Chick Hearn

Chick Hearn

Chickisms

Chick Hearn coined numerous basketball phrases (what he referred to as his “word’s-eye view” of basketball) that are now common-place in today’s basketball language.


  • Slam dunk
  • Air ball
  • Dribble-drive
  • No-look pass
  • Give and go
  • Ticky-tack foul
  • Throws up a “brick”
  • Picked his pocket
  • Frozen rope
  • Popcorn Machine
  • Pressure Cooker
  • Finger-roll
  • Yo-yoing up and down
"The game's in the refrigerator, the door's closed, the light's out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard and the jello's jiggling."
"In & out, Heart-brrrreak!"

A shot that appears to go in, but rattles off the rim & misses.

"Building a House"

When a player tosses up a series of "bricks" during the course of a game.

"Bunny hop in the pea patch"

Traveling, (in the lane).

"Can't throw a pea in the ocean"

This team is shooting horribly.

"Caught with his hand in the cookie jar"

Reaching in, got called for a foul.

"The mustard's off the hot-dog"

A player attempts an unnecessarily showy, flashy play which ends up in a turnover or is otherwise unsuccess.

"No harm, no foul (, no blood, no ambulance)"

non-call by an official when significant contact has occurred.

"Slaaaaaam Dunk!!!"

A dunk with authority, also Chick was the first to use the phrase "slam dunk".

"They couldn't beat the Sisters of Mercy"

The Lakers are playing terribly.