Knocking this post out of the park

I am sick to death of all discussions about everything being peppered with sports metaphors. It doesn't matter what someone on television or in the newspaper is talking or writing about: World leaders must "run the course," a new generation must "step up to the plate," "an opposing candidate delivers a "knock-out punch," a new product does well "straight out the gate," a new television program "strikes out" in its first season, a debater "scores a touchdown," with a rhetorical point, an enemy is "sent to the dugout."

What's even worse is that sports metaphors pepper discussions about sports, or at least, about tennis. This past two weeks of Wimbledon tennis is a perfect example. It isn't enough to talk about tennis--the metaphors must refer to other "more important" sports. "She was quick out of the blocks to break her opponent." "He's at the plate, waiting to serve." "He had him on the ropes by the third set."

Sports announcers in the U.S. drive me to distraction anyway, with their inane, sometimes offensive, often ignorant, remarks. But when they feel they have to refer to football, baseball, horse racing, and boxing in order to discuss tennis, I go over the edge.