The Ineffable Inscrutability of Ball-Ness

NMB, Florida August 31, 2001 A.H. Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.

THE INEFFABLE INSCRUTABILITY OF "BALL"-NESS

The women do not do it. It seems to be a "man" thing. If you look at only
at certain times of the year as I do it reoccurs every time. I don't know
when it began or by whom but it is definitely there. It could be a nervous
tick or an affectation but I think there is more to it than that. It is most
likely a thing that followers did in imitation of one of the headliners. The
leader who began to do it was copied by one or two who thought it was part
of the package. This is the way things inevitably go. It was essentially
unconscious and not deliberate at all. But then it spread and almost
everyone followed that leader. He is unknown and cannot be cited for his
contribution.

It is fascinating to watch. The call is for one then another and then a
third. I cannot remember anyone calling for more. Sometimes only two are
rolled around the hand but adepts can handle three. The ritual persists and
one is chosen if three are involved. One is discarded and a second is kept
and stuffed into a pocket. It must be the sense of touch for they are not
looked at seriously.

I have noticed that there is an unconscious approach to handling and
rolling them. It seems just instinctive with no thought involved at all. It
is the randomness that strikes me as the key. It is sort of like a choice
of numbers in a lotto card selection. You don't know which is the winner
but you have to make a choice. When you do this repetitive thing so many
times it becomes routine and the rolling and selecting is done as a matter
of course. It would be unthinkable not to go through the routine. It is
part of the way the game is played.

I don't think golfers do it. One golf ball is just the same as every other
one. Perhaps there is a cachet to a brand so one is chosen over another.
Basketball players and baseball players are not fussy and accept what is
given them. Football players are perhaps the least choosy of all. Bashing
each other and leaping about is what that game is all about.

No, tennis is different. Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.