The Wurster Interviews, Part 4: The Early Years of PPE

Read previous installments:     Part 1     Part 2     Part 3

Two Anecdotes from the 1980 COSMEP

1. The Play at the Plate

Not yet 40, I had great reflexes. I pitched both games. They hit cannons back at me, but I snagged every one. In the seventh inning, Bill Welsh was on second base. Michael Hogan got a base hit to right field. The catcher moved up the line to back up third base. I covered home plate. The ball and Bill arrived at the same time. Either Bill's elbow or the ball hit me in the temple. I went down as if poleaxed. After several moments, I recovered and returned to my position.

At the end of the conference, awards were given out. These were tongue-in-cheek. I received the MVP award, which was a water pitcher spray-painted gold. I gave a heartfelt acceptance speech explaining that my last award for sports was when I was eight years old and received a jackknife as an award for being the best "floater" in the aquatic competition at the municipal pool in Clinton, Iowa. There was not a dry eye.

2. How Women Get Published

At the time, Lynne Savitt had a new book of poems out called Lust in 20 Flavors. It had a controversial and sexy cover. Mary Tisera asked Alex Harvey, editor of the Hollow Springs Review of Poetry, how women get published. (Remember, this was 1980.) Alex explained that in order to be published, Mary would have to have sex with the editors and critics. Mary was crushed. She told Diane Wakoski about her conversation with Alex. Diane said, "That's ridiculous, Mary. All the editors and critics are homosexuals. They would have no interest in having sex with you."

 

Next in issue 7: The demise of Lion Walk