Good Old Bobby !

So I asked myself: can this forum stand yet another Bobby Fischer thread ? Well yes I guess so   lol. Many people seem to feel that Fischer was not a very nice guy to begin with and then of course he kept getting worse and worse as he got older. However over on YouTube one can find a video clip of Fischer doing the Dick Cavett Show and the young Bobby does seem quite normal ( the title of the video is: " A Very Different Bobby Fischer " ). This clip from the Cavett Show was done a few months before Fischer went to Iceland for the WC match and is quite interesting to watch.  

So I ask myself: can this forum stand another Bobby Fischer thread ? 

this is a chess site with many members with short memories, so, unfortunately, yes. 

Thanks for the post AlCzervik. The thing that I remember from the first time that I watched the clip of Fischer on the Cavett Show is how much Bobby seemed like a regular guy. Mind you he was not yet World Champ and was also some years away from having problems with the US State Department.

Another clip over on YouTube with Bobby Fischer is entitled " Bobby Fischer Meets Bob Hope ". This is from one of Bob Hope's TV Specials and was filmed shortly after Fischer became World Champ. They play a pretend game of Chess and trade a lot of jokes back and forth. In a way it's a bit sad to watch this funny clip when one remembers how Fischer went so far downhill in later years.

For those who are new to Chess and don't know that much about Fischer there is a BBC Documentary up over on YouTube entitled " Bobby Fischer - Anything to Win ". Among the people interviewed for that program are several who actually knew Fischer, interesting stuff to be sure. 

One thing that I have noticed is that we do not hear not enough about Fischer's childhood. He came from a single parent household and money may have been in short supply ( as one can see in the clothes that he wore the in early photos ).  

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/off-topic/why-doesnt-bobby-bash-chesscom-members-who-start-topics-about-him

Thanks for the info Bunicula. I for one am old enough to remember back when Fischer went to Iceland to play Spassky  for the WC title ( yup it is going on 45 years now   wow ).

Thanks for the posts.

I'm not sure about that.

Thanks for the post.

   ---   Well there do seem to be a few threads on the go again about Bobby Fischer. I see that the above mentioned program on Fischer is still available on YouTube. A number of others Documentaries are also over there as well for the newcomers who wonder about this Fischer guy   lol. 

There has recently been a publication of Checkmate: Bobby Fischer's Boys' Life Columns by Robert James Fischer.

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/3708.pdf

Thanks for the post and the info.

There is a thread on the go that asks: was Bobby Fischer Crazy ? Well he was a bit eccentric and also paranoid, plus he was most likely too blunt ( and perhaps talked too much ). However as far as we know he did not kill anyone, he did not rob any banks and was not reported to be running around the streets of any city without any clothes on. So I guess Bobby Fischer was a human being with a number of flaws, same as the rest of us ( but he was also a World Chess Champion at one time ).

He dedicated his life to chess, not part of it, all of it. chess was life for him. one of the greatest players to ever walk the board. he should be remembered for his beautiful games and amazing vision.

Thanks for the post oPAWNo.

Another link to the Bobby Fischer Era has ended with the passing of GM William Lombardy ( 1937 - 2017 ). He was the 2cnd to Fischer in the famous WC Title match. For those people who have seen the " Pawn Sacrifice " film GM Lombardy was the character portrayed as a Priest.

For those interested in Fischer, one name cannot be disassociate from his, that of Bill Lombardy who passed away yesterday, Friday the 13th, 2017. FM  Mike Klein wrote a small tribute here:  https://www.chess.com/news/view/gm-william-lombardy-1937-2017-2017  

Thanks for the post and the info Batgirl.