"Bench-clearing brawl" and other sports terms

Hello friends,

I'd like to return again to the theme of sports, which is ironic since I'm not much of a sports fan. However, I recognize that sports are an important part of our culture, so it's hard not to be aware of certain terms or expressions which are commonly used. The term "bench-clearing brawl" is one that I usually associate with baseball, although I suppose that it can also be used in basketball and other sports. It refers to a fight, which may have originated between only two players of opposite teams, in which all the players of both teams (also sometimes including coaches and fans) participate. The term "bench" refers to where the players of most team sports sit (in baseball the bench is found inside the little shelter which is called a "dug-out"). The adjective "bench-clearing" refers to the fact that all the players and sometimes coaches leave (clear) the bench to participate in the fight (in all fairness, some may actually be trying to break it up!). Even though fights during baseball games are common, in the U.S., we often often associate fighting with hockey. As an example of this, the famous American comedian Rodney Dangerfield (whose slogan was "I get no respect!") said in one of his monologues:

"I get no respect! One time I went to a fight (i.e. boxing match), and a hockey game broke out!"

Many Americans like myself see humor in that, as it's stereotypical that during a hockey game a fight is likely to break out.

Another expression related to sports fights which is peculiar to baseball is "charge the mound". This refers to when a batter (usually angered by being hit by a pitch, especially if this happens more than once) runs toward (i.e. charges) the pitcher to engage in a fist fight (the area where the pitcher stands is referred to as the "pitcher's mound").

Another common sports term is "bench-warmer". This refers to a person who "warms the bench" (i.e. sits on the sidelines because the coach doesn't consider him or her talented enough to play) to so speak. I tend to associate this term with basketball, although I think this could be used with any sport (i.e. where there are extra players who are used only in cases of emergency).

I welcome input from all my friends from the U.S., U.K. and other countries regarding these terms and expressions or others that you would like to mention.