Originally posted by HOLIJVEThe only American to win the world chess championship, a US champion at age 16 and a Grandmaster at 14 a "not bad" chess player? That's like saying Muhammad Ali was an OK fighter, Babe Ruth was a decent hitter and Jack Nicklaus could play a little golf!!!!
Let's be clear, Bobby was a "not bad" chess-player.
Fun in those times.
But now : a sick mind.
H.
I think the petition speaks for itself; I again urge people to read it and sign it. However "sick" you might think the Fish is, there is no denying he greatly contributed to the growth of the game, particulary in the USA. And requests for pardons typically examine the applicant's accomplishments and other factors to determine whether these outweigh the crime they allegedly committed. As for the "average joe" argument, it seems Fischer is being singled out for punishment as no other individual who participated in the match: Spassky, organizers, referees, seconds, etc. has ever been charged with violating the sanctions.
Bobby Fischer, the former world chess champion who is wanted by the United States for defying sanctions on Yugoslavia, was finalizing an appeal on Monday against a decision by the Japanese authorities to deport him, his supporters said. Fischer, 61 was detained in Tokyo in July when he tried to leave for the philippines on a passport that U.S. officials said was invalid. Fischer is thinking of going to Serbia-Montenegro if allowed to leave for a third country, a Belgrade Radio station reported. Fischer has been wanted in the United Sates since 1992, when he defied U.S. economic sanctions against Yugoslavia to play a chess match there against his old rival Boris Spassky.
International Herald Tribune, Tuesday August 3, 2004.
It disgusts me to see people harping on about how sick he is and how he was an "OK" player. Oh well...continue by all means, i dont doubt that there will be alot of people bitching behind your backs too all the days of your lives...
The greatest chess player there ever was and here i see people posting snide comments. ffs why do I even bother...
Originally posted by rossroeLook, face facts. The guy has psychological problems. He thinks September 11th was great and that all the evil Jews are out to get him. I would certainly hope that if I started spouting opinions like that and behaving in such a bizarre manner, people would criticize me, behind my back and to my face.
It disgusts me to see people harping on about how sick he is and how he was an "OK" player. Oh well...continue by all means, i dont doubt that there will be alot of people bitching behind your backs too all the days of your lives...
The greatest chess player there ever was and here i see people posting snide comments. ffs why do I even bother...[/b]
Seriously, have you listened to his interviews in the Philippines and with Icelandic TV? They are quite disturbing.
Originally posted by RedmikePaul Morphy was an American and he was undoubtedly the finest player of his era, but most chess historians don't consider him a World Champion. In 1858, Morphy went to England with the intention of playing a match against Howard Stanton who was generally considered the World Champion (although there was no formal procedures for determining a World Champion) but Stanton basically ducked Morphy. Morphy then went to Paris and played Adolf Anderssen, a very strong player who had won the first International Masters Tournament in 1851. Morphy easily won the match, but it was not billed as a World Championship match and not widely considered as one. One could plausibly claim that as Morphy had defeated the winner of the first International Masters Tournament he could be considered a World Champion, but as there is not agreement on the point I omitted Morphy (besides it makes Fish's accomplishments sound greater). Good point, though!
Wasn't Paul Morphy American?
If someone wants to read a very good (brief) biography of Morphy and take a look at some of his games, go to www.angelfire.com/games/sbchess/morphy.
Originally posted by seraphimvultureWOA!! It's not exactly on-topic, but I really have to question Poe as the greatest poet (Shakespeare?! Homer?!), and the Beatles as the greatest music is even wilder (Mozart?! Miles Davis?! Robert Johnson?!) Even limiting both to western culture...
For music, mostly everyone agrees that The Beatles are the greatest. Poetry, most consider Poe to be the greatest.
-Kev
Similarly, I've heard convincing arguments made for Capablanca and Kasparov...
Originally posted by rossroeI don't know, but maybe if there was a big hole in the largest city in YOUR country, and Fischer went on the radio to say he applauded the cowards who did it, and said that your country has had it coming for some time, then maybe....just maybe, your opinion would be different. Or not, I don't know.
Bobby Fischer, the former world chess champion who is wanted by the United States for defying sanctions on Yugoslavia, was finalizing an appeal on Monday against a decision by the Japanese authorities to deport him, his supporters said. Fischer, 61 was detained in Tokyo in July when he tried to leave for the philippines on a passport that U.S. officials said ...[text shortened]... player there ever was and here i see people posting snide comments. ffs why do I even bother...
wow i guess you showed me. in case you didnt notice my post was not a blank cheque for bobby fisher to say what he wanted to say, i was merely pointing out that he was a great chess player and, apparently all he's being remembered for (certainly on this site anyway) is his rants on the radio.
if you want to go off topic and discuss this elsewhere, fine make a new topic. perhaps if the U.S. stopped invading countries there wouldnt be any more holes in its cities. the fact that the administration is condoning tortune and wanton murder really does make me wonder sometimes about my fellow man.