110%

The first in an occasional series picking apart sporting clichés that either make no sense at all, or are just plain misleading.

Some will relate to specific sports, and are possibly not too hard to guess, but the first one is sport agnostic.

They gave it 110%.

Obviously that makes no sense whatsoever, but it is everywhere. You could even suggest it covers 110% of sports coverage.

There are too many quotes to choose from.  Here is Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski before his side’s FA Cup semi-final against Wigan earlier this month.  Not only did he drop the brick he added “”It is the biggest cup in the world and a big tradition,” as his side focussed on ensuring qualification for next year’s Champions League.  But that is a small sample.

The thing about it is that, apart from being statistically impossible, it is so constrained and not particularly strong in ambition.

Why is it always 110%  Is there a barrier hit somewhere, and how is it measured?

Also, 110% is not really that much extra effort; it’s a bit like GST Lite.  150% and 200% must feel really left out.

So the next time you hear a coach or player dropping the expression, just remember they are thick, mathematically challenged, pay to much attention to the book of clichés and devoid of real ambition.