Comments on: Grace

By: aden

aden — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:31:10 +0000

(I’ll throw my hat in the ring with Harlan Ellison.)

As to behavior, it is a shame there is such a deficit of grace in the world, because there are plenty of sportsmen here in the States who desperately lack it.

The university I studied at had a men’s basketball team famous for jackassery. The coach was really a great person, though, it just never rubbed off on his charges (by eighteen I’d guess it’s impossible to teach humility to anyone without some major crisis stepping in). The t-shirts that got handed out during games, then, didn’t say a thing about the team–they just had GO LARRY emblazoned in huge letters.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:41:23 +0000

Pretentious fiction writer. I’m going to guess it was a SF writer, older, and male.

SCALZI!

By: Justine

Justine — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:24:43 +0000

Emily: You can guess all you like but I will never say who it was. I can tell you that it was not a young adult writer.

By: emily

emily — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:21:12 +0000

wow, justine – only you could classify something as whining but make it so interesting and greatly written. i am officially in awe.

also, i don’t really want to buy something from someone who is mean or distracted. same concept as the author.

can we guess who the author is? pretty please?

By: Mahek

Mahek — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:44:47 +0000

flintoff – the only british sportsman who i think is worth something. the others are like ‘it’s all about the money’.

By: Justine

Justine — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:09:47 +0000

Melina: Yup. The whole notion of “unAustralian” or “unAmerican” irritates the hell out of me.

Lizabelle: Yes, that’s right. Just joshing! Australian never whinge.

Patrick: It’s such an important book by such an important person that I feel sure you will find it on your own.

Grace: But this post is about you.

By: ~grace~

~grace~ — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:41:37 +0000

and I thought this was going to be a post about me…your topic was probably much more interesting, though.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:07:15 +0000

OOoohh!! Who gave the speech about their important books of fiction? ’cause if they’re that important, I need to read them.

Don’t worry, you’re not saying bad things about this writer. You’re reporting the fact that he writes important books.

By: lizabelle

lizabelle — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:25:06 +0000

What’s more Australian than whinging? I thought it was us Pommies who did all the whinging!

(I love that photo – thanks for posting it.)

By: melina marchetta

melina marchetta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:35:12 +0000

I agree, Justine. I went to see the cricket on the first day so I felt obliged to watch the whole test match (also because I could hear the cheering from the SCG inside my house). But I had to switch it off after they won because they were so embarrassing in their victory. Although if anyone dares to call their behaviour unaustralian I think I’ll be sick.

By: Malcolm Tredinnick

Malcolm Tredinnick — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:19:08 +0000

Indeed. I’d go further: professional sports players at the top level (including test cricketers) are paid enormous amounts of money to basically be on show. The money they are making is, in part, compensation for having to watch what they say and act decently in public. Take it or leave it.

Unfortunately, far too many, in far too many sports, take their position as a licence to act like that word Justine used.