Good review in the Times today about a new biography of boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. Alex Belth also weighed in over at Bronx Banter.
The Times review mentions how jazz music influenced Robinson’s style in the ring, which I had never heard before.
But it neglects to mention how it was reciprocated.
In his awesome autobiography, Miles, Miles Davis explained how he tried to play his trumpet like Sugar Ray Robinson boxed.
I’ve always thought that was awesome, influence across forms. Long before I ever read Davis’ book or even heard much of his music, my high-school music teacher told me I needed to play less tentatively and more like a linebacker, my position in football. The guy taught me most of what I know about music, but that was by far the best advice he ever gave.
But that was just about playing with confidence, really. The Robinson thing, and the Miles Davis thing, are about style. I touched on this last week in regards to Allen Iverson; some athletes just have some indefinable quality that makes their game feel almost artistic.
What would it sound like if someone could make music like Johan Santana pitches? What if someone could write like Carlos Beltran plays baseball? Does that make any sense?
Tedquarters 
(This is actually a comment to the Nelson Cruz post from yesterday. I figured people would be more likely to see it if I posted it to a more current item. Sorry in advance if this violates blog-commenting protocol.)
Totally agree with you, Ted, that the Mets should be looking at low-cost AAA mashers to see if they might get lucky and stumble upon a gem.
He’s not a Rule 5 guy, but Jake Fox is sitting on Chicago’s roster, stuck as the 24th or 25th guy, with no place to play with A-Ram at 3B, Soto at C, or D Lee at 1B… and the guy put up filthy numbers at AAA.
Couldn’t this guy be our right-handed platoon bat at 1B if the Mets decide they want a one-year platoon with Murphy before Ike Davis comes along?
I realize his fielding has been questioned, which I don’t dismiss, but isn’t he worth a look as buy-low trade bait? It’s not crazy to think Chicago would do a trade of Castillo for Fox, esp if we send over a few million to sweeten the deal.