George Plimpton

"The X Factor"

© 2003 by Michael Finley

Many people aren't sure what George Plimpton does for a living. 

We have seen him involved in so many stunts -- playing professional sports, being shot out of a cannon, doing celebrity ads on TV, and co-editing the Paris Review. He does so many things, and he brings bushels of style to everything he does. But what is it -- exactly -- that he does?

He provided the answer in this 1998 lecture in Minneapolis. What he is, is a "participatory journalist." Where other writers write about a thing, he gets in there and tries to do it -- thereby providing a bridge of understanding to fans who may enjoy watching an activity, but have never been in a position to see what it is actually like.

He sees himself as a sportswriter. Inspired by a disgraceful but exhilarating adventure in which he joined the Boston Marathon for the last 100 yards, he got it into his head to be like famed sportwriter Paul Gallico, and live out every fan's fantasy of playing on the same field with heroes -- and reporting on it.

His report to us focused on  the elusive quality -- the "X Factor" -- that made the people he met champions, and kept him from joining their ranks.

He began his talk with an invitation to play horseshoes with George Bush. He rattled off a list of previous president/athletes -- Lincoln the horseman and ax-holder, Ford the frightening golfer, Taft and Hoover the medicine-ball men, and Nixon the consummate bowler.  

For the complete report, click on CLICK TO PAY belowtt 

And he told ho

George Plimpton