Point Guard (1971); Murderers' Row (May 1921)

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POINT GUARD (for basketball fans)

   The position of "point guard" was also called "playmaking guard" or "playmaker" or "passing guard" or "small guard."
   The other guard was/is the "shooting guard" or "big guard."
   The LOS ANGELES TIMES covered the great John Wooden-coached UCLA teams and might have "point guard" in the late 1960s.


   16 March 1968, SPORTING NEWS, pg. 34, col. 1:
   Rookie Walt Frazier and Dick Barnett are a happy blend of playmaking and shooting in the backcourt.

   18 December 1971, SPORTING NEWS, pg. 6, col. 2:
   The point guard is Harold Fox, one of the premier backcourt stars in the country.

   16 December 1972, SPORTING NEWS, pg. 10, col. 4:
   Sophomore Baron Hill (21.0 scoring as frosh) is the point guard. (...)
   Brothers John (senior) and T. Jay (junior) Pecorak will be starting with point guard Mike Sorrentino, all with experience.

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MURDERERS' ROW

   The revised OED has a September 1921 "murderers' row" for the New York Yankees.  It's a crime.


   5 May 1921, SPORTING NEWS, pg. 1, col. 1:
_Yankee Pitching All to Bad, but Slump of_
   _Murderers' Row Shares Blame_
      _In Run of Defeats_