The Basketball Article

by Bernadette Mayer, Anne Waldman

Cultural Writing. Poetry. Part of a series of Shark Books reprints of long out-of-print books, THE BASKETBALL ARTICLE features the experimental collaborative essay on basketball by Bernadette Mayer and Anne Waldman. Conceived in 1974 and written the following year, the piece met with an interesting response before ultimately being published in Oui magazine. As the poets write in their original 1975 authors note, "We tried not to make [it] too technical so it was rejected by a group of editors a few of whom thought it 'was a minor masterpiece,' the others 'couldn't tell what the hell was going on' in it." Thirty years later, it seems like the former is more on point; the authors "We begin to dress in red, white and blue, we do not stand up for the national anthem. We always sit next to the opposing team. We distract them. We enter their consciousness. We carry a copy of Shakespeare's sonnets with us. We wear lipstick. We cheer for both teams." A very fun read.

42 pages, chapback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Bernadette Mayer (born May 12, 1945) is an American poet, writer, and visual artist associated with both the Language poets and the New York School. Mayer's record-keeping and use of stream-of-consciousness narrative are two trademarks of her writing, though she is also known for her work with form and mythology. In addition to the influence of her textual-visual art and journal-keeping, Mayer's poetry is widely acknowledged as some of the first to speak accurately and honestly about the experience of motherhood. Mayer edited the journal 0 TO 9 with Vito Acconci, and, until 1983, United Artists books and magazines with Lewis Warsh. Mayer taught at the New School for Social Research, where she earned her degree in 1967, and, during the 1970s, she led a number of workshops at the Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church in New York. From 1980 to 1984, Mayer served as director of the Poetry Project, and her influence in the contemporary avant-garde is felt widely, with writers like Kathy Acker, Charles Bernstein, John Giorno, and Anne Waldman having sat in on her workshops.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Carrie Lorig · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY FUCK . FUCK WHY DO I TRY . WHY DON'T POETS WRITE EVERYTHING EVEN VITAMINS.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope I remember to read this when I forget what writing can do, I mean:

"We imagine a great conference of poets with trainers, doctors, and coaches, keeping them in fine physical and mental shape. We wonder what their work would be like. Attendance, 20,239. The poets perform in gym suits, showing their long lean legs and muscular shoulders. The older poets comment on the game or go into business. One poet is the center, there are two forwards and two guards, but anyone can score. The center, generally, must simply try to get the words away from the opposing team of poets and the guards bring them down-court to be used. The referees can be cursed at during and after the game. Some poets are booed for using the language awkwardly, others cheered for coming up with a new style of play. Most of the coaches are former players who continue to read and write books. A foul is called on any poet who deliberately deranges the language. A poet in a state of ecstasy makes a 3-point play. Fouled in the act of writing by personal insults, the poet would go to the line."

Or

"In the cheaper seats in the Garden, nobody cares if you stand up for the national anthem. It's not like baseball. We always say we're pregnant if anybody hassles us."

Or

"And if you guard your man closely, he'll get spooked, even with a tremendous height advantage, especially if he's your former lover."

[Steve Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

we are older than the Nets

[Robb Todd]

It seems unlikely that Moses Malone was ever really 19 years old, but these two poets illuminate him and a different era of the NBA in way that will make fans and non-fans think differently about the game and it's players. But don't get it twisted: "The Basketball Article" is not about basketball and that's why it's so good.

[Otie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally great.

[Ryan Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

She said all the right stuff about the basketball men.