Most of us understand that history has a weird way of repeating itself. Last night in Buffalo the repetition was agonizing. Long-suffering Bills fans have seen this story before.
The cliche "history repeats itself" is just one of many derived from professional sports. While I generally think using cliches is lazy language, depending on the audience I'll drop a cliche or three to try to explain the unexplainable or to clarify opacity. But that's neither here nor there.
Wide Right, 1990: During Super Bowl XXV in 1990, Buffalo Bills Kicker Scott Norwood attempted a 47-yard game-winning field goal from the right hash of the 37-yard line. During Buffalo's final drive, ABC showed a graphic that depicted Norwood's 1-5 career history of FG attempts of 40+ yards on grass fields. The snap was good; the hold was good; the kick was on target but sailed wide right. The Bills lost 20-19 to the New York football Giants.
Wide Right, 2024: 34 years later, Bills Kicker Tyler Bass attempted a 44-yard field goal to force into overtime the AFC Divisional Playoff versus the Kansas City Chiefs. During his career, Bass has converted 26 of 31 attempts from 40-49 yards: Not exactly "a chip shot" but very close to a "sure thing."
The snap was good; the hold was good; the kick was on target but sailed wide right. The Bills lost 27-24, sending the Chiefs to their 6th consecutive AFC Championship game next Saturday at the Baltimore Ravens.
The words "Wide Right" are themselves a cliche, synonymous with failure and futility.
As cliches fell like rain from commentators' mouths, I contemplated the irony that sports cliches are more aspirational than accurate, more fiction than fact, more obfuscating than obvious. A few examples:
1) Practice doesn't make perfect.
2) You may think you've "covered all the bases", but you can't plan or prepare for random chance.
3) Nothing is a "sure thing."
4) Not everyone has "ice water in their veins."
5) You can "do all the little things" and still fail.
6) No matter how much you want it, you may never get it.
7) "Keeping your eye on the ball" doesn't guarantee success.
8) You can "take it one game at a time" until there are no games left.
9) There's no such thing as "a chip shot."
And finally, 10) You may start "on target" but....
2) You may think you've "covered all the bases", but you can't plan or prepare for random chance.
3) Nothing is a "sure thing."
4) Not everyone has "ice water in their veins."
5) You can "do all the little things" and still fail.
6) No matter how much you want it, you may never get it.
7) "Keeping your eye on the ball" doesn't guarantee success.
8) You can "take it one game at a time" until there are no games left.
9) There's no such thing as "a chip shot."
And finally, 10) You may start "on target" but....
Bills fans can tell you how that one ends.
