I recently had a rather controversial article published on a topic that hits home for many of us here at Chess.com, and in the chess community in general. I did not write the article to create enemies or upset anyone, but rather to offer another view on what is surely one of the most famous chess topics of all time: Bobby Fischer.
Here is the article, take a few minutes to read it and tell me what you think! Thanks! :)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1870403/bobby_fischer_the_chess_player_not_pg2.html?cat=47
Fischer excelled as a chess player.
I think I agree with you, on the whole. There have been lots of great artists, scientists, what-have-you, who have been destructive people, either of themselves or others, or both. It shouldn't be so hard to hold both truths about someone in mind. I think in a lot of US writing about Fischer, because writers are so elated about 1972 etc on patriotic grounds they feel a need to deny one side or the other of Fischer. The chess games will survive (partly because so many of them have that beautifully instructive clarity) after the rants and the anguish have faded from mind.
um...Your point is weak because you incorrectly identify why people dislike him. His anti-semitism is a much bigger issue to people than Anti-Americanism. There's no way people will forget his chess games, but there is also no way he will be a role model.
Finally someone that recognize Fisher for his prowesses on the chessboard.
All of the rest of his life, his comments, his debate with the US, and all other life intruding comments are not worth listening to.
Fisher was one of the best chess player in recent times if not the best one.
We are all humans and when it comes to us analyzing his behavior or comments outside the game, I believe that we lack the chess professionalism for the game.
We are humans and all of us at anytime could be quoted for a wrong or debatable comment.
Let's try to keep personal life behind a closed and locked door and talk about anyone for what she/he did accomplished for humanity in any and all areas.
Let me digress here for a second, did anyone knew that Einstein beat his wife and I can post at leats 10 other examples of wrong or reprehensible behaviors by very famous personalities including Nobel prize people.
What is important and paramount is what any individual's contribution to humanity is, the petty stories are for perfect people, who are they by the way?
You have to be a good ambassador for chess as well as a good player Bobby was a good player but Bad ambassador for the Sport because he was a Racist yes he was a good player but he will not be remember for his chess by me all he was to me was a Racist destroyed his chess and himself so stop trying to hide behind the Facts all of you and Face the real Bobby
A racist and an anti-semetic is the product of personal experience, culture or indoctrination. Nobody seems to remember that in the old days organizers thought of chess as merely a parlor game. And as such a world championship match was not deserving world attention. Bobby Fischer by himself brought chess into the attention of the media - TV, the Press, and Radio when Fischer fought the myth of Russian invincibility, Russian propaganda, and the Russian chess machine.
The tragic demise of Fischer was triggered by the Chess World, the Media, and World Opinion fed by Russian propaganda when Fischer was to defend his title.
Everyone needs to remember that all the champions before Fischer received the courtesy of retaining the title in a match that ends in a draw. Even in boxing this is true. Yet in the terms for the championship match after 1972 where Fischer sought to retain the title when a match is drawn (9-9 tie), the chess world, the media, and world opinion fed by Russian propaganda found Fischer's 9-9 tie as unacceptable, as giving the champion too much of an advantage over the challenger. Result, FIDE rejected Fischer's 9-9 tie.
As a result, Fischer refused to defend his title and let Karpov win by default.
Now the irony of it all is that the Chess World, the Media, and World Opinion were silent when the terms that Karpov gave in defending his title was that the challenger had to defeat Karpov twice to become champion.
If a 9-9 tie was too much of an advantage for Fischer did anybody ever thought that Karpov's automatic return match clause which was akin to the challenger having to defeat the champion twice to become champion as an abomination? No. Nobody spoke up.
And therein lay the tragedy of Fischer. Fischer was unlike Kasparov who defied the FIDE by creating his own chess organization.
if religion were a chess position, would it be playable?
Does a pizza taste less if the person who baked it in the oven is a racist or an anti-semite? Does Fischer's activities outside of chess make his brilliant games any less brilliant? That is exactly what "Fischer the player not the man means". It's much the same as with the games of Alekine, the player, not the alcoholic.
100% correct - and I happen to be a huge Alekhine fan. I understand he was a drunk, and that he probably didn't do too well in relationships or the social scene; however, he was a brilliant and dangerous chess player, and that is why I like him!
The alcohol is just a plus!
Fischer wasn't the first to present this kind of dilemma. For example the classical composer Richard Wagner was a virulent anti-Semite, very much in the pre-Nazi mold -- yet he wrote glorious music. Should the music be shunned because of the man's character? Does the music (now) exist independent of the man (now long dead)? For decades the Israeli Philharmonic did not play Wagner because of this issue (now they do). So can we enjoy Fischer's chess games, regardless of the man who made the moves on the board? I say yes, but it's not necessarily easy to do.
I dont see the corolation between driving Japanese cars and hating Jews and other groups of people?
It means that these people who got angry at his "Pro 9/11" comments, or his anti-America attitude will happily send literally thousands upon thousands of dollars to a country who attacked us so that they can drive a Toyota or Honda. I just find it more than a little ironic is all.
If you're going to judge Fischer as a chess player, he was brilliant: you can't look at his games and say "well that move was done by and antisemite so it's not good". If you're going to judge Fischer as a man, he was a racist, sexist, unbending stubborn man who made himself appear even worse than he was and therefore made things worse for himself, but he was strong, determined, and single-handedly defeated the most powerful chess country in the world (short version: he was a flawed but brilliant man).
People make such a huge deal about Fischer's antisemitism and I admit it's pretty nasty, but it's not like he acted on it. He just had the poor taste to be outspoken about it (and endlessly quoted).
perhaps only so few knew that bobby fischer spent his recluse years somewhere in baguio city, philippines where he met the mother of his child. despite his eccentricities, bobby was a good friend of filipino cheeseplayers and the rest of us fiilipos. simply stated, he was a good friend and a good man. he eccentrities perhaps made him a racist, but it doesn't make him less of a human like the rest of us. we all have shortcomings because we're not perfect. so was bobby. despite his limitations, he gave us one of the best, if not the greatest moments in chess. and for that, we should be thankful.
Bobby was the best. We all have our flaws.He will always be remembered as one of the best that ever played the game. Bobby was chess!
So can we enjoy Fischer's chess games, regardless of the man who made the moves on the board? I say yes, but it's not necessarily easy to do.
I disagree with the last part of your comment. Personally, I find it very easy to do. So easy in fact that I have a difficult time empathizing with anyone who can't separate The Chess Player from The Man.
Frankly, I think anyone who says that they're unable to make that kind of distinction is being disingenuous. If they're not, then I truly do feel sorry for them because it would be a miserable existence to be the only perfect person in a world filled with imperfect people. How could someone so righteous make friends or fall in love? No one would ever be worthy. They would never be able to see past the flaws of other people. The expression "take the good with the bad" wouldn't apply to them...they'd probably find it offensive. Being perfect must get lonely.
Hey ! I drive a Honda and I only buy Japanese cars now ! I am not being patriotic ?! I served in the US Army. I would gladly buy American cars IF they ever make any decent cars to buy ! I have owned many in my life and all but one was junk. I havent had a bad Japanese car yet and for the same money I dont believe they can be beat.
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