Here's an NPR clip about bloggers and the Miers nomination.
We hear Powerline's John Hinderaker complaining about the nomination and saying that Bush was "teed up to hit a grand slam home run." Hmmm. The Prez plays tee ball? You guys, with your sports metaphors. Are you even getting them straight?
And NPR, why only male bloggers? I'm going to assume it was because they were going for the image of bloggers as a bunch of blunt-talking tough guys.
October 4, 2005
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16 comments:
NPR envy?
As a mixed metaphor it makes no sense. It's not just referring to a home run, but a grand slam. The bases are loaded and he's teed up. On deck would have been a better phrase. At bat?
They didn't interview any female bloggers because the cognitive dissonance of hearing conservative or libertarian-sounding views from a female voice would have caused the average NPR listener to lean over and puke into their canvas fundrasing tote.
Jeff, LOL.
Exactly.
I don't mind the sports references. I'm a guy, it comes with the teritory. I just wish they'd pick some different sports now and then?
I mean, come on, there's more to life than baseball, basketball and football.
How about cricket? Then you could describe good things as "hitting that one for six" and problem situations as "a bit of a sticky wicket".
Another cricket metaphor of which I'm fond: "Not quite the straight bat." How droll!
And, of course, "That's not cricket."
Sippican: A metaphor within a metaphor? That's a mixed metaphor and a good target for a joke, I'd say.
Speaking as a sports afficianado I think teed up for a grand slam is a mixed metaphor, and a good catch by Ann. Busted!
The t-ball metaphor may be more accurate than we fear.
Anyone watching a t-ball game will see the players running all over the dammed place. Runners going from third to first, hitters running directly to second. Just a mess.
Sort of like the way this White House appears to be run.
SMG
SMGalbraith is correct; the t-ball analogy is dead-on.
Folks expected Bush to act like a major leaguer, capable of hitting a home run.
Instead he acted like a six year old playing t-ball, where hitting the ball instead of the tee or your own hind-end draws applause from the adoring crowd.
What's more, he did miss the ball and whack himself in the butt, and he cannot figure out why no one is cheering.
Everybody's a critic! OK, I did mix a metaphor: "teed up" is golf, and "grand slam" and "bunt" are baseball. I should have said he had the bases loaded, and instead of hitting the ball out of the park for a grand slam, he bunted. So sue me!
Well, I wasn't trying to be anonymous, but I couldn't quite master the sign-in system for comments.
John Hinderaker
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