I know what you're all thinking; what in the hell is there to do in Iceland??? I thought the same thing. But ah ha! Turns out Bobby just might have himself a heck of a time there.
http://www.icetourist.is/default.asp?cat_id=30
Or you can just lock yourself in a room for 6 months in total darkness and type racist, nonsensical rants. Either way, they don't care!
The thing about Fischer that puzzles and frustrates everyone is that money isn't of paramount importance to the guy. He could easily make a milliion writing a book about his career or analyzing another of his 60 games, but he doesn't. He almost threw away hundreds of thousands in the Iceland match with Spassky. Instead, other people use his name to write books (bobby fischer's outrageous chess moves, bobby fischer goes to war, etc...). No matter what you think of his crazy ideas, he's an American who doesn't bow to the dollar. He says whatever he thinks and is as far from being politically correct as you can get. Remember Alekhine pro-Nazi writings of the 30's? No. today we just remember his great contributions to chess.
Originally posted by buddy2He almost threw away hundreds of thousands in the Iceland match with Spassky.
Instead, other people use his name to write books (bobby fischer's outrageous chess moves, bobby fischer goes to war, etc...). Remember Alekhine pro-Nazi writings of the 30's? No. today we just remember his great contributions to chess.[/b]
Yet it was an offer of 50,000 pounds by British businessman James D. Slater that finally convinced him to show up. He also made match negotiations very difficult by demanding a cut of any revenue made by TV coverage. (Source: Fischer V Spassky by C.H.O'D Alexander).
No matter what you think of his crazy ideas, he's an American who doesn't bow to the dollar. He says whatever he thinks and is as far from being politically correct as you can get.
Bobby Fischer hasn't been an American for years, at least in spirit. He was too stupid to renounce his US citizenship and take up with another country, but in every other way he has done as much as possible to distance himself from the US. Speaking one's mind is generally a strength, but Fischer only embarrasses himself every time he opens his mouth. He called Kasparov an 'idiot savant' and claimed he had no intelligence outside of chess. (source: "Evans on Chess" in the latest Chess Life)
And Kissinger called him and Slater called him "chicken." He was getting lots of money already. I think he as afraid of Spassky at the time, afraid of losing the match, and the offer from Slater took away the money excuse he was using to fly back home. Fischer has never valued money the way "normal" people do, I guess because he lived without it for so many years. Remember he gave a ton of money away to that religious cult out in California, then abandoned the cult. I recall the old story of his mother Regina wanting to bring out wallets with his name inscribed to make alittle money when he was just catching on, and he flatly refused to go along. Before the candidates tournament 1959 Fischer rejected 3,000 dollars that had been collected for him because it was initiated by Regina. In 1963 when Jacqueline Piatigorsky set up a special fund to stage a tournament in Los Angeles, Fischer agreed to go as long as he was paid 2,000 he had lost in the Reshevsky match "at the will of the patrons and arbiters." She refused and he lost a chance to make much more. The Principle (ridiculous as it is) was more important to him than the money. Money in the Fischer philosophy is the way Jews control the world. To give in the the power of money is to accede to the "Great Jewish Consipiracy." Fischer is all talk. I don't think he's done anything outside of chess so he's at a loss in how to deal with the world at large.
Just read about the tumultous reception Fischer got at the airport in Iceland. Sad to say, it just makes the U.S. look like an overweening bully to the rest of the world. I think the U.S. government should just forget him. His words to the Icelandic press: Leave me alone! And he also suggests that Iceland can retract the citizenship when they get tired of him. The man just distrusts governments and people in general.
While it is true that Bobby Fischer has shown himself to be bitter and cantankerous and bigotted, I think we should all pause before we call him demented. Somehow he has managed to be a celebrity who has avoided arrest for over two decades, spanning varied US Presidential administrations. Just perhaps, he has been treating the globe as a 3D chessboard, and playing us all for fools. Somehow he has made enough friends to stop the freight train of US deportation efforts... not many lunatics have accomplished this. How many governments may have sub-contracted him to assist them in matters which require superior intellect? Maybe, just maybe, he has been applying his genius to more than growing his beard and thinking up ugly things to say about Jewish people. Perhaps he is using that personna to gain the advantage of certain "friends" who he has needed and clearly needs now.
Who else could be so smart?
Originally posted by buddy2I most certainly remember Alekhine's pro-Nazi writings and I definitely use them as part of the information I use to evaluate his character and whether I like him.
The thing about Fischer that puzzles and frustrates everyone is that money isn't of paramount importance to the guy. He could easily make a milliion writing a book about his career or analyzing another of his 60 games, but he doesn't. He almost threw away hundreds of thousands in the Iceland match with Spassky. Instead, other people use his name to write ...[text shortened]... e pro-Nazi writings of the 30's? No. today we just remember his great contributions to chess.
I can't believe how you people can talk so badly about Bobby Fischer. After all the contributions that World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer has contributed to chess and our lives, you still judge him on every level other than chess. Get a grip! When God sent Fischer to planet Earth, he didn't want him to become the most likeable human being who ever existed. He didn't give Fischer the charisma of Robert Redford, and he surely didn't give him the heart of the Apostles. God sent Bobby Fischer to win the 1972 World Chess Championship and to further the development of chess theory in a way that no one else ever has before. God wanted Bobby Fischer to play chess! God sent Bobby Fischer to play chess for the Americans and to beat the Russians at their own game of chess during a Cold War period. If it weren't for Fischer, you would most likely not be writing these threads right now. You wouldn't even care about chess probably, because Fischer brought chess to you! Remember that! Listen to wisdom! While you're at it, why don't you laugh at the fact Morphy was a lunatic walking the streets during the last years of his life? That Morphy was a tiny little fellow, not manly looking at all? Why not make fun of Morphy, too? No, instead, any one of you would kiss Morphy's arse if he showed it to you, because any real chess player all but worships his immense skill and artistic vision. If you're going to judge Fischer, judge him on his chess. You don't sleep with him every night.
Originally posted by powershakerMorphy was a lunatic during the last years of his life? Poor guy. Or what a prick. Depends on the cause of his lunacy. I don't care about his size or how he looked.
I can't believe how you people can talk so badly about Bobby Fischer. After all the contributions that World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer has contributed to chess and our lives, you still judge him on every level other than chess. Get a grip! When God sent Fischer to planet Earth, he didn't want him to become the most likeable human being who ever e ...[text shortened]... you're going to judge Fischer, judge him on his chess. You don't sleep with him every night.
I judge people on everything I know about them. I don't allow fame or talent in one narrow area to make me all starstruck. I'd feel proud if I had the balls to tell Fischer (or Morphy) exactly what I thought about him.
However, if it's just mental illness and I could tell, I might be more forgiving. Unfortunately mental illness has hit enough friends and family that I might recognize it.
I'm surprised that you see a chess genius who is anti semitic and think he was sent by God to be the person who he is. What is more important to your religion; chess talent or being an anti semitic asshole?
Originally posted by powershakerIf god wanted Fischer to play chess, he sure must have been disappointed in 1975. I would love not to focus on his looney behavior, but it destroyed the guy's career, so it's hard not to talk about it. I would much rather be talking about Fischer's legacy as world champion, but unfortunately he never played a game as champion. (And no, 1992 doesn't count).
I can't believe how you people can talk so badly about Bobby Fischer. After all the contributions that World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer has contributed to chess and our lives, you still judge him on every level other than chess. Get a grip! When God sent Fischer to planet Earth, he didn't want him to become the most likeable human being who ever e ...[text shortened]... you're going to judge Fischer, judge him on his chess. You don't sleep with him every night.