The Chub Rock's Blog

For a long time now, I've been wondering why assists are called "dimes" in the sport of basketball. I've asked friends, colleagues and even media personalities, but never received a response that was satisfying to me. So I decided to spend a little time and do my own research. There is nothing that is absolutely conclusive, but below are some interesting facts and perspectives related to the multi-dimesional term "dime."

First, it appears that the term "dime" was labeled as such because it contained one-tenth of the precious metal as the old silver dollar. You see, coins were made by size according to how much precious metal they contained. The 50-cent coin contained half as much silver as the dollar, the quarter had one-fourth as much, and the dime one-tenth as much.

Back to sports though and why assists are called "dimes." Although there is nothing conclusive about the origin of the term "dime," it appears that it is loosely based on an idiom that goes back to a time when making a telephone call cost only a dime. In fact, to "drop a dime on someone" was to tell the police about someone's criminal activities. However, in relation to basketball and taking into account that it used to cost a dime to "call someone up," it seems logical that this is why the term "dime" became widely used for a pass or an assist, as you are effectively "calling someone up." I find it amusing that a term so commonly used does not have a true origin or beginning, but yet there's a magazine named after it, Dime Magazine, an NBA player's fan club named after it, Team Dime, who's jersey number is aptly #10, and a football defensive scheme, the Dime Package.

In football, the Dime Package is a defensive scheme where the defense puts 6 cornerbacks on the field in anticipation for a passing play. See the correlation? But, which came first, the dime as an assist or the dime package as a defense against passing? I'd guess the dime as an assist. However, there is yet more ambiguity when it comes to the Dime Package because a Nickel Package in football is a scheme where there are 5 cornerbacks or defensive backs on the field. This seems to make sense because 5 DB's and a nickel being worth $.05 cents are congruent. But a Dime Package is 6 DB's and a dime is not worth $.06 cents?? The etylmology is confusing. There is some theory out there that suggests the Dime Package is named as such because it is employed when the offense needs to get more than 10 yards (or more than a dime's worth). Yet others explain the Dime Package terminology in football as being because there are two Nickel backs on the field when a Dime Package is called, and 5+5=10.

The multi-dimensional term "dime" continues as it also happens to refer to $10 dollars worth of grass or other drugs (i.e. a dime bag). And in gambling terminology, a dime line is where there is a 10% charge to the house for taking your bet (should you lose). And when you bet a "dime," it means you are betting $1,000. Betting a "dime" is in the same vein as the old $.10 cent phone call (dropping a dime) being that bettors and bookies alike would prefer, if they happened be tapped or bugged, to be discussing the wagering of nickels and dimes, and not $500 dollars or $1,000 dollars.

So there it is - a lesson on the dime. Now, "stop on a dime" and re-read this because there is a lot to learn and think about.

# posted by The Chub Rock @ 2:34 PM