Chick-isms

Common phrases stated by famed, former Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn, courtesy of Wikipedia.org. Enjoy...

Air-ball: A shot that draws nothing but air.

(He sent that one back) Air-mail Special!: Forceful blocked shot, often sent high into the stands.

Bloooows the layup! : Missed a very easy layup.

Boo-birds: Fans who boo their own team when they play badly.

(He did the) bunny hop in the pea patch: He was called for traveling.

(You could) call it with Braille: An easy call for an official, e.g. a blatant foul.

(He got) caught with his hand in the cookie jar: Reaching foul.

(The) Charity Stripe: The free-throw line.

(He's got 'em) covered like the rug on your floor: Really good one-on-one defense.

(They) couldn't beat the Sisters of Mercy: The team is getting beat badly.

(They) couldn't throw a pea into the ocean: The team's shooting is really awful.

(It'll) count if it goes....: A player shoots just before the buzzer. It go-o-o-oes! (if the shot is successful)

(That shot) didn't draw iron: A shot which misses the rim, but hits the backboard.

Dime store score: A 10 to 5 score

Dribble-drive: A player drives the basket while dribbling.

Finger roll: A shot where the ball rolls off the shooter's fingers.

(He) fly-swatted (that one).: A shot blocked with force and authority.

Football score: A score resembling one often seen in a football game (e.g., 21 to 14).

(He threw up a) frozen rope: A shot with a very flat trajectory.

(It's) garbage time: The (often sloppily played) remainder of the game (after it’s in the refrigerator).

Give and Go: A player passes the ball, makes a quick cut, and receives a return pass.

(In & out,) Heart-brrrreak!: A shot that appears to go in, but rattles off the rim and misses. Sometimes it went in so far you could read the Commissioner's name from below.

He has two chances, slim and none, and slim just left the building: The player has no chance of success with this play.

If that goes in, I'm walking home: Similar to a prayer, when the opponent shoots a shot that is a prayer, a streak, or some amazing shot. (Usually on the road)

Leapin' Lena: A shot made while the player is in the air and off balance.

(There are) lots of referees in the building, only three getting paid: The entire crowd acts as though they are the officials by disagreeing with a call.

The mustard's off the hot dog: A player attempts an unnecessarily showy, flashy play which ends up in a turnover or is otherwise unsuccessful.

Nervous time: When the final moments of a game are pressure-packed.

94-by-50 hunk of wood: Simply put, a basketball court's dimensions.

Attacking 47 feet: The front court.

No harm, no foul(no blood, no ambulance, no stitches): A non-call by an official when insignificant contact has occurred.

Not Phi Beta Kappa: Simply put, not a smart play.

...Since Hector was a pup A very long time (e.g., The Lakers haven't had the lead since Hector was a pup.)

(He's) On him like a postage stamp: Very tight defense, simply put.

Slaaam dunk!: Called for various players who have just dunked the ball (e.g. Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal).

(He) Takes him to the third floor and leaves him at the mezzanine.: The offensive player pump faked the defender,(who leaps to block the shot) and the player with the ball either goes up while the defender is coming down and/or draws the foul and hits the shot.

This game's in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jello's jigglin'!: The game's outcome is set; only the final score is in question.

Throws up a brick: When a player tosses up a particularly errant shot.

Throws up a prayer (... it's answered!!!): A wild shot that will need a miracle to score (and does).

Ticky-tack: A foul called when very little contact has been made.

Triple-double: A player gets 10 or more (i.e. double digits) in three statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocked shots.

(On his) Wallet: A player fell on his rear end.

Words-eye view: What listeners received while listening to Chick call the game on the radio.

(He's) Working on his Wrigleys. A player is chewing gum.

He's in the Popcorn Machine...(with butter and salt all over him): Meaning that a defensive player got faked into the air by an offensive player's pump fake.

(We're) high above the western sideline: Chick's perch at the Fabulous Forum, from which he called his word's eye views of the game.

Hippity-hops the dribble...: A player dribbling the ball does a little hop step.

He's yo-yo-ing up and down: A player is standing there dribbling the ball up and down as if it was a yo-yo on a string.

I'll bet you an ice-cream...: Chick and Keith Erickson (his one-time color commentator) often bet ice creams on the outcome of a shot or game.

And two of my favorites (from classic arcade game NBA Jam):

Slam-a-lama Ding-Dong!

He dials one up from long distance...(when a 3-point shot is taken)

Feel free to add your own...

Tags: Chickisms, Hoops & Chick Hearn