Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Analog Scott (A) on October 04, 2011 at 20:21:59

In Reply to: RE: US is not the world posted by Victor Khomenko on October 04, 2011 at 19:28:06

>> I feel a wounded pride in your writing, something akin to the Sputnik affair.>>

You are feeling something that simply isn't there.

>> While I understand these sentiments, they do not, by themselves, elevate the event to any new height.>>

There are no sentiments involved. What I said about the impact of that match is fact not personal sentiment.

>> It would be silly to claim Fischer did not have talent... it is every bit as silly to blow it out of proportion, as you are doing.>>

I merely cut and pasted actual facts. I am not blowing anything out of proportion. OTOH you have been way over the top in your dismissiveness of the guy.


>> It really doesn't matter whether he left the sport at 29 or 79, what matters is his achievement, the biggest of which was one world title.>>


Actually it matters a great deal. And while his championship is a big achievement his record for the highest margin of top ranking is arguably a greater achievment. His 20 game win streak was unique and very much off the map.


>> Spectacular, to be sure... but far from unique.>>

It was all those other things I cited that were *in fact* unique and supportive of the argument that he was the best ever.


>> As far as being an international event, I would dare say Karpov/Korchnoi match was at least as attention-grabbing.>>


You would be plainly wrong.

>> Making an event by being an asshole is one thing.>>


That isn't what made the Fischer Spassky championship match an event.

>> Defending the title against a couple of world's best would had been far more impressive. We all know what he choose.>>


Clearly the guy made a lot of bad choices in life to say the least. But just because the guy was an asshole, and he was, doesn't diminish the impact he and the match he played with Spassky had on The U.S. the world and the world of chess. Bobby Fischer was at one point one of the most famous persons on earth. Some say he was at one point THE most famous person on earth. Karpov? Korchnoi? Anand?

Fischer was bigger than chess. He was an enigma. And yes, he was an asshole. But he and the match with Spassky made for a very interesting documentary. That is the real point.