“Not bad, huh? Did you see that?”
Por qué es buena
Two quick tag questions show off without ever claiming credit outright.
Registro
Informal
Úsala tú
Not bad, huh? Did you see that shot?
00:00 / 02:13
00:00 / 02:13
Hawkeye's Center Eligible Trick, Explained
M*A*S*H · 1970
Capítulo 22 de 22 · 2'13"
With seconds left, the team pulls out a trick: a center-eligible play in which the ball is hidden and carried toward the goal line. The other side screams "Illegal!" while everyone looks for the missing referee. The whole wager now hangs on one strange play.
Key moments
Start here, then watch the full scene- 0:13–0:53
Not Bad, Huh?
40s - 0:53–1:19
Hide It Under Your Belly
26s
Hawkeye's Center Eligible Trick, explained
What happens
With only seconds left, the coach checks with the referee and calls a special trick play: the ball will be snapped and hidden, then carried toward the goal line. The opponents cry foul and hunt for the referee, and the game's outcome comes down to whether the trick is legal.
What's really going on
The final play is a straight-up con on the field, and the scene loves it. Having gambled on a ringer and stacked the odds, the unit now wins by hiding the ball in plain sight — 'all you have to do is take the ball right back from Trapper between your legs and hide it under your belly and walk toward their goal line.' It is not cheating exactly; it is a loophole, and the referee's absence is the joke. The opponents can only shout 'Illegal!' as the play unfolds, and the whole scheme collapses into a scramble about rules. What the scene shows is that in this film the game is never just a game: the bet, the trick and the missing official are all part of the same contest about who controls the story.
Key lines & what they mean
- “Not bad, huh? Did you see that?”
- A boastful aside after a good play, inviting everyone to admire what just happened.
- “But all you have to do is take the ball right back from Trapper between your legs...”
- The heart of the trick, explained in plain steps: receive the snap from under the center and hide it.
- “and hide it under your belly and walk toward their goal line.”
- The absurd instruction that makes the trick work: carry the ball casually as if you do not have it.
- “Okay, fellas. We don't have very much time left.”
- The huddle's opening line, setting the clock as the real opponent.
- “I just checked with the ref. I got a special play I want to run— a center eligible play.”
- The setup for the trick: the rules have been checked, so the loophole is deliberate.
Theme
- Deception — The winning play hides the ball and exploits a rule, winning by trickery rather than force.
- Courage — With seconds left, the team gambles everything on one risky trick play.
Qué aprendes en este capítulo
Puntos de enseñanza
Repasa justo después de verMi nivel5/7
A1–C2 es la escala MCER. Las tarjetas por encima del nivel elegido se atenúan y la reproducción no se pausa en ellas.
Puntos de lengua
Toca una tarjeta para saltar a ese momentoFrases de oro
Una gran frase en sí misma: por qué y cómo usarla“But all you have to do is take the ball right back from Trapper between your legs...”
Por qué es buena
The all you have to do frame shrinks a wild trick play into one simple step.
Registro
Neutral
Úsala tú
All you have to do is press this button once.
“and hide it under your belly and walk toward their goal line.”
Por qué es buena
Hiding the ball and walking to the goal line turns a trick play into a comic picture.
Registro
Informal
Úsala tú
Hide it under your coat and walk toward the exit.
“Okay, fellas. We don't have very much time left.”
Por qué es buena
He steadies the huddle with one word, then lets the clock do the pushing.
Registro
Neutral
Úsala tú
We don't have very much time left before the deadline.
“I just checked with the ref. I got a special play I want to run— a center eligible play.”
Por qué es buena
He anchors the wild idea with the referee first, then sells it with a technical name.
Registro
Informal
Úsala tú
I got a special move I want to run at the meeting.
Ideas clave
Lo que te llevas- A trick play works because the defense reads the wrong thing.
- Hawkeye explains the whole plan in three short instructions.
- Owning a play's name can make people trust it.
- The clock, not the referee, decides how bold they get.
Preguntas frecuentes
La pregunta, luego la fraseWhat is a "center eligible play"?
It is a trick based on a rule: if the center drops back behind the line, he becomes an eligible receiver. The play hides the ball with him and sends him toward the goal line while the defense chases the wrong man.
Why do the opponents shout "Illegal!"?
Because the play looks wrong to them: the ball carrier is not supposed to be where he is. They argue the trick breaks the rules, but the referee is nowhere to be found, so the protest goes unanswered.
Why did the unit keep the play secret until the last seconds?
Because it only surprises the defense once. By saving it for the final play, they hope to steal a score before anyone can adjust. The whole point is timing, not strength.
Does the trick actually work?
The film leaves it unresolved in the moment: the ball is run toward the goal line, the opponents protest, and the referee cannot be found. The comedy is that a game built on a bet ends in an argument about the rules.