The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 14
Bobby Fischer's New Tactics?
Bobby Fischer is to chess what Muhammad Ali is to boxing and Joe Namath is to football. He is controversial, talented and unpredictable. Especially is he is unpredictable.
Mr. Fischer is scheduled to play a 24-game world championship match with the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky on Sunday in Reykjavik, Iceland. But as of Thursday he had not shown up. In chess terms, that is comparable to having Namath absent as the New York Jets go through their pre-game warmups at the Super Bowl.
Some say Mr. Fischer is only building up tension so he can assure a bigger gate. Others say he is still holding out in hopes that the Icelandic Chess Federation will agree to his demand for 30 per cent of the box office receipts.
The explanation we like the best is that Mr. Fischer is playing a war of nerves with Mr. Spassky and attempting to get an upper hand before play begins. Considering that Mr. Spassky has beaten the young American in five previous meetings, every little bit helps.
Bobby Fischer's New Tactics? 01 Jul 1972, Sat The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina) Newspapers.com
[Overlooked facts. It's wrongly assumed, Bobby Fischer was “afraid” of the World Chess Organizers, “blowing his opportunity” as some put it (as though he weren't fully aware of the consequences of what he was doing and would “regret” it), “trembling in fear” that he might not win the title. Fischer was in a state of mind to gamble and jerk their chains, for, as he tells Johnny Carson, November 08, 1972: “…this is really what kept me on. If they [Soviets] had just shut up, and ignored me and uh, you know and said I was a very fine player, I MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE FOR THE TITLE. It DIDN'T MATTER to me that much. I KNEW I WAS the best. But they kept saying this ALL THE TIME. Putting me down. Got me mad.”
Secondly, Fischer didn't care that much about the money, either. He turned around and gave it away to the Worldwide Church of God, and what wasn't given freely by Fischer, was pilfered by Church Lawyer, Stanley Rader.
Thirdly, these reporters have already forgotten that repetitively while Fischer was in training and silent throughout January-May 1972, with little or no “available comment” he did issue request for a percent of the gate receipts, but right after, the New York Times reported of a telegram Fischer sent to FIDE with clarification, he had every intention of playing and apologized if there were any misunderstanding. But that was only the beginning of the Belgrade and Reykjavik organizers spreading wild, baseless rumors. Not only did they fail to properly communicate with Fischer, they issued forth a flood rumors to blacken Fischer's reputation. Plots were underway to disqualify and replace Fischer with Petrosian. (That was no idle rumor by Ken Smith, as it was soon substantiated in newspaper reports from out of Europe). Even going so far as producing a “White Book” filled with accusations, but not a single authenticated telegram. GM Byrne reported on his review of the contents, and used terms such as “quoted Fischer as saying” and “allegedly said” which conveys to the reader, there was no actual evidence to substantiate a thing Belgrade organizers were claiming! According to their sordid rumors, supposedly, Bobby had allegedly stated he would not play Spassky “if” this, or “if” that … which had no truth to it. NOW, at the last minute, it appears Fischer is turning up the heat under those who deserved to get their hindquarters roasted … Fischer appears to be making good on those Belgrade-invented rumors. Bearing in mind what Fischer confided to Johnny Carson, November 08, 1972 … “I might not have gone for the title. It didn't matter to me that much.” Both the American press and the Soviets were projecting the Soviet's desperate graspings to monopolize the title, on to Fischer, whom in 1975, again, made good on his word to Carson. Fed up with Soviet antics, Fischer DID walk away … for two decades!]
