I was never into pro sports. Collegiate rowing and distance running, sure. But beer-and-pizza stuff? Sorry, I had Chaucer class in the morning. Nevertheless, I got thrown on this UPS sports radio job aimed at shipping managers who listened to sports religiously. So I turned my ignorance into a campaign, inventing bogus origin stories for popular sports terms. Of course real fans knew the stories were false - just like the idea that UPS was only good at ground shipping. A few months after these started airing, I was at a party in Boston and heard someone recite "Baguette Ball" word for word. For the first time I thought: I may not actually suck at this job.
"Gurgenhelmen" Who knew hockey was invented by vikings trying to get a live salmon into a hole in the ice using battle axes?
"Baguette Ball" Or that basketball can trace its origins to a game played by off-duty French waiters?
"Hail Mary" Or that football's most famous play was the result of a tragic hail storm?
"Cross Training" It's common knowledge that the more cross you get, the harder you play.
"Miner Leagues" You'd want to move up to the pros too, if you were playing in underground mines.
