On the Ropes [BOX]: Leaning helplessly on the ring ropes; usually means the fighter cannot defend himself.
On the Same Page [FB]: everyone knowing what to do and going out on the field and doing it; being in sync with the playbook.
“On the Step” [PARA]: Novice static line or novice free-fall student poised on the step of a Cessna or other similar jump plane, ready for the “Go” from his jumpmaster.
“On the Wrists” [PARA]: in a star and flying with other “skygods.”
One Atmosphere [DIVE]: Air pressure at sea level; 14.7 pounds per square inch.
One-and-One [BB]: a rule in college basketball in which a player receives the right to a second foul shot if the first foul shot is successful. This rule is also used in women’s and high school basketball.
One-Back Offense [FB]: Formations that involve only one offensive backfield player, other than the quarterback. This back, usually the biggest and the most powerful, is used in running situations.
One-on-One [BB]: A situation in which a specific offensive player is guarded by a specific defensive player, or when a specific offensive player challenges a specific defensive player.
One-Pocket [POOL]: Another hustler’s game. Each player shoots into one corner pocket of the table.
One-Shot Book [JOUR]: Magazine that has only one planned issue. One-shot books are often published after the death of a president, the Pope, or other famous or notorious people. There were a variety of one-shot books published after the death of Elvis Presley.
On-Sale Date [JOUR]: Date on which a particular issue is available for sale throughout the publication’s circulation area.
On-Side Kick [FB]: A kick that is deliberately short—10–15 yards, so that the kicking team can recover it immediately if the receiving team fumbles it.
Op-Ed Page [JOUR]: the right-hand page opposite, or facing, the editorial page. Many metropolitan newspapers use the Op-Ed page as a continuation of editorials, essays, letters-to-the-editor, and other allied material.
Open [BB]: a player who is not guarded by an opponent or who has an unguarded path to the basket.
Open [GOLF]: a tournament that allows both amateurs and professional golfers to play.
Open Frame [BOWL]: Frame in which the bowler has made no strike or spare.
Open Modifications [PARA]: Modification not covered by mesh. Open modifications are potentially hazardous because a pilot chute may entangle through the modification and cause a partial malfunction.
Opening Altitude [PARA]: Altitude when the jumper should have a good canopy over his head. Usually this is 2,500 to 2,800 feet above ground level. Could be higher for mass jumps—large star attempts.
Opening Shock [PARA]: the quick stop that the jumper comes to when the parachute deploys fully. The velocity goes from 120 mph at terminal to 10 mph within 2 or 3 seconds as the parachute opens. Opening shock used to be a major problem in military jumping, but since the advent of new generations of gear since the late 1940s and early 1950s, opening shock is no longer a real problem, although some jumpers are prone to complain about it. Faulty body position (head down) may lead to a hard opening shock when the harness flips the jumper into an upright position.
Option [FB]: a play in which the quarterback has the choice, depending on the offense and the defense, of keeping the ball or passing it.
Out [BOX]: Knocked out.
Out [TEN]: a ball that lands out of bounds.
Out In Front Of [BASE]: to swing too early at a pitch.
Out of Bounds [VB]: Ball is out of bounds if it strikes any object out of the court, or if it strikes the antenna.
Outboard [B&F]: Motor attached to the stern of a vessel.
Outboard Pull [PARA]: the ripcord handle under the left or right shoulder blade, but outside the edges of the webbing, rather than inside, over the jumper’s chest.
Outfield [BASE]: that part of a baseball field beyond the base paths that connect first, second, and third bases.
Outlet Pass [BB]: Player who grabs a rebound and passes to a teammate to establish a fast break.
Outline [JOUR]: topic-by-topic skeleton of an article.
Out-of-Date [PARA]: Reserve that needs to be repacked because it is past the deadline for legal use. U.S. Parachute Association members now need to repack every 120 days.
Outpoint [BOX]: to win a fight with the highest number of points awarded by the judges.
Outside [SURF]: the side of a wave toward the open sea.
Outside Edge [SKI]: the left side of a left ski and the right side of a right ski.
Outside Shooter [BB]: A player who has the ability to make long shots.
Outside Ski [SKI]: the ski that is outside on a turn. The left ski on a right turn; the right ski on a left turn.
Oval [MOTOR]: Oval-shaped track.
Over the Falls [SURF]: over the top edge of a breaking wave.
Over/under [BET]: a figure representing the total points scored in a contest. The bettor can bet on the actual total being greater or less than the predicted total.
Overbowed [ARCH]: Using a bow that has a pull too strong for the archer.
Overhand Pass [VB]: Pass made with both hands held head-high.
Overhead [TEN]: Shot to return a lob, usually with an arm motion over the head. Also called “smash shot.”
Overhead Kick [SOC]: A player who kicks the ball over his own head.
Overhead Shot [BB]: a two-handed shot in which the ball is released over the player’s head.
Over-Head Stroke [BAD]: Shot made over the player’s head.
Overset [JOUR]: Material that has been set in type but not used by a newspaper or magazine.
Over-the-Transom [JOUR]: Unsolicited material that is submitted to a magazine, that must be sorted, read, bought, or returned. (Some magazines will not read over-the-transom material because of the costs of staff member’s time to read and reply to it.) Over-the-transom material becomes part of the magazine’s slush pile.
Overtime [BB]: A 5-minute period of play to decide a game that is tied at the end of regulation time. Abbreviated OT.
Oxygen [PARA]: needed for high altitude jumps. Consult your A.S.O. or drop zone operator for specifics in your locality. The F.A.A. sets guidelines for oxygen use by high altitude sky divers.
“Peas” [PARA]: target for accuracy jumpers usually made of pea gravel, plastic fiber, sawdust, or other similar material.
“Pencil-Packing” [PARA]: to repack a reserve parachute illegally by simply changing or adding a new “date of repack” to the data card.
Pace [T&F]: a runner’s speed, as in slow pace, fast pace.
Pace Car [MOTOR]: Vehicle used to pace racers at the start of a race.
Pack (Noun) [PARA]: the pack is the jumper’s complete parachute system; to pack (verb) is to flake and stow the parachute to make ready for jumping.
Pack Journalism [JOUR]: the tendency of journalists to deliberately or accidentally write like each other. The press that covers Washington, D.C., has been accused of pack journalism, as have many sports writers.
Packing [PARA]: the act of flaking the parachute, stowing the lines and closing the container, to make the equipment jump-ready.
Packing Card [PARA]: See data card.
Packing Mat [PARA]: Protective canvas, plastic, or other material used to protect the parachute from dirt, oil, or anything else while packing on the ground.
Packing Table [PARA]: Protective table used when conditions are not suitable for packing on the ground. Some DZ’s make packing tables from old diving boards, which are the right width; several dovetailed together will make a packing table the right length.
Pad [JOUR]: to lengthen with additional materials.
Paddock [HORSE]: the enclosure where horses are saddled immediately prior to a race.
Paddock [MOTOR]: Area near the track where cars are worked on. Usually similar to pits.
Palooka [BOX]: An unskilled fighter.
Pancake [HANG]: to fall to the earth flatly is “to pancake in.”
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