ADaily News New York, New York Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 122
Bobby's Acquaintances Repeat Soviet Propaganda Because They Don't Know Enough, To Know the Difference by Dave Hirshey and William McFadden
Bobby Fischer, the chess grandmaster, is in danger of losing ([very few, a minority, Americans loved Bobby, the others, were already dangling from Soviet propaganda arm]) many of whom deplore his tactics ([they deplore his aggressive stylistic approach to life, on and off the chessboard? They don't appreciate how greatness operates. Can't have one without the other. That is why Bobby became a national sensation, a celebrity and they are… well, merely, acquainted with him]) in the current brouhaha in Iceland.
But Fischer is still revered as the most masterful chess player the world has ever produced.
That was some of the reaction that boiled up around town yesterday as Bobby waited, in Iceland at last, for his world championship match to begin with Russia's Boris Spassky.
Said Peter Stevens, a crack amateur who plays at the Marshall Chess Club, one of the major chess centers in the city:
“Bobby is a very lucky guy. ([LUCK had nothing to do with it.]) If it had not been for the millionaire Englishman and his pot-sweetener, I'm sure Bobby would just have painted himself out of the championship match. ([For organizers to do what? Announce Fischer is being replaced with Petrosian, for another Russian-Vs-Soviet showdown... and while crowds turn away with loss of interest, and landslide loss of revenue, even the Russian people had grown tired of the same ole . . . Bobby KNEW those organizers were eager to make a hefty profit, and it was not possible without the one and only, Robert James Fischer. Fischer checkmated the whole system of USSR and their Organizers with his boycott, proving once and for all, they NEEDED him — but he didn't need them. He confirmed this, verbally, in his answer to Johnny Carson, November 1972. The World Title was NOT that important to him, because he already knew, and absolutely confident that he was already the world's best … but the Soviets chose for years to downplay his skill in the press, waging a war of Ad Hominems compelling him to go all the way for the world title. The world tournament was a mere formality to establish Fischer officially as the world's #1.])
“Bobby's a first-class player—and a second-class extortionist. ([How figured? The chess world was checkmated into practically begging Fischer on bended knee to appear in Reykjavik, because Bobby would have them to PROVE his worth. If it had been anyone else, they'd dismissed them and replaced with Petrosian and nobody would've cared. But the chess world wanted to see FISCHER meet the world challenge. Not Petrosian. Not another Soviet…]) His lawyers will probably sue me for saying that. You'll have to cover the trial.”
Two chess masters also aired their views at the Marshall club—and all they could agree on was that Bobby is a chess genius.
Jeffrey Kastner, whose rating is 2283 (.400 in baseball), smoldered:
“I think he's very unethical after all the trouble Iceland went to to set up the match. ([Oh, he means, all the trouble the Soviet Machinery went to, to squeeze Australia and Argentina and Mexico out of the bid when Belgrade made its illegal $35,000 “guarantee” demand, and then withdrew and Max Euwe put out the announcement, “First come first serve basis for bidding,” and the Soviets twisted Euwe's arm into forcing the entire match held in Iceland. Organizers even admitted, if the match wasn't played in Reykjavik, they wouldn't have much to lose, so to say otherwise, is an exaggeration.]) I think Bobby's a cad ([and certainly thinks the flawless Soviets and their maneuvering is without blemish]) And he is giving the United States, and chess, a bad name.” ([Most people didn't give a second look at chess, until Fischer so what is this guy talking about? Secondly, the United States Federal Government was where the majority of information was generated and poured into Western Media, which was fueling Fischer's distrust of the Soviet Union … so come again? The U.S. Government didn't need Fischer to give itself a “bad reputation” with the Soviet Union. Fischer was acting upon the environment he was shaped in, and according to the scathing ridicule unleashed by Soviet press. Moving along to better qualified opinions…])
Brian Hulse (rating: 2202) thought that Bobby's money battle was just a legitimate pre-match ploy.
“Bobby hasn't lost any of his followers as a chess player. He's still tops. It's only those celebrity hangers-on that are drifting away. And they'll be back after he wins the title.
“What I think is that Bobby just took a preopening gambit as a psyche try on Spassky. Psychology is very important in chess. And, in a long match, as this one is, it might work.”
Chess expert Charles Welden agreed: “I like him. I don't agree with everything. But I feel he has a right to do what he has. It might just work.”
Over in Greenwich Village's Washington Square—the kind of little park where Bobby, then a sneaker-wearing 14-year-old prodigy from Erasmus High School, used to play 15 years ago—the reaction was more anti-Bobby.
“If we wanted to see a show,” said a man in his 50s, removing his shirt but not his yellow tennis hat, “we could go to the theater.
“I remember Bobby as a young boy, beating all the masters. I used to pull for him. But now I think he stinks. All he wants is money. It's a d**** shame.” ([He read one too many of those vitriolic Soviet tainted news reports. No mention of how Belgrade illegally demanded a $35,000 guarantee and falsely accused in a pseudo-chess publication Fischer of sending cablegrams, which Robert Byrne reviewed and could only come away with “allegedly said,” and “quoted as saying,” when USCF President confirmed that Belgrade and Reykjavik were altogether REFUSING to sit down and talk with Fischer. Where was Fischer? In training, and silent. Minding his own business while over in Europe everything was going over the deep-end. But our commentator doesn't seem to have all his facts together and sorted out in his head.])
And Doug Price, a Brooklyn teacher who describes himself as a chess nut, said:
“It reminds me of the Ali-Frazier fight. I think Fischer may have psyched himself out with all his boasting and predicting an easy victory. If he hasn't, then I think he'll win even though I don't agree with his tactics. ([If it were baseball players, postponing the season for a better contract, they'd fully understand. Because this is America … and chess.]) He signed an agreement ([oh no he didn't and even Euwe acknowledged this]) and then he reneged. ([No, even Euwe acknowledged there was no signed contract, Fischer merely had the USCF relay Fischer stated he would play, “under protest.”.]) It's no different than breaking a contract.” ([Since the commentator didn't have all his facts together, it accounts for his bias. Fischer kept his end of the agreement, that he would play in Reykjavik, “under protest.” if this man had actually known, as much as he thought he did, had he not been misled by Soviet rumors circulated in American papers, he'd known what Euwe was reported as saying many times over. Fischer agreed he would play, “under protest.” so Fischer broke no obligatory contract. Especially not one that was signed on a dotted line.)]
Soviet Political Propaganda / Smear Campaign 05 Jul 1972, Wed Daily News (New York, New York) Newspapers.com
