Lately it seems that the commentary on just about every sports event that is televised features an excessive use of the word “incredible” in the description of what is taking place on the field or in the arena of play. Baseball announcers are especially guilty, thanks to the availability of televised replays which many of them use over and over to pad their broadcasts.
Several years ago the late Ray Fitzgerald, probably the best sports columnist the Boston Globe ever had—and the newspaper has had numerous—penned an entire column decrying the misuse of the word.
“I’ll tell you what would be incredible,” Fitzgerald wrote, “if a baserunner trying to steal second base turned into a swan on the way—that would be incredible.”