Originally posted by robbie carrobieIf Bobby Fischer had produced a computer program to help people learn to play advanced chess skills more quickly - I wonder how would he have gone about advertising the product.
Actually in the documentary that i had seen, Kasparov actually did visit the 'designer', of the products that were to feature his name. for the life of me i cannot remember what they were, although i think it was a food product. Why buying ketchup with Kasparovs name on it, or any other product for that matter with a celebrities name attached to it ...[text shortened]... , Kasparov in my measly opinion was much less scrupulous about what he was willing to endorse.
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Originally posted by MelanerpesI doubt if Fischer would have indulged, he loathed the idea of people making money from his name! and as far as i am aware, when he replayed the match with Spassky in 92, he did not even possess a computer and berated their use stating that they were detrimental to ones eyesight.
If Bobby Fischer had produced a computer program to help people learn to play advanced chess skills more quickly - I wonder how would he have gone about advertising the product.
Originally posted by whodeyQuite to the contrary. I think doubts that Kaspy would trounce Fischer are usually motivated by an awe for Bobby's mythical image. I think the duration of Kaspy's dominance over the very best players compared to Fischer's one hit wonder is enough of a reason to doubt that Bobby was better.
He was mentally stable enough to win a world championship and then disapppear into obscurity and then come back and win another. As for him being a jerk, that has nothing to do with winning at chess. I think what is going on here is that people simply like Kasprov better than Fischer as a person. There is NO reason to believe that kasprov would dominate Fischer..
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Originally posted by telerionI wonder if the "myth of Bobby Fischer" would've been as strong had he been someone who got along with other people and was more or less content with life? Fischer fits nicely into the mold of the "tortured genius" who was too beautiful for society to accept. Sort of like the sentiments expressed in songs like Don McLean's "Vincent" or Elton John's "Candle in the Wind".
Quite to the contrary. I think doubts that Kaspy would trounce Fischer are usually motivated by an awe for Bobby's mythical image. I think the duration of Kaspy's dominance over the very best players compared to Fischer's one hit wonder is enough of a reason to doubt that Bobby was better.
On the other hand, Kasparov seems to be a well-adjusted person who is relatively happy. How could someone like that possibly be a true genius? Where's the agonized soul?
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Originally posted by Melanerpeswell adjusted?? well adjusted, my goodness, he gets beaten by a sixteen year old who is presented with game of the tournament and he throws a flaky simply because the game in question was against himself. what are we talking about here, other than megalomania!
I wonder if the "myth of Bobby Fischer" would've been as strong had he been someone who got along with other people and was more or less content with life? Fischer fits nicely into the mold of the "tortured genius" who was too beautiful for society to accept. Sort of like the sentiments expressed in songs like Don McLean's "Vincent" or Elton John's "Candl y. How could someone like that possibly be a true genius? Where's the agonized soul?
Fischer on the other hand was as far as i am aware, gracious even in defeat as in victory. when he had beaten a player, his love of chess was such that he would kindly take the person aside and go over the game expounding the key points, when did Kasparov ever do that, he storms off like a pansy crying to his team of grandmasters and gets him mom to read him some Russian fairy tales about unicorns and rainbows, inspired by Pushkin and illustrated by Bilabin while he gently sucks his thumb and plans world domination.
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Originally posted by robbie carrobieI'm not saying Kasparov isn't without his flaws, nor am I claiming he's a better person than Fischer. But it's not uncommon to see a competitor lose their temper in the heat of battle. Even the perfect gentleman Roger Federer let loose an obscenity into an open microphone during a tennis match that he lost.
well adjusted?? well adjusted, my goodness, he gets beaten by a sixteen year old who is presented with game of the tournament and he throws a flaky simply because the game in question was against himself. what are we talking about here, other than megalomania!
But I don't sense that Kasparov is any more "delicate" than the typical person. He seems very "normal" except for his ability to play incredibly good chess. Very different story for Fischer.
Originally posted by MelanerpesYes, what is interesting about him, is that he is very emotional, its almost as much fun watching his expressions during a game as it is pondering on what he might play 🙂
I'm not saying Kasparov isn't without his flaws. It's not uncommon to see a competitor lose their temper in the heat of battle. Even the perfect gentleman Roger Federer let loose an obscenity into an open microphone during a tennis match that he lost.
But I don't sense that Kasparov is any more "delicate" than the typical person. He seems very "normal ...[text shortened]... except for his ability to play incredibly good chess. Very different story for Fischer.
Originally posted by MelanerpesI think Fischer's . . . erm . . . "quirks" contributed greatly to his legend; I think the biggest contributor, at least in the US, is the Cold War backdrop to his achievements. He was an American who rose up and defeated the Soviet empire.
I wonder if the "myth of Bobby Fischer" would've been as strong had he been someone who got along with other people and was more or less content with life? Fischer fits nicely into the mold of the "tortured genius" who was too beautiful for society to accept. Sort of like the sentiments expressed in songs like Don McLean's "Vincent" or Elton John's "Candl ...[text shortened]... y. How could someone like that possibly be a true genius? Where's the agonized soul?
Originally posted by telerionyes - there was that element as well
I think Fischer's . . . erm . . . "quirks" contributed greatly to his legend; I think the biggest contributor, at least in the US, is the Cold War backdrop to his achievements. He was an American who rose up and defeated the Soviet empire.
If Fischer was born 30 yrs later, that Big Match would've been Fischer-Kasparov in 2002. It might have provided a lot of incredible chess, but no legends.
Originally posted by MelanerpesFischer's legend, I think, has a few parts. 1) The guy really was a chess genius miles ahead of any individual competition, though the Soviets as a team were better coordinated than Fischer and his team (which he bitched about constantly). 2) He was an American in a Soviet dominated, well respected competitive game at the height of the Cold War. 3) He drew attention to himself through his antics, making chess both popular and highly profitable in the US. 4) He was on the edge of insanity apparently, and people often associate madness with genius.
I wonder if the "myth of Bobby Fischer" would've been as strong had he been someone who got along with other people and was more or less content with life? Fischer fits nicely into the mold of the "tortured genius" who was too beautiful for society to accept. Sort of like the sentiments expressed in songs like Don McLean's "Vincent" or Elton John's "Candl ...[text shortened]... y. How could someone like that possibly be a true genius? Where's the agonized soul?
1) and 2) would be unchanged if he was likeable, but 3) and 4) would not.
Originally posted by MelanerpesIt would still be legendary. We don't have that many chess champions to brag about here in the US. Morphy is still legendary.
yes - there was that element as well
If Fischer was born 30 yrs later, that Big Match would've been Fischer-Kasparov in 2002. It might have provided a lot of incredible chess, but no legends.