Worst cliche you keep encountering in coachspeak/interviews

For me, it's coaches who consistently want their teams to play "at a high level."
Fortunately, one of the coaches whom I cover says the high level cliche but then usually backs it up with much better in-depth detail when interviewed.

 

If "most-used" qualifies as "worst," then...

"Stepping up to the plate."
"One game at a time."

 

"Working hard."

 

At our paper, it's the phrase "it is what it is." I actually bought a tin sign and hung it behind our sports copy editors desk.

 

Ringer is right. In my 40 years in the business, "one day at a time" is the worst."
But keep in mind "In juries hurt."

 

One day at a time
it is what it is
stepping up/stepping up our game/stepping up my game
we're working hard
we believe in ourselves/nobody believes in us
we trust each other
nobody respects us
nobody gave us a chance
we're playing at a high level

 

Some years back, I covered an 8-man football state championship game, and the team from my circ area won. Coach gave me all that shit about "nobody respected us, nobody gave us a chance" crap.

I stopped him and said, "I don't vote in the media poll (the other writer did), but you were No. 1 for the whole season. You finished undefeated. You recorded four shutouts. Nobody is buying that shit, and I ain't writing it."

He got quiet. Not mad or upset. But he'd been spewing that shit for so long, he didn't know what else to say anymore. I gave up.

 

Give (100 + x) percent. (X > 0). People who say this are intellectually lazy and should be treated accordingly.

 

We have a local coach who, any time we ask him about one of his players or an opposing team or players, starts it off the exact same way.

"He/They/We do three things well. No. 1..."

He never ever ever continues it with "No. 2...." and "No. 3..." Just three things and one actual thing. Every time. No exceptions.

 

"We stepped up and showed great leadership."

 

We have one writers who covers a city that has 5 high schools. Everybody knows everybody. Every game story, the first quote from the winning coach is, "We were fortunate to win, they are well-coached. I tip my hat to Coach Milquetoast and his staff." And the first quote from the losing coach. "We knew they were good. They are well-coached. I tip my hat to Coach Bland and his staff."
I WANT TO BAN FUCKING HATS IN THIS CITY.

 

Great stuff.