linux distro for ratpoison/minimalist config on laptop?

hi.  i normally run on a Mac (and run rp under Apple's X), but now i'm
interested in using Linux on a PC laptop.

i don't want a "desktop environment", but do want X in order to run RP,
emacs, firefox, gnuplot, etc.

i'm a Linux newbie (but BSD oldie).  it seems if i load, e.g., Ubuntu,
it deals with my hardware (ethernet, wifi, suspend/resume), but comes
with a plethora of what i assume to be desktop software, stuff i don't
want.

any suggestion on a distribution, or what i should do post-install to
get rid of the crud (but maintain the functionality)?

thanks for asking this list, but it seems the most cultural-compatible.

cheers, Greg Minshall