Here's why the hyphen is perhaps the most perfect punctuation in history. No other mark in the English language allows two legal words to unite through its means and take on an entirely new definition. Jack-in-the-box is a wonderful children's toy. Jack In The Box is either a substandard fast food restaurant or a creepy guy named Jack who, for some reason, is inside a box. You like the hyphenated word better, don't you? Look at it. It's like they're holding hands. Intimacy!
When a union of two words is imminent, you know something important is about to come hither. President? Neat. Elect? Pretty good. President-elect? Jesus Christ, I just felt a burst of energy.
And don't call it a dash. We don't use telegraphs anymore.
This brings us to athletes. They're a superstitious bunch. But what isn't refutable is the advantage that the hyphen brings to a man or woman's game. This list of men and women excel at their game more so than, for example, 10 of their lesser colleagues who don't have hyphens. Impossible to argue otherwise!
10. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Okay, so after embarking on this list, it thinned out pretty quickly after the first half. And the Cardinals cornerback from Tennessee State snuck on the list by virtue of catching six interceptions his rookie season, including two during the run through the NFC playoffs last year.
And have you seen his jersey? That uniform has some serious Henry Rowengartner Syndrome.
9. Eun-Hee Ji
Sure, we're here to have fun, but we're also here to learn. Such as: there exists a good golfer named Eun-Hee Ji. The South Korean won the 2009 U.S. Open with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. She has only one other LPGA win to date, but give her some time.
With such an influx of Koreans in women's golf, the question always needs to be asked: could Ji become the next Se Ri Pak? Of course not. Look at her name. No hyphens.
8. Chien-Ming Wang
The face (FACE!) of Taiwanese baseball. He had a career 55-26 record and a 4.16 ERA with five seasons for the Yankees. Unfortunately, with guys like CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett clogging the rotation, the Yankees seem more interested in an initial-based caste system. Therefore, Wang likely won't return to the Bronx, a crushing blow to innuendo-laced headline aficionados and 10-year-olds everywhere.
Article comments
1 - The Legend of Vincent Tremblay
What about Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond of the New Jersey Devils? Yeah, he's a perpetual healthy scratch who spends twice as much time in the penalty box as he does on the ice when he does play, but HE HAS TWO HYPHENS! TWO! That's gotta count for something, right?
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
TWO hyphens? Now that's just overkill.
--Suss
3 - Bobby
Nice to see Eun Hee Ji get some love, but as for Se Ri Pak, you can write every Korean name with or without hyphens (the hyphens are for us, not for them)...so Pak Se-Ri is just as correct as Se Ri Pak...
4 - Tony
No Hee-seop Choi? That's criminal.
5 - FCEtier
As I type this, the New Mexico Bowl is about to enter it's second overtime.
Austin Carta-Samuels has certainly drawn some favorable attention. He's a true freshman, too.