jmg@dolphy.UUCP (Intergalactic Psychic Police Of Uranus) (10/17/85)
*** still needy ASAP *** For a magazine... The quote is (roughly): "Its not over til the fat lady sings". Some people think it comes from the Chicago Bulls where it was used often 6 years ago. I'm sure it predates that, and I'm not about to call there, yet, for a literary (sic) reference. Others have no idea at all but seem to represent some sort of wellspring of desire to know the quotes source. Andrew Scott Beals says the quote really is: "The opera's not over till the fat lady sings". I think he is on track: I believe the line was spoken at an opera when two well known sports figures are in attendance. One wants to know when the interminable thing is over. The other replies... Jeffrey Greenberg ihnp4!allegra!phri!dolphy!jmg
halle@hou2b.UUCP (J.HALLE) (10/17/85)
The "fat lady" quote is indeed from basketball, but the given source is wrong. The line was first uttered by Dick Motta in 1979 or 80. He was at that time the coach of the Washington Bullets. The Bullets were down 3 games to 1 in one of the late rounds of the playoffs. When Motta was asked what his chances were, he uttered that now famous line. The Bullets went on to win the NBA championship.
ron@brl-sem.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (10/17/85)
> The quote is (roughly): "Its not over til the fat lady sings". > > Andrew Scott Beals says the quote really is: "The opera's not over > till the fat lady sings". I think he is on track: I believe > the line was spoken at an opera when two well known > sports figures are in attendance. One wants to know when the > interminable thing is over. The other replies... > I believe in sports it was earlier attributed to Yogi Berra. Unfortunately, the phrase is rather popular and may not be original to him either. -Ron
gates@bdmrrr.UUCP (Al Gates) (10/22/85)
> The "fat lady" quote is indeed from basketball, but the given source > is wrong. The line was first uttered by Dick Motta in 1979 or 80. > He was at that time the coach of the Washington Bullets. The Bullets > were down 3 games to 1 in one of the late rounds of the playoffs. > When Motta was asked what his chances were, he uttered that now famous > line. The Bullets went on to win the NBA championship. The year was 1978. Dick Motta said it--Frank Herzog promoted it. Frank Herzog was the Bullet's radio broadcaster that year. In the playoffs, he picked up the expression from Motta and played it to the hilt. As time ran out in the deciding game of the NBA championship that year, Frank Herzog said, "And if you listen really hard, you can hear the fat lady singing!" It was truly one of the greatest broadcasting quotes I have ever heard. The fat lady became the advertising gimmick of the Bullets the next year. Even leaflets containg their schedule had a drawing of a fat lady wearing a viking hat on it. -- Al Gates BDM Corporation ^ ^ ^ ^ {seismo,rlgvax}!bdmrrr!gates 7915 Jones Branch Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
bobn@bmcg.UUCP (Bob Nebert) (10/22/85)
> *** still needy ASAP *** > > The quote is (roughly): "Its not over til the fat lady sings". > > Some people think it comes from the Chicago Bulls where it was > used often 6 years ago. I'm sure it predates that, and I'm > > Andrew Scott Beals says the quote really is: "The opera's not over > till the fat lady sings". I think he is on track: I believe Can't stand no more! The quote is correct per Beals. It was a favorite of Dick Motta - one time head coach of the Chicago Bulls.