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Bush league is a general term used to describe an action or thing as being amateur, inferior or crude. In a literal sense, it refers to a low quality minor-league in baseball not associated with any of the major league teams. The term originated from the state of minor-league fields that often were ringed with shrubs and bushes.

The phrase sounds similar to the NASCAR Busch Series, sometimes known as the "Busch League," with the same reference to being minor league or inferior. However, popular usage far predates the creation of this organization.

• In the 2004 ALCS, Curt Schilling called a play where Alex Rodriguez slapped the ball out of an opposing player's (Bronson Arroyo) glove "bush league".

• In 2006, A.J. Pierzynski and Craig Monroe bumped at home plate after a Monroe Grand Slam. Apparently, the two initally considered the contact accidental. Later, Monroe is said to have changed his story, accusing Pierzynski of purposly bumping. Pierzynski referred to this change of tune as "kind of bush".

• A 2005 college football game between Notre Dame and USC was said to have ended in a "bush league play" when running back Reggie Bush pushed quarterback Matt Leinart across the goal line to win the game, a technically illegal action.

• The term was also used at the end of the 2005 NFL season to describe the race for the worst record in the NFL in order to obtain the top pick in the NFL Draft, which had been expected to be Reggie Bush.

• The term was also used in the first round of the 2006 NBA playoffs by Raja Bell. Bell said he was talking to a referee about Kobe Bryant's wayward elbows when Laker coach Phil Jackson told him he deserved it, using an expletive to further the point. "I thought that was kind of bush league from such a good coach," Bell said.

Often, however, the term is applied beyond sports.

• The phrase was also used in the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy with Will Ferrell. He says, "That's Bush, Bush League." After remarking on how the makeup artist failed to conceal the bags underneath his eyes, also because she made a derogatory comment to him after he complains.

• The phrase was also used in the movie Kiss the Girls by Morgan Freeman's character Alex Cross. He says ,"This is bush league, amateur" to Kate McTiernan (Ashley Judd) in discussing a criminal case.

• The phrase appeared in the movie The Big Lebowski by John Turturro's character, Jesus Quintana, a rival bowler. In reference to Walter's refusal to play against Jesus' team the following Saturday, citing 'Shomer Shabbos', Jesus claimed that they were pulling some "bush league psych-out stuff".

• The phrase was used in Seinfeld by Kramer in the episode "The Seven". Kramer uses the phrase in relation to a sandwich he made at Jerry's, which he took one bite from and left on Jerry's counter. He commented that it was "Bush League" due to the lack of dijon mustard in it, as Jerry had no dijon mustard in his fridge.