The Silly season

[KIPAX]

Silly season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The silly season is the period lasting for a few months (starting in mid- to late summer) in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media. This term was known by the end of the 19th century and listed in the second edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and remains in use at the start of the 21st century. The fifteenth edition of Brewer's expands on the second, defining the silly season as "the part of the year when Parliament and the Law Courts are not sitting (about August and September)".
Typically, the latter half of the summer is slow in terms of newsworthy events. Historically, newspapers (which rely on subscriptions) see a drop-off in readership during this time. In the UK, Parliament takes its summer recess, so that parliamentary debates and Prime Minister's Questions, which generate much news footage, do not take place. In order to retain (and attract) subscribers, newspapers would print attention-grabbing headlines and articles to boost sales, often to do with minor moral panics or child abductions.

A side effect of stirring up the public in this manner comes when an authentic story is dismissed as a prank, or when a superfluous story is taken as legitimate (cf: The Sun, The National Enquirer etc).

It also refers to off-seasons in sports, such as NFL, NBA or Formula One — where due to lack of action on field/track, speculations are instead made on possible team changes and debuts of any star involved in the sport

silly season accounts for silly stories, silly posts and sillyness all round in football forums throughout the country... so if things seem a little off in the footy forums then blame the silly season and if you cant handle it then the answer is simple.. go away and come back when the season starts...



or embrace the silly season and join in

[Jimbo T Hornblower]

I think I'll take the first option thanks.... and do what Accymel said - and just use the fishy site until times time ...

Jimbo T blower

[KIPAX]

Whats times time when its at home ?

[Henry Morton]

Well, it's not silly season in Baseball, and today's UK papers report the emergence from retirement (what, again !) of the greatest pitcher I've ever seen . . . Roger Clemens.

He'll be 44 in two months time , all his joints are aching , but he's going to play for the Houston Astros until the end of 2006 .

They think they need him , he thinks the $22 million will ease the aches and pains.

Gazza . . . get back to that training ground , NOW !

[Bazf]

Henry do I have another baseball fan to exchange pleasantries with? as for RC we will have to disagree he left the Yankees to retire only to come out of retirement and play for Houston, retire again and come out of retirement again, oh the mighty dollar.

[Henry Morton]

Baz, I love the game but (unlike most of you over there) I've never been able to handle the statistical side of it.

Because I worked in Chicago more than anywhere else in the USA I gravitated (and I use that word advisedly) to the Cubs. If only I'd known . . .

I still have to say that RC was the greatest pitcher I ever saw - possibly because he's been so visible over such a lonnnnngggg career. He isn't my favourite though. Historically, that was Dennis Eckersley. More recently I'm a great fan of "The Unit" since that phenomenal World series a few years ago.

Enough already !

[maccawozzagod]

general sport.................................

[Henry Morton]

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

general sport.................................

It's midnight, we're Stanley fans , we prefer the Stanley site , Baz lives in Florida , I live even further away in Yorkshire, we're just goofing off , I'm ready for bed , and all replies have been in the spirit of the thread.

Night Night
Pleasant Dreams
Creamy Cakes
And Pink Ice Creams

Mabel Lucie Attwell

[Bazf]

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

general sport.................................

So sorry didn't realise the thought police were about. See you next season then.

[maccawozzagod]

sorry, but baseball? in Accy?

[Baudelaire]

Rounders for men !!

[Tealeaf]

Originally Posted by Baudelaire

Rounders for men !!

Exactly! And whats even better, the Yanks - despite what they may think - did not even invent the game. We did. Some of you who are acquainted with the early English classic novels may well be familiar with Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey", published around 1800; if so, you will know that by the third or fourth page it is revealed that our heroine plays, amongst her hobbies, the game of Baseball. But Like many sports, the rules were not formally codified until several decades later; in the case of baseball, they were laid down by an English vicar.

Well, like the book, the game is enough to send anyone to sleep. (Sorry, Henry). Personally, if I was to attend any American sporting event it would be that of the Rodeo or possibly alligator wrestling. As for Basketball, American "Football" or Baseball, then surely these must qualify as the most mind-dumbing activities known to mankind. (I will give away Karma points to anyone who comes up with anything worse)

[Sparkologist]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Personally, if I was to attend any American sporting event it would be that of the Rodeo or possibly alligator wrestling....

I always had you down as a closet Redneck, Mr T, Sir!

[Alvin the chipmunk]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

(I will give away Karma points to anyone who comes up with anything worse)

How about competitive eating? I watched a documentary on channel 4 where we held a contest to decide who represented the UK in a hot-dog eating competition over the pond. Check out the International Federation Of Competetive Eating (IFOCE) for more details:

http://www.ifoce.com/index.php

[Tealeaf]

Yep...they take it seriously.....have some Karma.

I'm off for a drink.