It’s not just about sports at the international Jewish Olympics
By Karin Kloosterman
July 05, 2009
Countering stereotypes that Jewish people are better known for their thinking skills than athletic prowess is the 18th Maccabiah Games happening July 12 to 23 throughout Israel.
The once in every four years Jewish version of the Olympics is expected to draw more than 5,300 athletes from around the world, and a couple of thousand from Israel. It will be the largest event of its kind ever, say organizers.
The United States is expected to send some of its most promising Jewish athletic stars to the event, considered one of the five largest sporting events in the world by participation.
This year those from the US expected to come include swimmer Jason Lezak, a gold medalist from three Olympics Games, Sydney Athens and Beijing. “The man responsible for Michael Phelps’ victory in the relay,” says event spokesperson Yaron Michaeli.
Three competitions in one
Always held in Israel, the games include three separate competitions: Open, Juniors, and Masters, and every Israeli citizen, and every Jewish person from around the world is eligible to compete. This year participation is expected to come from Jewish people representing some 50 different countries.
And to meet the needs of the chess players who want to be in the “game,” the International Chess Festival, part of this year’s Maccabiah Games, will take place in Netanya starting on July 12. According to festival organizers there will be a game for everyone, pro level all the way down to amateurs.
“Chess will be fantastically high-level in all divisions: Jews are traditionally great in Chess, and a lot of the world’s top talent will be here. Ten Jewish Grandmasters are coming to a special competition,” added Dr. Gilad Weingarten the Maccabiah sports department chairman.
Here is the full article.
I like to see a game for Goichberg, Hough and their gang at Alcatraz. Did Bill Hall turn Goichberg and his gang in for bribery?
Dear Bill Goichberg,
I just got my subpoena to produce documents for your case against Susan and Paul.
Not a problem – I have absolutely nothing to hide.
But I am appalled at who is requesting this information.
IT IS CONTINENTAL CHESS!!!!!!
Not the USCF. Not Sam Sloan. Nope, it’s you, Bill Goichberg.
Why the vendetta? When I found out that you and Jerry Hanken arranged, by paying for rooms and free entries, to have Jessica and her husband Hero, vote to expel Susan and Paul from the board and your lawyer accusing them of doing things that are still in question – I decided I really don’t want to associate with an organization run like this.
After your failed attempt Jerry Hanken sent me a ” drop dead – get lost” email.
Hanken and you are the reasons I am getting out of chess.
And now you are personally pursuing this. You should be ashamed!!
Fred Gruenberg
(There are a total 9 emails between USCF President Bill Goichberg, USCF EB Secretary Randy Hough, Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken and the individual who was bribed. These two individuals were certified as delegates from Southern California delegate and NY Downstate by Bill Goichberg. These emails are now part of the evidence.)
Note that the legal fees for Continental Chess is paid for by the USCF instead of Bill Goichberg personally while Goichberg and the USCF denied Polgar and Truong of indemnification.
Also note that Fred Gruenberg is at least the 4th person who has corroborated with the bribery charges against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken.
How come the USCF attorneys are not investigating this issue? How come the USCF attorney are not reporting this illegal conduct to the authority as they have done with others, especially when the proof is in black and white? How come the members are not informed of this illegal conduct instead of the BS that is being put in Chess Life and CLO by Bill Hall?
How come honest Randy Bauer and Jim Berry are not talking out about this? How come honest Bauer and Jim Berry are not demanding an investigation?
How come Goichberg’s candidates Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins and people who are on his camp like Brian Mottershead and Brian Lafferty are not demanding for Goichberg and Hough be removed from the Executive Board for their illegal conduct?
How come all these guys are not demanding to have Jerry Hanken removed as President of Chess Journalist of America? And these are pretending to demand for transparency and honesty?
Come one, be real. What do you want them to do? Prosecuting Goichberg, Jim Berry, Hough and Hanken isn’t on their agenda. This was never about the welfare of the USCF or finding out the truth. This was always about Goichberg trying to knock off people who opposed him, his friends, and his political agenda. This is what he has done for 30-40 years. Why would it be different now? The only difference is all others walked away while Polgar fought back on behalf of the members. She said that’s what she would do and she kept her word. That’s the one thing they didn’t expect. They clearly expect Polgar and Truong to walk away. Now we can clearly see this Goichberg and Jim Berry scheme to be reelected and keep their power for another 4 years. I hope Polgar won’t ever back down. She’s the only one who can fight the USCF Mafia.
Example 1: (Hanken to Goichberg)
Come on Bill, I will go half on the airfare. There are so many good reasons to do this. Give it some thought. Just think what going half means to me and what it means to you. If we lose a critical vote, you will think of this. All the money you have given the USFCF will be in the toilet if we ultimately lose this fight.
Jerry
Example 2: (Hanken to the person who they bribed)
If Bill says “yes”, you wouldn’t owe anything to him. I asked for a sponsorship gift, not a loan. At the Open, you could still spend lots of time with … Also you may have some pay for the blog you will do for Jennifer.
…Notice that I am willing to provide some food for you and …. I will have a fridge which will help. As to changeing, aren’t you on Southwest? They .don’t charge to change or cancel a trip.
Example 3: (Hanken to the persons who they bribed)
Dear …. and ….,
If …. is willing to serve as a Delegate, it is important that you go on line today (when it is still July) and purchase a six month membership in USCF. It is $25 and I will personally reimburse you this money. I hope to talk with you later today, ….
Jerry
Note that both persons were certified by S. CA and NY (by Goichbrg himself), states of Hough, Hanken, and Goichberg!!! And look up when one person became a USCF member, days before the vote. There are plenty more. It can also be backed up with phone records among all parties. You can do your own research for the rest.
Bribery is illegal. This one involved the USCF President Bill Goichberg, USCF Secretary Randy Hough and Chess Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken. USCF VP of Finance Randy Bauer, USCF VP Jim Berry and USCF ED Bill Hall are hiding this very serious illegal conduct from ALL USCF members. When will honest Randy Bauer, Jim Berry and Bill Hall launch an investigation against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken? Hmmm? When will you demand for Goichberg, Hough, Bauer, Hall and Berry to resign? How come I don’t hear the bogus moral outrage scream from Harry Payne, Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins, Brian Lafferty, Brian Mottershead, and the rest of the gang? Where’s the phone call from Lafferty to the authority to report this illegal conduct? How pathetic!
It’s pathetic that the USCF and the board majority (Randy Bauer and Jim Berry) chose to cover up corruption and illegal conduct by the USCF President Bill Goichberg and others.
Now it’s clear why Goichber are so anxious to go after Polgar. He doesn’t want anyone who can expose his long time pattern of despicable behavior on the board. Bauer is screaming about fiduciary duty all the time and yet he and Jim Berry chose to do NOTHING! What a hypocrite!
It’s pathetic that the USCF and the board majority (Randy Bauer and Jim Berry) chose to cover up corruption and illegal conduct by the USCF President Bill Goichberg and others.
Now it’s clear why Goichber are so anxious to go after Polgar. He doesn’t want anyone who can expose his long time pattern of despicable behavior on the board. Bauer is screaming about fiduciary duty all the time and yet he and Jim Berry chose to do NOTHING! What a hypocrite!
Defendants Hanken, Hough and Goichberg wanted so badly to see Truong removed from the Board that they even went as far as bribing a USCF member, Jessica Lauser, and her husband, Hero Smith, with free hotel accommodations, airline tickets, tournament entry fees, meals and future writing opportunities in exchange for them to come to Dallas for the Delegates Meeting and vote to remove Truong. Lauser was never a Delegate, and Smith was not even a member of the USCF until days before the USCF Delegates’ Meeting, when Hanken, Hough and Goichberg paid Smith’s membership fees. Hough and Goichberg then certified both Lauser and Smith as Delegates so they could vote against Truong in the motions to remove Truong from the Executive Board. After the “USCF trial” against Truong, Lauser and Smith voted against removing Truong from the Executive Board. Despite attending the meeting with the purpose of voting for Truong’s removal, they changed their votes after hearing facts Truong presented in his defense and which facts were suppressed by Defendants Kronenberger, Goichberg, Hall, Hough, Hanken, and Berry.
The above is in the California court filing. Goichberg, Hough, and Hanken should be permanently banned from the USCF. Jim Berry, Randy Bauer, and Bill Hall should be banned for 10 years for covering this up.