It has been an up and down week for US Chess and the USCF last week. Most people at the delegate’s meeting were very much against Mr. Sloan. However, they voted to certify him anyway because they were afraid of potential frivolous lawsuits from him. He had cost the USCF a lot of money in attorney’s fees to defend his baseless lawsuits in the past. This money could have gone into promoting scholastic chess or other needed areas within the USCF.
The USCF also faced other problems. One of them is the ability to attract sponsors and advertisers. The federation tried to give away free ad space in Chess Life to lure major companies. Unfortunately, it seems that these companies did their due diligence and decided to walk away because of the reputation of this federation.
Things can only get worse with a convicted felon (with a long history of inappropriate behavior and conducts toward minors and women) serving on the Executive Board of a non-profit organization with 40,000 young members. The other problem is the USCF lost the support from a lot of current members, supporters, sponsors and partners because of politics as usual.
The good news is many supporters, promoters and organizers of scholastic chess decided to unite for the benefits of the game. I have reached an agreement with Internet Chess Club to organize many exciting upcoming scholastic and women’s chess events. There were also additional agreements made with Mon Roi and the organizers of the 2007 World Championship, etc. Dr. Alexey Root also gave me many good ideas about special OTB events across the country. I am very hopeful that many good things will come out from it. This will help the chess community OTB and online.
One thing that I noticed during my time in Oak Brook last week is there is such a BIG division between scholastic chess and adult chess. It seems that the two sides continued to drift further apart. Many parents and coaches were very angry that the welfare of their kids is jeopardized when someone with little moral, integrity and honesty was elected to represent their children and they have no voice other than walking away from the USCF, which is not what this federation wants or needs.
The problem is the people who have been involved in adult chess for so long just do not understand the needs of scholastic chess and the scholastic people do not appreciate the typical politics and bureaucracy that exist in adult chess. I feel that many parents, coaches and scholastic organizers are fed up with the status quo. They want changes ASAP. I think a split between the two components of the USCF is eminent. The election of a convicted felon on the USCF Executive Board further proves this argument.
The best thing that happened last week was the Denker and Polgar event. It was great seeing around 100 best young players from both genders representing their states for the national titles. They were there to play chess, make friends and gain the experience of a lifetime. Events like this will be one of the keys to keep young players in chess. These young players is the #1 reason why I am so passionate about promoting chess.
they have no voice other than walking away from the USCF, which is not what this federation wants or needs.
Which is one clear indicator that a complete housecleaning is needed at USCF. The poisonous fighting between factions is just inexcusable.
Hopefully when the scholastic side forms its own organization then USCF might wake up to some reality. but if everyone hangs in with the corruption then nothing will change. hanging in there with the corrupt only sends them a signal that corruption works.
I bet some corporations would be willing to support a good scholastic chess organization that is run correctly.
The USCF is now a total disgrace. I will not renew my membership.
Although I’ve resigned my USCF membership http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?10152763 for the reasons stated by irishspy and sunshine, I’d hope that folks would attempt a full housecleaning before walking.
Choose your bromide: “Do as I say, not as I do” or “The threat is stronger than the execution.” 😉
It’s a mistake to think that Sloan is the real problem. The culture that elected Sloan is the real problem.
The Dubeck/Goichberg feud is more important to its principals than the well-being of USCF. [Sloan] can’t be blamed–he’s only a pawn in their game.
Bill Brock, Chicago
I posted the following suggestion in one of the other threads, so please forgive the repetition, but I fear it was so far down in the thread as to be overlooked.
——————-
I have a suggestion that may seem a bit radical, but over time I think it’s pretty much the only way to address the ongoing issues with both USCF and FIDE systems. The problem is both are a monopoly, so recourse from even a person as powerful in the chess community as Susan or Bessel Kok is very limited. What we need is compettion. Competition is the way you keep people and organizations honest.
So where do we find viable competition for the entrenched bureascracies without spending buckets of money that none of us have? The chess servers!! There are multitudes of people playing online on ICC, Playchess, FICS, ChessOK and others. These even have their own tournaments. The only reason these don’t have credibility today is they don’t have a standardized rating system with titles that are credible. When it comes down to the bottom line, what keeps USCF and FIDE going is their rating system and title system.
I suggest somebody (Susan??) get together with some of the top chess server owners, along with someone like Jeff Sonas (who has credibility in the rating world) and develop a sanctioned rating and title system that can be applied universally to the online chess world.
This can actually become a solid and respected set of titles (Online Grandmaster?, Online Master?) if the rating system is solid enough and enforced well enough so that someone with an Online Grandmaster title incurs a similar amount of respect as a FIDE GM.
Once that happens there’s a viable alternative to the USCF and FIDE, so they’ll either have to clean up their act or become irrelevant. The online world will never replace OTB tournaments, but they can certainly become a solid alternative that will do a lot to improve both sides.
http://bobdylan.com/songs/pawn.html
Right up there with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Night_in_Bangkok
🙂
the Web is great, Paul, and should be exploited to its fullest extent (as Susan is doing on ICC) but it’s not substitute for real community.
The demise of club chess is one of the biggest problems in the US scene. Here in Chicago, we don’t have one viable club.
–BB
No-one ‘wants’ Mr. Sloan but in an elected system what mechanism or right to others have to exclude him? He has the right to be at the Board meetings.
In a democracy, you often get bad candidates elected, especially at local level where the town bully or con man can get it. Even at national level, getting votes counts, being a good person does not.
You can boycott USCF, but you cannot complain that ‘they’ don’t ‘choose’ to get rid of Mr Sloan – they can’t do it.
First, what a great photo. Second, as the mother of a young female chess player, I am appalled by the USCF’s condoning of Sam Sloan who has a long record of sexist and racist comments and behavior. (BTW, I read on the USCF boards that he was supposed to clean up his website but when I checked today, it was still full of material that is objectionable. Maybe the USCF board thinks that his sexual objectification of young Asian women is okay — you can practically hear the middle aged white men chuckling that boys will be boys — but I do not (and I bet that most chess parents are with me 100% on this point). So here is my question for Susan: You have a very talented chess playing son who has already risen to the top of his age group with an impressive USCF rating. My daughter went to her first Nationals this year and loved the experience. How can we walk away from the USCF (something I would love to do) but still participate in these great state-wide and national events and still be rated?
you can practically hear the middle aged white men chuckling that boys will be boys
Not all of us. But Don Schultz, for example, has been eager to look the other way for his water boy.
How can we walk away from the USCF (something I would love to do) but still participate in these great state-wide and national events and still be rated?
Simple, nyc chess mom: encourage Susan and other leading players to ally themselves with another national chess organization.
But I’m inclined to give USCF a little space to work this situation out first.
Sloan has already begun a fundraising campaign…for himself.
http://www.samsloan.com/donations.html
Is that donation site a joke or is he actually hoping to capitalize on his election? The other members of the EB apparently think that they can “control” this guy but it’s obvious from anyone who took Psych 101 in college that they are mistaken. BTW, I am happily married to a middle aged white boy so I don’t think they are all bad!
This is what I just sent to the USCF EB:
Dear members of the USCF executive board,
This morning, my business manager Paul Truong has informed you of the illegal use of my picture on Mr. Sam Sloan’s commercial website http://www.SamSloan.com. He asked for you to handle this matter. It has been 12 hours and my picture is still up on Mr. Sloan’s commercial website.
I was just informed by other USCF members that Mr. Sloan has a link on his website asking people to donate money to him now that he has been elected to the executive board. This link is located right above my picture. I ask that the USCF take immediate action toward the illegal use of my picture for his solicitation of money.
Neither my business manager (who took the photograph) nor I give Mr. Sloan the permission to use my picture. Neither of us condones his actions and behavior. This illegal use of my picture on Mr. Sloan’s website directly affects my professional and personal reputation as I want to have nothing to do with Mr. Sloan. If this matter is not resolved immediately, I have no choice but to seek legal actions to remedy this matter.
This is not what I want to do but I have no choice if this is not handled properly and at once. Mr. Sloan is now a member of the USCF executive board. All of you were informed in advance of his inappropriate behavior. This is totally unacceptable coming from an official of the USCF.
Thank you!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org
What about the $10,000 that was marked to be used for the medical expenses for Beatrice Maranello (spelling?)… wasn’t this one of the motions that was PASSED at the delegates meeting???
The USCF = Titanic
Yes, they gave her more money.
Just curiously, what is the story with Marinello? Is she still on the EB? Is her medical condition such that she will be able to serve out her term? I am not a fan of hers (based on the FIDE election fiasco as well as other things I’ve heard about her from friends in the chess world) but don’t wish her ill. Serving on the same board as Sloan can’t be doing anything to improve her health.
Some people have posted on the USCF board that the USCF is insulated from liability for Sam Sloan’s actions outside of his USCF board activities. They seem to think that his activities can be cleanly carved up into USCF activities and non-USCF activities but life isn’t always so neat and clean. Take, for example, his new website asking for “campaign contributions” and announcing his recent election to the USCF board. Is he wearing his USCF hat or non-USCF hat?
If I hadn’t actually clicked on that link to witness it for myself I would have found it impossible to believe that even Sloan would stoop so low as to slander you Susan by posting your picture there.
Shocking!
His vindictiveness is matched only by his immorality.
A cease and desist order would not even be a sufficient penalty.
good luck
I’ve not been impressed with scholastic chess in the U.S.
Some years ago I obtained Club TD certification, volunteered to help in a couple of places, got jerked around.
I can do without it, and so can my son.
With the kindest intent, could Susan and Paul learn the correct usage for the words “worst” and “worse?”
When I start speaking Hungarian and/or Vietnamese I will welcome their help.
😉
I will be interested to see if the USCF in any way has any juristiction over Mr. Sloan’s personal website. Yes, I would agree that the USCF should pressure Mr. Sloan to remove GM Polgar’s picture, but if GM Polgar needs to take legal action (which is within her right), I think it needs to be at Mr. Sloan directly, and not the USCF.
Paul, online chess can’t replace USCF tournaments because it’s impossible to stop cheating at normal time controls. How would you know if I’m using my second computer to lookup a few key moves to “earn” my title and a healthy cash prize?
Also, meeting other people in person has some value to me. Online chess is great, but it can’t replace offline chess quite yet.
“How would you know if I’m using my second computer to lookup a few key moves to “earn” my title and a healthy cash prize?”
You Americans always think how to cheat first. Shame on you. Cheaters.
qhsuxs
These are dark days for chess. Cheating scandals and Sam Sloan!?
History has shown that only bad things happen when the mentally deficient are placed into authority. The potential of the US Chess Federation has been evicerated, and new leadership is clearly needed.
What a neverending frustrating experience it has been.
Sloan will extort the USCF with his threat of lawsuits, and the integrity or whatever is left, is compromised to the point of no return.
My only saving grace is that there are some good people that really are the furture in whatever form it may be.