“It is what it is.”

We’ve all heard that statement dozens of times, and it’s a phrase that is rapidly ascending to the top spot of most overused, tired cliches – especially in sports vernacular.

It’s the catch phrase answer for an athlete or coach who has no answer, doesn’t want to answer honestly or cannot properly articulate his thoughts.

What is most perplexing is that I’m not entirely sure what it means and when and where it is appropriate to use. I’m pretty sure those who rattle off another “is what it is” don’t know, either.

I was thinking of some fictitious scenarios representative of a typical sports interview:

Reporter: “Hey Johnny, you threw three interceptions in the big game today...”

Johnny: “It is what it is.”

Reporter: “Coach, you’ve won six games in a row, care to comment on that streak?”

Coach: “It is what it is.”

Reporter: “Hey coach, your star player, Jackie Blue, missed practice today. Can you elaborate on that?

Coach: “Well...it is what it is.”