In my opinion, this is the best interview of Bobby. In this interview, he was quite himself. This was how he talked, joked and behaved when I knew him.
February 8, 2008, 8:11 pm
New York Times
By Dick Cavett
Was It Only a Game?
Among this year’s worst news, for me, was the death of Bobby Fischer.
Telling a friend this, I got, “Are you out of your bloody mind? He was a Nazi-praising raving lunatic and anti-Semite. Death is too good for him.”
He did, indeed, become all that. But none of it describes the man I knew.
Towering genius, riches, international fame and a far from normal childhood might be too heady a mix for anyone to handle. For him they proved fatal.
I’m still sad about his death. In our three encounters on my late-night show, I became quite fond of him.
Viewing the tapes of those memorable appearances, a licensed professional in the field of psychiatry might see foreshadowings of the savage illness that eventually engulfed him. I didn’t.
…
Getting Fischer on my show that first time, before the big match, was considered a major catch at the time. If anyone in the audience shared my image of what a chess genius probably looked like, Bobby’s entrance erased it.
Here was no Nabakovian homunculus. There appeared, somewhat disconcerted, a tall and handsome lad with football-player shoulders, impeccably suited, a little awkward of carriage and unsure how to negotiate the unfamiliarity of the set, the bright lights, the wearing of make-up, the band music, the hand-shaking and the thundering ovation — all at the same time. I had hoped to avoid the cliché “gangling,” but Bobby gangled. He sort of lurched into his chair.
Once seated, he was something to behold. Six foot two (tall in those days), athletic in build, perfect in grooming, and with striking features. The face radiated intelligence. You couldn’t confuse him with anyone you’d ever seen.
And there were the eyes.
Cameras fail to convey the effect of his eyes when they were looking at you. A bit of Svengali perhaps, but vulnerable. And only the slightest hint of a sort of theatrical menace, the menace that so disconcerted his opponents.
Looking out over the audience, I could clearly see entranced women gazing at him as if willing to offer their hearts — and perhaps more — to the hunky chess master.
When I asked him about such matters, he said that the awful demands of his life — the global travel; the constant study, sometimes until dawn, followed by play; the punishing five-hour sessions at full concentration, day after day — all this made it “pretty hard to . . . [hesitates] . . . build up a relationship.” He seemed quite surprised with himself, as did friends watching, that he had allowed so revealing a moment. (That old Cavett magic, no doubt.)
Here is the full story and VIDEO.
I used to love the Dick Cavett show. He’s great.
Fischer was a cool dude in this interview.
I am quite confident that the American authorities , the CIA or something of that sort had hurt Fischer , though I have no proof. Fischer was sensitive and fragile at heart and it was relatively easy to hurt him emotionally.
Now that he is not with us I can only mourn for him. He was the artist the genius, the mad. May his soul rest in peace.
God bless Fischer.
Fischer really was an interesting person then and it is sad that his great talent only partially realized. Yes, he won the WCC and he did so against incredible odds, but in watching this tape you realize that he was once also just a person trying to make his way through the world. He could have been any young, handsome guy who worked at some job and maybe was an ex-jock. It was only in that one little moment when asked if he really believed he was the best player in the world, was there no comfy joking around.
I was terribly sad when Fischer died. I think I harbored an unconscious and irrational hope that someday he would get over his illness and regain his sanity. Now I am harboring the irrational hope that he faked his death to escape the clutches of the US government.
Thanks for posting the old interview!
Fischer lives! The 64 squares are his dreams and the pieces his heart. We all touch a piece of Bobby when we play chess. We share his love and dreams.
Hi Susan,
Just wanted to let you know “Cavett” is spelled “Davett” on your main page, regarding this article. It confused me for a moment. Thought you might like to correct it.
Thanks.
Thank you! I fixed it!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.ChessDiscussion.com