During this morns compulsive news scanning I happened across an article that made my day. It was published in The New York Times on August 20, 2006, and titled "Federer As Religious Experience." In order to protect myself from claims of stereo-typing, banality, or the like, I have resisted titling this post: Wallace As Religious Experience. But keep in mind, this sports article so over-whelmed me that I couldn't put down my iPhone till I completed the umpteen thousand words and then re-read parts of it two or three times. I was literally having a religious experience reading Wallace and his incredible ability to write about an activity involving balls, rackets and über-humans (Roger Federer).
Of course, I am ashamed to admit that I have yet to read Infinite Jest. In fact, it's been sitting on my to-read shelf for at least that last five years. After attempting to read Brief Interviews With Hideous Men by Wallace - of which I can't remember much - I just haven't found the mind-energy to stick into his monstrous novel. And since Wallace received the genius award, I guess I'm also a little bit intimidated. Or maybe that's not right. Actually, what I remember of it, I just didn't like Hideous Men and am not sure when I want to try and absorb Wallace's pinnacle work. I guess, in a way, I'm coping out of reading Jest and perhaps only using it as a kind of decoration on my shelf. Nomatter. This article is incredible and is motivating me anew to get my act together and try to finally absorb this dead genius.
Below a summary of great shots at the Federer vs. Agassi match that Wallace mentions in his article. Wow. I remember watching this.
Rant on. -tgs-
