Win, lose or write!
 As
Sri Lankans we engaged in a collective prayer to make Manju
Wanniarachchi a gold medal winner in Commonwealth Games. While savouring
every moment of that golden moment, my thoughts roamed through some land
mark literary works based on sports.
Sports are not often discussed in the field of literature. There is
evidence of sports being used to settle an argument or win a prize (most
commonly a princess in marriage). The legend of Robin Hood's victory in
that fabled archery context or the myths of King Arthur's joust, are
some examples.
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Million Dollar Baby |
When talking about boxing, nobody can leave behind the Oscar winning
movie 'Million Dollar Baby'. Million Dollar Baby is based on F X Toole's
collection of short stories 'Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner'. F X
Toole is the pen name of Jerry Boyd who is a boxer as well as a fight
manager.
Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner is dedicated to Dub Huntley, the
man who introduced Boyd to boxing, and many of the characters and events
related in the book are from Dub Huntley's life and experience. Huntley
trained Boyd to box when Boyd was in his 40's and the two became friends
during that time. Immediately before his death, Boyd was acting as a
cutman and assistant trainer to Huntley with female professional boxer
Juli Crockett, who Huntley told was the basis for the characterization
of the character, Maggie Fitzgerald, in Million Dollar Baby.
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The Blind Side |
The story takes the viewer on an emotional, heartbreaking, and
paralyzing ride that leaves us feeling both empty of emotion and totally
respectable towards the way it has all turned out. We go into "Million
Dollar Baby" thinking about one thing, and leave the theatre thinking
about something on a totally different tangent altogether. Clint
Eastwood, who plays a key role and directs the film, has done a
masterpiece with a theme of a sport.
Another literary work worth to mention in this regard is 'The Blind
Side: Evolution of a Game' of Michael Lewis. This is adapted to a film
called 'The Blind Side' and it earned the Oscar for Sandra Bullock for
best actress.
The Blind Side contains the story of Michael Oher. One day Michael
Oher will be among the most highly paid athletes in the National
Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children
by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his
father, his birthday, or how to read or write. Every game leaves
something to rethink. So does a literary work. That would merely
sufficient to merge these two worlds to create a new genre. As a
cricketing nation, I would like to suggest our writers to think about
some creative works on cricket. Cricket would provide a common ground
for discussion on victory, loss, heroes, uncertainty and after all
impermanency. What would else do better in a creative piece than this? |
