Cheap shot

Reader question:

Please explain “cheap shot” in this passage:

This is just another cheap shot from my opponent. In college I tried marijuana twice at parties. I didn’t like the stuff and it happened 40 years ago.

My comments:

In boxing, for example, if you hit an opponent below the belt, that is, in the lower abdomen or the groin, you’ve hit him with what is called a “low blow”. That’s a cheap shot – it’s illegal.

Likewise, if you intentionally hit the opponent after the bell, that’s a cheap shot – because the opponent has stopped fighting.

In boxing, of course, one of the cheapest of cheap shots belongs to Mike Tyson, who once bit a piece off of the ear of Evander Holyfield.

“Cheap shots” take on many forms, and not restricted to the game of boxing. Of course not. Cheap shots, in fact, include any physical or verbal attack using tactics that are considered contrary to rules of fair play.

In the example from the top, “my” opponent brought up “my” drug record in college to suggest that I do drugs. That’s just an attempt to smear my good name because I never touched marijuana after college and he knew it. If he wants to fight a clean fight against me, he should find something wrong with me now, not something that’s 40 years old. That’s why “I” say it’s a cheap shot – he’s pretty mean to even remember it after 40 years.

Alright, here are more media examples of cheap shots:

1. Ravens LB Ray Lewis was angered by a controversial block Browns QB Brady Quinn delivered that knocked Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs out of Monday’s game.

Quinn hit Suggs low after throwing an interception in the second half of the Browns’ 16-0 loss. Lewis called it a “cheap shot”.

“That’s an illegal blow,” Lewis said, via the AP. “I don’t care how you want to look at it.”

Suggs left the game with a right knee injury, and Lewis was looking for the league to discipline Quinn.

“When you’re running down and you’re looking at the quarterback going at somebody’s knees who doesn’t even have the ball,” Lewis said. “I want to see if he gets the same fine I got or even higher. Now this man is out four or five weeks because of some baloney like that.”

- Ray Lewis: Brady Quinn delivered ‘cheap shot’ block that hurt Terrell Suggs, USAToday.com, November 16, 2009.

2. I watched the Channel 4 programme Surviving Gazza on Monday night and I found myself needing to remember the good times. It wasn’t always bad being around Paul Gascoigne. Far from it. He could be annoying when you were trying to rest before a big match, mind you….

Gazza was the most famous player of his generation. Like David Beckham, he was driven by a passion for the game and the desire to be the best. Like Beckham, he thrived on the attention that brings.

Maybe the need for attention explains why he agreed to take part in this television programme. I’m not sure why else he agreed to be involved. He struggled to escape the persona of ‘Gazza’…

Did the Channel 4 documentary tell me anything I didn’t know? Not really. It seemed like another cheap shot; another kick for Gazza. It left me wondering how many more kicks he can take. He looked fragile and vulnerable. It was uncomfortable viewing.

- Jamie Redknapp: This show just seemed like another cheap shot.

3. Government bodies and councils have been “blind” to the needs of white working class communities, a Cabinet minister said today.

Communities Secretary John Denham called for a new focus on the needs of poor whites affected by mass immigration.

And he said state agencies charged with tackling inequality and disadvantage should no longer focus solely on ethnic minority groups.

Instead they must “re-assess” their priorities to include poor whites as well.

John Azah, chair of the British Federation of Racial Equality Councils, said the speech was a “cheap shot”.

He accused Mr Denham of “belatedly” recognising the needs of white communities and only now playing to core voters ahead of the general election.

“As organisations we have never had that division between minority communities and whites,” he said.

“We have tried to help disenfranchised people from all communities.

“I think it’s important for the Government and all parties to work with all communities rather than playing to a certain core voter.

“Rather late in the day, now an election is coming they making belated efforts.

“They are blaming other people like Racial Equality Councils – it’s a cheap shot.”

- Minister accuses councils over poor white communities, Independent.co.uk, November30, 2009.