The phenomenon of writer use of sport inferences in the literary genre of the novel is examined in the works of Updike and Mailer. Novels of both authors were reviewed in order to study the pattern of usage in each novel. From these patterns, concepts which illustrated the sport philosophies of each author were used for general comparisons of the two. Success and failure, life and life concepts, reality, character virtues, gender roles, sociocultural environment, and literary inferences served as categories for comparison. Updike employed reality concepts in relation to organized sport and life concepts in relation to sport activity, creating illusions of reality in order to describe middle class American life. Mailer utilized agonsitic sport inferences in projecting American existential philosophy. Three hypotheses were projected and upheld by this study: (a) the authors' personal sport backgrounds, experiences, and pervading philosophies were reflected in their novels; (b) the purpose of the characters' performances in sport reflected the authors' backgrounds; and (c) distinct patterns of sport inferences were consistent throughout novels by the same author. (Author/JS/HSD)