Whether it’s hyping up a fight, chanting in a stadium, unnerving the opposing side, or a condescending form of self promotion, the art of trash talk has found its way into sports culture.
While banter among rival fans is common, and has been known to get out of hand, when athletes and coaches find themselves engaging in the art people start watching.
Sport’s physical and the mental aspects share equal importance, and throughout all sports we have seen competitors and teams beaten before they even get a chance to compete.
That said, the art of trash talking is not for everybody. Whether the person is dishing it out or taking it, certain qualities are required.
Here are five essential features to the art of trash talking.
1. Accuracy
“He is a specialist in failure.” – Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
Trash talk should be backed up with facts, and with Arsenal’s inconsistent record, added to the fact that Wenger has never beaten a side coached by Mourinho, it becomes hard to argue with the quote above without back tracking ten years.
Mourinho has clearly angered the Arsenal boss, as evidenced by the Frenchman shoving the Chelsea gaffer in a recent Premier League fixture, which saw Chelsea score a 2-0 win.
In order for trash talk to work it needs to be accurate. Making things up and stating them as fact isn’t trash talk. If previous results are going to be the focus of the talk, then those facts need to be true.
2. Timing
“I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared.” – UFC fighter Nick Diaz on Georges St-Pierre post-fight at UFC 137.
Diaz was always vocal in his desire to fight GSP, but when he called him out after his fight at UFC 137 live in front of thousands in attendance (including GSP) and all those watching around the world, he got St-Pierre so wound up that the former welterweight champion practically begged the UFC for the Diaz fight.
Different trash talk works at different times. For example, a call out doesn’t do much if people don’t hear it, but an intimate threat can be more effective one-on-one.
Muhammad Ali used to whisper taunts into his opponents’ ears during fights to unnerve them. During press conferences, he would mock the ability of his opponents. He knew what to say when, and as a result often had the mental edge on his opponents.
3. Literacy
“I’m so fast that last night I turned the off light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.” – Muhammad Ali on his speed.
Trash talk doesn’t necessarily have to rhyme or even be clever, but it does have to make sense. Making analogies on yourself or your opponent that make people scratch their heads will only make you look like a fool.
Part of gaining the mental edge on your opponent is not looking like a fool. When it comes to being a good talker a certain level of literacy is needed, otherwise it’s probably just best to not say anything at all.
4. Charisma
“I like to look good and whoop ass. It’s what I do best, you know?” – UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
In sport, personality goes a long way. Organisations like the UFC need athletes with charisma so that they can sell them to the public. McGregor has become a superstar in a short time, and UFC president Dana White has even claimed he is on the popularity level of Brock Lesnar and St-Pierre.
There are certain athletes who are known to the public because of their personalities. Athletes such as Muhammad Ali, John McEnroe, Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan, Chael Sonnen, Conor McGregor and Joe DiMaggio all have or had a certain aura of confidence around them, on top of their already impressive athletic abilities.
5. Retaliation
“Chael talk too much, I don’t need to talk nothing.” – Anderson Silva on Chael Sonnen before their rematch at UFC 148.
Regardless of whether or not you dish it out, you should have the ability to take it, and respond coherently. Getting angry and showing emotion will prove that the talk has gotten into your head, and if it has and you compete on emotion, it can have a negative effect on the way you perform.
When finding themselves in these situations, some athletes choose to laugh it off, while others respond with talk of their own. Some play the ‘my skills speak for themselves’ card, and this is a relatively safe option to take when you don’t really have anything to say in return, or feel you don’t have to.
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