"sloppy seconds"

Caught my eye that the AP story on Sean Avery chose to censor his language:

"I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada," he said. "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight."

I assumed the phrase he used was something obscene, but just saw the clip on ESPN and he referred to the former girlfriends as "sloppy seconds".

Ignoring the obvious poor taste of the statement, it strikes me that "sloppy seconds" isn't necessarily "unprintable" language. Before seeing the clip, I had just assume that the words Avery actually used were something, well, worse.

Any thoughts?

 

I agree. The other threads have tangentially hit on this, both on AG and on S&N...but this phrase didn't even remotely offend me.

 

The question I'm curious about is: If you didn't think the phrase in question was offensive, and knew what was said from seeing the tape online or on SportsCenter, would you alter the copy to reflect what was actually said, and take out the bracketed '[former girlfriends]'.

Would it be permissible to alter an AP story like that?

 

You can alter an AP story with brackets, yes. Depending on your paper's style.

I just don't really understand why you would.

 

We have starrman and starman now?

 

starrman is sloppy seconds

 

Well to put in what he actually said, and remove the bracketed portion of the quote.

 

If you think of the origin of the phrase sloppy seconds ... think about that word "sloppy" for a second ... it really is too offensive for a mainstream newspaper.

Maybe colloquially it has come to take on a more benign meaning, but taken literally, it is too offensive for print.

 

I was initially surprised finding out what Avery actually said - I figured it was "hos" or "bitches" - but when you think about it - do you really want to have to explain to a kid what he meant by "sloppy seconds"? Better to leave it out, than have to explain why it is derogatory.

 

Maybe I worked too long for a small, conservative paper in my Southern hometown, but I agree with this. Probably would have taken it out if my writer came back with the quote, for that reason.

 

I haven't worked for a conservative paper, but I also agree with this.

Sloppy seconds is something I'd use around my peeps, but not something I'd use in print.

 

There's no way I would let "sloppy seconds" make it into print unless I was told to put it in.