RIP

[ericcoleman]

Bobby Fischer

There was a period in my life when I played a LOT of chess. I wasn't very good, but I loved the game. The guy who I played with worshiped Fischer, as well he should have, since he was simply the greatest player of the game ever. His complete spanking of Spassky in 1972 still amazes me.

In one of the oddest moments of my life, A few years ago I was in Mexico visiting my brother and I was showing a friend of his some openings and such, so she could play a better game against him and against the computer. There was a fellow sitting across the cafe looking at us amused. He left before we were done and as we left the owner said "do you know who that was?". I said no. He said "that was Margulies". Stuart Margulies, the co-author of Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. I wish I could have talked to him for a moment. Oh well.

Comments

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Bobby Fisher is responsible for me finding out that I'm allergic to cats.

The summer of 1970, his match with Spassky was BIG news, and the games were followed (and analyzed) as they came in by the local PBS station. It was hot. I would follow the game, in the lower portion of my bunk bed where the mattress caved in to form a comfy reading spot, watching tv with the chess board in front of me, wearing as little clothing as I could get away with. Some days, our cat Lingi (a long story until himself) would curl up in my lap. Others, he didn't. The days when he did, I would get the sniffles. The days when he didn't, I didn't.

My allergy to cats is mostly to Siamese and mostly to Lingi. I still remember the excitement surrounding the chess games, though I haven't played in years.

Poor Bobby. His life did not end well.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

That is, Summer of 1972. How soon I forget...