Action Quote by Jimmy Cannon
“It is the best of all games for me. It frequently escapes from the pattern of sport and assumes the form of a virile ballet. It is purer than any dance because the actions of the players are not governed by music or crowded into a formula by a director. The movement is natural and unrehearsed and controlled only by the unexpected flight of the ball.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Sports Writing, 1950s, The New York Journal American
The quote celebrates sport as an organic, improvisational performance, likening it to a spontaneous ballet driven by the ball's unpredictability.
In simple terms: Sport is a natural, unscripted ballet.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the unpredictability of play.
Themes
sport
art
improvisation
beauty
freedom
Mood
exhilarating
reflective
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- watching a match
- coaching
- playing
- commentary
- writing
Key Concepts
aesthetic
embodiment
kinetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does spontaneity enhance your appreciation of sport?
- Can structure coexist with improvisation?
A Different Perspective
It may romanticize sport, overlooking its competitive and commercial pressures.
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