Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Saturday, August 26, 1972 - Page 7
Fischer's Defense
I would like to say something in the defense of Bobby Fischer.
In chess you have to play the whole game in order to get one point. Not like ball games. In ball games, the fans root, cheer, blow bugles and are active in a non-participating way.
Ball players would not be able to perform if every thing was stone quiet.
Chess requires quiet for concentration. What's quiet for Fischer is also quiet for his opponent, Boris Spassky.
Bobby Fischer is playing chess as an individual. Spassky is playing chess with the Russian government and is not being hounded, sued and generally made to look uncooperative…
The American press is doing everything to give Spassky an additional psychological advantage.
If Spassky wins or loses, it will be with his government. If Fischer wins or loses, it will just be Fischer.
Go get 'em Bobby … Don't let anybody turn you into a pawn.