Dear Editor,

They were apparently arguing about the unlikelihood of the Cleveland Cavaliers winning Game 7. The one guy trotted out all the known reasons why. No team in basketball history had come back from a three game deficit to win, there had been no overall victory for any sports team from the area in over 50 years, etc, etc. The other fellow agreed but as a parting shot said, “Just remember the ball is round.”

I smiled mischievously as I heard that and took note of the critical determining factor for a possible win; the ball is round. Not simply spherical or of any other shape, but round. I dared not intrude in their friendly dialogue with my weird thought, but I was strongly tempted to ask what difference the shape of the ball made to a team’s chances of winning. My reluctance to butt in was not simply because I did not know the guys and this was on the outskirts of Orlando, not Jamaica, but more so because we all (or most of us) use, without serious thought, these silly expressions.

Well, the ball must have been extra round Sunday night when the Cavaliers created history by winning the coveted trophy and breaking the 50-year jinx.

I recall coming home from a ministry visit to St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and with excitement told my wife that I saw there a shelter for battered men. In disbelief she asked me if I was sure and I replied, stupidly: “Baby, I saw it with my own two eyes.” She smilingly retorted, “With whose eyes can you see but your own?” I laughed at myself and moved on to something else. You must have used or heard the ‘own two ears’ equivalent.

You may have said it or heard it. A man batters another with a piece of lumber and a witness reports that the victim was beaten “within an inch of his life”. Note, not within two or three inches, but an inch. Does that really make it closer to death, as measured/determined by whom? And come to think of it what does ‘within an inch of your life’ really mean?

In church, worship leaders often say, “Let’s stand on our feet and sing…” Though possible I guess they are ruling out a hand-stand while singing. Then in common parlance we hear of ‘mouth lip’, ‘hand elbow’ and numerous other not so sensible expressions.

I guess silly language habits die hard too.

Clinton Chisholm

clintchis@yahoo.com