Category Archives: sports

Ball Security Issues

Posted on September 15, 2013 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever and Weather Whys: Facts, Myths, and Oddities Twice today, during two different football games, I heard an announcer say about a player who fumbles often: “He has ball-security issues.” Twice! If you … Continue reading →

Posted in grammar, language, sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Opening Night of Football and Football Cliches!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever The NFL season opens tomorrow with a special Thursday edition of Sunday night football on NBC. Or, is it a special Thursday edition of Monday night football on ESPN? … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, language, sports | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

League Slams Players for Foul Language–Circa 1898

Posted on June 17, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever For those of you who believe that poorly behaving athletes is a modern problem, check out this yahoo.com blog: Late 19th century ball players sure used creative vulgarities. The blog highlights … Continue reading →

Posted in language, sports | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Super Ad Sunday–Greatest Advertising Scam in History

Posted on February 4, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever The commercials during the Super Bowl have seemingly become so important that perhaps we should call the day Super Ad Sunday, but I don’t understand the one-day obsession with … Continue reading →

Posted in language, off topic, sports | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Super Ad Sunday–Greatest Advertising Scam in History

Come On, Newspaper!

Posted on January 18, 2011 by languageandgrammar

We all make typos, but come on, New Orleans Times-Picayune! (For more, see the Yahoo Sports blog)

Posted in grammar, humor, language, sports, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Come On, Newspaper!

Trite Trophy Winner 2010: At The End of The Day

Posted on December 26, 2010 by languageandgrammar

Gene Collier, a sports columnist for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, has awarded the “Trite Trophy” to a deserving sports cliche for the past 27 years. In the column, he mocks commonly used sports phrases and mixed cliches in what has … Continue reading →

Posted in grammar, humor, language, sports, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview: A New Definition, Thanks to Randy Moss

Posted on November 1, 2010 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever I love it when professional athletes talk. If it’s not a humorous mixture of mangled cliches and mixed metaphors, then it’s some outlandish, self-centered statement that only a media … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, language, sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview: A New Definition, Thanks to Randy Moss

Even Bing Crosby Believed in Sports Jinxes

Posted on September 25, 2010 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever and Weather Whys: Facts, Myths, and Oddities One of the funny things that sports fans do is believe that they can influence the game by attending it, watching it, … Continue reading →

Posted in sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Even Bing Crosby Believed in Sports Jinxes

Thoughtful Sports Figure?

Posted on June 10, 2009 by languageandgrammar

We usually give examples of poor communication in the blog, but I recently heard a quote from an unusually candid and thoughtful sports figure. Since sports personalities usually answer in nothing but cliches, I thought the exception  was worth noting. … Continue reading →

Posted in language, sports, words to live by | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Baseball’s What Not to Say

Posted on April 6, 2009 by languageandgrammar

I apologize to all of the people I know who will read this and think I’m singling them out because they will most likely make some version of the statement during the next 24 hours. I’m not, and that’s part … Continue reading →

Posted in language, sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Baseball’s What Not to Say