But how far can such rigid doctrine go when the sport, more than anything, pays homage to improvisational genius?

Much as we are all numb to the $2 billion boondoggle that is the pro basketball lockout, the players appear desperate for a point guard's improvisational genius.

And what is inevitably missing from this tribute is the sense of the drama, the sheer improvisational genius, that Mr. Jordan brought to every game he played.

Peyton, the improvisational genius whose body language at the line of scrimmage occasionally borders on manic, will become increasingly agitated if the Colts don't start tackling soon.

In the liner notes Keepnews states that including it "would have required eliminating virtually every existing alternate take of other selections - five other examples of this pianist's improvisational genius."

The Soccer has been described as "the beautiful game," a sport that requires flights of magical improvisational genius.

He loved the great jazz performers for their improvisational genius, which he tried to duplicate in a prose that makes up in vivid lyrical fluency what it lacks in narrative sinew.

He was an improvisational genius, a showman who connected with the crowd.

Perhaps by adding competition, "Duets" brought out Ms. Franklin's improvisational genius.

Ms. Estefan doesn't have the heft or improvisational genius to do the music justice.