During (September 11, 2001)
Golf Balls
September 2001

Produced by Matt Lieber

New York City as seen from space

From Matt Lieber
A week before September 11th, I moved to New York with the firm, vague
idea of working in Public Radio. I was on my way, in fact, to find a
temp job in lieu of public radio, when the second plane hit and when I
saw the man hitting golf balls in the park. The scene was strange and
compelling, and I figured I ought to talk to him on tape, a thought
which was immediately followed by feelings of shame and self-
indulgence. Shame for wanting to capitalize on this moment, for
exploiting it. Exploitation is complicated, and I believe its the
cardinal sin of documentary. There is nothing more disappointing than
a radio story which amounts to so much pointing and staring.

I did the interview, collected sound, and sat on it for a few days. I
told a friend the story about this man hitting golf balls as the World
Trade Center collapsed, and he thought it was remarkable. I didn’t
tell him that I had recorded the man until I had convinced myself that
I was not, in effect, pointing and staring.

I got a Sony MR-70 minidisc recorder and a Shure SM-58 microphone this
summer and recorded a total of 3 minutes 37 seconds of me walking
around my house, flushing toilets, opening and closing doors, and
unloading the silverware tray from the dishwasher. I couldn’t bear to
speak into the mic, or to hear my own voice played back, and I put the
equipment in a bag under my bed. I took it back out on September 11,
and this was the result.

About Matt Lieber

I’m 22, I just graduated from Bowdoin College in
Maine, where I spent four years working in College Radio. I interned
at The Connection, dearly departed, and now I need a job.

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