During the GAME

It's a game of inches.

They're feeling each other out.
Denver draws first blood.
It's going down to the wire.
It's a real pressure cooker.
It's a nail biter.
It's a nip and tuck game.
It's a see-saw game.
We've got a real barn-burner.
The fans are getting their money's worth.
This is an offensive shootout.
They're locked in a defensive battle.
These two teams are fighting tooth and
nail.
These two teams are going at it like a
couple of heavyweights.
This game has gone true to form.
What a difference a week makes.
That changed the complexion of the game.
You can feel the momentum swinging.
That took the crowd out of the game.
That really silenced the crowd.
The crowd is really into it now.
The crowd is going wild.
The fans are on their feet.
That play electrified the crowd.
This place is bedlam.
This place is pandemonium.
You can feel the electricity.
They're within striking distance now.
Now we've got a football game.
It's a whole new ballgame.
They've scratched and clawed their way
back into the game.
It's a shame somebody has to lose this
game.
They're playing with a sense of urgency.
They dodged the bullet there.
They got a big break there.
That was a missed opportunity.
That'll give coach Jimmy Johnson a few
more grey hairs.
Coach Jimmy Johnson is absolutely livid
on the sideline.
He should get an Academy Award for that
acting job.
Good call by the official.
The officials were right on top of that.

You know that score won't hold up.

That was just huge.
Great individual effort.
You can't teach that.
That was a real heads-up play.
That was a gutsy play.
That was a textbook play.
That was a page right out of the Broncos'
playbook.
They diagrammed that perfectly.
That's stuff for the highlight film.
He's having a whale of a game.
He's having a monster game.
He's been the story of the game.
The competitive juices are flowing.
They're playing inspired defense.
That's 14 unanswered points.
This could be the turning point.
That came at an inopportune time.
That could turn the tide of the game.
That was the game's defining play.
That set the tone of the game.
Gut-check time.
Crunch time.
You couldn't have written a better script.
This game has turned into a chess match.
These two teams are going at it like a
couple of heavyweight fighters.
The Broncos must now pin their hopes on
John Elway.
They cant quite put them away.
That was the big play that capped the rally.
They're forced to burn a timeout.
There's a buck-30 left in regulation. (A
cliche way to say there's a minute and a
half remaining in regulation time)
Time is of the essence.
The clock is their ally.
The clock is their enemy.

When a TEAM is winning

It's theirs to lose.

No lead is safe.
They can smell blood in the water.
It's been all Denver to this point.
They can't afford to get lackadaisical.
That score gives them a big cushion.
That score sealed the victory.
They've built an insurmountable lead.
Theyre off to the races now.
They've answered the call.
They're hitting on all cylinders.
This team is running like a well-oiled machine.
It's all over but the shouting.
This one's in the bag.
This is just a walk in the park for them now.
They're blowing the game wide open.
They're going for the jugular.
They're running roughshod over them.
It looks like they're running up the score.
They're putting on a clinic.
When a TEAM is losing

That's gotta hurt.

They look out of synch.
He's seen enough. (Usually said when a
baseball manager pulls a pitcher or when
a basketball coach calls a timeout)
They're making a lot of un-forced errors.
They appear to lack consistency.
They have to generate some offense.
They're not playing to win - they're
playing not to lose.
They're back on their heels.
They're on the ropes.
They have to get back into their offensive
rhythm.
They're going to have to make some
adjustments.
They've got to go back and regroup. (Individual players are often
encouraged to re-group, which makes as
much sense as 110 percent.)
They'll have a lot to discuss at halftime.
They must maintain their composure.
They have to get back on track.
They have a tough road to hoe. (The
sports world has distorted the original

cliche by replacing "row" with "road".

How do you hoe a road?)
They have to circle the wagons.
Their play is very tentative.
They don't have their heads in the game.
The Broncos left their game in Denver.
They've gone to the well once too often.
They're not out of it yet.
They're still hanging around.
We've still got plenty of football left.
They have to slowly chip away at this lead.
They won't go quietly.
No need to panic, there's plenty of time
left.
Never say die.
They can still try the "Hail Mary".
Well, stranger things have happened.
It ain't over 'til it's over.
It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
You can feel this one slipping away.
Looks like we'll have another team fall
from the ranks of the unbeaten.
That score makes it respectable.
That's too little, too late.
This game is getting out of hand.
When it rains it pours.
That really took the wind out of their sails.
That could be the knock-out punch.

That was the back breaker.

There's the dagger.
That sealed their fate.
That's a nail in the coffin.
A lot of the faithful are heading for the
exits.
Warm up the bus.
Their defense is getting shredded.
The wheels just fell off.
The roof just caved in.

Lights out.
They're self-destructing.
They ran into a buzz saw.
They're getting an old-fashioned woodshed
whippin'.
The rout is on.
This is a real shellacking.
This is a train wreck.
This is turning into a real laugher.
This could get ugly.

Pre-Game, Post-Game and Halftime Analysis

A tie is like kissing your sister.

You win as a team, you lose as a team.
It's been a tale of two halves.
Turnovers will be the key.
The intangibles will be the key.
Statistics can be misleading.
Statistics tell the whole story.
That's the key statistic.
That's the key to the game.
You take what the defense gives you.
This is always a tough place to play.
We don't play these games on paper.
Both teams are playing at a high level.
We've got an intriguing matchup. (Used
most often to describe first-round games in
the NCAA basketball tournament)
We've got the league's best offense against
the league's best defense -- something's got
to give.
These two teams don't like each other.
There's been a lot of trash talking.
There's no love lost between these two
teams.
There's bad blood between these two
teams.
When these two teams get together you
can throw out their records.
Its gonna be a war out there.
It's going to be a battle of the titans.
It's going to be a battle of epic proportions.
This is a game for the ages.
This is a pivotal game for them.
This is their watershed game.
They're coming off a heartbreaking loss.

A win today snaps their four game losing

streak.
This game is for the bragging rights.
They're the sentimental favorites.
They match up well.
He gets the most out of his players.
There are no easy games in this league.
The season is a marathon - not a sprint.
Bad calls even out over the course of a
season.
On any given day any team is capable of
beating another team.
Good teams get better down the stretch.
They really have to take it to them.
They have to play with their ears pinned
back.
They need to turn up the intensity.
They have to step up and make plays.
They have to come out of the locker room
fired up.
They're loaded for bear.
They have to go out and take care of
business.
They can't let the crowd faze them.
They have to get after it.
They have to rise to the occasion.
They have to leave everything on the field.
They have to stay hungry.
They have to keep the continuity.
They can't look past these guys.
They can't take these guys lightly.
They have to avoid a big letdown.
They have to come together as a team.
They have to believe in themselves.
They have to play within themselves.

They have to play like they're capable of

playing.
They have to step up their offensive
production.
They have to get the big guy involved in
the offense.
They'll have to find a way to contain John
Elway.
They'll have to find a way to limit what
Elway can do.
They can't expect to shut Elway down
completely.
They can't be intimidated.
They must control the tempo of the game.
They have to dictate the tempo.
They have to stick to their bread-andbutter offense.
They should stick to the fundamentals.
They have to eliminate the mental
mistakes.
They have to dig deep.
They have to suck it up.
They have to crank it up.
They have to turn it up a notch.

They need to step up to the next level.

They must capitalize on their
opportunities.
They have to take advantage of their
opportunities.
They have to bend but not break.
They have to stretch their defense.
They have to shore up their defense.
They have to pull out all the stops.
They should just go out there and have
fun.
They're playing for pride.
They're playing the role of spoilers.
They went 80 yards in the ensuing
possession. (Game analysis rarely uses the
simple words `next' or `following'.
Announcers strongly prefer `ensuing' to
sound more scholarly)
The final score was not a true indication.
The game was a lot closer than the final
score indicates.
It's easy to be a Monday morning
quarterback.

Teams Going UP
He's a good X's and O's coach.
He runs a squeaky-clean program. (Said
when any college team has not been under
NCAA investigation within the last 5
years)
They're a blue collar team.
They've gone to a youth movement.
They've got tremendous mental toughness.
They're a dark horse team.
This team is showing flashes of brilliance.
They're finally hitting their stride.
This team is really starting to gel.
This team is starting to make some noise.
This could be a sleeper team.
They're a team to be reckoned with.
Everybody's on the same page.
The players have bought into the system.
They're doing all the little things you need
to win.
This team is not going to sneak up on
anybody.
This team has turned the corner.

This team has raised the bar.

They've gotten over the hump.
This team has finally gotten off the
schneid.
They're loaded this year.
They have a strong supporting cast.
They've added a new wrinkle to their
offense.
This team travels well.
Those players form their nucleus.
He's really whipped them into shape.
He's got them headed in the right direction.
This team takes on the personality of their
coach.
He must challenge his players.
These guys have been working their tails
off.
These guys have been busting their butts.
They're finally getting the respect they
deserve.
They've been playing with confidence.
They've got great team chemistry.

This team is like a family.

They've got die-hard fans.
The city has rallied around this team.
You have to respect their quickness.
You have to respect their athleticism.
You have to respect their
physicality. (`Physicality' was invented by
college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg
and is currently spreading to different
announcers)
They do a great job defensively.
They're a multi-faceted team.
They're an offensive-minded team.
They have a high-octane offense.
They have a potent offense.
They've got a lot of depth.
They pride themselves on their defense.
They have a stingy defense.
They have a swarming defense.
They play tough "D".
They play tenacious defense.
They play punishing defense.
They play tremendous pressure defense.
They play in-your-face defense.
Theyve been on a roll.
Theyre over-achievers.

They can go the distance.

They won't be denied.
They strike fear in the hearts of their
opponents.
Theyve come out of nowhere.
Theyve returned from oblivion.
What an incredible turnaround.
They're a real Cinderella story.
They're having a storybook season.
They're having a dream season.
Theyre a better team than their record
indicates.
They're no pushovers.
They give you so many different looks.
They have a lot of weapons.
They've got a tremendous ballclub.
This franchise has a storied past.
They're the winningest team in league
history. Winningest?
They can put up big numbers.
They're playing with swagger.
These guys are playing with a chip on their
shoulders.
They're a team of destiny.
They're on a mission.

Teams Going DOWN

It's a rebuilding year.
They've been struggling offensively.
(Teams never struggle defensively)
Their offense has been sputtering.
They're a bit banged up.
They've got some players who are ding'd
up.
They've got a few guys who are nicked up.
They're nursing some nagging injuries.
They've had a few players go down with
injuries.
They've been riddled with injuries.
They need to get healthy.
A week off will do them some good.
They've got to ignore the off-field
distractions.

They need a win to stop their five game

skid.
They're still missing a few pieces to the
puzzle.
Their defense has been much maligned.
They're the league doormats.
They're the league cellar dwellers.
This team is searching to find its identity.
Despite the losing record, they're just a
few plays away from having a perfect
season.
The coach has been under fire.
The coach is on the hot seat.
The coach's head is on the chopping block.

In the WINNERs locker room

I'm really proud of the way our guys hung
in there.
We were really on our game.
We came to play.
We brought our A-game.
We took them out of their game.
We knew what we had to do and went out
and did it.
We proved we're the better team.
We're tickled to death.
We're glad to get out of here with the "W".
They gave us a big scare. (Said when a
team narrowly escapes a major upset)
It's tough to win in a hostile environment.
We're happy we could pull this one out at
the end.
We feel fortunate.
We knew this would be no cakewalk.
It wasn't pretty but we'll take it.
We managed to eke out a win.
The important thing is that we won.
A win is a win.
This was a good win for us.
This was a confidence booster.
We're going to use this win as a building
block.
We'll use this win as a stepping stone to
the next level.
We're not going to rest on our laurels.
This win was no fluke.
We finally got the monkey off our backs.
Everyone counted us out before the season
started.
It was a hard-fought contest.
It was a total team effort.
I'm happy I could make a contribution.
I was just doing my job.
It was a workman-like effort.
We made our own breaks.
We played our hearts out.
We really took it to 'em.

We snatched victory out of the jaws of

defeat.
This team has finally learned how to win.
We weren't going to just lie down.
We weren't going to just roll over.
We knew we had to defend our home turf.
This team always seems to find a way to
win.
This team has overcome a lot of adversity.
This team shows a lot of character.
This team shows a lot of poise.
This team shows a lot of pride.
This team shows a lot of resiliency.
This team shows a lot of heart.
We're going to savor this victory.
This team has served notice.
We made a statement here today.
We sent a message here today.
This win is for all the fans.
Our fans were the 12th man today.
We feed off the energy of our fans.
This MVP award belongs to the whole
team.
We've got the greatest fans in the world.
I want to thank my Lord and Savior.
It hasn't sunk in yet.
I'm in a state of shock.
I'm speechless.
We shocked the world.
You dream about this as a kid.
It feels great to be world champions. (It is
very common for players to anoint
themselves 'world champions' even if they
compete in a league with only North
American or American teams)
This is a dream come true.
This is the greatest feeling in the world.
After blowing-out the other team
They're tough competitors.
They're a class act.
Give them a lot of credit.
We beat a very good team today.

In the LOSERS locker room

The final score is the only statistic that
matters.
They outplayed us in every phase (facet)
of the game.
They wanted it more than we did.
We had our chances but we let them slip
away.
We came up a little short.
We don't care about moral victories.
They caught us on an off night.
It just wasn't meant to be.
Turnovers killed us.
They out-hustled us.
They out-muscled us.
They out-coached us.
We got a wake-up call.
We weren't mentally prepared.
We came out flat.
We beat ourselves.
We only have to look in the mirror.
They ate our lunch.
They've had our number all season.
They own us.
This is a bitter pill to swallow.
It's going to be a long plane ride home.
I take full responsibility for this loss.
We didn't get the job done.

Not to take away anything from Denver,

but we didn't play like we're capable of
playing.
My hat's off to them.
I tip my hat to them.
You've got to hand it to them.
Give them all the credit.
The best team won today.
He always has his team ready to play.
We can still hold our heads high.
These guys have nothing to be ashamed of.
They just made the big plays and we
didn't.
They stepped up and made the plays.
We didn't match their intensity.
We didn't maintain the intensity for the
entire 60 minutes.
We lost our focus.
I don't want to point fingers.
There were too many defensive lapses.
Our defense was a non-factor.
Our defense didn't show up today.
We dug ourselves a deep hole.
We shot ourselves in the foot.
The ball just didn't bounce our way.
We didn't get the big breaks today.
We'll just have to put this loss behind us.
I'm really proud of our guys.
It's been a great ride.

Player Analysis
He's an impact player.
He's a physical player.
He's an explosive player.
He's a tough, hard-nosed player.
He's a scrappy player.
He's an unselfish player.
He's a finesse player.
He's some kind of player. (Mind telling
us what kind?)
He can take over a game.
He can flat out play.
He's a proven winner.
He has a passion for the game.
He's a serious student of the game.
He has great baseball IQ.

He has a great feel for the game.

You can't say enough about him.
He's one of the best in the business.
He's the real deal.
He's legit.
He's in a league of his own.
He's silenced all the critics.
He's silenced all the naysayers.
He's their spark plug.
He's their role player.
He understands his role on this team.
He's the consumate team player.
He's a good guy to have in your locker
room.
He's a steady player.

He's a complete player.

He's a real throwback.
They count on him week in and week out.
He's the heart and soul of this team.
He's the unsung hero on this team.
He's a leader on and off the field.
He's their workhorse.
He's their floor general.
He's their field general.
The team looks to him for leadership.
He's their playmaker.
He's as good a player as there is in this
league.
He's a warrior.
He can carry the team on his shoulders.
He's their go-to guy when the game's on
the line.
He always comes through in the clutch.
He thrives under pressure.
He's got ice-water in his veins.
He has a tireless work ethic.
He plays with a lot of emotion.
He plays with reckless abandon.
He's all heart.
He has great instincts.
He has a killer instinct.
He has elevated his game.
He can take you to school.
He's really been in the zone.
He's really been in the groove.
He's been feeling it.
He's finally playing his natural position.
He's on top of his game.
He knows what it takes to win.
He's really coming into his own.
He's finally getting his due.
This has been his breakout season.
He's having a career year.
He let's the game come to him.
He makes it look easy.
You can't stop him; you can only hope to
contain him.
Just watching him is worth the price of
admission.
He has a nose for the ball.
He'll have his game-face on.
His ability to do that is just uncanny.

He's got game.

He has great vision.
He has eyes on the back of his head.
He has great lateral mobility.
He moves well for a big man.
He has a great pair of hands.
He has lightning-fast reflexes.
He has cat-quick reflexes.
He has the heart of a champion.
He makes the players around him better.
He's the glue that holds this team together.
He can break the game wide open.
He can make things happen out there.
He gets stronger as the game goes on.
He makes his presence known out there.
He plays bigger than his size.
He's an integral part of their offense.
He adds a new dimension to their offense.
He has a linebacker mentality.
He's the stalwart of their defense.
He has a rifle for an arm.
He's built low to the ground.
He has a low center of gravity.
He's a speed merchant.
He has speed to burn.
He has blazing speed.
He has blinding speed.
He can turn on the jets.
He can turn on the after-burners.
He has both speed and quickness.
He's a cutter and a slasher. (Fallen out of
favor in the wake of the O.J. Simpson
murders)
He's poetry in motion.
He's the best player you've never heard of.
He's the league's most underrated player.
He does things that don't show up in the
stat column.
Last week was his coming-out party.
He's a rookie sensation.
He's a highly touted freshman.
He's a talented young freshman. (Aren't
all freshmen young?)
He's a freshman phenom. (Note that all
"phenoms" are young -- there are no
senior or veteran phenoms.)

Obviously?
Why is everything so obvious? While not a clich on its own, "obviously" can be used
conveniently in just about every sports clich. One of our favorites is:
"Obviously, there's no question about it."
Many times it's used to introduce some sort of clich remark that actually is pretty obvious:
"Obviously, the final score is the only statistic that matters."
Hard to argue with that. But sometimes it isn't so obvious:
"Obviously, the statistics speak for themselves."
Well, what if we don't have a stat sheet handy? And just what statistics are you referring to?
Someone responds with "obviously" to cast an air of authority and superiority. In other
words,
"I'm an important player or coach and you're just a sports reporter. I've certainly achieved
much more in sports than you have. I have a deep knowledge of the game and you -- well,
you don't. I don't want you to forget this and I'm going to give you a subtle reminder in my
answer to your question."
Thanks coach! If it wasn't for those canned, clich answers you're providing, we'd really be
lost.
No Question
There's no question about it is a prolific cliche and deserves a special category all its own.
This cliche runs rampant in the sports world and has begun to make inroads into political
jargon. Its only a matter of time before it infects the entire English language. Here are some
examples of how one usually hears it:
"He's the best quarterback of all time, there's no question about it." This comment might
occur during an extended sports talk show devoted to this highly subjective and almost
impossible to quantify topic. If there's no question about it, why are we even having this
discussion? "No question about it" is just a cliche way of saying "That's my opinion" and
sounding authoritative about it. Another way to get the same effect is with the
word arguably. If you state: "He's arguably the best quarterback of all time", you must really
know what you're talking about. It seems you're even willing to get into an argument.
"The Cowboys will dominate the Cardinals today, there's no question about it." Really? No
question? If the matter is not in question, why are we bothering to play the silly game?
Often it's heard in response to interview queries such as: "Did the free-throw shooting hurt
the team tonight, coach?" Glancing at the stat-sheet and seeing his team was a miserable 13for-27, the coach's first reaction will be to answer "Yes", but he'll collect himself and respond:
"Well, there's no question about it." Meaning, of course, that the interviewer should not have
asked a question about it.

Basketball
They match-up well size-wise.
They can really light up the scoreboard.
They play an up-tempo game.
They'll be dancing in March.
They play an exciting brand of basketball.
They play above the rim.
They move well without the ball.
They live and die by their outside shot.
They need to dominate the boards.
They need to dominate the paint.
They need to dominate the offensive glass.
They have to pound the ball inside.
They have to block out better.
They have to stop the dribble penetration.
They score a lot of points in transition.
They've been red-hot.
They've been on fire.
They're shooting the lights out.
They're making a living behind the 3-point
arc.
It's raining threes.
They're shooting well from
downtown. ( "Downtown" was introduced
by broadcaster Marv Albert and is now in
widespread use. But why aren't long-range
shooters in the SUBURBS ? )
He can really shoot the three-ball.
He can nail the trifecta.
They're getting some good, open looks.
He's been unconscious.
He's automatic.
He's money.
He can fill it up.
He can bury the three-point shot.
He's a pure shooter.
He has the hot hand.
He's been perfect from the charity stripe.
Well, I just jinxed him. (This is the
follow-up cliche if the `perfect' free throw
shooter misses)
He can really dish the rock.
He's been their spark off the bench.
He gives them good minutes off the bench.
He provides them with instant offense.
He's a streaky shooter.
They can't get their shots to fall.
They can't buy a basket.
They can't find their range.

They've been ice-cold.

The free throw shooting has been anemic.
They've been throwing up bricks.
He just threw up an air ball.
There's a lid on the basket.
That shot barely drew iron.
He lost the handle.
They need a timeout to stop the bleeding.
They've got to knock down their free
throws.
I question their shot selection.
They have to find an answer for Reggie
Miller.
It's been a game of runs.
Now's the time to run some clock.
They need a defensive stop.
It's a two possession game.
Ten seconds is like an eternity.
This game has turned into a track meet.
This game has turned into a free-throw
shooting contest.
He's been quiet so far.
They've got to take it to the hole.
They've got to take it to the rack.
The big guy is really sweeping the glass.
He can really sky for those rebounds.
He's a force on the inside.
He can spot up for the open J.
That's his patented jumper.
He shoots a rainbow jumper.
They're really banging in there!
They have to body-up on the big guy.
Ree-jected!
Nothing but net.
Drained it!
They've got numbers!
Great no-look pass.
Count the basket!
Coast-to-coast!
He nails the buzzer beater!
He got away with a walk. (The cliche way
for an announcer to suggest a player
traveled with the ball)
He got hacked.
That was a smart foul.
That was a ticky-tack call.
That was a good piece of
officiating. (Used exclusively by analyst

Billy Packer for many years...now seeping

into the mainstream)

The refs should let them play.