George Plimton Has Died.

[Barbara]

George Plimpton died at the age of 76.

What a shame. He was a great writer.

I will never forget that April Fools joke that he wrote for Sports Illustrated about a fictional baselball pitcher named Sidd Finch who hurled a 168 mph fastball and traveled to Tibet to meditate.

Even my husband believed the character was real until I pointed out the issue's date about 20 times.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/972260.asp?vts=092620030950

Barbara

[Wally_in_Cincy]

I think a lot of people fell for the Sid Finch story.

Robert Palmer died too. Gee who's next? /ccboard/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[PQQLK9]

He actually played Quarterback for the Detroit Lions in an axhibition game.

[wolfdancer]

My fav. Plimpton novel was "Mad ducks and Bears", with Alex Karras and John Gordy. Their story about the Invitational Golf Tournament, that they promoted brought tears...
A bagpipe player hidden in the woods, with instructions to play when the golfers were putting (for good luck)I think the bagpiper was also drunk, and passed out
The midget golf "pro", nick-named "crusher"..he would take a perfect swing, hit the ball around 100+ yards, and say "I really crushed that one"
And then they leaked a rumor that the winner would be awarded a car..and since the tournament was in Detroit....expectations were high. At the end of the tournament, a huge tent was opened, revealing...a "junker"
Goodbye George, and thanks for the many good "reads"