A liar can tell the truth when he/she calls out another liar. "A contributor writes to inquire if I've heard this one: 'The only time a golfer tells the truth is when he calls…
In the game of chess, a pawn that reaches the eighth rank can be promoted to a knight, bishop rook or queen. In this sense, a pawn can be described as "gender-fluid." "pawns are…
Bowling alleys usually require bowling shoes to be worn. The infrequent bowler usually rents shoes from the alley. Other non-bowling shoes can damage the alley, or cause the bowler to slip and…
"The playoffs don't start until the home team loses a game" (or "No playoff series truly begins until the road team wins a game") is an old NBA saying. NBA coach Pat Riley…
"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong."Ecclesiastes, Ch. 9, v. 11 New York sports writer and author Damon Runyon (1884-1946) is often credited with adding on "…
A "finish line" isn't the same as a "Finnish line," but there are jokes. "When you're racing and you pass the last Lapp, you must be near the Finnish line"…
"The radar gun gets you drafted, but you have to pitch to get to the big leagues" is a baseball adage that Nationals assistant general manager (later Braves chief of scouting) Roy Clark…
Golf professionals often instruct golfers to keep their heads down. American actress and stand-up comedian Phyllis Diller (1917-2012) explained why: "The reason the pro tells you to keep your…
American actress and comedienne Phyllis Diller explained -- as cited in print since at least 1995 -- why women don't play football: "The reason women don't play football is because…
"Frazier always said, 'In the regular season, you make your name, but the in the playoffs you make your fame,'" said New York City-born basketball player Kenny Smith in May…
An old joke is about a young couple arriving very late to a baseball game. The man asks for the score and is told that it's still 0-0. The woman then declares, "Good! We haven't…
"The secret to managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away from the five guys who are undecided" is a quote that is frequently credited to New York Yankees and New York Mets…
"The serve was invented so (that) the net can play" is a tennis joke by comedian Bill Cosby that has appeared in many quotation collections. The joke first appeared in Cosby's book,…
Jewish people, allegedly, are not good at sports. A popular Jewish joke is: Q: What's the world's thinnest book? A: "Great Jewish Athletes." The joke has been cited since at…
"The sideline is a defender's (best) friend" is a football saying. "The baseline is a defender's (best) friend" is a saying in basketball and tennis. If a football…
"The hockey/soccer goalkeeper invited my son and me to a party. It was the father, son and the goalie host" -- a spoonerism of "father, son and the holy ghost" -- began as a…
"The Stanley Cup is the toughest championship to win in team sports" was cited in print in 1993. The Stanley Cup (hockey's championship trophy series) is said to be more difficult…
"The team in first place on July 4th will win the pennant" is a baseball adage that dates to at least 1921. The baseball season is about half over by the July 4th holiday. The adage…
"The team that gets the best player wins the trade" is a sports adage meaning that trading for quality ("the best player") is better than trading for quantity (several good…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Mike Murphy (trainer and coach)Michael Charles "Mike" Murphy (February 26, 1860 – June 4, 1913) was an athletic trainer and coach at Yale University…