ON CHESS
Easygoing characters scarce in royal game
Saturday, September 5, 2009 6:20 AM
By SHELBY LYMAN
For an elite chess player, the recent words of baseball pitcher Pedro Martinez might suggest a competitive sport from another planet.
Martinez, who is enjoying a late-career comeback, recalls with obvious pride: “I want to be remembered as a fun player. I will enjoy every pitch and every moment of my life in baseball.”
His statement brings to mind the stance of the playful Manny Ramirez, whose relaxed attitude angered baseball fans and sportswriters when he suggested that losing wasn’t the worst thing that could happen; there was always tomorrow.
I can’t think of anyone similar in chess except Latvia’s whimsical Mikhail Tal, who declared from a winner’s podium: “My heart is filled with sunshine.”
Chess kings Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov were rarely, if ever, as relaxed and easygoing as the two baseball titans.
Both seemed to equate losing with death. Kasparov avoided facing his loss of supremacy by retiring while in his prime. Fischer died in 2008 still insisting that he was world champion, although he had forfeited his title more than 30 years before.
Source: http://www.columbusdispatch.com
Fischer IS the world champ. There’s a Fischer sighting in Vegas.
Yep, I saw him with Elvis and MJ.
“Kasparov avoided facing his loss of supremacy by retiring while in his prime. Fischer died in 2008 still insisting that he was world champion, although he had forfeited his title more than 30 years before.”
These chess guys are neurotic cowards.
Cowards die a thousand deaths. -ancient proverb