Guest guest Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 First let's get it straight: it's "the OPERA ain't over till the fat lady sings." Amazingly, we know exactly who originated this expression and approximately when. It was first used around 1976 in a column in the San Antonio News-Express by sportswriter Dan Cook. Cook does not recall the precise date or what the column was about.Cook, who is also a sportscaster for KENS-TV in San Antonio, repeated the line during a broadcast in April 1978. He was trying to buck up local basketball fans who were dejected because the San Antonio Spurs were down three games to one in the playoffs against the Washington Bullets. Bullets coach Dick Motta heard the broadcast and used the expression himself to caution fans against overconfidence after his team finished off the Spurs and took on Philadelphia. The phrase became the team's rallying cry as they went on to win the championship. From there it entered the common pot of the language. SUZI" Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.