User:FuriousFreddy/Whoo-ride

 Whoo-Ride is an internet slang term which refers to a relatively unknown quarterback who replaces an established starting quarterback, usually due to injury. The unknown player then performs above expectations and the team continues to win. In some cases, the former back-up may retain the starting job permanently or earn a starting spot on another team.

The term originated during the 2002 NFL season when former league MVP Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams was injured during a game and unknown back-up Marc Bulger took over and experienced considerable success. Bulger remains the team's starting quarterback, while Warner is now on the Arizona Cardinals.

Whoo-ride history was made on November 25th, 2002, when Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Koy Detmer threw for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns in place of Donovan McNabb, who had broken his right leg a week earlier. In the same game, a 38-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, Detmer dislocated his left elbow, and was replaced by A.J. Feeley, who completed all 3 of his passes including a touchdown pass to Chad Lewis. Sports analysts believe this to be the only modern example of two quarterbacks whoo-riding in the same game.

Usage of the term is generally ironic, as it plays on the irrepressible optimism of diehard sports fans. Essentially, declaring that a backup player will "Whoo-Ride" is saying that one's faith in the team is so strong that one truly believes that a lesser player will lead the team to victory. As such, the term -- an expectation of the miraculous -- perfectly underscores the strong parallels between sport and religion in the American psyche and exemplifies the mythos of a team's performance as an extension of the collective goodwill of its fans.

The term was coined on the message boards at hiphop website Okayplayer shortly after Warner went down with injury. Since then, it has been used by musicians such as MF DOOM.

Category:Internet slang