Avoid the cliche, Lest we forget
Anzac Day holds a unique place on the Australian calendar and an ever increasing prominence on the Australian sporting calendar as well. It’s a day for Australia to reflect on its history and on those who have served it. It’s also the only day where commentators go out of their way to avoid using war terms to describe footballers.
The term Anzac is in fact protected under Australian law, and has been pretty much since the end of the First World War. In New Zealand, attempts by businesses to trademark the term Anzac came as early as 1916, just a year after troops arrived at Gallipoli.
Using the word Anzac for commercial purposes for anything other than Anzac bikkies requires special permission from the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.
When Super League launched the first Anzac Test in 1997 it got said permission but came under fire for featuring then National Deputy President of the Australian Returned Services League, Bruce Ruxton who stated;
“Mark my words, Australia is still in grave danger from one of our so-called neighbours. The Kiwis were once our allies and now they’re on the other side – at least for 80 minutes”.
Since then commentators have taken a more reverent tone when discussing sporting events and Anzac Day in the same breath and have been reluctant to draw comparisons between our soldiers and our sports stars; at least on Anzac Day.
But every other day it doesn’t seem to matter. Think about it. Think of all the clichés that we associate with sport that commentators, coaches and players let slip and how many of them really apply to war rather than sport.
“We executed well”
“Under the radar”
“They’ve drawn first blood”
“They’re within striking distance”
“Do or die”
“They’re still very much alive”
“They’re marching down the field”
“He exploded through the gap”
“He’s put on the afterburners”
“The coach has been under fire”
“They blew them off the park tonight”
“He’s paid the ultimate price”
It seems incomprehensible that we could ever really escape from these well worn clichés but we should probably try. Hopefully pointing them out puts the game we love into perspective, one which we can carry with us a little bit beyond the 25th of April.
To further demonstrate how ridiculous they are, imagine if war was described using sports terms.
“Full credit to the opposition”
“The week off will give us a chance to recover”
“We’re taking it one week at a time”
Take stock, remember what the day represents and at the same time enjoy the footy. If there’s any war/sports clichés I’ve missed, be sure to leave them in the comments section.
Geoff Adams
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