The El Dorado Times El Dorado, Arkansas Saturday, July 15, 1972 - Page 4
Pro Fischer
On Wednesday, July 12, I was shocked by an article on your editorial page. Under the column “The News-Times Forum” appeared an editorial which was obviously written to win awards for poor taste. Perhaps if the author had collected his wits before setting his pen to the paper this article would not have been so supercilious or so abounding in ignorance.
The article began with a personal smear of Bobby Fischer apparently because his behavior did not conform to your code-of-conduct for an ideal person. It was said that Fischer's demand for more money was “super-arrogant nonsense” to everyone but himself. Apparently, others, besides myself do not feel this way since Fischer's demand for more money was met.
The greatest insult of the article was paid to the honorable game of chess itself. Its reference to chess as “shoving a bunch of toys around” shows the level of culture the author has reached. Chess is one of the oldest and most popular games of the world and its origin dates back as far as 600 A.D. Anyone who plays the game seriously would be appalled by such an immature assertion that a player would “lick his chops in fiendish anticipation of crushing an opponent's ego.” Chess is a skillful game of strategy and analytical ability, and no pleasure is derived from disgracing or demoralizing the opposition ([explain that to the Soviet Russian Chess Federation who specialty is poor sportsmanship.])
I would like to sum up my view of the article on Bobby Fischer by saying that it was petty, untrue, and should be dismissed as a hastily thrown together piece of rubbish. - C.E.M.
Pro Fischer 15 Jul 1972, Sat The El Dorado Times (El Dorado, Arkansas) Newspapers.com
