“Only a surfer knows the feeling”
"Only a surfer knows the feeling" is a popular saying in surfing. Billabong (a clothing retailer based in Australia) trademarked the slogan with a first use in commerce from August 1984.…
“Only angry people win football games”
University of Texas head football coach Darrell Royal (1924-2012) was quoted in August 1966: "Trends are bunk. Only angry people win football games." Royal was talking about football…
“Only the weakest of males want to physically compete with women. Only the weakest of intellect celebrate them”
"Only the weakest of males want to physically compete with women. Only the weakest of intellect celebrate them" is a saying that has been printed on many mages. The saying refers to trans…
“Orange in the Apple” (Syracuse University Orange slogan in the Big Apple)
New York State doesn't have a major college sports team, such as Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Syracuse…
“Out like a fat kid in dodgeball”
The game of dodgeball requires players to dodge a ball thrown at them. A fat, immobile person would be a large target to get hit with the ball and be out of the game. "Out like a fat kid n…
“Outlandish exaggeration about the NFL championship game is called Superbole”
A "Super Bowl" (the National Football League's championship game) with "hyperbole" might be called the "Superbole." "Outlandish exaggeration about the NFL…
“Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa” (George Steinbrenner)
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner (1930-2010) bought the team in 1973 and returned the Yankees to glory years of World Series championships. Steinbrenner often compared the Yankees to the…
“Pace makes the race” (horse racing adage)
"Pace makes the race" is a frequently used horse racing adage. A fast pace might help some horses, while a slower pace might help other kinds of horses. The saying "pace makes the…
“Pair off in threes”
"Pair off in threes" is a jocular line that several coaches have given to their players. American football player and coach Ernie Godfrey (1892-1980) was credited in 1937 for "Now…
“Pakistanis can’t play soccer well because every time they get a corner, they open a shop”
People from Pakistan and India (and other nationalities) have reputations for opening businesses, but not being very good at soccer. A riddle is: Q: Why doesn't Pakistan have an international…
“Parboiled: Playing a round of golf on a very hot and humid day”
"Parboiling" has nothing to do with a golf "par," but there are jokes. "Par-boiled: mistakenly put a golf ball in the saucepan instead of an egg" was posted on the…
“PE Teacher: You kicked the ball at the school computer? Student: You wanted it in the net.”
A school joke about soccer and computers ("the net") has been cited in print since at least 2007: P.E. Teacher: Why did you kick that ball straight at the school computer?Pupil: You told…
“People are always skeptical when I say I climbed Mount Everest. But it’s true, I made it up”
"I made it up" could mean "I made it up to the top of the mountain" or "I made up the story." There is a mountaineering (mountain climbing) joke. "You wanna hear…
“People crying about stepping on Legos have never heard of Jacks!”
People (mostly parents) cry about stepping on Legos, but, in an earlier generation (1950s-1970s), people were crying about stepping on Jacks. "People crying about stepping on Legos have never…
“People who think that Canadians are more polite have never been to a minor league hockey game”
Canadians have a reputation for being polite. “Some day, Canada will rule the world. Then you’ll all be sorry” and “What is Canada’s favorite board game?"/"Sorry!” are a few…
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence”
Brooklyn-born Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) took over as head football coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1959. According to Packers quarterback Bart Starr, Lombardi said in his first speech before the…
“Plan your dive and dive your plan” (scuba diving adage)
"Plan your dive and dive your plan" is a popular diving adage, cited in print since at least 1970. A carefully planned dive that is dived according to that plan can be a successful dive.…
“Play ball!” (baseball starting call)
"Play ball!" is what an umpire says to start a baseball game; the crowd also often cheers "play ball!" "Play ball!" is also said to continue a game after a rain delay.…
“Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not on the back”
Player names are usually on the back of their uniforms; team names are usually on the front. "Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not on the back" is a saying that has been…
“Play like a champion; train like an underdog”
"Play like a champion; train like an underdog" is a popular sports adage. "Play like a champion, train like an underdog" was cited on Twitter on February 10, 2011. Authorship of…