the whole nine yards

[Drew Danielson]

Laurence Horn wrote:
>
> At 7:48 PM -0500 1/2/01, Dennis R. Preston wrote:
> >>What nine yards (in football)?
> >
> >dInIs (a former blocking back)

> Well, with inflation, it's up to ten yards (in football).

I didn't say it made any sense, I've just always associated that phrase
with football, since I was pretty young.  Third down and nine yards to
go, they got the whole nine yards, hooray! - that sort of thing.  If my
six-year-old self could, he'd explain it to you :-)