Joyce Carol Oates on sports

Prose — it might be speculated — is discourse; poetry ellipsis.

My theory is that literature is essential to society in the way that dreams are essential to our lives.

When you’re 50 you start thinking about things you haven’t thought about before. I used to think getting old was about vanity — but actually it’s about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.

Golf is a good walk spoiled.

I was gonna rip his heart out. I’m the best ever. I’m the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He’s no Alexander! I’m Alexander! I’m the best ever. I’m Sonny Liston. I’m Jack Dempsey. There’s never been anyone like me. I’m from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want his heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!

Mike Tysonborn 1966Interview with Jim Gray (2000).

You teach me baseball and I’ll teach you relativity…no we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball.

Albert Einstein1879–1955

• Baseball