I have really had it with "nil"

[casty33]

This may be silly on my part but I just had to see if anybody else agreed with me. I've had it with these US newscasters readiing off the latest soccer score and saying Germany won, two-nil. Now, I know what it means, we all know what it means, but when did it become a law that you can't say two-nothing on an English-speaking network? Is this written into the rules of World Cup soccer? Am I being an idiot worrying about this?

All I want is someone to give the scores and say "so-and-so won, 2-0." Or would he or she then be ousted by the soccer powers that be?

 

[HejiraHenry]

ESPN Radio SportsCenter update the other day, guy was giving the baseball scores as Yankees 2, Red Sox nil. Or whatever.

That was too much for me.

 

[Chi City 81]

lol

ROTFLMAO

Just kidding, Casty. It's just another case of sportscasters thinking they're clever.

 

[Starman]

I'd say, "two-zilch, zero, zippo, nada, nothing, nil. Hey, by the way, congratulations to Team A for the incredible amazing awesome offensive explosion of actually scoring two goals in a single game. Call Guinness, or maybe Ripley's."

 

[shockey]

doesn't every game end with a nil?

 

[BYH]

Well, I have really had it with this "sport" called "soccer." So I think I'm with you, Casty.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Just try not to watch ESPN and you don't have to worry about it. That's what I do.

 

[EE94]

Just try not to watch ESPN and you don't have to worry about it. That's what I do.

Unfortunately, too many sportscasters try to appear as if they know anything about the game when they say nil. I completely agree that its pretentious and pandering. Over 'ome, they say nil. Here, in North America, we say 'nothing'.
Should anyone write 'nil' in my section its coming out.

 

[Moderator1]

There's a whole lot of "nil" in soccer.

 

[Double J]

I don't particularly care for "nil," but that is the term so it probably should be used.

After all, we refer to zero in tennis as "love" and nobody freaks out about that. What's the diff?

 

[Left_Coast]

Nil sounds so much better when Adrian Healey or Tommy Smyth say it. Dave O'Brien, not so much.

 

[Starman]

They also need to recognize that the British can't speak English, when they refer to a team -- a collective singular unit -- as "they."

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

I don't mind soccer but I can't stand when people try to force the WNBA on me.

Disco Stu doesn't have much of a chance with the Rosie O'Donnell crowd.

 

[Moderator1]

It's funny, but in all the Ozzie G. flap, no one has said **** to him about his WNBA crack. It's like, yeah, OK, cool. It's just accepted.

 

[Football_Bat]

They also need to recognize that the British can't speak English, when they refer to a team -- a collective singular unit -- as "they."

I kind of like hearing "England have moved on to the quarterfinals." Sounds good to me.

I think that usage will become more prevalent in the U.S. It already has in music. "Third Eye Blind are putting out a new album..." "U2 have named Axl Rose as their new lead singer ...."

And as for "nil..." It's like "love" and "deuce" in tennis. It's a term specific to the sport that should be reserved for the sport. Saying "nil" for soccer? No problem at all. Going ESPN on us and using it for everything else? Cheese factor 10.

 

[suburbanite]

I agree with Casty on this one. If you're going to use nil, then use every other piece of lingo for agreement's sake. And not just pitch.

Has anyone commented on American TV about US National Team 'trainer' Bruce Arena? I seriously doubt it.

 

[Double J]

I think that usage will become more prevalent in the U.S. It already has in music. "Third Eye Blind are putting out a new album..." "U2 have named Axl Rose as their new lead singer ...."

"....immediately making themselves a far more fascinating band than they previously had been...." ;D

 

[dooley_womack1]

In tennis, they spell out "duece" and "love" when showing a game score. They do not spell out "nil" on the scoreboard. I doubt it's an integral soccer term.

 

[Moderator1]

In tennis, they spell out "duece" and "love" when showing a game score. They do not spell out "nil" on the scoreboard. I doubt it's an integral soccer term.

And in some places, they spell out deuce!

 

[Starman]

They also need to recognize that the British can't speak English, when they refer to a team -- a collective singular unit -- as "they."

I kind of like hearing "England have moved on to the quarterfinals." Sounds good to me.

I think that usage will become more prevalent in the U.S. It already has in music. "Third Eye Blind are putting out a new album..." "U2 have named Axl Rose as their new lead singer ...."

It's wrong there, too. U2 "is" a band. Not "are."

Except when you have a group name which by definition implies plurality.

The Rolling Stones "are." Third Eye Blind "is."