Bad behavior as detritus

[Laurence Horn]

On Sep 19, 2012, at 10:40 AM, Charles C Doyle wrote:

> Michael is highly adept at shedding would-be tacklers.
>
> --Charlie  (a Falcon fan)

Aha!  But that's shedding positively, unlike getting busted for DUI or leaving fur on the sofa.

LH
>
> ________________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society [ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] on behalf of Laurence Horn [laurence.horn at YALE.EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 10:17 AM
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On Sep 19, 2012, at 9:27 AM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>
>> In an article in the Boston Globe reporting the arrest of Atlanta
>> Falcons running back Michael Turner for drunken driving and speeding
>> "just hours after he scored a touchdown", coach Mike Smith is quoted as saying:
>>
>> "First and foremost, any time a player sheds negatively on our
>> football team and on our organization, we are very disappointed."
>>
>> "Sheds negatively" seems odd in itself.  (Casting off
>> electrons?)  More disturbing is the comparison of an alleged criminal
>> act with the flaking of skin, and the belief that the worst sin is
>> giving the team a negative images.
>>
> Aha!  A new idea for making our cats feel guilty about their shedding negatively around the house!  I have a feeling it's not going to work with me, or with Michael Turner.
>
> LH
>
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