Andrew Pace
Onions is a well-known catchphrase in basketball, coined by the sportscaster Bill Raftery. Raftery, a former basketball player and coach, is known for his eccentric and colourful vocabulary, which includes catchphrases like with a kiss and send it in, big fella!. Onions is used to describe a player making a clutch or brave shot, indicating that they have the guts or balls to take such a shot. The phrase has become a staple of basketball commentary, especially during the NCAA tournament, and Raftery has even attempted to trademark the phrase for use in sports broadcasts and apparel.
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of 'onions' in basketball
"Onions" is a well-known catchphrase in basketball, coined by the former NBA draftee, NCAA basketball coach, and CBS sports commentator Bill Raftery. The phrase is used when a player makes a clutch shot late in the game, indicating that the player has "big balls" or "guts" to take and make such a shot.
The phrase was first used in 1995 during a New Jersey Nets broadcast when Nets guard Kevin Edwards hit a shot late in a game against the Orlando Magic. Raftery's broadcast partner, Ian Eagle, recalled the moment:
> “I always thought I was pretty good at translating what Raftery was getting at,” Eagle said. “So Kevin Edwards hits a shot and he says, 'Ohhh, onions!' We go to break and I say to him, 'What was that? So good you had to cry?' And Bill says to me, 'No, big balls!'""
Over the years, "onions" has become one of the most popular catchphrases in sports, especially during March Madness, when it is shouted out on Twitter and in bars and office pools across the country. In 2014, Raftery trademarked the phrase to protect its use during sports broadcasts and on athletic apparel.
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Who popularised the phrase 'there are onions, Jim'
The phrase "There are onions, Jim" is a catchphrase popularised by basketball announcer Bill Raftery. During a game between Gonzaga and UCLA, Raftery yelled, "There are onions, Jim, and there are major onions!".
While the exact meaning behind the phrase is unclear, some Reddit users have speculated that it refers to a player having the "balls" to make an impressive shot or a player being so talented that their performance makes the opposing team cry.
One user commented, "I've always taken it as having the balls to hit such a great shot," while another suggested that it meant a player had "the onions cause he makes the other team cry." This interpretation suggests a double meaning, with "onions" referring to both courage and the ability to evoke emotion from opponents.
Bill Raftery, a well-known announcer, has been using this phrase for years and it has become one of his catchphrases in the world of basketball commentary.
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Bill Raftery's career in basketball
William Joseph Raftery, born on April 19, 1943, in Orange, New Jersey, is an American basketball analyst and former college basketball coach. He grew up in Kearny, New Jersey, in a Catholic family with Irish immigrant parents, Francis and Margaret. Raftery has a brother named Francis and a sister, Rita, who was a Catholic nun.
Raftery's basketball talent became apparent during his time at St. Cecilia High School, from which he graduated in 1959. He was the all-time leading scorer, accumulating 2,193 points, a record that stood for nine years. He earned all-state honours and led his team to the state championship in his senior season. During his freshman year at La Salle Explorers, he scored a record 370 points, followed by a team-leading 17.8 points per game in his sophomore year. In his senior year, he co-captained the Explorers to the National Invitation Tournament.
In 1963, Raftery was drafted by the New York Knicks, but he never played in the NBA. Instead, he began his coaching career at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he was the head basketball coach from 1963 to 1968. He also coached golf and served as an associate athletic director. From 1970 to 1981, Raftery coached the Seton Hall Pirates, achieving a 154-141 record and leading the team to several postseason tournaments.
Raftery's broadcasting career began in 1980 as a co-host on ESPN's College Hoops Tonight. He started calling New Jersey Nets games in 1982 and has worked as an analyst and commentator for CBS Sports since 1983. He has had long-standing partnerships with several notable broadcasters and has become known for his colourful catchphrases, such as "Onions!". This phrase, which Raftery coined, is shouted during clutch shots and has become a beloved part of basketball culture.
In addition to his work in broadcasting, Raftery was the president of W.J. Raftery Associates, an event and marketing firm. He received an honorary doctorate from La Salle in 2001 and has resided in Florida with his wife, Joan Fleming, after previously living in New Jersey, where they raised their four children.
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The origin story of the 'onions' catchphrase
The catchphrase "Onions!" is widely associated with basketball analyst and commentator Bill Raftery. Raftery, who played basketball in high school and college, was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1963 NBA draft. However, he never made an appearance in the NBA, instead pursuing a career as a coach and broadcaster.
Raftery's eccentric and colourful vocabulary has become a staple of his broadcasting style. His catchphrases include "Send it in, big fella!", "With a little kiss!" and "Get the puppies organized!". However, "Onions!" is perhaps his most well-known and iconic phrase.
The origin of "Onions!" can be traced back to a game between the New Jersey Nets and the Orlando Magic in 1995. During the game, Nets guard Kevin Edwards hit a big three-pointer late in the game to give the Nets a one-point lead. In response to this clutch shot, Raftery exclaimed, "Ohhh, onions!". His broadcast partner at the time, Ian Eagle, recalled his confusion about the phrase and asked Raftery about its meaning during a break. Raftery clarified that it referred to having "big balls", indicating that the player had the guts or courage to take and make a crucial shot.
Over the years, "Onions!" has become a beloved catchphrase in the world of sports, especially during the NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness. Raftery's unique phrase has resonated with fans, who eagerly await his enthusiastic exclamations during pivotal moments in basketball games. In recognition of its popularity, Raftery trademarked the phrase in 2014 to protect its use during sports broadcasts and on athletic apparel.
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Other Bill Raftery catchphrases
Bill Raftery, a former basketball player and coach, has become well-known for his commentary and unique catchphrases. "Onions", as detailed previously, is one of his most famous catchphrases, but he has coined many others that have become synonymous with his style.
"With a kiss", or "with a little kiss", is one such phrase, used when a shot banks in or off the backboard. Raftery has also filed trademarks for this phrase, along with "onions", to be used on television and athletic apparel. Another one of his well-known catchphrases is "get those puppies organised", which he exclaims after an especially pure three-pointer.
Raftery also has a few humorous catchphrases, such as "lingerie on the deck", used when a defender has their ankles broken, and "a little nickel-dimer", when he believes a foul call is unwarranted. "Send it in, big fella!" is another of his memorable lines, used when a large player makes a slam dunk.
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Frequently asked questions
"Onions" is a catchphrase used in basketball to indicate when a player has made a clutch or brave shot.
The term was coined by basketball analyst and former coach Bill Raftery.
The phrase is used to express excitement or admiration for a player's gutsy shot.
"Onions" was first used by Bill Raftery during a New Jersey Nets broadcast in 1995 and has since become one of the most well-known catchphrases in sports.
