Writing about interceptions

Yeah, he threw them, but do you have to use his name? Just say the quarterback threw three interceptions (sorry, I couldn't resist).

 

Oh I understand why.

From a purely grammatical and writing standpoint, you should always use a more active voice.

 

The only person I'm aware of who "had three passes intercepted" was Art Schlichter. He hit the jackpot that day. Otherwise, the QB did not ask to have the passes intercepted.

 

Schlister hitting any jackpot may be the bigger story here ...

 

Except in the context of "pick-six."

 

Honest question: any specific reason? I'm a big fan of "picks" and my editor doesn't mind it in the roundup capsules, but that's probably only because "picks" is fewer characters than "interceptions". I know defenders "pick" the quarterback and the QB doesn't necessarily throw "picks" but hasn't time made it somewhat interchangeable?

 

Only three? That's a great day for him!

 

Well done, sir.

 

You also sell yourself short from a reporting standpoint if you automatically blame the quarterback for the interceptions. If the defense happened to make good plays on three pretty well thrown passes, I'd make the defense the subject of that sentence.

"Oski" is a new one by me, Moddy, any idea what the origin of that baby was?

Seems to me "pick" was something that started on TV, and subsequently became a jargon mainstay, a noun-derivative of "picked off". I can't say I've never used it, but when I did it was in the spirit of chipping away at syllables, which is some really crappy rationalization. "Interception" always sounded like something George Carlin would have a field day with.