Something About Bobby
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Wonderful work, Batgirl, as usual. Thanks! Someone I know well often says "what more is there to know about Fischer? We already know too much." Not true; he was so unusual and so amazing that he is the gift that keeps on giving. BTW, am I correct in thinking that Rodolfo Cardoso was not related to WIM Ruth Cardoso?
May 29, 2021
0
#25
Thank you once again...he was an unusual individual but I think that comes with genius.
Great information on Bobby Fischer! I never knew this information about him (at least on what Wikipedia says they lie) so that is some great information! Thank you for sharing this to the chess community! Your chess history is great!
Jun 10, 2021
0
#27
Very nice article and pictures.
Have you read the latest book about Bobby?
It’s called Bobby Fischer and his World by John Donaldson
People still have a fascination with BF...idolize the ground he walked on. But this is primarily a westernized, in particular a USA perception.
A great Ambassador? Far from it. An objective perspective after the fact, one that takes look at the entire picture, reveals to my mind the negatives are far greater than the positives from his brief tenure as WC.
This relates to the general public’s (older now) perceptions of chess, non-players, the vast majority who when chess is mentioned, think of BF. Reactions are seldom positive. Chess became associated with eccentricity and mental instability. In the long run, his very short tenure damaged to this day positive chess promotion and growth. Parents wishing to encourage their siblings to play chess? Simply didn’t happen- play chess and be like/become BF? Hardly. If it’s honestly evaluated today, BF set back chess growth an entire generation in the USA. Only recently is chess becoming widely accepted and viewed as a positive influence for the youth.
A different assessment perhaps than most who reside in the USA. BF for a brief period, much the same as Beth Harmon greatly popularized chess, but the novelty soon wears off for everyone. Beth seems destined to leave a lasting, universal, positive image. I just don’t view BF’s as being nearly as universal or positive.
His position made him a role model. Granted. He did not want to be one. But what did he give us after becoming WC? Someone who refused to defend his Title
I seem to recall in Bobby’s book about his night in the Pasadena jail house his warning the Police he was an expert trained in judo. He was refusing to give his name when being questioned. The articles offer insights into the real Fischer- not the hyped version of the media.... which became his undoing.
StormCentre3 wrote:
People still have a fascination with BF...idolize the ground he walked on. But this is primarily a westernized, in particular a USA perception.
A great Ambassador? Far from it. An objective perspective after the fact, one that takes look at the entire picture, reveals to my mind the negatives are far greater than the positives from his brief tenure as WC.
This relates to the general public’s (older now) perceptions of chess, non-players, the vast majority who when chess is mentioned, think of BF. Reactions are seldom positive. Chess became associated with eccentricity and mental instability. In the long run, his very short tenure damaged to this day positive chess promotion and growth. Parents wishing to encourage their siblings to play chess? Simply didn’t happen- play chess and be like/become BF? Hardly. If it’s honestly evaluated today, BF set back chess growth an entire generation in the USA. Only recently is chess becoming widely accepted and viewed as a positive influence for the youth.
A different assessment perhaps than most who reside in the USA. BF for a brief period, much the same as Beth Harmon greatly popularized chess, but the novelty soon wears off for everyone. Beth seems destined to leave a lasting, universal, positive image. I just don’t view BF’s as being nearly as universal or positive.
His position made him a role model. Granted. He did not want to be one. But what did he give us after becoming WC? Someone who refused to defend his Title
Yes! 100% agree. Batgirl, you surprise me again! Great work on your articles, as always.
Any pictures of Bobby getting body slammed in Judo?
Just this:
