June 30, 2006
The Mid-air pause
Rudolf Nureyev, known (among other things) for his spectacularly high jumps, was once asked: "How do you make your leaps so incredible? What is it, exactly, that you do?" Nureyev thought a bit, and then replied, "Well - I leap into the air - and when I reach the highest point - I just pause for a moment."
We have all seen dancers who seem able to pause in mid-air. Up they go - and then something happens that doesn't seem to happen to us normal people when we jump up in the air. These magical beings seem to float - laterally - through the air. Gravity is defeated.
And last night Coco Crisp appeared to pause in mid-air during his have-to-see-it-to-believe-it catch late in the game:
Crisp said it himself - he paused:
"I got a pretty good jump. I didn't know if I could catch it, so I went straight at it. I took a leap of faith. I was going full-speed so I was able to hang in the air just long enough to make the catch."
He hung in the air just long enough to make the catch ...
Athletes, man. They amaze me.
Seriously. I just love this shit.
And now - I will link to the article about it in my home state paper of record - the good ol' Pro Jo.
Oops, let me add this:
What do you want to bet that RIGHT NOW in backyards throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island - or wherever Red Sox fans abide, little kids are re-enacting Coco Crisp's catch? They are all now taking turns "being Coco" ... and flying through the air. Attempting to pause.
Posted by sheila7:55 this morning. In Arkansas. In my living room. During the Top 10 play on SportsCenter. Probably the first C.S.T. reenaction of the Coco Crisp catch by a small white boy.
(Who landed on the cat, btw. The pause might need some work.)
Posted by: Lisa at June 30, 2006 11:09 AMhahahahahahahahahahaha I knew it!!!!!
Thank you so much for clocking in!
Posted by: red at June 30, 2006 11:10 AMYour boys pantsed the Metros, for sure. And on the record, I just want to say that in three years, when Unfrozen Caveman Centerfielder has turned into Bernie Williams, you guys will be digging your Coco Crisp all the more.
That catch was seriously amazing.
Posted by: Nightfly at June 30, 2006 11:19 AMAlso, I kinda just love saying the name "Coco Crisp" on a regular basis, being all serious about it.
It's like saying, "Wow, Count Chocula made an awesome catch last night, huh?"
Posted by: red at June 30, 2006 11:21 AMpsssssst, new veiled conceit today. . .carry on
Posted by: Lisa at June 30, 2006 11:29 AMLisa, seriously, I don't know what I would do without you. Thanks!
Posted by: red at June 30, 2006 11:32 AMIt's the government job. Leaves plenty of time for clicking.
Posted by: Lisa at June 30, 2006 11:40 AMChristopher and I went to a Little League All Star game on Wednesday - he did not make the All Stars, but we went to support the kids from his home team who did make it. It was very exciting and our team was up by one run. They just needed to end the inning without the other team scoring. First batter popped up and it was caught. The second batter hit the ball way out - out to the part of the field where they put the players who don't have to do a lot of work (if you are familiar with AAA Little League, you know what I mean). Way out in right field was this little guy. He's a good player, he made All Stars, but he is little. The ball was whacked hard and long and that little guy put out his glove and leaped/reached for his life...and he caught it. All we could see from the stands was his ear-to-ear smile and it was magic. They went on to win.
Posted by: Betsy at June 30, 2006 12:04 PMI bet there are a fair amount of *big* kids out there "being Coco" today too...
(Hi Betsy!)
Posted by: Jayne at June 30, 2006 12:11 PMHi Sheila!
And Betsy - Christopher? Who's he? I thought his name was Frederick...
Posted by: Jayne at June 30, 2006 12:24 PM"Here in right field, it's important you know. ..."
Posted by: Doug Sundseth at June 30, 2006 12:33 PMBetsy, we love catches like that in USSSA too. My son plays RF when he's not catching.
Our right-center fielder (8-year-olds get four outfielders) robbed a home run once in a game. He jumped up and stuck his hand out OVER the fence and snagged it.
You've never heard such pandemonium.
Posted by: Lisa at June 30, 2006 12:40 PMi am a baseball freak. triple freak. and that is one of the most amazing catches i have ever seen. combining the catch itself with the moment in the game (crucial)...just amazing.
Posted by: brendan at June 30, 2006 12:52 PMRe: Coco Crisp
On behalf of many suffering Indians fans, you're welcome.
Razzin frazzin Andy Marte better be Mike Schmidt razz frazz grumble....
Posted by: Ken at June 30, 2006 1:28 PMHow did this happen? Suddenly the Cardinals look like the Keystone Cops in the field, and Boston is tying a Major League record for consecutive errorless games?!
It's looking like the only way to get a competitive World Series this year would be to let the National League play a consolation set against the AAA champ, and have two AL teams play each other in the Series...
Posted by: MikeR at June 30, 2006 1:36 PMA little off topic, but that's what makes certain horses spectacular athletes too. I've seen jumpers that can pause mid-air over the jump and then give that extra little push to get their hind end over the jump. It's incredible. They never fail to make me stop and wonder how the hell they are so athletic.
Posted by: Jen at June 30, 2006 3:27 PMJen - yes! I've seen that! Excellent horses appear to HOVER over the fence as they jump - I can not ride a horse to save my life, but what an amazing feeling it must be to ride a horse like that.
Posted by: red at June 30, 2006 7:01 PM#@%^ing Crisp.
Posted by: Tainted Bill at July 1, 2006 9:10 AM[points at Bill and laughs] Looking forward to a full-blown rematch of '86 this fall, my friend? :-p
"It's like saying, "Wow, Count Chocula made an awesome catch last night, huh?""
I'm so never going be able to see the guy or even read or hear his name without thinking this. He is now Count Chocula permanently.
Go Sox!
Posted by: Dave J at July 2, 2006 4:41 PM