Author: Lawrence S. Tamarkin
Date: 09:06:14 02/26/99
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I'll aviod a long reply to your two replys to me, as I don't have the energy even though I am somewhat passionate about the subject. You make a lot of good points, and perhaps Fischer does deserve our sympathy, and pity, as well as our contempt. (But I really don't think anyone should try to help him at this point, because it is always a lost cause). As always, there is at least two sides to every story, and in Fischer's case even many more. The fact(s) remains that Fischer never played a rated game against another human being after becoming the World Champion in the '70's. The sad fact(s) remain that he has associated himself with things that are hateful & dispicaple. The fact(s) remain that if their were no Fischer, then I (& many other children of the '60's ['70's & '80's too?]), would never have gotton into chess in the first place. As T-pring said in the Star Trek epidsode, 'Amok Time', "I grieve for thee" - That is for every one of us (including Fischer), that has lost how much potentially better it all could have been, if Fischer was just not like he is. I dream of better histories, because the pain of the way it was (and is), is very sad. So let us dream that one day soon, an American young super talent will arise (perhaps Irina Krush?), who will attact even more young (& everybody really!, especially the media which seems to value Baseball, Footbal & even Golf so much more highly in this country), people into this game that we love so much. And also that such a person will have (& develop), no unusual phopia's, hatred's & demons that would make us look bad. mrslug - the inkompetent chess software addict! On February 26, 1999 at 04:37:25, Oliver Y. wrote: >On February 25, 1999 at 11:06:02, Lawrence S. Tamarkin wrote: > >>My evidence while mostly circumstantial is based on the many books and articles >>I've read about Fischer over the years. Repeatedly, Fischer is depicted as >>someone who is (and has become), completely mistrustful of business people, and >>has little respect for authority, other then his own. If I was a scholar I >>think I would have little problem citing references, but here I'll just leave it >>to you, to research these various books, (such as Frank Brady's, Profile of a >>Prodigy, among other's), for further info here. Additionally, I know one of >>Bobby's few remaining American friends (SK), quite well. She speaks to Fischer >>at least once a month. In the first few years of their relationship, Fischer >>thought nothing of making long distance collect calls to this women on a regular >>basis; it was exasperation by her furious husband (also a chess teacher), who >>was sick of seeing 300 dollar telephone bills from Fischer, that I'm told has >>led to that changing. Now Fischer understands that if he wants to speak to her, >>he has to pay for the calls himself. He does not call as often, but he does >>still call. Her husband tells me about the silliness of the calls - just more >>of Fischer's spouting off about how the Dirty Jews are, 'out to get him', >>Anti-Semitic jokes, and how refreshing, Indian movies that they have both >>enjoyed... JK once played back a recording of this (picked up accidentally from >>the answering machine), random conversation for me to listen too. He was still >>trying to figure out whether it was worth paying for these phone calls while his >>wife had this nutty phone affair with this once famous guy. (She even went and >>met the bozo in Dubai once!). Other factors were that the USCF has done her >>some favors, (qualification and travel), because of the tenuous possibility >>that she could lure him out of retirement. This all happened before Fischer's >>Illegal rematch with Boris Spassky in 1992. >> >>What makes it even more funny is that Fischer hates the (supposedly), Jew >>dominated American Chess Foundation, which was bending over backwards to help SK >>(She is NOT Jewish, to go to the Olympiads, and qualified for some US Women's >>events that would have been iffy otherwise, and was ready to help Fischer too. >> >>Does this not tell us something about how Fischer deals with reality & money? >> >>As far as my 'not dealing in reality' statement earlier, I stand by it. A great >>majority of us, whatever else we do/say in our daily lives, are as sure that the >>Holocaust took place as much as some are unconvinced that their are >>extraterrestrials. And even if we thought there was no Holocaust, we would NOT >>be spouting Anti-Semitic hatred of Jews, and implying what could be done about >>them, in the most obscene way. Unfortunately, here it is not just Fischer that >>is not in reality, but these awful radio stations that would let him spout this >>stuff, without even editing (or at least confronting him with an intelligent >>counterpoint to his mad muttering's), and letting this stuff get on the air. Is >>it any wonder that Jews (And Black's & any other oppressed people), worry that a >>new Madman can come about and cause a new Holocaust? >> >>mrslug - the inkompetent chess software addict! >> >> >> >>On February 25, 1999 at 01:11:30, Oliver Y. wrote: >> >>>Larry T. stated: >>> >>>>"But based on what we know about Fischer, it is very likely that he owed money >for a long time." >>> >>>What is your evidence for the above statement? >>> >>>You also said, "Clearly, he is not dealing in the reality of the every day >>>world..."Flame prevention disclaimer: I am expressing no opinion about Fischer in this >>>post. >> >>> >>>Name me one person on this planet whom you know who, "does deal in the reality >>>of the real world." >>> >>>I'll give you two tools: Naturalistic Fallacy and History. >>> >>> > >Larry, I loved reading your post--packed with juicy anecdotes, thanks for >sharing with us. > >Okay, now let me go into Vulcan mode, so forgive me for being coldblooded. > >BTW, to all members, Larry and I get along just fine, I'll tell you more if you >want in about 4 months. > >1. You stated: "it is very likely that he owed money >for a long time." > >Was there ever an agreement that he should pay for the collect calls? You give >no evidence whatsoever that he didn't pay his bills. I've read some of the >books, maybe all of the books you have quoted. I recall that people have stated >that Bobby was a very nice man, warm, genuine, generous. I make no statement >whatsoever re more recent reports--I have insufficient evidence to pass >judgment, nor am I qualified to pass judgment. > >[One of the ideas I was suggesting is that by virtue of being World Champion, we >treat him the way we would treat the Queen of England, if we were subjects.] > >2. You also stated, "As far as my 'not dealing in reality' statement earlier, I >stand by it." > >I never insinuated that Fischer was dealing in reality [I remain neutral in >order to maintain objectivity, otherwise this thread would be hopeless.] >rather, I asked you to name one person on this planet who DOES deal in reality. > >Semantics? No. Name one. Simple question.
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