You are a Star, a Disaster!
Disastɑr, geddit?!
Sporting commentary and punditry. Any good for you?
I very much miss being able to watch along choosing the fleeting, now deleted option for 'stadium effects'. Only hearing what the pitchside mics pick up.
There's a reason why much research concurs that only ten percent display engagement, passion, and high performance. With competence alone, figures vary but are still shocking. Ranging from the classic 80/20 to the infamous "24%". Just the one-in-four or five keeping the show afloat. Those familiar with Price's Law may well adjudge the problem as somewhat more acute.
Apply that to those that 'call' or 'analyse' sport.
This week I thought of one of the lamentably very few widely considered to be worth listening to.
Cricket legend Richie Benaud was - perhaps unknowingly - cited by a present day live sport presenter.
The word 'disaster' ought "never ever, ever, ever" pass the lips of 'reporters'.
That label 'reporters' is worthy of note as it implies journalistic credentials. Where language surely matters. But spreads to include those new to the pursuit through the side-door of athletic prowess.
He also highlighted misuse with the term 'tragedy'.
And this is pure Benaud.
Much was made at the time of his 2015 death around his golden rules for commentary. In various articles he set out and later expanded this to the nine afoot this blog.
Disaster does strike me lexically as adaptable to its surroundings. Using it to ascribe a gravity to a business situation would not summon images of needless deaths. After all, the result atop my search today states;
"a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life."
Then after noting the movie genre;
"an event or fact that has unfortunate consequences, [example use:] 'a string of personal disasters'."
Which could suggest the host got a touch precious.
Yet he is right to say that words are important.
["Bit prissy but you can see the argument", declared broadsheet critic Alan Tyers. Followed by this gem, "inevitably, some clever dick immediately dug out a tweet from [him] in which he lamented the closure of a favourite ice cream parlour as, you guessed it, a 'disaster'."]
I swiftly sought alternatives. Got instantly served thirty.
To cover, I was told, the 'range from minor setbacks to significant failures', and then 'categorized [sic] by their tone and impact'. I also list these in the footer.
I wrote an essay on 'change' in the postface in one of my books. One facet of which was how important our syntax around it is. And with 'disaster' the same applies. It can become a meaningless scream. Way better to come up with something more distinctive, memorable for your prospect and which helps us own the issue at hand.
Richie Benaud's golden rules of commentary:
- Develop a distinctive style.
- Put your brain into gear before opening your mouth.
- There are no teams in the TV world called ‘we’ or ‘they’.
- Discipline is essential; Concentrate fiercely at all times.
- Try to avoid allowing these past your lips: “Of course ...” “As you can see on the screen” “You know ...” “I tell you what ...”
- Never say “That’s a tragedy or a disaster ...” — the Titanic was a tragedy, the Ethiopian drought a disaster, and neither bears any relation to a dropped catch.
- Never ask a statement [often suffixed, 'isn't it?'].
- Remember the value of the pause.
- Above all don’t take yourself too seriously, and have fun.
AI surface-level returned alts for term 'disaster' at time of posting:
Professional & Technical Terms (For Reporting); Setback, Adverse Effect/Outcome, Underperformance, Negative Impact/Consequence, Discrepancy, Operational Friction.
Moderate & Situational Terms (For Problems); Snag/Hitch, Glitch, Bottleneck, Downside, Pitfall.
Serious & Strategic Terms (For Major Issues); Debacle, Fiasco, Fallout, Reversal/Reversal of Fortune, Breakdown, Ruin/Ruination.
Euphemisms & Growth-Oriented Terms (For Post-Mortems); Learning Dividend/Moment, Course Correction/Pivot, Growth Opportunity, Improvement Catalyst, Unintended Consequence.
Informal & Idiomatic Phrases; Flop, Washout, Bad Apple, Dead End.
To end, a note on a potential slide around this. See the very opening word? Disastɑr. I inserted the phonetic symbol for the sound 'ah' to replace the 'e'. To emphasise the 'star' syllable sound. You could pop just that on yer slide. Either in black or white text on a background of relevant brand hue, or vice versa. I also sense other possibilities. To start you off here's the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) spelling for the sound I was evoking; /dɪˈzɑːstɑ/. And one more I quite enjoy to similar effect; disastr.