'Chirping' the latest sports cliche

By Stephen Dawkins

Published Thursday, March 5, 2009

Though opposed in principle to cliches, the news media are notorious for perpetuating their use. And sports journalism is the worst of all.

The latest example? "Chirping," which can be defined as talking in an annoying manner. Or trash talking, but there we go again with the cliches.

It's almost impossible to read or watch sports news these days without someone using the word chirping. The latest example was a commentator on ESPN Radio tonight opining that it was a good thing for the Dallas Cowboys to release controversial receiver Terrell Owens because Owens' chirping was getting in the head (yet another tired cliche) of quarterback Tony Romo.

It's almost enough to make one blow a gasket.