Sports terms that have fallen out of favor in the last 60 years

[Football_Bat]

One I have discovered is "marker" as a frequently-used synonym to a touchdown in the quite quaint sport of American football. Nobody uses it anymore.

"Aerial" was also oft-used by typewriter-pounding scribes to describe the revolutionary practice of the forward pass. And teams would typically "try" each other in hedlines.

Anyone else ever notice olden terms and/or intentionally incorporate them? Grantland Rice is obviously irreproducible in commonplace terms because of the times and the changes in language and culture. But sometimes old **** turns up a good phrasing.

 

[Joshua Armstrong]

Harriers, cagers, gridders. We use 'em all. Frequently.

 

[FishHack76]

What about Keglers? That's one of my favorite.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Both SIDs at the school I cover use "markers" at least once in every basketball release they do. I don't remember seeing it much for other sports, but you can guarantee in a basketball release someone will "add a dozen markers on the night."

 

[93Devil]

Write a high school basketball or baseball roundup with 8-9 results that covers 25-30 column inches, and you will pull every term out of your ass. At least I used to.

 

[HanSenSE]

Write a high school basketball or baseball roundup with 8-9 results that covers 25-30 column inches, and you will pull every term out of your ass. At least I used to.

Tried using "wapolos" in a headline once ... day desk changed it on me.

And when I the agate page, I try using "Knickerbockers" instead of "Knicks."

 

[Football_Bat]

Local note: Yannigans.

 

[Babs]

Yeah, I see markers a lot. That's still widely in use. Not just a football term.

 

[mustangj17]

Harriers, cagers, gridders. We use 'em all. Frequently.

:

 

[Football_Bat]

Fem (representing women's sports).

 

[SnoopyBoy]

"Pick six." Oh wait, that's one that's abused now.

 

[Bristol Whipped]

About six years ago I had an older sportswriter working for me who would use the term "second sacker" to describe the second baseman. That never made it to print.

 

[Football_Bat]

"Man under," in the age of the spread.

 

[pressboxer]

Gonfalon

 

[Joshua Armstrong]

Harriers, cagers, gridders. We use 'em all. Frequently.

:

I don't follow.

 

[Songbird]

thin-clads.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Gonfalon

Awesome.

Here's a few from baseball:

Southpaw. Circuit clout. Keystone combination. Farmhand.

Once saw David Wells described as a "portly port-sider." That was inspired, I thought.

 

[flexmaster33]

Considering the recent Michael Vick scenario...two teams in a "dog fight"...anyone else try avoiding this term?

I've started noticing an brief uncomfortable moment often when I'm interviewing a coach and the popular phrase slips out.

 

[93Devil]

Texas leaguer
Good wood
Pop in his bat
Good field, no hit
Mendoza line
Gap power
Warning track power
Live arm

Maybe I am not watching enough baseball. either...

 

[Songbird]

"2 and a 'que"