Home of Snooker, Sheffield

It never ceases to amaze me, England, that the home of that gracious and genius-inspiring game, snooker, is actually a little humble theatre in Sheffield, former home of the British steel industry (remember "The Full Monty"?). Somehow this makes the whole occasion must more special, that moments of true theatre are played out in such a quietly

The funniest thing about going to see a snooker match - as I remember from seeing Peter Ebdon, Matthew Stevens, and Ronnie the Rocket about 6 years ago (although I can't remember exactly who was playing who), is the snippets of applause between the shots. The audience has to time them to perfection like at Wimbledon, so not to distract the players. But the intensity of watching these men pot these little balls on the table, and then a ripple of applause from around the arena (as though it were a child's game - thought clearly it's not easy!) is one of the strangest things. Funny, and seems to sum up the amusement of not really knowing what life is all about. Is it important the blue goes in the middle pocket to get back on the third red? Well, of course it is!

By the way, I've no idea who that bloke is in the picture. Clearly a besotted fan of snooker and not the theatre!

Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

Ah, the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, that excuse for drinking Pimms along the Thames riverbank, hanging from the outdoor pub balconies, and generally pretending to wait for the boat to appear.

Well, this year was Oxford's turn for revenge, and now they've taken 3 of the last 5 years. will this endless battle ever end? Will the rest of the world outside London and the two cities ever show any interest?

Anyway, clearly the Dark Blues are the ones to watch. If I may say so, come on Oxford!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Cambridge_boat_race

For the rowing nerds out there, Oxford took the race because they upped the rating to 36 when 2/3rds into the race, and according to the official report, "the Cambridge men had no response." for a history of this delightfully gentlemanly river bash, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Cambridge_boat_race

Nationals Park - brand new Washington baseball stadium!

So here's the new stadium for the Washington Nationals baseball team, built about as fast as the Empire State Building in New York City, and if you know your history, that's fast.

So Washington has now gone from having no baseball at all in the 1970s (the Senators left and became the Texas Rangers), to playing at RFK Stadium and sharing that stadium with DC United soccer team (the pitch/diamond literally revolves to change the sport), to having their own swanking stadium! That's not all. Now DC United wants a new stadium, presumably to be built on the same spot as RFK after it's demolished. Who doesn't want a new stadium?

Anyway, go Nationals (not Senators), and go United (DC and Manchester)!

For a history of baseball in DC, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Washington,_D.C._professional_baseball

Baseball in a glove!

Snooker v American Pool

This comparison says it all. Table bigger, pockets and balls smaller, pocket mouths narrower, and you need a one foot on the floor rule. Clearly pool is a lot of fun, but nothing beats smashing a ball full-length of a snooker table, and being amazed when it actually goes in!
Check out this great site for all the official dimensions and comparisons http://www.pooltableplans.com/pool_vs%20snooker.htm

American literature

I am teaching my first survey in American literature in the autumn of 2008, or the "fall" as I now find myself saying. I am converted! The idea of teaching American literature - the second half as it's called, so post-Civil War 1865 to 2008 amuses me. There I'll be, the Brit among the Americans, teaching them about their own literature, or trying to, making claims, tracing roots to the British literature it is entangled with, all the time knowing I am the Brit among the American believers.

No longer can I claim the authority of being a Brit teaching English ("British") Literature. No I must make claims that I am qualified - having my PhD - to teaching Americans about their own best writing! Check out my syllabus on http://www.mattfullerty.com/