I'm sure we can come up with about 500 more of them, some of these make me cringe.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/mccarthy/2006-12-21-mccarthy-cliches_x.htm


Sportscasters: Ditch the cliches

Updated 12/22/2006 4:30 PM ET

In the generous spirit of the holidays, sportscasters should give TV viewers a break with the sports clichés. Some overused expressions that should take a seat on the bench in 2007:

•Alligator arms. This description was cool. At first. Now you hear it every time an NFL receiver pulls up short on a pass to avoid a hit. As in: "Terrell Owens sure had alligator arms on that play."

Time to bring back its more versatile predecessor: "Hearing footsteps." Besides using it for dropped balls, analysts could warn a struggling coach or player was "hearing the footsteps" of their potential replacement.

•He/she has to have a great game for his/her team to win. "We really like our people to stay away from this one," says Tony Petitti, executive producer of CBS Sports. "Tell me something I don't know."

•Get on the same page. As in, "Allen Iverson and George Karl need to get on the same page." Michael Wilbon, NBA studio analyst for ABC, asks: "What does this even mean?"

•The media is blowing this out of proportion. Often used by players when media members accurately quote their previous statements.

•That will come back to haunt them. Does a kicker ever miss a short field goal, or extra point, where somebody doesn't trot out this hoary old chestnut?

•First, I'd like to thank my Lord and savior. The political correctness police must love hearing this frequent declaration.

•Throw under the bus. Another way of saying coaches or players have put the blame on someone other than themselves.

•D-Line or O-Line. Whatever happened to saying defensive line or offensive line?

•We had a lot of open looks at the basket. Just say your basketball team got open. A lot.

•Let me tell you something. So go ahead and tell us already — without the preamble.

•You can't win the game (or tournament) here. But you can lose it. Sounds important, really says nothing.

•It doesn't get any better than this. Save it for the beer commercials.

•He has a swagger about him. Conversely, some young QBs "need more of a swagger."

•He's a warrior. NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol is bugged by sportscasters who overplay the "courage" angle when it comes to the achievements of pro athletes.

"To call it courage, when young men and women are laying their lives on the line in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, is silly and pretentious," he says.

One of the funniest things I ever saw was when Bobby Knight went off on a writer who asked him something about having your "game face" on, and knight rips into a series of contorted facial maneuvers to emulate what a "game face" might look like.
That guy is truly an American Icon.

I think the sports cliche that I hate the most is when callers on sports radio say "the last caller stole my thunder". Often that is enough to get me to turn the station immediately.

Others:

-"Giving 110%"
-"Taking one game at a time"
-"Don't get caught looking past/ahead"
-The fetish with the word "football" is annoying too. He's a "football player", or a "football move" or what a great "football game".

If I hear the term "pinning their ears back" one more time....


WHAT A STUPID FUCKING SAYING... and it's become extremely popular with football analysts. And if they say it once, you're sure to hear it at least 10 more times throughout the course of that same game.

Here's a cliche I'm sick of:
Jim tressel beats Lloyd Carr again

I hate when a basketball player is making a lot of shots, they say he is 'strokin it'. Personally, thats something I do alone. Theres a million wrong ways announcers use the word 'penetration' too.

Games that are "barnburners", and when guys get dunked on they are given "facials".

I hate it when you're atching a great game, like between the Giants and the Redskins, and the announcer uses that old cliche about "wanting to fuck the quarterback in the ass". I mean, sometimes it can be funny, but other times it can make you spill your beer all over your new crushed velvet smoking jacket.

the best (and most annoying) way for an athlete to avoid really answering any question: "It is what it is".

sorry, sean baligian.

One of the funniest things I ever saw was when Bobby Knight went off on a writer who asked him something about having your "game face" on, and knight rips into a series of contorted facial maneuvers to emulate what a "game face" might look like.
That guy is truly an American Icon.

Any video of this?

Any video of this? 3Ukj6Qi5W_k
It's #2.

-"Giving 110%"


That is my all time leader right there. I HATE that statement. How a player can give more than maximum effort (which %100 stands for...is beyond me). Why not %200 or %1,000 percent while you are at it?

The scary part is that they're missing some of the best Bobby Knight shit because it's too controversial:

- "We put his dick in a vise. I twisted it. We stuck a red-hot poker up his ass and poured hot water down his mouth and I told him if he promised to play well, we'd quit all that."

- "If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."

One I really hate, which isn't really a cliche, would be when players are interviewed and they say "you know" about a dozen times. why tell us something we already know. Be insightful. Or if you are telling us something we don't know...then don't say "you know" every 5 seconds.

"you know" isn't particularly a sports thing, unfortunately, y'know.

The one that gets me is people talking about how it's a "positive thing" when they lose. NEWSFLASH YOU FUCKERS -- YOU LOST!!!!! DEAL WITH IT!!!!!

Calling someone "a leader on and off the court" gets to me too.

"He's a guy that just makes plays".

That is my all time leader right there. I HATE that statement. How a player can give more than maximum effort (which %100 stands for...is beyond me). Why not %200 or %1,000 percent while you are at it?

word word

Not only is it used in sports but its even used in my class...

Hearing 110% always reminds me of the classic "11" scene from Spinal Tap, which doesn't bug me much:

d54UU-fPIsY

The most annoying cliche to me for the last two days has been the bashing of Nick Saban.
Yes, sportswriters are now the Moral Police.
I'm sorry, 32 Mill for 8 years to coach college, or, well, the same money to coach in the NFL and deal with the shit the pros thow at you is an easy choice for me.
Look at the mess that is NFL Player: Tank Johnson, Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, and this Denver Broncos player getting shot at a nightclub at 3 AM.
Leave Saban alone already, I don't understand how pro coaches don't go batty after a year or two and kill everyone they know.

I don't have a problem with him leaving, but why did he say the media shouldn't be asking him about leaving because he's definately staying? Leave if you want, but his quotes a couple weeks ago seem pretty shady now.

It's "coachspeek", and here are some other examples:
"I have complete confidence in him"
--Translation: "He's helping us get a higher draft pick"
"I'm giving him a vote of confidence"
--Translation: "Fucker is GONE!"
"My wife and kids love it here, we're staying"
--Translation: "I've got a hottie on the side that is really good in the sack, and she won't move with me"
"This is the job I've always wanted"
--Tranlsation: "I can't believe I found someone stupid enough to pay me all this money"
"It's not fair that we don't get a rematch against Ohio State"
--Translation: "I should have just done what I always do, and we'd be going to the goddamm Outback Bowl instead, with no pressure"

I am so sick of sports talk radio hosts "breaking down" the big game.

The Product

Stop calling the NFL and the NHL and the NBA etc game The Product
you souless bastards

If you took "at the end of the day" away from Stephen A. (Anus) Smith that annoying prick would be speechless.

If you took "at the end of the day" away from Stephen A. (Anus) Smith that annoying prick would be speechless.

ESPN would shut down completely. Even our guy Cowherd might be a little bit at a loss for words.

"Hitch a cart to that horse"

http://www.drdonnica.com/images/celeb_madden.jpg

The newest craze in sports talk: Buy or Sell. "Do you buy Charlie weis at this point or sell him at this point?"

Hopeufully you don't buy him by the pound.

Nice.

Pursuit of Perfection

GOD DAMNIT SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!

You know they've (ESPN) been using that same line to promote Lexus for about a year now.

I'm really surprised that it hasn't been morphed into ""The Patriots: Pursuit of Perfection, presented by Lexus"

when guys get dunked on they are given "facials".
Yeah, there's an overwhelming and disturbing image of gay porn that's conjured up by sports media guys.

By far the worst is "it is what it is." It's seriously the dumbest, most meaningless phrase ever conjured up by anyone since "I'm just saying" was invented.

useless factoid: this thread just turned one year old

Fine, blame me for the thread necromancy >=(

Here's a cliche I hate:

John Madden, is that a beer bottle sticking out of your ass?

Whenever a coach is fired, the team wanted to "move in a different direction"

Humble Pie

"If you dont like that you dont like nba(or a team name like pistons or kings) basketball!!!!!"

fucking a

Whenever a coach is fired, the team wanted to "move in a different direction"

good call. Like they'd want to keep moving in the same direction or something.

Everything Hubie Brown says.

Everything Hubie Brown says.

Everything Kevin Harlan says. I'm not sure they're cliches, but they are annoying.

Kevin Harlan never gets old for me. The way he gets excited by the most insignificant play is hilarious.

I hate it. All the shooting between the eyes and flame thrower crap has gotten old with me.

"eating crow"

really, does anyone do that? cause if they did I want to know how it tastes.

Chris Berman.

the best (and most annoying) way for an athlete to avoid really answering any question: "It is what it is".

sorry, sean baligian.


There was a rumor that I said I was unhappy here and I wanted to go to Chicago and I never said anything about Chicago, or anything about being traded," McGrady said. "This happens when teams are trying to make deals and they throw names in there. It is what it is."

"World" Champions/Championship.

Out: distraction, as in "is this a distraction?" or "Buy or sell this being a distraction?"

In: legacy, as in "what does this do to Roger Clemens' legacy?" or "what about Bob Knight's legacy?"

Out: "It is what it is"

In: "It's not what it isn't"

Hmm. This whole "out/in (or in/out)" thing has thread potential.

Out: "Tremendous"

In: "Key."

Penis out, Penis in.

The ol' in and out.

Calling a guy a "monster" or saying that he's going to "have a monster year".

Or calling someone a beast.

But I guess that's pretty much the same thing.

There's something vaguely dehumanizing and insulting about calling someone a "beast."

Spygate...

JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!

I don't remember there being any gates in that situation. Maybe spycam or something. Either way, it happened, its over, move on PLEASE. I'm with SDB on this one. Whenever I hear them mention it on tv, I change the channel.

Everything Hubie Brown says.

Seriously?

I'm pretty sure that he coined "positive upside potential".

I love that one.

Anytime a team is making a comeback or about to score and they say the team is "knocking at the door". What door? What the fuck are you talking about? Go away.

This is unrelated I guess, but I FUCKING HATE NFL LIVE. THIS FUCKING SHOW IS ON EVERY FUCKING DAY EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO FOOTBALL BEING PLAYED. EVEN AFTER THE DRAFT TOO!!

The only time it is even remotely interesting is when BONNIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is hosting, and she rarely does.

SDB owns.

no u do

This is unrelated I guess, but I FUCKING HATE NFL LIVE. THIS FUCKING SHOW IS ON EVERY FUCKING DAY EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO FOOTBALL BEING PLAYED. EVEN AFTER THE DRAFT TOO!!

The only time it is even remotely interesting is when BONNIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is hosting, and she rarely does.

There IS something worse...

Red Sox vs. Yankees.

The country needs to gear back up for the next Yankee Sox battle.

I understand that Boston fans hate the Yankees and New York fans hate the Red Sox, but really...how is it the best rivalry in sports when they play like 20 times a year?

The hatred kinda wears off a bit when they're playing so many times in the regular season IMO.

Ha, it's on ESPN2.

Pwnt.

The fans just do stuff to make it a bigger deal to feed the media and the media gobbles that shit up.

But I really need to get off this media bashing.

I'm getting NASCAR NOW on 2.

Sox-Yanks isn't until 7 I believe.

^ oh, I see whatchur sayin

There aren't many true rivalries anymore. Just fan rivalries.

When I think rivals, I think something like Wings-Avs, where the teams ACTUALLY hate each other. You know both teams were always a little extra pumped and hit a little harder for those games.

More Yanks-Sox talk on ESPN.

FUCK! I JUST WANT TO DECAPITATE A FUCKING DOG OR SOMETHING.

"Physicality"

"they didn't want it as bad as the other team" SHUT THE FUCK UP AND TELL ME THE SCORE

Can't remember if its been mentioned, but "scored the ball". What the fuck else would he score with?

Also, to bring up an old one that still bothers me, "out with a hamstring" or "he's got a knee" Well, everyone has hamstrings and knees.

http://www.disabilityworld.org/images/27/munich-manwhocouldntdance.jpg
When this guy is out with a knee, you let me know and I'll accept the phrase.

Can't remember if its been mentioned, but "scored the ball".

:cogent:

"It wasn't our year"

"Great story"

hint hint

Legacy

"What does this do to his legacy?"

Edit - post #49

Manny being Manny

Manny being Manny

ftw, lock it

ftw, lock it


http://topherlytle.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/man-pulling-hair-out-21.jpg

Manny being Manny

Mannywood

This team has "moxie".

I'd like to blame God...

#1 pick.

They say that about guys that were taken 30th overall. If the Pats drafted you with the 31st overall pick in the first round, you are a first round pick, not a number one pick. If the Lions draft you, THEN you're a #1 pick.

#1 pick.

They say that about guys that were taken 30th overall. If the Pats drafted you with the 31st overall pick in the first round, you are a first round pick, not a number one pick. If the Lions draft you, THEN you're a #1 pick.


That's always pissed me off too. I'll be watching the Pats, and Nantz will say "Vince Wilfork, the former number one pick, on the tackle".

What about the Jets who had two first rounders this year.

Vernon Gholston- number one pick
Dustin Keller- number two pick???

It's flawed broadcasting.

Future Hall of Famer

scheme

This whole "anonymous player" thing is getting a bit old. If a player is going to say something anonymously about a teammate or just another player period, there's no need to tell us about it.

"One of the hardest things to do in football is to beat the same team three times".

"That was a GUTSY® performance"

©Tahoe All Rights Reserved

"That was a GUTSY® performance"

©Tahoe All Rights Reserved

No respect...

"One of the hardest things to do in football is to beat the same team three times".

They say this nonstop whenever they talk about the AFC title game.

scrappy/scrapper

Cinderella.

I'm waiting for the person who owns the rights to the name Cinderella to sue the sports world for untold millions.

Why does every friggin' analyst hold a pen in their hand while they're talking?

"I told myself I wouldn't get emotional"

Heart and soul. "He's the heart and soul of that team..."

"they might be a scary team, come playoff time"

as in, "The Pistons might be a scary team, come playoff time"

"Is (player) a Hall of Famer?"

"never knowingly took..."

"thought it was flaxseed oil"

"The new Sombrero"

Chris Berman sweats because he's fat. Amirite?

Anything Cowboys related.

"Sixburgh"

MVP chants.

"This is Big 10 Football/Basketball, folks. Hard nosed and a lot of defense"


Command/:[system check]/

WTF Translator [computing]..............


................[computing]...........................


Answer: Big 10 offenses SUCK.


End command.

The Black and Blue Division

"These two teams do not like each other"

"Things are getting a lil chippy out there"

"Now the frustration is begining to show"

Timberkittens

HE'S UNCONSCIOUS

"Things are getting a lil chippy out there"

"Now the frustration is begining to show"
Those phrases were said like 15 times during the Wings/Oilers game yesterday.

"Taking them to the woodshed"

Outphysicaled

"They were outphysicaled out there today..."

CBS: "The SEC is the best football conference in America"
ESPN: "The ACC is the best basketball conference in America"

Tell-all books.

"potential playoff preview"

"potential Finals preview"

That loss left a bad taste in their mouf

I hate it when NBA players slap hands after FTs.

All this fapping over Shaq.

"HE'S SO LOVABLE! HE'S LIKE A BIG KID!"

He's only 37!

stock

"Whose stock has risen?"
"Whose stock has fallen?"

Anything having to do with Kobe/Shaq.

You know what'd be awesome? If more athletes would come out and say "Fuck the fans, I don't give a shit about them" or something to that effect. Of course, nobody would do it, but it would be a nice change from the BS they give us.

The closest to that was Charles, Sheed, theres more that I can't think of. But no, they don't come out and say it.

No shit. Athletes aren't THAT dumb.

I'm about done with "Throwing somebody under the bus".

He's a QB that's good at "managing the game".

"Let's bring on Adam Schefter"

"ridonkulous"

"Vintage...."

"it's just another game"

Gashed

Lou Holtzth picking ND to win every single game they play.

Baseball champagne celebrations.

Craig James calling Mark May "May Day"

Stop it, Craig James.

"Dr. Lou" pretending he's John Wooden

"not as close as the score indicated"

"all the prevent defense does is prevent you from winning"

beast(s) of the east

^ 2 out of 3 on this page are really good.

"We knew they were going to make a run at us"

"filthy"



(baseball)

Leprecat

All this shit about Florida/Alabama being a national semifinal.

It's always funny when a team loses a game and analysts say they should have won.

"... but, that's football."

"You can't [bad] and expect to win."

"They control their own destiny"

"the rest of the team needs to 'step up".

It wouldn't be annoying if it weren't used bazillion times a tourney.

They can really 'score the basketball'

Facilitator.

"The Big 3"

Facilitator.

Not familiar with this term.

"He's a scorer, not a shooter"

"Your dick is too big for my mouth."

Wait.

What thread is this?

Originally Posted by Shoopy http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/fB_Light/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?p=365683#post365683)
Facilitator.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
Not familiar with this term

I lol'd

"great crossover move"


......*


When did a simple crossover dribble become a "great move"?

^ When I do it.

"he doesn't pass the eyeball test"

I hate to say it but "Michigan Man"

Bingo.

^ I read your tweet and it hit me.

It's one of the worst of them all.

Used way too much.

I felt it when Bo said it. I remember it and it was cool, but damn, lets use it once every 5 years or so.

^^^^NOT Michigan men.^^^^

"beast mode"

The Jets act is starting to get a little tired to me.

Still want them to beat the Pats.

"addition by subtraction"

^ There's a contribution.

So tired of clutch players being called "closers".

"bracketology"

"He's a physical specimen"

Not that its used a ton but it still sucks.

He's got great length and positive upside potential.

"it's all about matchups"

'felt like a playoff game out there'

"he can make all of the throws"

Yes, it's that time again.

"great ball skills"

He can play the "little man's game", but can he play the "big man's game"?

This thread should be renamed "Dilfer".

"dunkface"

I have out of the NBA following long enough to not have any idea what you're talking about.

"don't be a prisoner of the moment"

SKIP

Red Sox Nation, Steeler Nation, Spartan Nation, et al.

a little tired of hearing about teams getting ready to "take that next step."

"They're going to call that every time" No, no they fucking don't call holding every time, you useless fuckin announcer pieces of bat shit.

"video game numbers"

"They want to run the ball and play good defense"

What team doesn't? Idiot

"Team to beat"

And I don't think I'm going to be able to take hearing about how Suh has "changed the culture" in Detroit anymore.

"You couldn't script this any better"

(re: Orton/Chiefs vs Broncos)

SUPER BOWL REMATCH

posterize

"All Star snub"

"It factor"

Usually used by people that have mad h8 for a playa and nothing to back it up. "Oh, he just doesn't have the it factor."

JOHNNY FOOTBALL

"THEY CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY"

CLUTCH GENE

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/skip2.jpg

POWERFUL Blackhawks Team.

Copycat league.

"We've gotta get better"

"ride off into the sunset"

"the quarterback position"

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=11401233

Notice how you can just take that out of the sentence and it's just fine?

Red Sox Nation, Steeler Nation, Spartan Nation, et al.

Now on ESPN2: SEC NATION

Worst is still 'score the basketball' imo.

Probably said before, but "it's a business"

"We needed to get this right"


"We need to get it right"


"We took our time to get it right"


"We need to get this right"


All those variations.

NOBODY EXPECTED US TO BE HERE

The hottest cliche going

"We just have to go 1-0 this week"

"They control their own destiny"

re: the college football playoff

execute

"We just didn't execute out there"

Was Jordan referred to as "The Best Player in the World" like LeBron is constantly? Pretty annoying

Yes (http://blogs.suntimes.com/news/165785934_37390015.JPG)

Yeah, not even just best player, more like best athlete or even best person period in some places...

"All three phases of the game"

[football player makes a spin move] "HE JUST HIT THE B BUTTON LOL!"

"I don't know what's a catch anymore!"

"You can't win a division in April, but you can sure lose one!"

knock off

"The Titans knock off the Broncos."