10 blandest TV interview cliches

Name the 10 worst - that is, blandest, say-nothing comments - cliches that could come out of the mouths of athletes and coaches. Bonus points for adding what he's really thinking. (As opposed to what were they thinking when Billy Packer talked about Charlie Rose fagging out, Don Imus on Rutgers basketball's nappy-headed ho's, and Bill Parcells' jap plays.)

1. We just take it one game [period, shift] at a time.
(We have no game plan. That works.)


2. Right. Bobby saves his best for the big games.
(And dogs it in the early games (innings).)

3. Playing hurt is part of the game.
(At least in my contract year.)

4, He brings a new level of energy to the game.
(... and somebody else's urine sample to after the game.)

I just want to help the team.
(...and by doing it make the really big bucks)

He's a real role player
(...who doesn't do anything well)

How about...

"He's a great clubhouse (locker room) guy"
(because that's about the only thing he is great at)

My pet peeve is "He always gives 110 percent effort." If 100 percent is the maximum, how can you give more than the maximum?
Another one, which usually comes from the coach of one team, referring to the other team, "They're a well-coached team." When I'm covering a game, which I still do on occasion, I never use a quote from one coach complimenting another. I'm still waiting for a coach to say, "That was the worst-coached team we ever played against."

"We left it all on the field/court/ice"
because we have nothing to use our energy on after the game

dbilmes
My pet peeve is "He always gives 110 percent effort." If 100 percent is the maximum, how can you give more than the maximum?

The rock group Spinal Tap used amps that went up to 11. Most amps only go up to 10. These were clearly louder.

dbilmes
"That was the worst-coached team we ever played against."

I think Bobby Knight said something like that about Dale Brown.

"I'd like to thank the good lord Jesus Christ..."
(... who let cancer fester in a child's blood while helping me adjust my putting stroke.)

Too much?

ugarte
Too much?

Yeah, a little. But at least you didn't post that on Easter sunday.

KeithK

ugarte
Too much?

Yeah, a little. But at least you didn't post that on Easter sunday.

I'm actually not as hostile to religion as that sounds. Bad things/good people isn't exactly a novel point on my part (nor is making fun of athletes who think God hates their opponents) but man, does the whole God-of-small-things interview chatter drive me up a wall.

Apologies to the religiously inclined out in eLFland.

ugarte

KeithK

ugarte
Too much?

Yeah, a little. But at least you didn't post that on Easter sunday.

I'm actually not as hostile to religion as that sounds. Bad things/good people isn't exactly a novel point on my part (nor is making fun of athletes who think God hates their opponents) but man, does the whole God-of-small-things interview chatter drive me up a wall.

Apologies to the religiously inclined out in eLFland.

No offense taken. The wording was just a little bit over the top.

You know I just saw a post fight interview in the UFC with the religious cliche. I thought it odd to thank God for allowing you to make a living by intentionally injuring your opponent to the point where he needs to tap out.

In that respect, I think the big guy would be more inclined to help Zach Johnson sink a couple birdies down the stretch at Augusta.