AThe Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 47
Fischer a Bush-League Capitalist by Jim Fiebig
Phoenix — Bobby Fischer's successful demand for higher stakes before agreeing to meet Russia's Boris Spassky for the world champion chess title has Soviet citizens calling him a “money-grubbing capitalist.”
That changes the complexion of the 24-game match.
What originally would have been just another championship series is now an intellectual showdown between Soviet communism and good old American money-grubbing capitalism.
That being the case, the United States is fortunate to have a Fischer to carry its ideological colors. He is more than a phenomenon at chess — he is a phenomenon in a country that ranks the game right up alongside tiddlywinks in national importance.
Put another way, America's coming up with a Bobby Fischer is akin to Japan's chances of producing a world heavyweight boxing champ.
Nevertheless, there is some doubt that Bobby is all that capitalistic. Although his most recent showing is encouraging, he's done little during his career to really make the big buck from the game.
For example, I've never seen a chess set bearing his name. And to my knowledge he has yet to write a syndicated newspaper column on chess tips, appear on Merv Griffin's show or even have his most exciting game plans reduced to comic book form for kids.
Good heavens, there aren't even any Bobby Fischer T-shirts on the market.
If Bobby beats Spassky for the world championship, we can all be quick to call it a triumph for capitalism.
If he loses, however, let's remind the Russians that as a money-grubbing capitalist — Fischer is a bush league amateur.
Fischer a Bush-League Capitalist 09 Jul 1972, Sun The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida) Newspapers.com
