Granted, it’s kind of picky, but I thought that during a time of war we had gotten past the point where we would routinely use the metaphors of real life-and-death combat to apply to athletes.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, which has been impressively aggressive in upgrading the team, recently signed high-profile, left wing Ryan Malone. The team’s official statement underscored the rationale: “He fits our strategic plan of adding quality players with a warrior mentality.”
Out of respect for real “warriors” – as well as the gritty game of hockey – why not be straight-forward and honest: “He’s an excellent winger who’s also a tough guy, and we like tough guys.”
And while we’re on the subject of words that need never surface again in the context of athletics: swagger. As in, “This team’s (University of Miami football comes to mind) been down for a while. What they need is to get their swagger back.”
Oh.
Can’t a team be good – or regain its formidable status – without resorting to the boorish antics of arrogant, look-at-me, pseudo intimidation? Shouldn’t sports at least attempt to be an upgrade from exactly this kind of behavior?