Words and Perceptions

What we say matters. What we say can affect the perceptions of people around us.

I watched a great football game last night between unranked Iowa State and #2 ranked Oklahoma State. ISU won in double overtime. What helped send the game into OT was a field goal attempt by OSU from the left hash that went wide right.

If you saw that kick, you saw that the ball appeared to go over the top of the upright. The camera angle was a little off, so it's difficult to tell on video exactly what the path of the ball was. The official who ruled on that kick was positioned directly under the upright and, obviously, was in a better position to make that call than a cameraman slightly off to the side.

The kick was no good, the game went into overtime, ISU ended up winning, fans stormed the field and pandemonium ensued. Great game.

I've been listening to recaps of that game this morning. Without fail, every sportscaster has said, "The kick appears to go right over the upright but is ruled no good."

That's a problem. The way that statement is worded, it gives the perception that the official missed the call. I don't work college ball, but I'm 100 percent certain that the NCAA rule on field goals (and PAT's for that matter) reads the same as the high school rule: The kicked ball shall pass between the vertical uprights or the inside of the uprights extended and above the crossbar of the opponent's goal.

The ball shall pass between the vertical uprights or the inside of the uprights extended. That means that if the ball passes OVER the upright, it's no good. That means that the official got it right.

The sportscasters should be saying, "The kick appears to go right over the upright which, by rule, makes it no good." Or words to that affect. Because what is said by sportscasters might cause people to think the ruling official was wrong. And really, officials could use more positive PR.

What we say matters because what we say affects perceptions of those around us about others.

On this eve of Christ the King Sunday, what words are you using about Christ and how are those words affecting the perception of others about the faith we proclaim?