circus save

n. a spectacular or unorthodox sports move that prevents an opponent from scoring. Subjects: English, Sports & Recreation

Editorial Note: This is related to circus catch, which Paul Dickson, with Barry Popik’s help, traced back to 1886 in his 1999 New Dickson Baseball Dictionary. Also related is circus play, which Dickson dates to 1885.

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Citations: 1937 New York Times (Apr. 4) “Mt. Washington’s Strong Attack Beats Princeton at Lacrosse, 8-3” (in Princeton, N.J.) p. S3: Particularly impressive was Sol Heligman, 130-pound goalie of the metropolitan outfit, who made a number of circus saves. 1973 Ironwood Daily Globe (Mich.) (Nov. 10) “Goalie Stars in Fighting Saints’ Win Over Blazers” p. 8: Garrett made a circus save on a shot by Vancouver’s Mike Chernoff in the third period Friday night. 1985 Lisa Harris (UPI) (Feb. 28) “NHL Roundup”: Lemelin and Smith made second-period circus saves to keep goose eggs on the board for nearly 51:35. 1992 Kim Hartwig Denver Post (Colo.) (May 18) “U.S. shoots blanks in loss” p. 3D: Scotland threatened only once more, with Keller making a circus save off Gary McAllister’s direct free kick late in the first half. 2001 [Neil] Lacrosse Equipment Superstore (Apr. 20) “Duke Topples UNC in 2nd”: Defense was on display for the remaining minutes of the half as both squads played tough position with their shorti’s and threw in an occasional circus save or longstick robbery. 2003 Minnesota Thunder (July 11) “Thunder Nab Must-Win Game 3-0 Over Cincinnati”: Ferruzzi set the tone for the Thunder early making a circus save on the touchline to the right of the goal. 2003 Dennis King OilFans.com (Nov. 27) “Practice Makes Pitiful”: Conklin would make circus save after circus save and the game remained 2-0 until Cory Cross went to the box for having a sloped forehand and bolts in his neck. 2006 Bruce Berlet Hartford Courant (Conn.) (Mar. 23) “Montoya Shows He’s Back”: He made some of what I call circus saves that give us a huge bounce on the bench.

Posted 29 Mar 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend