Date of Performance: 02/24/2025

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: Chino, CA

“Mickey mouse _______” or “[Thing] is mickey mouse”

Context: Subject is an avid sports fan, and said phrase is often repeated on sports corners of social media, specifically basketball. The label refers to something unearned, easy, cheated, etc. – derived from the Los Angeles Lakers 2020 Finals Championship, which, due to COVID-19, was held at Disneyworld in Florida to an audience of no fans – this championship’s validity is often put into question, and its’ Disney sponsorship is mocked, hence “Mickey Mouse”.

Usage Examples (for clarity):

“That class is mickey mouse” — meaning that class is easy.

“Mickey mouse trophy” — meaning the trophy was earned unfairly, inadequately, or cheated.

Analysis: This phrase has significant comedic value to those in sports circles, particularly those who follow the NBA, and is often immediately understood — however, it remains relatively obscure to those who do not spend significant time on sports discussion social media pages. Regardless, the subject and many others use the phrase in non sports-related conversations, meaning some have picked up on its meanings outside the sports community. The phrase is related to “NBA twitter culture”, the birthplace of several popular memes and expressions, some of which have outgrown the relatively niche community of their origin.