Pulling a Hillary

I was playing basketball over the weekend and one of the funniest moments in trash talk history happened. We were playing pick up ball at a park in LA. A guy drove into the lane and got his shit swatted ("his shot was blocked" for the basketball illiterate). He called a foul.

This happens often in pickup ball when someone gets their shit sent (again, when their shot is rejected). They feel embarrassed and insist on calling a non-existent foul, as if they wouldn't have been sent so badly if they weren't fouled at the same time.

Now, this was a little unusual because even his own team didn't have his back. Everyone on the court pretty much agreed that he was not fouled. But nonetheless he insisted. Then someone came up with a line bound for the trash talking hall of fame, "This guy is pulling a Hillary."

That, of course, means he won't let it go when everyone else can plainly see that the argument is over and he is the only one who still believes he is right. They called him Hillary for the rest of the game. And I laughed and laughed.

The only thing worse than getting rejected is not fessing up to it. That's called "pulling a Hillary."

Young Turks on You Tube

Comments

[katefranklin]

Herein lies the problem with a candidate staying in the race beyond good reason. Their arguments get silly. Their motivations get questioned. Their actions seem desperate. They seem irrelevant and detached. All these things comprise a little thing called "grace". The Clintons have none.

[Moose49]

Perfect. I'll have to use it when I play my weekly basketball game later this week.

[gsuescum]

I was teasing my girlfriend all weekend. Whenever she even seemed slightly upset about anything I'd either say "Don't get all Hillary on me" or "don't get you knickers in a knot HIllary."

We'd have a good laugh!

[DMHendrix]

FUNNY STUFF!

[Veeve]

ROFL! That is so on the money. She should have the grace to accept defeat and at the very least if she wants to go on, stop drawing contrasts to the presumptive nominee.

[Decipherer]

So, by extension, when in 2000 Al Gore challenged the presidential vote count in Florida, taking the issue all the way to the Supreme Court (not basketball) in Bush v. Gore, he didn't "pull a Hilliary," did he?

My point is, it's OK to call a foul if it is a true foul, right? Otherwise, you're "pulling a Hillary."

Just asking!

[tanyainsacramento]

I disagree with the comment down there.

I think this is the funniest Hillary analogy yet...it should be official!

I can hear the commentators now..

damn hillary is ruining herself..shes gonna need an intervention soon

[SamEllison]

no blood, no foul

[tedbear]

Hillarious!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OtayPanky]

So...are you saying she got her shit swatted...and won't 'fess up to it?

Dayum!!!

[nypoet22]

cenk, you know i generally agree with you on most issues, but this is just plain dumb. It's what the republicans did to Bill in 1992; i still remember my friend who was a republican telling me i'd "pulled a clinton" when i stretched the truth about something. this foolish sort of name-calling in place of real political debate is just the sort of thing that i think obama is trying to move away from.

okay, so she's losing.

okay, so she doesn't want to give up.

fine, but let's not name-call.

[Krikkit]

A game of pickup basketball isn't a political forum. Don't shoot the messenger. He's reporting what is happening in the street, where new slang and language happen.

The fact that 'pulling a Hillary" resonated so well is telling. "Pulling a Clinton" didn't catch on, but I suspect that after this campaign season, "pulling a Hillary" may. It may offend you, and I'm certain it will offend Hillary if / when she hears about it, but that's just teh way deh ball bounces.

[JamieStarr]

It's not name-calling if it's actually her name.

It's just an anecdote. Lighten up.

[Mesaywar]

Who name-called?
You're telling me you're a NY poet, and you haven't yet heard of pulling a Hillary?

[t9chi]

Lol! I love it.

[Herrington]

Cool, right up there with being a Cheney (a*hole). This decade has been productive for the vernacular.

Good night Hillary.