I’ve noticed an irksome grammatical construction among sports commentators that has been gaining currency over the past several years.1 When the commentator acknowledges a player’s skill or ability, with the intent of offering superlative praise, they say something in the vein of the following formula: “He’s as good as anybody.” It takes all kinds of forms. He’s as good a defender as anybody, for instance; they’re as strong an offense as any in the league, etc. And I hear it eve...
