baseball

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

On Wed, 30 Aug 1995, John Roca wrote:

> At 06:19 AM 8/30/95 -0400, Bonnie Surfus (ENG) wrote:
> >On Wed, 30 Aug 1995, John Roca wrote:
> >
> >> In GR, Pynchon notes that baseball is "webbed with strands of the sinister"
> >> or something to that effect.  Any ideas on what that phrase means?  Thanks.
> >> 
> >> 
> >organized sports.  esp. anything called an "American Pastime."  SEems a 
> >looming proposition;  put 'em in a pen and let 'em drink there, eat dog 
> >ears, kill each other, etc.  Today, they're meeting in stadia to talk 
> >about God and the family--a contemporary men's only club.
> >
> >I'm strictly a basketball fan--I know, same rules apply.  
> >
> >Bonnie
> >
> >That's too simplistic.  Of course, I quoted the phrase wrong...the actual
> is on page 508 of GR.  In any event, baseball is unique for its absence of
> the war, rape and pillage mentality existing in other team sports.  Further,
> baseball has elements of fertility rite entirely lacking in the fascist
> imagery of american football and the thuggishness of basketball and hockey.
> 
> Sorry fro quoting from memory.  The page cite may be more helpful.  Thanks.
> 
> 
I'm not sure about that bit on "absence."  But then, I don't plan to 
spend much time mythologizing baseball.  I'm already sleepy--that game 
always puts me down.  Sorry for the knee-jerk response.

B.