Re: PS to Pippen
Pierrot65@aol.com
Thu, 25 Feb 1999 22:42:20 -0500 (EST)
Jason --
I liked your original message today so much that I didn't want to leave that
soccer modifier dangling. So here goes:
A while ago I said something about "phony" being the orphaned, open-to-abuse
catch-all from catcher that invites misrepresentation in lazy dorm-room lit-
crit. What I mean is that people have used it exhaustively as easy shorthand
and it loses its power. Alas, I must abuse the poor beast myself.
Is fencing phony to a prep-school flunk-out? Yes, as fencing can be seen to
represent the kind of high-minded, euro-centric value system of a prep school
(and I should know, I went to one). Is basketball phony to americans rich
(access to fine gyms), middle-class (access to their grade-school gyms once a
month), and poor (access to one rusted, bent, dangling rim and no net, but the
absolute possibility of crossfire)? Absolutely not. But friends I ask you: is
the NBA really basketball? No. The guys are too tall, slow and old and there
is no pressing. I dub thee, NBA, phony. When a soccer player gets as decrepit
and useless as Kelly Tripuka, for example, we make them leave.
Can we stop it now?
rick