Tuesday, January 22, 2008

R.I.P. Bobby Fischer

What can I say? Bobby Fischer meant a lot to those of us who grew up as chess nerds. Back in the '80s, we knew he was kind of weird and reclusive, but as time dragged on, his paranoid delusions became stranger and stranger.

He may have been the best chess player ever. If Kasparov or others reach or exceed his level, it's only due to his efforts. Even as a crazed middle-aged man, Fischer, if asked a question about chess, could provide a lucid, rational answer. Asked about anything else, he would be reduced to profane oaths and racist barbs: he fully subscribed to white supremacist beliefs about Zionist occupation governments and such and was convinced until his dying day that the Jews were out to get him. (He, of course, was raised by his Jewish mother in Brooklyn and, it was later discovered, was fathered by a Jewish Hungarian.)

It's hard not to want to eulogize such a guy--but, in this case, it can only be for the chess player, not the man. WARNING: not for the weak-eared. This is very offensive stuff.

4 comments:

Chris said...

What's going on with the Enya music juxtaposed with the foaming at the mouth wacko ranting? I laughed out loud when it came back in following BF's spewing.

Steve said...

It's supposed to cleanse your soul!

Chris said...

I'd prefer to cleanse my soul with Drano than with Enya.

I never knew you were a chess nerd. Were you pissed off when Deep Blue beat that commie?

Steve said...

Hell naw! Commie or no, I always cheer for the compuyter!