Comments on: Thomas Sullivan: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/ Just another Storytellers Unplugged weblog Thu, 24 May 2012 04:59:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: More about Storytellers Unplugged — …With Intent to Commit Horror http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-302 More about Storytellers Unplugged — …With Intent to Commit Horror Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:14:31 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-302 [...] Thomas Sullivan: Competition and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction by Thomas Sullivan Taking Janet’s post (see above) as a starting point, Thomas Sullivan talks about the value of competition. The lesson here is not just for writers but for everyone. [...] [...] Thomas Sullivan: Competition and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction by Thomas Sullivan Taking Janet’s post (see above) as a starting point, Thomas Sullivan talks about the value of competition. The lesson here is not just for writers but for everyone. [...]

]]> By: Sully http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-301 Sully Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:08:31 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-301 You always ring the bell, Mark. Thanks for the sterling boost. I have no excuse for not making this a great day now. As you say, there have been some inspiring replies on this blog. Jimmy Pond was a little guy who left a big legend. I keep remembering anecdotes I should have put on some of my above replies. Such as: As regards Jimmy's grinding up of a state champion in a workout -- 800 yard butterfly pull. Yeah, if it was something grueling beyond recognized distances and normal swimming, Jimmy was a force to be reckoned with. And he did keep his skinny little body in that miserably cold water (the three huge million-gallon Rouge pools known as Brrr-ennan lost so much water every day through cracks in the bottom that there was always fresh water coming in and and they never heated up in the summer). But Jimmy's mother once told me that when Jimmy was 4, he dipped his toe in a little plastic backyard pool and shouted, "It's too damn cold!" -- Sully (Thomas Sullivan) You always ring the bell, Mark. Thanks for the sterling boost. I have no excuse for not making this a great day now. As you say, there have been some inspiring replies on this blog. Jimmy Pond was a little guy who left a big legend. I keep remembering anecdotes I should have put on some of my above replies. Such as:

As regards Jimmy’s grinding up of a state champion in a workout — 800 yard butterfly pull. Yeah, if it was something grueling beyond recognized distances and normal swimming, Jimmy was a force to be reckoned with.

And he did keep his skinny little body in that miserably cold water (the three huge million-gallon Rouge pools known as Brrr-ennan lost so much water every day through cracks in the bottom that there was always fresh water coming in and and they never heated up in the summer). But Jimmy’s mother once told me that when Jimmy was 4, he dipped his toe in a little plastic backyard pool and shouted, “It’s too damn cold!”

– Sully (Thomas Sullivan)

]]> By: Mark Lancaster http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-300 Mark Lancaster Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:54:16 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-300 Hi Sully, Lot's of great replies to your column this month, inspired, of course, by your ever so inspiring words. Hey, I'm inspired!! We're all inspired -- and ain't it great to be inspired together like this? Seriously, I've been quiet these last few months, but I never miss a column or newsletter. Your fine thoughts and words do it for me like nobody else, you're one in a billion (or six billion?). Take care, and continue to enjoy this beautiful planet! Mark Hi Sully,
Lot’s of great replies to your column this month, inspired, of course, by your ever so inspiring words. Hey, I’m inspired!! We’re all inspired — and ain’t it great to be inspired together like this?
Seriously, I’ve been quiet these last few months, but I never miss a column or newsletter. Your fine thoughts and words do it for me like nobody else, you’re one in a billion (or six billion?).
Take care, and continue to enjoy this beautiful planet!
Mark

]]> By: Sully http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-299 Sully Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:06:04 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-299 Man, this is surreal. How are you, Birdman? You make my day with your connection and your memories. Had forgotten that stuff. You are still finding diamonds in and out of your work. A million stories and all the incredible times we had are flooding back now. The "string" art you made for me still hangs at the foot of my staircase near the front door. Jimmy Pond remains an ocean... -- Seaweed Sully (Thomas Sullivan) Man, this is surreal. How are you, Birdman? You make my day with your connection and your memories. Had forgotten that stuff. You are still finding diamonds in and out of your work. A million stories and all the incredible times we had are flooding back now. The “string” art you made for me still hangs at the foot of my staircase near the front door. Jimmy Pond remains an ocean…

– Seaweed Sully (Thomas Sullivan)

]]> By: David Weinstein http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-298 David Weinstein Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:55:27 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-298 Sully, Jimmy Pond ..A true inspiration. Do you recall the saying "There was a big fish in that little pond". Or the time he beat Jim Steffels ( state champion) in 800 fly -pull in the cold pool. I once asked jimmy how he stays in the cold water, he said, "I just don't get out". Words of encouragement for us all. I tell many stories about jimmy pond and all of the other members of AA. You were the inspiration for all of us. Lest we forget "The Howard Johnson syndrome" Thanks for the reminder. David "Birdman" Sully,

Jimmy Pond ..A true inspiration. Do you recall the saying “There was a big fish in that little pond”.
Or the time he beat Jim Steffels ( state champion)
in 800 fly -pull in the cold pool. I once asked jimmy how he stays in the cold water, he said, “I just don’t get out”. Words of encouragement for us all. I tell many stories about jimmy pond and all of the other
members of AA. You were the inspiration for all
of us. Lest we forget “The Howard Johnson syndrome”
Thanks for the reminder.

David
“Birdman”

]]> By: Sully http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Sully Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:14:42 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-297 The only time I've seen that kind of lust for competition and anger at not finding it was in very bored people or in little Napoleons. Fascinating sidebar. .... Last I heard from Jimmy Pond, he was a professional bowler. Very modest about it. I think he carried a 278 average. If I put a bowling ball in each gutter and connected them with a broomstick in the holes, I couldn't sweep down 278 pins in a game. -- Sully (Thomas Sullivan) The only time I’ve seen that kind of lust for competition and anger at not finding it was in very bored people or in little Napoleons. Fascinating sidebar. …. Last I heard from Jimmy Pond, he was a professional bowler. Very modest about it. I think he carried a 278 average. If I put a bowling ball in each gutter and connected them with a broomstick in the holes, I couldn’t sweep down 278 pins in a game.

– Sully (Thomas Sullivan)

]]> By: Janet Berliner http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Janet Berliner Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:00:43 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-296 For a few months, we had a Scrabble game going in the house. Four writers. Two were madly competitive; one of those got angry when he lost. The other two--I was one of them--didn't give a hoot about winning. It was all about making interesting words and beating our own previous scores. Here's the real point: The one who got angry was furious that we could enjoy the game without a deep need to come out on top. He wanted us to be sore losers. Have you kept in touch with the young man of whom you speak with such fondness? How is he doing as an adult? --Janet For a few months, we had a Scrabble game going in the
house. Four writers. Two were madly competitive; one
of those got angry when he lost. The other two–I was one
of them–didn’t give a hoot about winning. It was all about
making interesting words and beating our own previous
scores.

Here’s the real point: The one who got angry was furious
that we could enjoy the game without a deep need to come
out on top. He wanted us to be sore losers.

Have you kept in touch with the young man of whom you
speak with such fondness? How is he doing as an adult?

–Janet

]]> By: THOMAS SULLIVAN: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS… — Music Labels http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-295 THOMAS SULLIVAN: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS… — Music Labels Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:32:43 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-295 [...] THOMAS SULLIVAN: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Posted on October 16th, … . Like Cyrano de Bergerac, I try to hang my adornments on my soul. That way there is no visible … the collective thinking of society. That isnt a lack of respect, but a lack of confidence source: THOMAS SULLIVAN: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS… [...] [...] THOMAS SULLIVAN: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Posted on October 16th, … . Like Cyrano de Bergerac, I try to hang my adornments on my soul. That way there is no visible … the collective thinking of society. That isnt a lack of respect, but a lack of confidence source: THOMAS SULLIVAN: COMPETITION AND OTHER WEAPONS… [...]

]]> By: Sully http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Sully Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:57:53 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-294 I didn't pay Flamingo Frank for that endorsement, folks. Maybe my mother did... Too kind, obviously, but thanks. Well, we can style the semantics of your use and mine of the terms. For the sake of concord, I'll subscribe to a "condition of being," as you describe it. However, the rock doesn't know it's in competition (certainly doesn't acknowledge it anyway). And my essay is all about the internal perspective. As Simon and Garfunkel sang, "I am a rock, I am an island...and a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries." Personal bests are the way around, and in truth, they are the only valid indicators of true qualitative merit, from my POV. You find your total audience, your total soulmate, your total uncompromised place in the universe...or you keep looking. Sometimes it takes a lot of shedding of personal baggage and false security to recognize and accept that. But it's the only road to travel for fulfillment. -- Sully (Thomas Sullivan) I didn’t pay Flamingo Frank for that endorsement, folks. Maybe my mother did… Too kind, obviously, but thanks. Well, we can style the semantics of your use and mine of the terms. For the sake of concord, I’ll subscribe to a “condition of being,” as you describe it. However, the rock doesn’t know it’s in competition (certainly doesn’t acknowledge it anyway). And my essay is all about the internal perspective. As Simon and Garfunkel sang, “I am a rock, I am an island…and a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.” Personal bests are the way around, and in truth, they are the only valid indicators of true qualitative merit, from my POV. You find your total audience, your total soulmate, your total uncompromised place in the universe…or you keep looking. Sometimes it takes a lot of shedding of personal baggage and false security to recognize and accept that. But it’s the only road to travel for fulfillment.

– Sully (Thomas Sullivan)

]]> By: Frank Wydra http://storytellersunplugged.com/thomassullivan/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-293 Frank Wydra Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:43:19 +0000 http://www.storytellersunplugged.com/2007/10/16/thomas-sullivan-competition-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-293 Dear Sully. The eloquence of your prose is, as always, an inspiration. Competition, though, is not a choice, it is a condition of being. Rocks compete with rivers. The choice, if one is to be made, is of the energy to be expended in any situation. Ergo, writing, as with all endeavors, is a competition, the competitors being self and the balance of the writing universe. Natural talent, of course, is a factor in who survives the competition. But talent is no different than the hardness of the rock or the velocity of the river. But unlike rocks and rivers, you and I and Jimmy Pond add another factor to the competition and that is will. None of us (excepting,perhaps, you) may ever be crowned champion of the writing universe, but nothing prevents us from achieving personal bests. That is what makes the competition so glorious. Thanks for another thought provoking essay. Frank Dear Sully. The eloquence of your prose is, as always, an inspiration.

Competition, though, is not a choice, it is a condition of being. Rocks compete with rivers. The choice, if one is to be made, is of the energy to be expended in any situation. Ergo, writing, as with all endeavors, is a competition, the competitors being self and the balance of the writing universe.

Natural talent, of course, is a factor in who survives the competition. But talent is no different than the hardness of the rock or the velocity of the river. But unlike rocks and rivers, you and I and Jimmy Pond add another factor to the competition and that is will.

None of us (excepting,perhaps, you) may ever be crowned champion of the writing universe, but nothing prevents us from achieving personal bests. That is what makes the competition so glorious.

Thanks for another thought provoking essay.

Frank

]]>