Columnist hangs beat writer out to dry

If someone gets pissed because you called them by their name, you're probably going to have an adversarial relationship anyway. That said, if you're more comfortable using Coach, then do so. When I was starting out, dealing with high school coaches who were mostly in their 40s or older, I used Coach. Now that I'm in my mid 30s covering coaches who are my age or not too much older, I call them by their name.

 

In any event, doing something based on thinking the entire class of something are assholes is probably not the best way to go about something. And the thinking that "coach" is some regential title is also probably not accurate. But anyone actually getting upset about calling a coach "coach" is a first in my more than 20 years in the biz.

 

He would like some hot tea.

 

This whole thread has thrown me for a loop. It does seem like some people have an inferiority complex and/or assume all coaches have superiority complexes (granted, some do). Coach is a pronoun. It's not (necessarily) a term of endearment or a meliorative (look that one up).
Even if he does take it as you saying he's great, who freaking cares? I can say, "Coach, how do you answer allegations you have committed 17 NCAA violations in the last week?" and the question doesn't change because I used the dreaded c-word at the beginning.
Any personal problem you have with the term is your own problem. That's fine. But it doesn't have to be mine.

 

A pronoun? Are you sure about that? Maybe you need to look something up.

 

And with that, I am silenced for good on this thread.

 

Well, it's been a long time since I've had an English class. Would you be happier if I called it a personal pronoun (replacing a proper noun)?
I could be wrong -- it wouldn't be the first time -- but that's what it seems to be to me.
Coach, obviously, is also a verb and a noun.

 

Yeah, I really wish I hadn't posted that so quickly -- and with the snotty tone. I'm tired and I regretted replying that way almost as soon as I finished.
I accept any equally snotty responses heading my way. :-[

 

For what it's worth, I didn't mean for my "meliorative (look that one up)" part to sound as arrogant as it reads. I did look it up and just figured others would have to as well.

 

Arrogance! Back-biting! ANARCHY!!

See what happens when we use "Coach"?

 

There is one prep football coach who used to be in my area that always called me coach. I was never sure if he said it to be funny (and the guy was HI-larious) or it was just a habit.
Maybe he was just giving me the power back...

 

Who in here has ever had a coach/manager flip on them because you refered to them as their first name?