Comments on: The Stillness: Anatomy of a Moment http://pitchersandpoets.com/2009/06/26/the-stillness-anatomy-of-a-moment/ both have their moments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:25:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve 1951 http://pitchersandpoets.com/2009/06/26/the-stillness-anatomy-of-a-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Steve 1951 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:53:37 +0000 http://pitchersandpoets.com/?p=553#comment-521 The metaphorical link with poetry is beauty. The ancient poets were those who gathered information into a delivery format defined by meter and timing. I am first and foremost a football guy - my first love in sport. Later, I wrestled, but through football came to know integrity. I have played and coached baseball - as did my wife - she is a student of "the game" - I simply a distant fan ... However, stillness is baseball. Nothing compares to the pause ... it is anticipation accentuated by both a personal challenge of pitcher and batter ... it is a team anticipation subordinate to the dualism of pitcher-batter ... Your description hit the ball out of the park. Since college I have played tennis ... My wife played college tennis, our three daughters played college tennis ... the anticipation of the service receiver - doesn't compare. Only in baseball ... Collegiate and Olympic wrestling awaits the referee's whistle ... but it is only one v one with no real team hanging in the balance...not like baseball... The metaphorical link with poetry is beauty. The ancient poets were those who gathered information into a delivery format defined by meter and timing. I am first and foremost a football guy – my first love in sport. Later, I wrestled, but through football came to know integrity. I have played and coached baseball – as did my wife – she is a student of “the game” – I simply a distant fan … However, stillness is baseball. Nothing compares to the pause … it is anticipation accentuated by both a personal challenge of pitcher and batter … it is a team anticipation subordinate to the dualism of pitcher-batter … Your description hit the ball out of the park.

Since college I have played tennis … My wife played college tennis, our three daughters played college tennis … the anticipation of the service receiver – doesn’t compare. Only in baseball … Collegiate and Olympic wrestling awaits the referee’s whistle … but it is only one v one with no real team hanging in the balance…not like baseball…

]]> By: Ted http://pitchersandpoets.com/2009/06/26/the-stillness-anatomy-of-a-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-389 Ted Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:13:44 +0000 http://pitchersandpoets.com/?p=553#comment-389 You're absolutely right, especially on the football tip. Moments of tension and anticipation span sports, and the nature of these moments often defines the sport in question. The difference, if I might nitpick, would be that the pause in baseball is a tad more organic. In football, every player is cold-still (save the quarterback or the man in motion). It's a well-defined point, dictated by whistle-blows and setting linemen, etc. The baseball pause happens like the natural quiet parts of a great conversation. A few more examples, just for fun: - the pause of the tennis ball at the peak moment of the serve toss. - the moment when a golfer's club hesitates while addressing the ball, and changes from practice wavering to full-on backswing. - when a bowler brings the ball to his chin, staring down the waxed alley of fate You’re absolutely right, especially on the football tip. Moments of tension and anticipation span sports, and the nature of these moments often defines the sport in question.

The difference, if I might nitpick, would be that the pause in baseball is a tad more organic. In football, every player is cold-still (save the quarterback or the man in motion). It’s a well-defined point, dictated by whistle-blows and setting linemen, etc.

The baseball pause happens like the natural quiet parts of a great conversation.

A few more examples, just for fun:

- the pause of the tennis ball at the peak moment of the serve toss.
- the moment when a golfer’s club hesitates while addressing the ball, and changes from practice wavering to full-on backswing.
- when a bowler brings the ball to his chin, staring down the waxed alley of fate

]]> By: Eric http://pitchersandpoets.com/2009/06/26/the-stillness-anatomy-of-a-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Eric Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:28:42 +0000 http://pitchersandpoets.com/?p=553#comment-379 I think baseball lends itself to The Stillness more than any other sport, and that's what makes it so dramatic -- so cinematic. In hockey you have that brief moment before the puck is dropped, and as the shooter collects the puck and carries it up on a penalty shot. In basketball, the inbound play as time expires in the fourth quarter, just before the offensive players scramble into position to receive the ball. But mostly it's all fluid action, back and forth, without that sense of urgency but for certain situations The only sport that comes close to baseball in that intangible tension is football. You get 10 massive men coiled and ready to spring at the slightest movement. There's something to be said for the very real and very massive amount of potential energy just a breath away from snapping. Lineman, I'd be willing to bet, really know The Stillness. I think baseball lends itself to The Stillness more than any other sport, and that’s what makes it so dramatic — so cinematic. In hockey you have that brief moment before the puck is dropped, and as the shooter collects the puck and carries it up on a penalty shot. In basketball, the inbound play as time expires in the fourth quarter, just before the offensive players scramble into position to receive the ball. But mostly it’s all fluid action, back and forth, without that sense of urgency but for certain situations

The only sport that comes close to baseball in that intangible tension is football. You get 10 massive men coiled and ready to spring at the slightest movement. There’s something to be said for the very real and very massive amount of potential energy just a breath away from snapping. Lineman, I’d be willing to bet, really know The Stillness.

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