CLEVELAND — "Sport" is a fun word, its plural form even more so. But in its best format, it's complimented by an exclamation point for additional verve and flavor.
See?
It's an enjoyable word, not just because it's fun to say aloud but because all of its connotations and meanings are fun, as well. The same can't be said for all words; you're usually bound to get some negative connotations in there.
Take "swell," for example. While that word used as a 1950s-style innocent expression has a fun meaning — "Gee ma, that's swell!" — it can also turn dark pretty quickly. For instance, a big wave is called a swell, and those can be dangerous! An infected goiter also can swell, and that's gross!
But with "sports," it's a fairly merry word across the board.
"Sports," as in activities, are naturally fun by design because that's their whole purpose, and even if you're some weirdo who doesn’t enjoy playing sports (like my hapless asthmatic sister), there's a good chance you at least enjoy watching sports in some form and just allowing the professionals to do the sporting for you. Totally fine.
"Sportsman" is a fun word to say, though in candor "sportswoman" sounds clunky to me. I'm assuming that has something to do with the patriarchy and I'm sorry for everything.
Regardless, the egregious underuse of the term "sportsman" by NBA play-by-play announcers is fast approaching crisis levels.
"Shoots, misses. Gets his own rebound! Takes it right back up and SLAMS IT HOME! A THUNDEROUS DUNK BY JARRETT ALLEN! WHAT A SPORTSMAN!"
How much better would that make everything?
"Sport" is a funny way to refer to someone playfully, because it's one of those terms that seems friendly on the surface but is, in actuality, an insult.
"Hey, sport. How's it going?"
See? There's clearly no respect there, but what's ingenious is that it would be irrational for the person who was just referred to as "sport" to take outward offense because it's not technically an insulting term. So he just has to take it. That's what makes it fun.
In this way, it belongs in the same etymological family as its more popular counterparts "chief" and "champ."
"Sport" is also a swell (are you thinking of goiters?) way to refer to wearing something.
"I was sporting my best authentic Kimono when I was asked to leave the Costco."
See?
Finally, the 1983 Huey Lewis and the News album "Sports," despite lacking an exclamation point, still remains a terrific listen four decades later and features such timeless bangers as "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "I Want a New Drug," and "If This Is It." I simply can't recommend it highly enough. Treat yourself.
Also, enjoy this news story where I ask attendees of the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards ceremony whether or not things are sports.