The Meaning of Sports Terminology
The Meaning of Sports Terminology
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Let us assume Gerlof Van West is participating in a discussion on a team project between the Chicago and the Amsterdam office of his firm. He has excellent English skills and even a fair knowledge of colloquial expressions. He plays golf regularly and knows that Americans are fond of using sports metaphors in business discussions, but he is not prepared for the following:
We need to get more resources committed to this project. We are in the 9th inning and cannot afford to fumble this thing now.
Maybe we could bring Johnson in on this to help out.
No, Johnson's a rookie. He'll have trouble getting out of the starting gate on this project. What we need is a veteran, someone who can quarterback this thing while I'm absent. The bases are loaded, and we need a homerun hitter, someone who can bring the players in. The competition is heating up, and we cannot afford to strike out now.
How about Smith? He has pitched some good games in the past.
Yes, Smith! He's pinch hit in the past. Get his boss on the line and see if Smith can take time out to score on this project.
Gerlof Van West may get the gist of the conversation, but he will be confused as to the specifics. He knows that he is missing the major points. Yet his American counterparts assume that he understands and that he can participate in this kind of discussion. Not being familiar with the sports metaphors clearly puts him at a disadvantage.
Let us look at the terms used in the above dialogue, where they come from, and what they mean.
9th inning baseballlast part of game, end is in sight
fumblefootballlosing the ball to other side, setback
rookiefor all sportsnew person, inexperienced
starting gatehorse racingbeginning
quarterbackfootball»brain« of the game, most important person
bases are loadedbaseballgood chance of scoring but no guarantee,
potential for success
home runbaseballscoring points, excellent results
hitterbaseballsomeone who does well
home stretchhorse racinglast phase of competition
strike outbaseballeliminated for this round, setback, interruption
pitchbaseballgetting the game going
pinch hitbaseballsomeone who comes in to take someone
else's place, trouble shooter
The terms in the example come from four sports: baseball, football, basketball, and horse racing. In practice, most sports jargon that American business people use relates to baseball and football. Occasionally other sports will enter, but baseball and football provide by far the richest source of sports metaphors in business.
These sports are popular American team sports. While basketball and baseball, and even football are gaining in popularity in other parts of the world, they are in many ways still considered American sports. In order to understand the jargon connected with the sports, it is therefore helpful to explain the basic concepts behind the sports to a foreign person.
POSITIVE TERMS
These terms signify varying degrees of success and hope.
hole-in-onesuccess at first try (golf)
scorewinning a point
touchdownscore in football
homerunscore in baseball, hitting ball out of park
two-pointsfootball, after touchdown, taking a chance for extra
point
getting a rain checkbaseball, getting money back if rained out, future
benefit
getting to first basefirst step to success but no guarantee
slam dunkbasketball, being in control
shut-outsuper success, other side does not get any points
NEGATIVE TERMS
The negative terms can indicate personal fault, bad luck, bad results caused by someone else. Throw a curveball and foul also have the connotation of being somewhat sneaky or unfair.
send him down to the minorsdemote someone
fumblegiving up an opportunity
strike-outnot successful at trying to score
turnoverlosing the opportunity and giving other side a chance
throw a curvebaseball, keeping others off balance, unexpected
foulunfair
sudden deathovertime, who scores first wins
PEOPLE TERMS
The people terms tend to be positive; the player is in control, has experience, is succeeding.
rookiebeginner
veteranexperienced person
quarterbackthe one in charge, calling the shots
homerun hittervery successful person
pitcherthrowing the ball, has some control