Franchise player explained
In professional sports, a franchise player is an athlete who is both the best player on their team and one that the team can build their "franchise" around for the foreseeable future.
Overview
In the United States, outstanding players were referred to as "franchises" at least as far back as the 1950s.[1] By the 1970s, the concept of a "franchise" player who single-handedly generates success was commonly understood in the sporting trade.[2] [3] The term franchise player was in widespread use by the early 1980s to describe both star rookies like John Elway[4] and Kelvin Bryant[5] and veterans like George Brett.[6] While the term is primarily associated with North American sports,[1] [7] it is sometimes used in reference to athletes in sports outside the United States, such as rugby league.[8] [9]
See also
Notes and References
- "franchise, n. I. 2. c. (b)" OED Online. June 2003. Oxford University Press. June 2010.
- News: Denlinger. Ken. King Albert No Franchise but a National Jewel: This Morning. The Washington Post. November 30, 1977. D1.
- News: Denlinger. Ken. Team Without a 'Franchise' Player Just Keeps Winning. The Washington Post. March 6, 1978. D5.
- News: Anderson. Dave. John Elway Leaning Toward Football. The New York Times. 18 April 1982. 18 July 2010.
- News: Stars show their 1, 2 punch. 11 July 1983. 18 July 2010. The New York Times. Wallace. William N..
- News: Brett makes demands. 4 November 1982. The Globe and Mail.
- Web site: franchise. Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. 18 July 2010.
- News: Robbie seizing Bulls by the horns. https://archive.today/20130926151023/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5060722.html. dead. 26 September 2013. Hadfield. Dave. 2 March 2000. The Independent. 27 September 2010.
- News: There's more to life than Europe. Ridley. Ian. The Observer. 14 December 2003. 19 July 2010.
