Spike the ball in the end zone

Which sport does the phrase refer to? American football? Rugby? Vollyball?

It will make a difference in my answer. Please let me know.

Regards,

JohnParis

In general: American football players often throw the ball quite vigorously to the ground after scoring a touchdown. this is known as 'spiking'.

Specifically: When President Obama used the term, he was talking about his decision not to show the photographs of a dead Osama bin Laden, which would be tantamount to spiking the football.

In this context, "Spiking the football" meant that it would have been a brutal, useless and callous act to have published photos of a dead and mutilated corpse.

When a football player spikes the ball in the endzone he is also giulty of "overkill". To score, the player only needs to get the ball into the inzone and have it touch the ground. Some players, however, like to show off and slam

spike (verb):

to drive (as a volleyball) sharply downward with a hard blow; also : to throw down sharply <spiked the ball in the end zone>

Metaphorically, 'to spike the ball in the end zone' is to brag, to boast.

CJ

I have a hard time calling the act of throwing an inanimate object to the ground a "brutal act."

It simple means, as CJ said, that you're bragging about your accomplishment in a way others find distasteful.

American football.

Thanks. He should have said, "Watch me closely. I'm going to make the ball disappear."

Thanks. Why overkill? It's easier to underkill.

Thanks.

In the US, when a football player makes an absolutely awesome touchdown, he often spikes the ball in the endzone and strikes a victorious pose. Team fams go wild!

Some say that it is an excessive show, but they would be fans of the losing team!

ROFL