‘Chickisms’ Include Mustard and Everything Else in the Refrigerator
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Chick Hearn has so many unique phrases, they’re called “Chickisms.” Here are some of the best-known ones:
“You can put this one in the refrigerator. The door’s closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the Jell-O is jiggling.”
Translation: The game has been decided.
“Slam dunk”
Translation: A shot that is thrust down hard into the basket.
“Airball”
Translation: A shot that misses the rim.
“Word’s-eye view”
Translation: Hearn’s description of his radio call.
“He faked him into the popcorn machine.”
Translation: A player has put a great move on his defender.
“Dribble drive.”
Translation: A player is driving hard toward the basket.
“Yo-yoing up and down”
Translation: A player is dribbling in one spot.
“No harm, no foul”
Translation: A player might have been fouled, but no damage was done, so no foul was called.
“Ticky-tack”
Translation: A foul not worth calling.
“Frozen rope”
Translation: A line-drive shot.
“Finger roll”
Translation: How Wilt Chamberlain often laid the ball in.
“The mustard came off the hot dog.”
Translation: A player tried to get too fancy and it didn’t work.
Larry Stewart
