the.com/scouting reports
gossip with a stopwatch, filed before you even walk in the door.
means a written breakdown of a person or team's tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses, compiled so someone else can beat them before the game starts.
from born on sports fields, where coaches sent scouts to watch rival teams practice and write home about what they saw; the term jumped into business, dating, and politics once everyone realized preparation beats surprise.
military rootthe word scout comes from reconnaissance, literally spying ahead
nba obsessionteams now log opponents' dribble tendencies pitch by pitch
dating slangfriends trade scouting reports before blind dates