long time"
Retire it already.
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
The WAR phrases bug me too. when a spoiled NBA player is willing to go TO WAR... ::)
This doesn't bug me at all, though I understand it does seem to many others. First of all, sports were developed as mock war. Why not use some of the same terminology and mindset?
Secondly, analogies make the world more relatable and understandable. They aren't meant to be literal. Understanding this makes for a richer life experience (and a more interesting, diverse language).
because it isnt and that is a good thing. other teams are not ISIS. no one is going to die, nor should they.
it isnt war, which intentionally inflicts death, destruction, and damage on huge numbers of human beings. basketball is a sport for entertainment of people. let's not confuse one for the other.
It is a higher function of human beings to be able to make analogies and still not confuse things.
and a less higher function to make bad analogies. ;D
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Bang!
lol I love bang. I find it hilarious
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Anything with "war" or "warrior."
"Just a winner"
Any time someone says "i dont care what the numbers say, if i need someone to take the last shot im taking kobe."
The WAR phrases bug me too. when a spoiled NBA player is willing to go TO WAR... ::)
This doesn't bug me at all, though I understand it does seem to many others. First of all, sports were developed as mock war. Why not use some of the same terminology and mindset?
Secondly, analogies make the world more relatable and understandable. They aren't meant to be literal. Understanding this makes for a richer life experience (and a more interesting, diverse language).
because it isnt and that is a good thing. other teams are not ISIS. no one is going to die, nor should they.
it isnt war, which intentionally inflicts death, destruction, and damage on huge numbers of human beings. basketball is a sport for entertainment of people. let's not confuse one for the other.
It is a higher function of human beings to be able to make analogies and still not confuse things.
and a less higher function to make bad analogies. ;D
Can you think of a better analogy for sports in general than organized conflict? Again, sports originated as mock war, so you know, keep that in mind as you search for a superior analogy to its actual inspiration :)
No one is confusing it for war. What do you think about the phrase "fight for the ball" or "battle for position"? Both are violent. Are we confused about if they are really using martial arts to gain possession or missile attacks to control an area on the court? Nope. Language is beautiful because we can describe terrible and wonderful things, and we can express our feelings and motives by using accepted descriptions of those terrible and wonderful things out of context.
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"National Football League" or "football" as a needless adjective, like "you've gotta make football plays if you want to win football games in the National Football league" instead of "you've gotta make plays if you want to win games in the NFL". Enough with the false gravitas.
This is the one I was thinking of right off the bat. "He just made a great football play"
'Gave 110 %'. Cliche and impossible.
Yes! How about simply "Tried harder"
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"National Football League" or "football" as a needless adjective, like "you've gotta make football plays if you want to win football games in the National Football league" instead of "you've gotta make plays if you want to win games in the NFL". Enough with the false gravitas.
TP for this. I have Phil Simms in my head "he's a good thrower of the football."
Plus, how come every other sport can just say "ball" and they always have to say the word football in its entirety? I can't imagine commentators say the whole word baseball, soccerball, or tennis ball every time. Or even hockey puck instead of just puck. I get so sick of hearing the word football!
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I hate when players are referred to as though they are one of a set instead of unique people.
Draft dudes are particularly guilty of this, including a Mel Kiper, a Chris Mannix, your Chad Fords, and the Fran Frascillas of the world.
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"He can really score the basketball"
There's nothing else to score. And while I love hyperboles and whatnot because they provide color, I don't like "110%".
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I hate it when Tommy says "The Little Guy". Just seems quite degrading.