News Munchies
Coach-speak Rears its Amusing Head at KC Chiefs Training Camp
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Updated
"We're trying to develop a certain kind of culture here, not only how we do something, but the way we do it."
Got that?
"Not only how we do something, but the way we do it."
???
Thus spoke Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton in a media interview yesterday, as quoted in The Kansas City Star.
We were thinking, "We surely hope The Star got the quote right." Then we heard the taped interview on a local radio station, and the reporter didn't mis-quote.
Now, in fairness, Coach Sutton went on to explain his thinking, which clarified his ..., er, ... unusual phraseology.
Foot-in-mouth disease
In most cases, stumble-mouthed coaches, broadcasters, and announcers have some sort of logic to what appear to be witless, if amusing, statements. But it is the words we like, not their intent:
After being hit on the head by a ball in the 1934 World Series, Dizzy Dean said, "The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing."
Unidentified basketball analyst: "There was an icy stare; that's all that needed to be said."
Arena announcer at an NCAA Regional Basketball Tournament: "The starters are the same for each team."
Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward, enters the hall of fame with: "I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body."
Sam Carnegie would be proud
Florida State University football coach Bill Peterson: "I couldn't remember things until I took that Sam Carnegie course," and, to the team captain before a game, "Lead us in a few words of silent prayer."
And finally, from the University of Missouri's Woody Widenhofer (some say he was a football coach, but you couldn't prove that by his record): "Okay, guys. Raise up your hands and breathe in the H20." (Heard -- and reported -- by several sports writers.)
There are more, many more -- some documented, some not -- and we'll return to them from time to time, because we love the approach described by ad exec Ed Clement: "I always say the first thing that comes out of my mouth!"