Re: Sportscasters and language

[Jim Grey <jimgrey -at- IQUEST -dot- NET>]

Vince Reh speaks of sports:
>For the past few years, I've noticed that sportscasters
>have begun to say, "The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home to the Buffalo
>Sabres tonight....." <snip> I've also heard "most
>winningest" and we've all heard of someone that "flied out" in the first.

I argue that sportscasters are developing a dialect of their own.  This kind
of sportscaster speech is common across the spectrum, from mighty ESPN to
the lowly rural AM station that carries high school basketball games.  Much
of this spread, I believe, is *because* of national sports giants like ESPN.
 ESPN's irreverent style has spread to the entire broadcast sports scene.

My editorial ear wants to change your first Horrid Example to, "The Toronto
Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres tonight."  Saves *three words*!  Having
been in the broadcasting biz, I can say with some authority that this is
often key, when your sportscast is allowed only three minutes and thirty
seconds.

I can't justify "most winningest."  I can see some logic behind "flied out,"
as in, "He hit a fly ball, which the center fielder caught; thus, he flyed
out."  Notice my different spelling.  This just verbs the noun "fly (ball)."

Peace,
jim grey
--
jim grey          |beebeebumbleandthestingersmottthehoopleraycharlessingers
jimgrey -at- iquest -dot- net|lonniemackandtwangin'eddiehere'smyringwe'regoingsteadyta