"Shot his wad"

I've noticed that since the Kobe Bryant case, announcers are no longer referring to thunderous dunks over hapless defenders as "facials."

 

I'm glad Jackie used it. I've used it a few times in the past, and yes, people came up and inquired about the phrase. Sure, one connotation is exactly what it means. But hell, "wad" can be anything you want it to be.

Thanks, Jackie.

 

Oh goddamn it, I used to work with a guy who used to write EXACTLY this way. He never, ever, EVER used the word "said." NEVER.

It was always "continued," "explained," "exclaimed," "uttered," "muttered," "grumbled," "laughed," "joked," "chuckled," "giggled" yadda yadda yadda bullshit. Every possible synonym in the book. I couldn't stand it.

 

Good veteran writer working for one of the best paper's in the country. If their decision was to run it, I stand by that. Of course, if it Joe Jabbarwocky from the Podunk Tribune that published it and started this thread, I wonder if I'd feel differently.

Given the official dictionary terms listed above, though, I'd say it's a go. In this dirty-minded day and age you can turn many phrases in stories into something dirty.

 

I would hope you didn't feel differently, sportswriter2327. Just because Jackie from the Globe uses it doesn't mean Joe Jablonski from the East Turdlock Comeuppance Daily ought not use it and start a thread. Joe Jablonski might be every bit the talent Jackie from the Globe is and just hasn't ascended to "effin stud" territory yet.

 

I put this in another thread, but maybe this is a better place for it.

I wanna write this hed for a stand-alone canine photo:

Dog Gambit

I actually asked my ME once if I could write it if the opportunity came along, and she laughed and said "Sure." She didn't mind pushing things to the edge a little bit.

 

I doubt much decision-making went into either writing it or leaving it in. Either you read right past something like that ... or you don't. Someone I respect used say that good copy editors need dirty minds. Good writer, now retired, once used the phrase "beating off the competition." I changed it to "fending off." Because, really, what writer is going to view that turn of the phrase as something scrapbook-worthy? Why use it if you don't have to?

 

You are assuming it was a decision.

I bet it just passed through, and that's what bothered me.

I would have shut it down in a heartbeat.

 

The mood in the clubhouse was euphoric, almost gay.

 

I know of a columnist -- now retired, thank you -- who always thought it was cute to write "bathhouse" instead of "locker room" or "clubhouse."

So he would have written: "The mood in the bathhouse was euphoric, almost gay."

 

I would hope if my mind blanked and I sent in "beating off the competition," my editor would save me in just that way.

I like to push the envelope, but there are limits.

And "shooting his wad" should be one of them.

 

Hey, paper I used to work at ran this hed:

Celtics beat off
the SuperSonics

And they didn't think anything was wrong with that when I asked them about it.