Rick Bass Is One Of The Best

The Pleasure Of Sport Was So Often The Chance To Indulge The Cessation Of Time Itself--the Pitcher Dawdling On The Mound, The Skier Poised At The Top Of A Mountain Trail, The Basketball Player With The Rough Skin Of The Ball Against His Palm Preparing For A Foul Shot, The Tennis Player At Set Point Over His Opponent--all Of Them Savoring A Moment Before Committing Themselves To Action.

Golf Cannot Be Played In Anger, Or In Any Mood Of Emotiional Excess. Half The Golf Balls Struck By Amateurs Are Hit If Not In Rage Surely In Bewilderment, Or Gloom, Or In Cynicism, Or Even Hysterically - All Of Those Emotional Excesses Must Be Contained By The Professional. Which Is Why Balance Is One Of The Essential Ingredients Of Golf. Professionals Invariably Trudge Phlegmatically Around The Course - Whatever Emotions Are Seething Within - With The Grim Yet Placid And Bored Look Of Cowpokes, Slack-bodied In Their Saddles, Who Have Been Tending The Same Herd For Two Months.

Rick Bass Is One Of The Best Writers Of His Generation.

I Have Never Been Convinced There's Anything Inherently Wrong In Having Fun.

You Do Not Cut A Check In The State Of Kansas To John Doe, Executioner. The Executioner Is Paid In Cash So There's No Trail To Him