Last few years I lived in Chicago I bowled in a league. There was an 82 year old gentleman who bowled on another team. Great guy but obviously a little older than the rest of us and was past his bowling prime. I remember once we were bowling against his team (who were mostly young guys like us); he hit his leg on his approach and the ball went right into the gutter. His teammates immediately let out a collective, good-natured groan. He waited till they stopped then said
"hey, I was trying something new!"
Ever since then I have used that line when I screw something royally up.