Ex-Basketball Player

A Reading of Updike’s
“Ex-Basketball Player”

The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader about a poem by John Updike, called “Ex-Basketball player”. The speaker in the poem talks about a man named Flick Webb and his apathetic life. He informs the reader about Flick Webb’s exceptional talent as a basketball player in high school. Towards the end of the poem the realization is that Flick Webb’s exceptional basketball talent had been berried under his reality of life. In the eyes of the towns people there is a bit of sorrow towards him. It is as if there was an amazing talent that was or was not realized but was never pursued. Through out the poem, “Ex-Basketball Player” Updike makes sure to show glimpses of his once renounced passion for basketball. The mood of the poem goes from explaining in detail facts and scenes of his life. Than it changes tone to a extraordinary high school basketball player. Than it quickly changes to a depressed feel that nothing ever came of it. In the first stanza of the poem Updike simply states the facts how Flick Webb’s life took place on one street. The high school where he was once and exceptional athlete and Berth’s Garage where he works now. The only two major events in his life all takes places in less than two blocks. Updike writes the first stanza as if he is writing a story. There are no hidden details or comparisons it is all just stated. Updike is trying to inform the reader how small Flick Webb’s life was. In the second stanza Updike has a very creative way of describing Flick Webb’s place of work. In stead of Updike just stating Flick Webb works at a gas station, he hides in a underlying message. Updike explains every last detail of how the gas station looks even down to a perfect explanation of the gas pumps. “ Flick stands tall among the idiot pumps- Five on a side, the old bubble-head style, Their rubber elbows hanging loose and low. One’s nostrils are two S’s, and his eyes An E and O. And one is squat, without A head at all- more of a football type.” (6-12) In the third stanza Updike describes Flick Webb’s experience in high school as a basketball player in a story setting. The story like writing just explains how he set school records and wowed the people with his talents. Unlike when Updike says, “his hands were like wild birds.” (18) Meaning that his hands were large and fast. Than Updike states, “ The ball loved flick.” (16) It was very depressing to see that at one point in his life his hands were compared to wild birds in a positive manor. It also states how much the ball loves Flick. Than in the fourth stanza “His hands are fine and nervous on the lug wrench. It makes no difference to the lug wrench.” (23 & 24) Flick Webb’s hands went from being something to be admired to being fine and nervous. But, it not longer mattered because his job was meaning less to the people. The people have given up on him at this point. “He never learned a trade, he just sells gas, Checks oil, and changes flat tires.” (19 & 20) But, Flick Webb never forgot his past. “As a gag, he dribbles an inner tube.” (21) This is as if he does it to bring a smile to his face and never forgets his past. In the fifth stanza Updike starts off again explaining his hang out place in a story setting. He explains how he went from a athlete to a “Grease- gray and kind of coiled, he plays pinball, Smokes those thin cigars, nurses lemon phosphates.” (26 & 27) to just the average Joe. You see by this that his life is nothing like what it use to be. Than it is once again confirmed by the owner of the hangout place that the people really once respected him but feel bad for him. “Flick seldom says a word to Mae, just nods Beyond her face towards a bright applauding tiers Of Necco Wafers, Nibs, and Juju Beads.” (28, 29 & 30) The author Updike’s over all mood of the poem is depressing. The under lying message becomes very apparent : it is to show people how unless you always strive to do your personal best you can quickly loose everything. One minute everyone can aspire to be you and in the next breath no one wants the life you have. Although people will remember you, they will remember the part of you that once was. As stated “But most of us remember anyway.” (22) Updike did not use many comparisons in the essay just simply stating the facts.