It’s almost time for the faceoff that will start the first exhibition hockey game of the new season for my favorite team, the Chicago Blackhawks. I haven’t seen a faceoff all summer — and part of the spring, thanks (?) to the Hawks’ early exit from the playoffs.
I watched the presidential debate last night, and I watched much of the analysis and comment before and after which referred to the candidates’ faceoff (or “facing off”).
Well, I still haven’t seen a faceoff.
A faceoff, to use the word correctly (Seriously, if you will), is a short, fast battle for control of a puck.
Faceoffs, unlike debates, never last for 90 minutes.
There’s no debate about who won a valid faceoff. If there’s any question, the puck gets dropped again by the official. (Referee? Linesman? Oh, Hawks, it has been a long off-season!)
There are dozens of faceoffs in a 60-minute regulation hockey game. Overtime games might need 100 or more faceoffs.
So for the next debate, please, grab another image: sparring partners, soldiers (potential commanders-in-chief!), whatever. Just spare me any more use of the word “faceoff.”
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Filed under: Words Worth Defending
Tags: Chicago Blackhawks
Trump did skate around answering many questions. And he puckered his lips quite a bit. For all his interruptions he should have been put in the penalty box too.
Thank you. I should have guessed that you wouldn't be on thin ice here.
It was a faceoff, in the Rudy Tomjanovich sense. Ask Duncan Teeth.
Thanks, Jack, but I'm afraid you lost me. I can't think of a hockey player named Tomjanovich, and I've worked hard to forget who shot the puck that claimed Duncan's Teeth.
Basketball player who had his face bashed in by Kermit Washington (source).
OK. Thank you.