I remember a few decades ago watching Mailer on TV telling the interviewer that writing was like boxing, with the writer facing the typewriter (the adversary) "punching" the keys (as he said this he shot out a few quick jabs with his index fingers pointed towards an imaginary Smith-Corona). I though to myself: "What an *sshole."
Hemingway was always using boxing analogies, e.g., "Dostoevsky swarmed over the reader like a boxer", "See how the bull uses its horns? It's got a left and a right, just like a boxer." I'm sure that's where Mailer picked it up.
I though to myself: "What an *sshole."
In this era of overanalysis, there's something very refreshing about your reaction.