Block Island, RI - “You make it look easy, Joe.” Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, who was a bit of a jerk, hated when media and fans said this about his graceful, seemingly effortless style of play. He let them know it, too, resenting the fact that people do not understand how much hard work greatness requires. Todd Purdum’s new book on Desi Arnaz’s many business and technical contributions to the early days of television makes a comparable point. Upon completion of the I Love Lucy pilot episode in 1951, some attendees told Arnaz that it all seemed so effortless. Desi retorted, “It all seemed effortless, which only goes to prove that it takes a lot of effort to make something look effortless.” That’s just the point. Excellent performers in baseball, television, or most any human endeavor often do make things look “easy” or “effortless” without a great deal of drama, pained expression, or flailing movement. It’s often what makes them great in the first place. World-renowned concert pianis...
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