George Plimpton has died

[ghost of miles]

I have to admit that I'm more familiar with Mr. Plimpton as a literary man-about-town and cosmopolitan than I am with his work, but he certainly figures in the literary life of mid and late-20th-century America:

Plimptondies

[JSngry]

I read Paper Lion somewhere between the ages of 13 and 15, right after Ball Four and to say that it made a big impression would be an understatement. Plimpton's accounts of similar experiments with boxing and football were eargerly sought out shortly theeafter, and were much appreciated. This guy, this ADULT, was doing what damn near every kid fantasized about - just showing up and saying, "let me play with y'all and let's see how it oges", and DOING it! Talk about vicarious thrills...

A few years later, when I saw him doing commercials for Intellivision, it kinda creeped me out. George Plimpton doing a gig for MATTELL? And the last few years, when he's just been old and old-looking, haven't done much of a service to those memories of a younger time and a younger man.

But please - if you haven't read Paper Lion, by all means do so. It is a superb work, and like the best sport and sports literature, totally transcends its subject.

[Jazzmoose]

Maybe I have a sick sense of humor, but my first thought was "wait a minute; is he really dead, or just researching his next book in which he describes his experience playing a corpse...

[jacman]

i remember watching the movie 'Paper Lion' on TV with Alan Alda as Plimpton. i also recall seeing him do the flying trapeez on TV. was it Wide World of Sports?

[BERIGAN]

Maybe I have a sick sense of humor, but my first thought was "wait a minute; is he really dead, or just researching his next book in which he describes his experience playing a corpse...

Jazzmoose, there is something clearly wrong with you, not one other person in the world would have a sick thought like that!!!!!!!

George Plimpton to Write Book on Death

(2003-09-26) -- George Plimpton, the American author who became famous by literally putting himself into the story, is said to be working on a book about death. The 76-year-old scribe died Thursday night in New York.

Mr. Plimpton became an NFL quarterback to write the book "Paper Lion." He also boxed with Archie Moore, pitched to Willie Mays and performed on the trapeze with a circus.

"This is my biggest challenge to date," said Mr. Plimpton through his publicist. "Lots of authors write about death, but they don't know first-hand what they're talking about. I've always found my prose was sharper when I had lived the experience first...so to speak."

Mr. Plimpton's literary agent said he already has several six-figure offers from publishers and is waiting for his client to return his phone call.

http://www.scrappleface.com/

Edited September 27, 2003 by BERIGAN

[ghost of miles]

Is Mark moonlighting for scrappleface?

[Jazzmoose]

Hah! This is one of those rare times when I'm actually speechless...