While “putting some mustard on it” and a “can of corn” might sound like requirements for a cooking recipe, the terms mean something completely different in sports.
Throughout the years, athletes and coaches have developed a sports lingo that only savvy sports fans, coaches and players can understand.
Everyday phrases and words have been given a new meaning in the sports world.
Next time you’re watching a game at the bar or a major sporting event with friends, you can feel a little more confident speaking their lingo.
Beyond the arc — where Golden State Warriors All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson really excel. It’s used to describe a shot that is taken beyond the three-point line in basketball.
Board — another way to describe a rebound in basketball.
Bush-league — “Nobody likes a play that is bush league.” Bush league describes a play that is cheap or amateurish.
Brick — many fans will yell “brick!” when an opposing basketball player shoots the ball, hoping for a missed shot.
Can of corn — in baseball, when the ball is hit high in the air and is easy to catch, it is considered a “can of corn.”
Equalizer — one of the most exciting terms an announcer uses in soccer to describe a goal that ties up the game.
Hat trick — while a good thing in soccer and hockey, it means the opposite in baseball. In soccer and hockey, the term is used when a player scores three goals in a game. In baseball, it means the player has struck out three times in a game.
Golden sombrero — a step above a hat trick in baseball, this is when a player strikes out four times in a game.
Pine — in baseball, no player ever wants to be on the pine,which is another term for the bench. When a player isn’t playing much, he’s riding the pine.
Putting mustard on it — no, it’s not actual mustard, but throwing the ball harder in baseball.
Spikes — You can find spikes on the track, baseball field or football field as most athletes wear them on their cleats.
Nick Martinez-Esquibel can be reached at [email protected] or @THENickMartinez on Twitter.
