This is brilliant, Katie :). I enjoy learning more about Greek Mythology from you. And I'm hoping to read The Odyssey this summer (and plan to read more due to inspiration from your articles).
"We want an athlete like Gilgeous-Alexander, after a while, to take the bait. To accept the pre-constructed role we’ve fixed to so many before him, players who make things look so easy as to make rooting against them difficult. There is no obvious hitch in their game to latch onto, no loose thread to worry, the eye has to work a little harder in sequences without a major snag to tell us where to look.
What it also shows is we tend to believe what we hear. Especially when we begin to hear it all the time."
That's very true. I admit that I haven't been a big fan of SGA. He's a great player, but I haven't always been a fan of his style. But I think at least part of that is driven by what I've heard of him being someone who is a foul baiter. I think I ended up believing it because I heard it often. But there have been other players who have flopped a lot, such as Vlade Divac. What he's doing isn't unprecedented and he is a very skillful player.
You make a great point. The focus was on the Spurs. A huge spotlight shined on Wemby. And no one talked about OKC afterwards. It was an exciting and great series. But I doubt many are talking about it today. Many more are focused on Brunson (and some, I guess, would be focused on what Wemby will do over the offseason to build his game to).
It's interesting how fast attention can shift and move away. And I like how you connected it to the story of Achilles. What grabs the headlines today may be forgotten tomorrow. And the narratives of SGA being a foul-baiter, etc. won't likely come back until after the summer.
Alas, I was under the impression the rage spoken of in the first (of some 16,000+) stanzas was Achilles rage at Agamemnon for taking his prize, Briseis, no? That caused him to boycott the ensuing battle. The loss of his friend and desire for revenge is the cause of his demise. Did I misread your take here? Won't be the first (or last) time, I'm sure. Appreciate the classical reference though.
Your read is also a correct one, and beyond Agamemnon injuring his pride by taking her, Briseis was a key logistical device to get Achilles to Troy and stall him out. I think I've always read the introduction as cyclical as it is cumulative. Homer's hook, alluding to the rage that builds in Achilles throughout the story, and a smart story device to begin with the end in mind. (And I appreciate the classics discussion!)
Just read your Lakers' "riff" w/Dan Woike (of the Athletic) and enjoyed it immensely.
Didn't realize writing was your livelihood when I left my previous comment but it's obvious it should/could be. Since this is your "job" I'll try not to take up too much of your time here. But....
1. Doesn't Dan know that EVERYBODY in California votes by mail (80% anyway) and
2. Let me know who you write for and I'll subscribe. Looking forward to reading your "stuff"
ps. are ALL SPORTWRITERS just (future) novelists (covering sports while) waiting for their big break? I convinced myself long ago of this fact(?) but would appreciate your professional observation.
did you play bball in high school or college? Were you an English Lit major? (as ALL sportswriters were in my imagination)
(pss. I teach (Voc Ed) at an LA community college a stone's throw from (formerly) staples center and read all of Dan's laker stuff. Been a laker's fan for a looong time now.
Hope you have the time and inclination to respond. If not, I understand.
You're in the right place, Basketball Feelings is my newsletter turned digital magazine. But I freelance for just about everyone (NYT Mag, SLAM, Ringer, Rolling Stone, SB, etc.), and do analysis with NBA TV.
For your other questions:
- I think all writers, of any genre, imagine themselves future novelists
- I did play basketball in high school, and my competitive career stopped there
- Lakers fandom is it's own specific genre, and so is my pal Dan Woike
You are way too bright and literate for me Katie, but I appreciate being educated further in this foundational classic that never ceases to amaze me. Thank you.
This is brilliant, Katie :). I enjoy learning more about Greek Mythology from you. And I'm hoping to read The Odyssey this summer (and plan to read more due to inspiration from your articles).
"We want an athlete like Gilgeous-Alexander, after a while, to take the bait. To accept the pre-constructed role we’ve fixed to so many before him, players who make things look so easy as to make rooting against them difficult. There is no obvious hitch in their game to latch onto, no loose thread to worry, the eye has to work a little harder in sequences without a major snag to tell us where to look.
What it also shows is we tend to believe what we hear. Especially when we begin to hear it all the time."
That's very true. I admit that I haven't been a big fan of SGA. He's a great player, but I haven't always been a fan of his style. But I think at least part of that is driven by what I've heard of him being someone who is a foul baiter. I think I ended up believing it because I heard it often. But there have been other players who have flopped a lot, such as Vlade Divac. What he's doing isn't unprecedented and he is a very skillful player.
You make a great point. The focus was on the Spurs. A huge spotlight shined on Wemby. And no one talked about OKC afterwards. It was an exciting and great series. But I doubt many are talking about it today. Many more are focused on Brunson (and some, I guess, would be focused on what Wemby will do over the offseason to build his game to).
It's interesting how fast attention can shift and move away. And I like how you connected it to the story of Achilles. What grabs the headlines today may be forgotten tomorrow. And the narratives of SGA being a foul-baiter, etc. won't likely come back until after the summer.
And now, I want to read The Iliad :).
Kudos again. Nice work, Katie :)
Beautifully written
Alas, I was under the impression the rage spoken of in the first (of some 16,000+) stanzas was Achilles rage at Agamemnon for taking his prize, Briseis, no? That caused him to boycott the ensuing battle. The loss of his friend and desire for revenge is the cause of his demise. Did I misread your take here? Won't be the first (or last) time, I'm sure. Appreciate the classical reference though.
Your read is also a correct one, and beyond Agamemnon injuring his pride by taking her, Briseis was a key logistical device to get Achilles to Troy and stall him out. I think I've always read the introduction as cyclical as it is cumulative. Homer's hook, alluding to the rage that builds in Achilles throughout the story, and a smart story device to begin with the end in mind. (And I appreciate the classics discussion!)
Katie,
Just read your Lakers' "riff" w/Dan Woike (of the Athletic) and enjoyed it immensely.
Didn't realize writing was your livelihood when I left my previous comment but it's obvious it should/could be. Since this is your "job" I'll try not to take up too much of your time here. But....
1. Doesn't Dan know that EVERYBODY in California votes by mail (80% anyway) and
2. Let me know who you write for and I'll subscribe. Looking forward to reading your "stuff"
ps. are ALL SPORTWRITERS just (future) novelists (covering sports while) waiting for their big break? I convinced myself long ago of this fact(?) but would appreciate your professional observation.
did you play bball in high school or college? Were you an English Lit major? (as ALL sportswriters were in my imagination)
(pss. I teach (Voc Ed) at an LA community college a stone's throw from (formerly) staples center and read all of Dan's laker stuff. Been a laker's fan for a looong time now.
Hope you have the time and inclination to respond. If not, I understand.
You're in the right place, Basketball Feelings is my newsletter turned digital magazine. But I freelance for just about everyone (NYT Mag, SLAM, Ringer, Rolling Stone, SB, etc.), and do analysis with NBA TV.
For your other questions:
- I think all writers, of any genre, imagine themselves future novelists
- I did play basketball in high school, and my competitive career stopped there
- Lakers fandom is it's own specific genre, and so is my pal Dan Woike
Thanks for reading!
You are way too bright and literate for me Katie, but I appreciate being educated further in this foundational classic that never ceases to amaze me. Thank you.
Really ingenious and well written. Keep it up!