Childress-isms
Here's a direct quote from Brad Childress in today's Access Vikings Blog, responding to the infamous conversation between Housh and Jackson.
“It’s interesting because I can’t speak to any of T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s comments. But I’m the one who dialed the phone and put the phone in his hand and I listened to the conversation, which wasn’t more than, tops, a minute and 10 seconds. It was in our locker room. He handed the phone back to me and I had a dialogue about it and I could probably name the four conversations. I was there. I wasn’t patched into the conversation. So I’m not speaking for T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but I couldn’t paint that conversation in that litmus.”
As someone who thinks that words matter, and should be used accurately, I'm constantly impressed by Childress' utterly inability to speak in coherent sentences. One can "paint" a conversation a certain way. Or "cast" it in a certain "light" (which may be the word he intended to use, who knows?). But, Childress "paints" in "that litmus." A litmus test is a way of measuring the pH of a liquid, metaphorically, it can be used to talk about testing for the presence of something that is otherwise undetectable. But there is no proper usage known to humans of painting in litmus.
This wouldn't be such a big deal if it were just an occasional slip, or if they were buffered by an easygoing personality. But, I feel like every time I read a quote from Childress there are one or two sentences that simply baffle me. Not that he has to be a Rhodes Scholar. Most of the time, the stuff he's saying just isn't that complicated. But, his inability to speak straightforwardly simply adds to the impression I already have of him as a person who doesn't process the world the way the rest of us do, and who's ineffective as a communicator.
This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.
0 recs |
18 comments
Comments
Generally...
Isn’t that what all coaches do? Avoids anything incriminating while skirting around most important issues so as to not tip his/her hand?
Ours just uses more…colorful language.
I don’t really have a problem with it. It’s not everyday that the coach of your favorite NFL football team makes you think metaphorically about a statement. That’s gotta be worth something, right?
If the Housch-bag did decide to go elsewhere because of Tarvaris, do you think Childress would openly admit that? I doubt any coach would. But whatever. It’s H-Bag’s loss.
Visit:
http://www.vikingvigil.com
Skol Vikings!
Woot Woot!
by Manimal on Mar 26, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't mind metaphors at all...
they just have to make sense.
by Anthony Carter on Mar 26, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm...
That’s what Faulkner’s earliest critics said about him as well, and that turned out pretty well.*
*_While I have read Faulkner extrensively, I can’t recall what his early critics said. Just a joke._
Visit:
http://www.vikingvigil.com
Skol Vikings!
Woot Woot!
by Manimal on Mar 26, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty much agree with Manimal. I honestly think this is kinda nitpicky. I see how it’s annoying, but I honestly think this is way overblown.
In AP I trust
by FarvaForTheVikings on Mar 26, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Give the guy credit--it's one of the few posts that didn't mention Jay Cutler.
by ericj69 on Mar 26, 2009 12:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He did not mention him in his post,
and I thought we might get through the whole thread without reading his name. But NOOOOO!! You had to do it didn’t you. Just kiddin’ ya Eric. Cutler Cutler Cutler Cutler Cutler…….there, I feel better…..NOT!!
"Skol pa fiskande"
by NobleSavage on Mar 26, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point. Props for that.
In AP I trust
by FarvaForTheVikings on Mar 26, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually...
All these mixing and matching of metaphors reminds me of the bartender with Tourette’s from Boondock Saints, affectionately known as ‘F*ck Ass’. For instance, “People in glass houses sink ships”, “A penny saved is worth two in the bush”, and “Don’t cross the road if you can’t get out of the kitchen”. Or my personal favorite…
And you guys thought Childress was good for nothing…
by ericj69 on Mar 26, 2009 3:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He has always struck me
As someone who thinks he is alot more clever than he really is. I have noticed alot of coaches are like that. Although, if I could convince a millionare that I could coach his football team better than anyone else I would probably think I was pretty damn clever too.
http://vikingsmashfootball.wordpress.com/
by BeardedAxe on Mar 26, 2009 4:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I Like Brad's Verbosity
After reading his enlightening spectrum one almost gets the feeling they were present to share in the intercourse…
…or perhaps the literary representation illustrated in a visual conscience just created a completeness that could only be defined as a spectrum containing a true absence of light.
Either way, thanks Brad!
by Forty-Four on Mar 27, 2009 7:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
my brain just farted.
V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol Vikings, Let's Go!!
by TheViking83 on Mar 27, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
...
"As someone who thinks that words matter, and should be used accurately, I’m constantly impressed by Childress’ utterly inability to speak in coherent sentences. "
That was an utterly atrocious usage of a certain adverb in your paragraph criticizing the way others use our language. Kind of ironic… Words matter, you know?!?
by drew10 on Mar 27, 2009 2:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn
I don’t even know what or how to use an adverb.
by cutlassbob on Mar 29, 2009 2:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is actually nothing wrong with how he used the term litmus (as in litmus test). The questioner proffered a scenario in which a phone conversation between Houshbag and Jackson was the decisive event propelling Houshbag to sign elsewhere.
Litmus Test: a test in which a single factor (as an attitude, event, or fact) is decisive.
Childress simply couldn’t say (paint) that was the case. It may be a more creative usage than most are familiar, but erroneous it is not.
by LoveHate on Mar 27, 2009 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I understood what he meant. I mean, the words have more than one meaning, to assume he means everything in the literal sense is kind of silly.
by Frost on Mar 28, 2009 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another reason I think...
Childress is such a moron. He’s always trying to sound well-educated but ends up looking like an idiot. I can’t wait until his contract’s up.
SKOL! Dawgs
by WarriorViking on Mar 28, 2009 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by 














