Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Main

Date: 19 Aug 2006 19:33:02
From: Sam Sloan
Subject: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

At a meeting of the USCF Executive Board in Chicago on Monday August
14, 2006, Bobby Fischer was reinstated as a member of the United
States Chess Federation.

The motion by new Executive Board Member Sam Sloan provided that
Executive Board motion EB 02-40, that had passed in 2002 by the
Objections Procedure without a formal vote by the board, was vacated
and reversed. Since that motion had expelled Bobby Fischer from
membership because of his statements on 9/11, this means that Fischer
is a USCF member again.

However, two board members expressed the view that Bobby Fischer has
renounced his membership. They were unable to produce any documents
establishing this and, unless such documents can be found, Bobby
Fischer is a member again.

The vote was passed by 4-1-2. Voting in favor were Sam Sloan, Bill
Goichberg, Beatriz inello and Robert Tanner. Joel Channing voted
against. Don Schultz and Randy Hough abstained.

Beatriz inello, speaking by speaker phone, made an especially
strong statement as to why Bobby Fischer should be reinstated.

At issue was EB 02-40, which was reported in the 2002 Delegates Call
but not in the minutes and which provided the following at
http://www.uschess.org/docs/pdf/15EBactionsvolex02.PDF

"The US Chess Federation informs Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
that, because of his deplorable public reks in support of terrorist
actions, his right to membership in the United States Chess Federation
is cancelled. The Interim Executive Director is asked to write to FIDE
and to the US Chess Trust about this action and about the public
reks of Mr. Fischer, with a request that those organizations join
with the USCF in condemnation of these reks." PASSED BY THE
OBJECTIONS PROCEDURE

Among the reasons I gave in support of my motion were that Fischer has
the right of Freedom of Speech, plus the Objections Procedure is
intended only for routine non-controversial motions and this motion
clearly was not one of those. Thus, the expulsion of Fischer was
improper. In addition, only two USCF members have ever been expelled.
The other was Norman T. Whitaker and he was reinstated shortly
thereafter.

Bill Goichberg pointed out that even mass murderers serving life
sentences in prison are allowed to be USCF members and to play rated
games and Fischer has never even been charged with a crime.

Beatriz inello strongly defended Fischer's right to Freedom of
Speech.

Joel Channing, speaking against the motion, stated that it would be
bad for the image of the USCF to have someone such as Mr. Fischer as a
member.

Don Schultz abstained, saying that he believes that Fischer has
renounced his membership, but is not sure.

The reks by Don Schultz were apparently based on the transcript of
the third press conference, held on September 14, 1992 in Yugoslavia
during the 1992 Fischer Spassky Match in which Fischer famously
stated, among other things, "I would appreciate it if all of my fans
cancelled their subscriptions to their horrible magazine Chess Life -
I call it Chess Lies."

However, none of his statements at that press conference could
reasonably be considered to be a renunciation of his USCF membership.
In addition, it is doubtful whether statements made at a press
conference, particularly in a foreign country, are legally effective
and binding.

Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
grandmasters life members.

Therefore, Bobby Fischer is a life member again and should be given an
ID number with his named placed in the MSA, unless of course he writes
a letter renouncing or resigning his USCF membership or unless a
document is produced showing that he previously renounced his USCF
membership.

Sam Sloan

Date: 02 Sep 2006 18:22:18
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

WILL FISCHER WIN THE ENDGAME OF HIS LIFE?

>Fischer strikes me as having a peculiar psychology similar
to Hitler.... > -- Thomas Keske

http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/print.php?sid=188

<We once watched a documentary on Hitler. Afterwards
Bobby said he admired Hitler, and I asked him why.
"Because Hitler imposed his will on the world," he replied.
This explains a lot about Bobby's own power drive. Later
he devoured Hitler's Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the
Elders of Zion, a proven forgery. > -- GM Larry Evans

Thomas Keske wrote:
> Fischer strikes me as having a peculiar psychology similar
> to Hitler, who I believe also might have had his own
> Jewish roots, and some kind of "self-hating syndrome".
>
> There is such a thing as legitimate criticism of Israel
> and U.S. policy, but Fischer's rant was hardly it.
>
> It would be nice if frail genius were always an appealing thing.
> but apparently not. Mental aberrations of the brilliant can get ugly.
>
> However, the USCF does the right thing to dissociate
> itself without trying to censor history. It was the wrong
> track, to try to play politics to that degree.
>
> Tom Keske

Date: 02 Sep 2006 20:56:51
From: Thomas Keske
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Fischer strikes me as having a peculiar psychology similar
to Hitler, who I believe also might have had his own
Jewish roots, and some kind of "self-hating syndrome".

There is such a thing as legitimate criticism of Israel
and U.S. policy, but Fischer's rant was hardly it.

It would be nice if frail genius were always an appealing thing.
but apparently not. Mental aberrations of the brilliant can get ugly.

However, the USCF does the right thing to dissociate
itself without trying to censor history. It was the wrong
track, to try to play politics to that degree.

Tom Keske

Date: 28 Aug 2006 19:27:09
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

> LiamToo wrote:

> > If Fischer were a poker player, he could have been a great
> > one too. As they sat down to play, Bobby saw poker tells from Spassky.
> > He saw fear.

I remember that there was a commentator who made the comment that
Spassky had the same deadpan expression whether he was mating or being
mated, or at least I think I do. :)

I think Spassky was a ball of conflicting ideas and emotions, and this
heightened during the match, which makes speculation difficult. But I
am not sure if Spassky gave anything away by facial expressions or body
language.

Again, this is the product of an aging memory, but I always thought the
most appropriate thought was that at some point in the match Fischer
"smelled" victory - and I use that term deliberately, almost like an
animal that tracked his rather conflicted and sometimes lazy prey.

One of my favorite and most fruitless what ifs is what if both players
had been clicking on all cylinders - the popular vote goes to Fischer,
but I still think Spassky could have won....

Date: 28 Aug 2006 17:00:37
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Taylor Kingston wrote:
> LiamToo wrote:
> > That Bxh2!! was the most brilliant move that Fischer ever made. It was
> > even a draw after that but, it had to be done. It was simply a stroke
> > of genius.
>
> As far as I know, this interpretation is unwarranted by the facts. I
> believe the final verdict is that objectively, 29...Bxh2? was a bad
> move, one that turned a theoretical draw into a loss. Extensive
> analysis by Olafsson and Timman, on pages 38-40 of "Fischer World
> Champion" (New In Chess, 2002) demonstrates this. That Spassky later
> erred, playing 36.a4 instead of 36.Kg4, does not change 29...Bxh2? from
> a bad move to good.

Uh-oh. You are using logic here, and thus there is no
way they are going to be able to comprehend.

> The path to a draw allowed by 36.a4 was as narrow
> as a wasp's waist, and Fischer failed to find it, playing 39...f5?
> instead of 39...e5, and so ultimately he lost.

Oddly enough, Fischer's diehard fans have little trouble
in admitting he lost this one game; where they falter is
in admitting he made any bad moves, except "deliberately".

> > If Fischer were a poker player, he could have been a great
> > one too. As they sat down to play, Bobby saw poker tells from Spassky.
> > He saw fear.
>
> Highly debatable. Fischer himself said "I don't believe in
> psychology, I believe in strong moves."

He lied. Fischer was a practicing psycho logist. Okay,
maybe not a logist.

> > What would a genius do to strenghten Spassky's confidence and make the
> > entire match interesting? Bxh2!! and then game 2.
>
> I would instead tend to agree with Edmondson's assessment that,
> psychologically speaking, it was 11...Nh5 in game 3 that beat Spassky,
> if such a thing can be attributed to any single move.

I'm sorry, but that was just another weak move on Fischer's
part. The fact that Spassky failed to find a refutation OTB tells
us nothing about Fischer, only Spassky.

Several of Fischer's games against Spassky show him
getting strategically outplayed, so his dire need to win
was frustrated except insofar as he could do so by means
of inferior moves/plans. Tactically, Fischer was superior in
that match. And chess is 93.2% tactics....

-- help bot

Date: 28 Aug 2006 16:04:26
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LiamToo wrote:
> help bot wrote:
> > Bobby Fischer, exagerate? No way! Those guys at the Passadena
> > jailhouse are as busted as the King's Gambit. Bobby's got them in
> > a virtual full Nelson, like when he played Bxh2!! against Spassky.
>
> That Bxh2!! was the most brilliant move that Fischer ever made. I

I have Bobby on Wednesdays and Fridays, but I may be
able to work you in on say, Monday afternoons. My
secretary will handle the details.

Let's start by rooting out the reason you fail to accept the
reality of Fischer's non-infallibility, his few but very real
blunders OTB. This should prove very interesting.

-- shrink bot

PS: I golf on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and yes it does
take the entire day for me to get once 'round the course,
because some %$*&%$# put ponds and sand traps in the
way to make my life miserable. Okay, that's not the real
reason he put them there, but it often *seems* like it.

Date: 28 Aug 2006 15:55:01
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LiamToo wrote:
> Someone wrote:
> > or maybe he was flat out lying, or highly exaggerating what happened, and
> > their were no crimes to bring anybody to book for?
>
> You can call Bobby anything that you like. However, one of the things
> that Bobby is NOT, is a liar. Nope, he was not lying.
>
> This was the start of his hatred with the government.

You need to look deeper.

In fact, when Fischer was first approached on the street
by the Passadena police, he automatically went into his
psycho mode, indicating his issues with government went
back even further than indicated above. Fischer's refusal to
even give his name was symptomatic of deep psychological
issues -- very deep.

-- shrink bot

Date: 28 Aug 2006 15:19:28
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Taylor Kingston wrote:
> I would guess you are referring to pages 343-345 of "Russians versus
> Fischer (2nd edition, 2005), which has extensive comments on this move
> by various Soviet players and officials: Botvinnik, Bondarevsky,
> Krogius, Spassky himself, and Karpov. They contradict each other to a
> great extent, and I see no reason to give more credence to any of them,
> including Karpov, over Fischer himself or those close to him. Karpov's
> analysis sounds more like an overly dramatic after-the-fact concoction
> from a Hollywood screenwriter, or a TV psychologist trying to sound
> omniscient, than anything that actually went through Fischer's mind
> when deciding to play 29...Bxh2.
> While I can't rule out Karpov's scenario, Occam's Razor inclines one
> toward simpler explanations, like "Fischer miscalculated."

Well, William Ockham was a lazy nominalist. If he does know how to
solve a problem, he uses the lex parsimoniae. That's very dull.

Others have opinion and I tend to agree with Karpov. If Karpov were a
poker player, he could have been great one as well. Great poker players
tend to see the psychology behind everything. They like to paint a
story, ala Hollywood screenwriters, in order make a great decision on
the hand at play.

Nobody knows exactly what Fischer was thinking at that moment, however,
great poker players can tell, but not Ockham.

Date: 28 Aug 2006 15:00:20
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LiamToo wrote:
> Taylor Kingston wrote:
> > LiamToo wrote:
> > > That Bxh2!! was the most brilliant move that Fischer ever made. It was
> > > even a draw after that but, it had to be done. It was simply a stroke
> > > of genius.
> >
> > As far as I know, this interpretation is unwarranted by the facts. I
> > believe the final verdict is that objectively, 29...Bxh2? was a bad
> > move, one that turned a theoretical draw into a loss. Extensive
> > analysis by Olafsson and Timman, on pages 38-40 of "Fischer World
> > Champion" (New In Chess, 2002) demonstrates this. That Spassky later
> > erred, playing 36.a4 instead of 36.Kg4, does not change 29...Bxh2? from
> > a bad move to good. The path to a draw allowed by 36.a4 was as narrow
> > as a wasp's waist, and Fischer failed to find it, playing 39...f5?
> > instead of 39...e5, and so ultimately he lost.
> >
> > > If Fischer were a poker player, he could have been a great
> > > one too. As they sat down to play, Bobby saw poker tells from Spassky.
> > > He saw fear.
> >
> > Highly debatable. Fischer himself said "I don't believe in
> > psychology, I believe in strong moves."
> >
> > > What would a genius do to strenghten Spassky's confidence and make the
> > > entire match interesting? Bxh2!! and then game 2.
> >
> > I would instead tend to agree with Edmondson's assessment that,
> > psychologically speaking, it was 11...Nh5 in game 3 that beat Spassky,
> > if such a thing can be attributed to any single move.
>
> Have you read the opinion of Karpov on this move? If not, then research
> it. It's similar to mine.

I would guess you are referring to pages 343-345 of "Russians versus
Fischer (2nd edition, 2005), which has extensive comments on this move
by various Soviet players and officials: Botvinnik, Bondarevsky,
Krogius, Spassky himself, and Karpov. They contradict each other to a
great extent, and I see no reason to give more credence to any of them,
including Karpov, over Fischer himself or those close to him. Karpov's
analysis sounds more like an overly dramatic after-the-fact concoction
from a Hollywood screenwriter, or a TV psychologist trying to sound
omniscient, than anything that actually went through Fischer's mind
when deciding to play 29...Bxh2.
While I can't rule out Karpov's scenario, Occam's Razor inclines one
toward simpler explanations, like "Fischer miscalculated."

Date: 28 Aug 2006 14:06:04
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Date: 28 Aug 2006 13:52:03
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LiamToo wrote:
> That Bxh2!! was the most brilliant move that Fischer ever made. It was
> even a draw after that but, it had to be done. It was simply a stroke
> of genius.

As far as I know, this interpretation is unwarranted by the facts. I
believe the final verdict is that objectively, 29...Bxh2? was a bad
move, one that turned a theoretical draw into a loss. Extensive
analysis by Olafsson and Timman, on pages 38-40 of "Fischer World
Champion" (New In Chess, 2002) demonstrates this. That Spassky later
erred, playing 36.a4 instead of 36.Kg4, does not change 29...Bxh2? from
a bad move to good. The path to a draw allowed by 36.a4 was as narrow
as a wasp's waist, and Fischer failed to find it, playing 39...f5?
instead of 39...e5, and so ultimately he lost.

> If Fischer were a poker player, he could have been a great
> one too. As they sat down to play, Bobby saw poker tells from Spassky.
> He saw fear.

Highly debatable. Fischer himself said "I don't believe in
psychology, I believe in strong moves."

> What would a genius do to strenghten Spassky's confidence and make the
> entire match interesting? Bxh2!! and then game 2.

I would instead tend to agree with Edmondson's assessment that,
psychologically speaking, it was 11...Nh5 in game 3 that beat Spassky,
if such a thing can be attributed to any single move.

Date: 28 Aug 2006 07:57:23
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

help bot wrote:
> Bobby Fischer, exagerate? No way! Those guys at the Passadena
> jailhouse are as busted as the King's Gambit. Bobby's got them in
> a virtual full Nelson, like when he played Bxh2!! against Spassky.

That Bxh2!! was the most brilliant move that Fischer ever made. It was
even a draw after that but, it had to be done. It was simply a stroke
of genius. If Fischer were a poker player, he could have been a great
one too. As they sat down to play, Bobby saw poker tells from Spassky.
He saw fear.

What would a genius do to strenghten Spassky's confidence and make the
entire match interesting? Bxh2!! and then game 2.

Date: 28 Aug 2006 07:36:43
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Someone wrote:
> or maybe he was flat out lying, or highly exaggerating what happened, and
> their were no crimes to bring anybody to book for?

You can call Bobby anything that you like. However, one of the things
that Bobby is NOT, is a liar. Nope, he was not lying.

This was the start of his hatred with the government. It intensified in
1999 when he blamed the government for not helping him get back his
stolen chess memorabilias and other priceless personal stuff.

The roberry of 1999 was the priy reason of the interviews. Then his
9/11 comments came and the rest is history. Although I cannot condone
his words, I can understand his reasons.

Date: 28 Aug 2006 14:44:48
From: Sammy Leeds
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"LiamToo" < > This was the start of his hatred with the government. It
intensified in
> 1999 when he blamed the government for not helping him get back his
> stolen chess memorabilias and other priceless personal stuff.
>

Fuck Bobby Fisher. He is a cocksucking piece of trash. He quit Chess instead
of defending his championship, and as far as I am concerned, he is a gutless
pussy. Fuck him, I am glad all his stuff was stolen. The Police probably
thought he was a gutless bitch too and refused to help him.

Date: 27 Aug 2006 23:58:50
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Someone wrote:
> or maybe he was flat out lying, or highly exaggerating what happened, and
> their were no crimes to bring anybody to book for?

Bobby Fischer, exagerate? No way! Those guys at the Passadena
jailhouse are as busted as the King's Gambit. Bobby's got them in
a virtual full Nelson, like when he played Bxh2!! against Spassky.
He showed them who was boss by refusing to reveal his identity, just
like on the gameshow, "I've got a secret". When he was done torturing
them, he let himself out and went back home. Unfortunately, when
writing the book Bobby got things a bit confused as to just who was
torturing who.

-- help bot

Date: 27 Aug 2006 06:07:48
From:
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

My hypothesis:

Bobby Fischer figures that if "we" the voters are assholes enough to
elect and re-elect candidates who are soft enough on police brutality
to let this shit happen, "we" don't deserve a Bobby Fischer in "our"
midst, and he owes no respect to "our" government.

I put the first-person pronouns in quotation ks because it is a
stereotype of the electorate, some of whom vote correctly but most of
whom do not.

He reported this crime to us, and "we" refused to follow up and bring
the cops to justice for their crimes.

Tom Alciere, st person
http://ChessLinks.info

[email protected] wrote:
> YES, IT IS AUTHENTIC
>
> This 14 page pamphlet was published and copyrighted by
> Bobby Fischer in 1982. He sold it for one dollar.
>
> The signature on the last page is by Robert D. James
> (professionally known as Robert J. Fischer or Bobby
> Fischer, the World Chess Champion.)
>
> [email protected] wrote:
> > Does anybody know if the document at
> >
> > http://bobby-fischer.net/I_Was_Tortured_in_the_Pasadena_Jailhouse.html
> >
> > was authored by Bobby Fischer?
> >
> > Tom
> >
> >
> >
> >

Date: 27 Aug 2006 14:47:32
From: Someone
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

or maybe he was flat out lying, or highly exaggerating what happened, and
their were no crimes to bring anybody to book for?

<[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My hypothesis:
>
> Bobby Fischer figures that if "we" the voters are assholes enough to
> elect and re-elect candidates who are soft enough on police brutality
> to let this shit happen, "we" don't deserve a Bobby Fischer in "our"
> midst, and he owes no respect to "our" government.
>
> I put the first-person pronouns in quotation ks because it is a
> stereotype of the electorate, some of whom vote correctly but most of
> whom do not.
>
> He reported this crime to us, and "we" refused to follow up and bring
> the cops to justice for their crimes.
>
> Tom Alciere, st person
> http://ChessLinks.info
>

Date: 27 Aug 2006 21:51:47
From: Dave Weathers
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"Someone" < > or maybe he was flat out lying, or highly exaggerating what
happened, and their were no crimes to bring anybody to book for?
>

Did he get raped in prison? Hard to believe that some little Asian dude in
Japan might have raped him while he was over there. Though I guess a bunch
of them might have gang-raped his ass. Maybe that is why he does not like to
play? His ass is still sore?? Maybe they used a broom-stick?

Date: 26 Aug 2006 19:01:39
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

YES, IT IS AUTHENTIC

This 14 page pamphlet was published and copyrighted by
Bobby Fischer in 1982. He sold it for one dollar.

The signature on the last page is by Robert D. James
(professionally known as Robert J. Fischer or Bobby
Fischer, the World Chess Champion.)

[email protected] wrote:
> Does anybody know if the document at
>
> http://bobby-fischer.net/I_Was_Tortured_in_the_Pasadena_Jailhouse.html
>
> was authored by Bobby Fischer?
>
> Tom
>
>
>
>
> Sam Sloan wrote:
> > Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF
> >
> > At a meeting of the USCF Executive Board in Chicago on Monday August
> > 14, 2006, Bobby Fischer was reinstated as a member of the United
> > States Chess Federation.
> >
> > The motion by new Executive Board Member Sam Sloan provided that
> > Executive Board motion EB 02-40, that had passed in 2002 by the
> > Objections Procedure without a formal vote by the board, was vacated
> > and reversed. Since that motion had expelled Bobby Fischer from
> > membership because of his statements on 9/11, this means that Fischer
> > is a USCF member again.
> >
> > However, two board members expressed the view that Bobby Fischer has
> > renounced his membership. They were unable to produce any documents
> > establishing this and, unless such documents can be found, Bobby
> > Fischer is a member again.
> >
> > The vote was passed by 4-1-2. Voting in favor were Sam Sloan, Bill
> > Goichberg, Beatriz inello and Robert Tanner. Joel Channing voted
> > against. Don Schultz and Randy Hough abstained.
> >
> > Beatriz inello, speaking by speaker phone, made an especially
> > strong statement as to why Bobby Fischer should be reinstated.
> >
> > At issue was EB 02-40, which was reported in the 2002 Delegates Call
> > but not in the minutes and which provided the following at
> > http://www.uschess.org/docs/pdf/15EBactionsvolex02.PDF
> >
> > "The US Chess Federation informs Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
> > that, because of his deplorable public reks in support of terrorist
> > actions, his right to membership in the United States Chess Federation
> > is cancelled. The Interim Executive Director is asked to write to FIDE
> > and to the US Chess Trust about this action and about the public
> > reks of Mr. Fischer, with a request that those organizations join
> > with the USCF in condemnation of these reks." PASSED BY THE
> > OBJECTIONS PROCEDURE
> >
> > Among the reasons I gave in support of my motion were that Fischer has
> > the right of Freedom of Speech, plus the Objections Procedure is
> > intended only for routine non-controversial motions and this motion
> > clearly was not one of those. Thus, the expulsion of Fischer was
> > improper. In addition, only two USCF members have ever been expelled.
> > The other was Norman T. Whitaker and he was reinstated shortly
> > thereafter.
> >
> > Bill Goichberg pointed out that even mass murderers serving life
> > sentences in prison are allowed to be USCF members and to play rated
> > games and Fischer has never even been charged with a crime.
> >
> > Beatriz inello strongly defended Fischer's right to Freedom of
> > Speech.
> >
> > Joel Channing, speaking against the motion, stated that it would be
> > bad for the image of the USCF to have someone such as Mr. Fischer as a
> > member.
> >
> > Don Schultz abstained, saying that he believes that Fischer has
> > renounced his membership, but is not sure.
> >
> > The reks by Don Schultz were apparently based on the transcript of
> > the third press conference, held on September 14, 1992 in Yugoslavia
> > during the 1992 Fischer Spassky Match in which Fischer famously
> > stated, among other things, "I would appreciate it if all of my fans
> > cancelled their subscriptions to their horrible magazine Chess Life -
> > I call it Chess Lies."
> >
> > However, none of his statements at that press conference could
> > reasonably be considered to be a renunciation of his USCF membership.
> > In addition, it is doubtful whether statements made at a press
> > conference, particularly in a foreign country, are legally effective
> > and binding.
> >
> > Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
> > 1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
> > grandmasters life members.
> >
> > Therefore, Bobby Fischer is a life member again and should be given an
> > ID number with his named placed in the MSA, unless of course he writes
> > a letter renouncing or resigning his USCF membership or unless a
> > document is produced showing that he previously renounced his USCF
> > membership.
> >
> > Sam Sloan

Date: 26 Aug 2006 18:41:35
From:
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Does anybody know if the document at

http://bobby-fischer.net/I_Was_Tortured_in_the_Pasadena_Jailhouse.html

was authored by Bobby Fischer?

Tom

Sam Sloan wrote:
> Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF
>
> At a meeting of the USCF Executive Board in Chicago on Monday August
> 14, 2006, Bobby Fischer was reinstated as a member of the United
> States Chess Federation.
>
> The motion by new Executive Board Member Sam Sloan provided that
> Executive Board motion EB 02-40, that had passed in 2002 by the
> Objections Procedure without a formal vote by the board, was vacated
> and reversed. Since that motion had expelled Bobby Fischer from
> membership because of his statements on 9/11, this means that Fischer
> is a USCF member again.
>
> However, two board members expressed the view that Bobby Fischer has
> renounced his membership. They were unable to produce any documents
> establishing this and, unless such documents can be found, Bobby
> Fischer is a member again.
>
> The vote was passed by 4-1-2. Voting in favor were Sam Sloan, Bill
> Goichberg, Beatriz inello and Robert Tanner. Joel Channing voted
> against. Don Schultz and Randy Hough abstained.
>
> Beatriz inello, speaking by speaker phone, made an especially
> strong statement as to why Bobby Fischer should be reinstated.
>
> At issue was EB 02-40, which was reported in the 2002 Delegates Call
> but not in the minutes and which provided the following at
> http://www.uschess.org/docs/pdf/15EBactionsvolex02.PDF
>
> "The US Chess Federation informs Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
> that, because of his deplorable public reks in support of terrorist
> actions, his right to membership in the United States Chess Federation
> is cancelled. The Interim Executive Director is asked to write to FIDE
> and to the US Chess Trust about this action and about the public
> reks of Mr. Fischer, with a request that those organizations join
> with the USCF in condemnation of these reks." PASSED BY THE
> OBJECTIONS PROCEDURE
>
> Among the reasons I gave in support of my motion were that Fischer has
> the right of Freedom of Speech, plus the Objections Procedure is
> intended only for routine non-controversial motions and this motion
> clearly was not one of those. Thus, the expulsion of Fischer was
> improper. In addition, only two USCF members have ever been expelled.
> The other was Norman T. Whitaker and he was reinstated shortly
> thereafter.
>
> Bill Goichberg pointed out that even mass murderers serving life
> sentences in prison are allowed to be USCF members and to play rated
> games and Fischer has never even been charged with a crime.
>
> Beatriz inello strongly defended Fischer's right to Freedom of
> Speech.
>
> Joel Channing, speaking against the motion, stated that it would be
> bad for the image of the USCF to have someone such as Mr. Fischer as a
> member.
>
> Don Schultz abstained, saying that he believes that Fischer has
> renounced his membership, but is not sure.
>
> The reks by Don Schultz were apparently based on the transcript of
> the third press conference, held on September 14, 1992 in Yugoslavia
> during the 1992 Fischer Spassky Match in which Fischer famously
> stated, among other things, "I would appreciate it if all of my fans
> cancelled their subscriptions to their horrible magazine Chess Life -
> I call it Chess Lies."
>
> However, none of his statements at that press conference could
> reasonably be considered to be a renunciation of his USCF membership.
> In addition, it is doubtful whether statements made at a press
> conference, particularly in a foreign country, are legally effective
> and binding.
>
> Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
> 1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
> grandmasters life members.
>
> Therefore, Bobby Fischer is a life member again and should be given an
> ID number with his named placed in the MSA, unless of course he writes
> a letter renouncing or resigning his USCF membership or unless a
> document is produced showing that he previously renounced his USCF
> membership.
>
> Sam Sloan

Date: 23 Aug 2006 22:13:35
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Kenneth Sloan wrote:

> So, you disagree with Mr. Parr, who claims that Fischer received a life
> membership when he became a GM?

I don't think that is quite what Mr. Parr claimed.

He said that Fischer received free membership for being
a GM, and yes, it's true that he will be a GM for "life".
However, if Fischer already had a Life membership, this
free gift was of no value, being redundant.

> > Fischer last played in a USCF tournament in 1970 and last played any
> > chess at all in his 1972 match with Spassky (other than his 1992
> > rematch in Yugoslavia).
> >
> > USCF ID numbers were first issued in 1976 I believe (although I am not
> > sure about that). Fischer probably did not get a number because he was
> > no longer playing. He was still a member however.
>
> Still waiting for an authoritative (printed) source.

Have you checked the book, "Ten Most Common
Spelling Mistakes and How to Aviod Them", by
the world's foremost authority on spelling, Archibald
Rheptorzoid Zhymenschiemlached? (How he got so
good at spelling is beyond me.)

Maybe the USCF rated the 1992 match, and if so, he
may have been assigned some number then.

-- help bot

Date: 23 Aug 2006 21:48:19
From: Tom Martinak
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

> To expunge his name from the membership roster is not right as well.
> There are lot of members who have cancelled their memberships over the
> years and you can still see their names appear on the roster, although
> as cancelled. Bobby's name has been expunged completely. Do you think
> that this is right?

They did not expunge his name in 2002. The MSA only includes USCF
members who were in the databases around 1992 (or joined later). He had
cancelled his membership long before that. From what I've seen posted
it was even before id numbers were assigned in the 1970s.

- Tom tinak

Date: 23 Aug 2006 21:02:03
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Rob wrote:

> I have been a member of any number of social/fraternal/special interest
> organizations. Many of them have the forethought to require potential
> members to be of good moral character,have never been a felon nor
> comitted any heinous act. They also have proceedures for removing one
> from membership should they fail to live up to those standards.
>
> Perhaps the USCF is outgrowing its constitution and perhaps it should
> be revisited. Any organization has the right and in many cases the
> moral/social obligation to maintain a membership of the highest calibre
> rather than having a "big tent" that allows anyone with 50 dollars and
> a PO box to join.

What a crock of stuff.

There is absolutely no reason the USCF cannot do its thing
(purportedly, promoting chess) while including say, prisoners
in federal prisons, for example. Let the scumbags in the stir
learn to play; let their games get rated; let them have USCF
memberships. It is simply impossible to accurately discern
the moral character of so many people, even if that were a
good idea in principle.

The real issue with Bobby Fischer was that his public
statements were causing embarassment, and backlash.
Likewise, there is some backlash from the USCF having
stripped Fischer of his membership. "What goes around,
comes around."

-- help bot

Date: 23 Aug 2006 15:21:51
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LiamToo wrote:

> I don't think the USCF did something right in singling him out by
> cancelling his right to membership just because of his 9/11 reks.
> Other would be members have done worst. Why the discrimination?

I think it was a knee-jerk reaction after the 9/11 incident. To be
fair, I think quite a few people would have agreed with it at the time
(I didn't, but that is neither her nor there).

It seems the USCF did the right thing to correct their mistake. I will
always be a USCF member, although I don't agree with all they do. But I
was happy to see this.

Date: 23 Aug 2006 13:30:03
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Kenneth Sloan wrote:
> "[email protected]" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > ANYONE CAN PLAY
> >
> > < The question was: was he granted a free *life* membership.> -- Ken
> > Sloan
> >
> > The answer is still yes.
>
> On what date was this free life membership granted.
>
> Where can I find an authoritative (printed) source showing his USCF ID
> number and membership type?
>
> --
> Kenneth Sloan [email protected]
> Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
> University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
> Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Fischer won his life membership in the 1950s, probably by winning the
1957 US Open Championship in Cleveland.

Fischer last played in a USCF tournament in 1970 and last played any
chess at all in his 1972 match with Spassky (other than his 1992
rematch in Yugoslavia).

USCF ID numbers were first issued in 1976 I believe (although I am not
sure about that). Fischer probably did not get a number because he was
no longer playing. He was still a member however.

Sam Sloan

Date: 23 Aug 2006 12:51:23
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Tom tinak wrote:
> I would agree. But do you think that the USCF should force him to be a
> member if he doesn't want to be one?

Nope, the USCF doesn't have to do that, but that's not the real issue.
Reinstating his rights is a step in the right direction, thanks to Sam
Sloan for that.

To expunge his name from the membership roster is not right as well.
There are lot of members who have cancelled their memberships over the
years and you can still see their names appear on the roster, although
as cancelled. Bobby's name has been expunged completely. Do you think
that this is right?

Date: 23 Aug 2006 12:04:42
From: Tom Martinak
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

> I don't think the USCF did something right in singling him out by
> cancelling his right to membership just because of his 9/11 reks.
> Other would be members have done worst.

I would agree. But do you think that the USCF should force him to be a
member if he doesn't want to be one?

- Tom tinak

Date: 23 Aug 2006 12:02:17
From: jr
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"Membership to any bigoted organization is not good.
Get out while you can." (LiamToo)

It's good to see that a few people here
have some common sense.

The USCF is a big tent and should remain that way.

LiamToo wrote:
> Rob wrote:
> > I have been a member of any number of social/fraternal/special interest
> > organizations. Many of them have the forethought to require potential
> > members to be of good moral character,have never been a felon nor
> > comitted any heinous act. They also have proceedures for removing one
> > from membership should they fail to live up to those standards.
> >
> > Perhaps the USCF is outgrowing its constitution and perhaps it should
> > be revisited. Any organization has the right and in many cases the
> > moral/social obligation to maintain a membership of the highest calibre
> > rather than having a "big tent" that allows anyone with 50 dollars and
> > a PO box to join.
>
> Membership to any bigoted organization is not good. Get out while you
> can.

Date: 23 Aug 2006 12:00:45
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Tom tinak wrote:
> And just because someone was granted a Life Membership doesn't mean
> that they couldn't choose to refuse it at some point.
>
> In fact, checking the USCF Golden Database from December 2001 (before
> the previous motion in 2002 which cancelled his right to membership)
> Fischer does not appear to be listed as a USCF member. That would
> explain why the previous motion cancelled "his right to membership"
> rather than "his membership". He didn't have a membership and they were
> attempting to prevent him from getting one in the future. So at some
> point prior to 2001 he apparently cancelled his membership. (That
> appears consistent with his comments in Seirawan's book.)
>
> And so the current motion, simply rescinds the 2002 motion, returning
> Fischer to the same situation as in 2001 - not a member, but able to
> request a free membership as a US GM.
>
> I don't think that the USCF has the right to force someone to be a
> member who has requested that he not be one.

I don't think the USCF did something right in singling him out by
cancelling his right to membership just because of his 9/11 reks.
Other would be members have done worst. Why the discrimination?

Date: 23 Aug 2006 10:55:27
From: Tom Martinak
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

>>> The question was: was he granted a free *life* membership.>

>> The answer is still yes.

> On what date was this free life membership granted.

> Where can I find an authoritative (printed) source showing his USCF ID
> number and membership type?

And just because someone was granted a Life Membership doesn't mean
that they couldn't choose to refuse it at some point.

In fact, checking the USCF Golden Database from December 2001 (before
the previous motion in 2002 which cancelled his right to membership)
Fischer does not appear to be listed as a USCF member. That would
explain why the previous motion cancelled "his right to membership"
rather than "his membership". He didn't have a membership and they were
attempting to prevent him from getting one in the future. So at some
point prior to 2001 he apparently cancelled his membership. (That
appears consistent with his comments in Seirawan's book.)

And so the current motion, simply rescinds the 2002 motion, returning
Fischer to the same situation as in 2001 - not a member, but able to
request a free membership as a US GM.

I don't think that the USCF has the right to force someone to be a
member who has requested that he not be one.

- Tom tinak

Date: 23 Aug 2006 09:26:04
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

> On 23 Aug 2006 08:31:27 -0700, "Rob" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I have been a member of any number of social/fraternal/special interest
> >organizations. Many of them have the forethought to require potential
> >members to be of good moral character,have never been a felon nor
> >comitted any heinous act. They also have proceedures for removing one
> >from membership should they fail to live up to those standards.

Your definition of forethought seems to include quite a bit of
prejudice.

Date: 23 Aug 2006 09:18:49
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Date: 23 Aug 2006 09:18:44
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

ANYONE CAN PLAY

< The question was: was he granted a free *life* membership. > -- Ken
Sloan

The answer is still yes.

If Saddam Hussein were a free man and wanted to play in
a tournament, there would be no valid reason to stop him.

Even murderers belong to the USCF which has a thriving
prison program. For a debate on whether convicts should
receive discounts see FREEBIES FOR FELONS

http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=544&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

"Dues are $49 a year but vary for seniors, juniors and various other
categories.The USCF takes a loss on each prisoner who joins for only
$12 a year, a policy that sparked lively debate years ago in the
quarterly newsletter of the ChessJournalists of America
(chessjournalism.org). By now it appears that 'the ayes have it.' --
Evans On Chess

Kenneth Sloan wrote:
> "[email protected]" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > YES
> >
> >>He was granted a free life membership way back then. Can
> > someone verify this?> LiamToo
> >
> > All American grandmasters were granted free USCF membership.
>
> The question was: was he granted a free *life* membership.
>
>
> --
> Kenneth Sloan [email protected]
> Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
> University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
> Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Date: 23 Aug 2006 08:31:27
From: Rob
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LiamToo wrote:
> samsloan wrote:
> > Fischer attempted to renounce his US citizenship, apparently believing
> > that renouncing his citizenship would get him out of jail, but his
> > attempted renunciation was not accepted by the US Embassy.
> >
> > In any event, whether he is a US citizen or not is irrelevant, because
> > almost none of the members of the US Olympiad team are US citizens, and
> > yet they are USCF members by virtue of being grandmasters.
> >
> > Fischer is listed by FIDE as a US Grandmaster.
> >
> > http://www.fide.com/ratings/card.phtml?event=2000016
> >
> > If the USCF wants to renounce him, I suppose that it would have to
> > apply to FIDE and pay a fee. However, this has never been done.
> >
> > I would recommend that the USCF should never go this route, because
> > this sort of thing was done by the Soviet Union to punish disidents and
> > this would not be a suitable example for the USCF to follow.
> >
> > Sam Sloan
>
> Why was Fischer's name expunged from the USCF roster to begin with? Is
> it in the USCF bylaws that if a member has a political conviction that
> is different from the Board Members of the USCF, such member will be
> expunged?
>
> Who will police the membership? Nolan, Channing? Is blatant
> discrmination justified in order to get rid of a member?

I have been a member of any number of social/fraternal/special interest
organizations. Many of them have the forethought to require potential
members to be of good moral character,have never been a felon nor
comitted any heinous act. They also have proceedures for removing one
from membership should they fail to live up to those standards.

Perhaps the USCF is outgrowing its constitution and perhaps it should
be revisited. Any organization has the right and in many cases the
moral/social obligation to maintain a membership of the highest calibre
rather than having a "big tent" that allows anyone with 50 dollars and
a PO box to join.

Rob

Date: 23 Aug 2006 09:12:54
From: Mike Murray
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

On 23 Aug 2006 08:31:27 -0700, "Rob" <[email protected] > wrote:

>> Who will police the membership? Nolan, Channing? Is blatant
>> discrmination justified in order to get rid of a member?

>I have been a member of any number of social/fraternal/special interest
>organizations. Many of them have the forethought to require potential
>members to be of good moral character,have never been a felon nor
>comitted any heinous act. They also have proceedures for removing one
>from membership should they fail to live up to those standards.

Oops. There goes the prison outreach programs. Looks like we gotta
excommunicate James T. Sherwin. Not to mention adulterers and
fornicators. Any youth gang member who wants to get into chess should
be rejected. Hey, any former Nazi or Communist party members in the
USCF?

>Perhaps the USCF is outgrowing its constitution and perhaps it should
>be revisited. Any organization has the right and in many cases the
>moral/social obligation to maintain a membership of the highest calibre
>rather than having a "big tent" that allows anyone with 50 dollars and
>a PO box to join.

With all the recent growth in adult membership, I guess we can afford
to be selective.

With luck, we could make the USCF as relevant to chess as the Elks or
the Rotary or other "social/fraternal/special interest organizations".

>Rob

Date: 23 Aug 2006 08:05:19
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

samsloan wrote:
> Fischer attempted to renounce his US citizenship, apparently believing
> that renouncing his citizenship would get him out of jail, but his
> attempted renunciation was not accepted by the US Embassy.
>
> In any event, whether he is a US citizen or not is irrelevant, because
> almost none of the members of the US Olympiad team are US citizens, and
> yet they are USCF members by virtue of being grandmasters.
>
> Fischer is listed by FIDE as a US Grandmaster.
>
> http://www.fide.com/ratings/card.phtml?event=2000016
>
> If the USCF wants to renounce him, I suppose that it would have to
> apply to FIDE and pay a fee. However, this has never been done.
>
> I would recommend that the USCF should never go this route, because
> this sort of thing was done by the Soviet Union to punish disidents and
> this would not be a suitable example for the USCF to follow.
>
> Sam Sloan

Why was Fischer's name expunged from the USCF roster to begin with? Is
it in the USCF bylaws that if a member has a political conviction that
is different from the Board Members of the USCF, such member will be
expunged?

Who will police the membership? Nolan, Channing? Is blatant
discrmination justified in order to get rid of a member?

Date: 23 Aug 2006 07:45:19
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Fischer attempted to renounce his US citizenship, apparently believing
that renouncing his citizenship would get him out of jail, but his
attempted renunciation was not accepted by the US Embassy.

In any event, whether he is a US citizen or not is irrelevant, because
almost none of the members of the US Olympiad team are US citizens, and
yet they are USCF members by virtue of being grandmasters.

Fischer is listed by FIDE as a US Grandmaster.

http://www.fide.com/ratings/card.phtml?event=2000016

If the USCF wants to renounce him, I suppose that it would have to
apply to FIDE and pay a fee. However, this has never been done.

I would recommend that the USCF should never go this route, because
this sort of thing was done by the Soviet Union to punish disidents and
this would not be a suitable example for the USCF to follow.

Sam Sloan

Date: 22 Aug 2006 18:38:59
From: Louis Blair
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

_
"Bobby Fischer requested in the mid 1970's that
the USCF drop him from their records, as he no
longer wanted to receive 'Chess Lies'. As a result,
he was never issued a USCF ID and has never
been on the USCF's computerized records." - Mike
Nolan (24 Jan 2005 20:10:45 GMT)
_
"[']As far as the US Chess Federation goes, I have nothing
to do with them, I consider them to be a pro-Soviet, criminal
organization, terrible people. I would like... I would
appreciate it if all of my fans cancelled their subscriptions to
their horrible magazine Chess Life - I call it Chess Lies - and
withdrew from the membership of this organization. I haven't
been a member of this organization for, I don't know, maybe
for about 17 years or something. I have a strict practice not to
open Chess Life, since 1976 I haven't looked, haven't
touched it. I see the cover, that's it, I never open it. Also, the
US Chess Federation even now, I told them I'm not a member
of the organization and I have nothing to do with them. Until
recently, they were still using my name, saying I'm a member,
trying to solicit memberships using my name. This is the kind
of people they are.[' - Fischer] --- From the transcript of the
third press conference, September 14, 1992, as printed on
pages 88-89 of No Regrets." - posted by Neil Brennen
(2002-09-28 22:20:33 PST)
_
No Regrets is a book by Yasser Seirawan.

Date: 22 Aug 2006 08:30:05
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

YES

>He was granted a free life membership way back then. Can
someone verify this? > LiamToo

All American grandmasters were granted free USCF membership.

LiamToo wrote:
> Louis Blair wrote:
> > Mike Nolan wrote (Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:55 pm):
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > As I recall, the motion reinstated Fischer's RIGHT to be a
> > USCF member, it did not make him a USCF member.
> >
> > He has not been a USCF member since some time in the
> > 1970's.
>
> He was granted a free life membership way back then. Can
> someone verify this?

Date: 22 Aug 2006 16:56:43
From: PocoBueno
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

they won't be losing out on fees then

Date: 22 Aug 2006 08:14:40
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Louis Blair wrote:
> Mike Nolan wrote (Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:55 pm):
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> As I recall, the motion reinstated Fischer's RIGHT to be a
> USCF member, it did not make him a USCF member.
>
> He has not been a USCF member since some time in the
> 1970's.

He was granted a free life membership way back then. Can
someone verify this?

Date: 21 Aug 2006 21:45:47
From: Louis Blair
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Mike Nolan wrote (Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:55 pm):

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I recall, the motion reinstated Fischer's RIGHT to be a
USCF member, it did not make him a USCF member.

He has not been a USCF member since some time in the
1970's.

Date: 23 Aug 2006 21:19:22
From: Kenneth Sloan
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"samsloan" <[email protected] > writes:

>...
> Fischer won his life membership in the 1950s, probably by winning the
> 1957 US Open Championship in Cleveland.

So, you disagree with Mr. Parr, who claims that Fischer received a life
membership when he became a GM?

>
> Fischer last played in a USCF tournament in 1970 and last played any
> chess at all in his 1972 match with Spassky (other than his 1992
> rematch in Yugoslavia).
>
> USCF ID numbers were first issued in 1976 I believe (although I am not
> sure about that). Fischer probably did not get a number because he was
> no longer playing. He was still a member however.

Still waiting for an authoritative (printed) source.

No, Sam, you don't count.

--
Kenneth Sloan [email protected]
Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Date: 24 Aug 2006 03:02:20
From: Simon Sevenye
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"Kenneth Sloan" < > No, Sam, you don't count.
>

Realizing how you talk to your father makes me want to throw up. Another
dysfunctional generation of Sloans.

Date: 23 Aug 2006 12:40:51
From: Kenneth Sloan
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"[email protected]" <[email protected] > writes:

> ANYONE CAN PLAY
>
> < The question was: was he granted a free *life* membership.> -- Ken
> Sloan
>
> The answer is still yes.

On what date was this free life membership granted.

Where can I find an authoritative (printed) source showing his USCF ID
number and membership type?

--
Kenneth Sloan [email protected]
Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Date: 23 Aug 2006 09:18:43
From: Kenneth Sloan
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"[email protected]" <[email protected] > writes:

> YES
>
>>He was granted a free life membership way back then. Can
> someone verify this?> LiamToo
>
> All American grandmasters were granted free USCF membership.

The question was: was he granted a free *life* membership.

--
Kenneth Sloan [email protected]
Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Date: 21 Aug 2006 07:38:49
From: LiamToo
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Sam Sloan wrote:
> Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

It's about time.

Date: 21 Aug 2006 10:51:41
From: PocoBueno
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

So fuckin what...(yawn)

the fucker can't play chess for shit

Date: 21 Aug 2006 11:39:18
From: Simon Sevenye
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"PocoBueno" < > So fuckin what...(yawn). the fucker can't play chess for shit
>
>
I played against him at a Sushi Buffet in Tokyo and kicked his ass. The guy
was blasted on sake, and his Jap wife was stroking him under the table.
Still, a win is a win.

Date: 21 Aug 2006 22:05:14
From: LSD
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

At the approximate date and time Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:39:18 GMT,
someone posting as "Simon Sevenye" <[email protected] > posted:

>"PocoBueno" <> So fuckin what...(yawn). the fucker can't play chess for shit
>>
>>
>I played against him at a Sushi Buffet in Tokyo and kicked his ass. The guy
>was blasted on sake, and his Jap wife was stroking him under the table.
>Still, a win is a win.
>
LOL

Date: 21 Aug 2006 19:06:57
From: PocoBueno
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

lmfao!

Date: 20 Aug 2006 08:15:33
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

samsloan wrote:
> Louis Blair wrote:
> > "[']As far as the US Chess Federation goes, I have nothing
> > to do with them, I consider them to be a pro-Soviet, criminal
> > organization, terrible people. I would like... I would
> > appreciate it if all of my fans cancelled their subscriptions to
> > their horrible magazine Chess Life - I call it Chess Lies - and
> > withdrew from the membership of this organization. I haven't
> > been a member of this organization for, I don't know, maybe
> > for about 17 years or something. I have a strict practice not to
> > open Chess Life, since 1976 I haven't looked, haven't
> > touched it. I see the cover, that's it, I never open it. Also, the
> > US Chess Federation even now, I told them I'm not a member
> > of the organization and I have nothing to do with them. Until
> > recently, they were still using my name, saying I'm a member,
> > trying to solicit memberships using my name. This is the kind
> > of people they are.[' - Fischer] --- From the transcript of the
> > third press conference, September 14, 1992, as printed on
> > pages 88-89 of No Regrets." - posted by Neil Brennen
> > (2002-09-28 22:20:33 PST)
>
>
> What Louis Blair posts above is a quote from a book. Whether Fischer
> actually made these statements cannot be independently verified.

Utter nonsense, as usual from Sam. Fischer made those statements at a
press conference. They are reported in the book by GM Yasser Seirawan,
who was present. Other witnesses included journalists Leontxo Garc=EDa
of El Pa=EDs, Dragan Popadic of Radio Montenegro, Karapetyan Jagik of
Trud-Nedelya, Jovan Kovacic of Reuters, Vladan Dinic of Vecerne
Novosti, and Yury Vasiliev of Izvestia.
So to say that Fischer's statements "cannot be independently
verified" seems just a teeny bit questionable, and amounts to a claim
that GM Seirawan is lying.

Date: 20 Aug 2006 16:49:26
From: Simon Sevenye
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"Taylor Kingston" <to say that Fischer's statements "cannot be independently
verified" seems just a teeny bit questionable, and amounts to a claim that
GM Seirawan is lying. >

I guess that greaseball never has lied in his life? Not to say that he did,
but when did he become the infallible Pope?

Date: 20 Aug 2006 05:14:23
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Louis Blair wrote:
> "[']As far as the US Chess Federation goes, I have nothing
> to do with them, I consider them to be a pro-Soviet, criminal
> organization, terrible people. I would like... I would
> appreciate it if all of my fans cancelled their subscriptions to
> their horrible magazine Chess Life - I call it Chess Lies - and
> withdrew from the membership of this organization. I haven't
> been a member of this organization for, I don't know, maybe
> for about 17 years or something. I have a strict practice not to
> open Chess Life, since 1976 I haven't looked, haven't
> touched it. I see the cover, that's it, I never open it. Also, the
> US Chess Federation even now, I told them I'm not a member
> of the organization and I have nothing to do with them. Until
> recently, they were still using my name, saying I'm a member,
> trying to solicit memberships using my name. This is the kind
> of people they are.[' - Fischer] --- From the transcript of the
> third press conference, September 14, 1992, as printed on
> pages 88-89 of No Regrets." - posted by Neil Brennen
> (2002-09-28 22:20:33 PST)

What Louis Blair posts above is a quote from a book. Whether Fischer
actually made these statements cannot be independently verified. In any
event, nowhere in the records of the USCF is there a letter from Bobby
Fischer asking to be removed from the list of USCF members. Until the
USCF receives such a letter, his life membership will remain in force.

The quote above perhaps indicates that Bobby Fischer has not paid
membership dues in about 17 years. It is possible that Fischer does not
realize that all US grandmasters are automatically members of the USCF.
Fischer certainly had to be a member of the USCF to represent the US in
title matches including the Interzonal, the candidates matches and
finally the match for the World Chess Championship.

Sam Sloan

Date: 20 Aug 2006 09:51:25
From: Websurfer
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

I suggest that the USCF also officially recognize Bobby Fischer as the world
chess champion.

"Sam Sloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF
>
> At a meeting of the USCF Executive Board in Chicago on Monday August
> 14, 2006, Bobby Fischer was reinstated as a member of the United
> States Chess Federation.
>
> The motion by new Executive Board Member Sam Sloan provided that
> Executive Board motion EB 02-40, that had passed in 2002 by the
> Objections Procedure without a formal vote by the board, was vacated
> and reversed. Since that motion had expelled Bobby Fischer from
> membership because of his statements on 9/11, this means that Fischer
> is a USCF member again.
>
> However, two board members expressed the view that Bobby Fischer has
> renounced his membership. They were unable to produce any documents
> establishing this and, unless such documents can be found, Bobby
> Fischer is a member again.
>
> The vote was passed by 4-1-2. Voting in favor were Sam Sloan, Bill
> Goichberg, Beatriz inello and Robert Tanner. Joel Channing voted
> against. Don Schultz and Randy Hough abstained.
>
> Beatriz inello, speaking by speaker phone, made an especially
> strong statement as to why Bobby Fischer should be reinstated.
>
> At issue was EB 02-40, which was reported in the 2002 Delegates Call
> but not in the minutes and which provided the following at
> http://www.uschess.org/docs/pdf/15EBactionsvolex02.PDF
>
> "The US Chess Federation informs Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
> that, because of his deplorable public reks in support of terrorist
> actions, his right to membership in the United States Chess Federation
> is cancelled. The Interim Executive Director is asked to write to FIDE
> and to the US Chess Trust about this action and about the public
> reks of Mr. Fischer, with a request that those organizations join
> with the USCF in condemnation of these reks." PASSED BY THE
> OBJECTIONS PROCEDURE
>
> Among the reasons I gave in support of my motion were that Fischer has
> the right of Freedom of Speech, plus the Objections Procedure is
> intended only for routine non-controversial motions and this motion
> clearly was not one of those. Thus, the expulsion of Fischer was
> improper. In addition, only two USCF members have ever been expelled.
> The other was Norman T. Whitaker and he was reinstated shortly
> thereafter.
>
> Bill Goichberg pointed out that even mass murderers serving life
> sentences in prison are allowed to be USCF members and to play rated
> games and Fischer has never even been charged with a crime.
>
> Beatriz inello strongly defended Fischer's right to Freedom of
> Speech.
>
> Joel Channing, speaking against the motion, stated that it would be
> bad for the image of the USCF to have someone such as Mr. Fischer as a
> member.
>
> Don Schultz abstained, saying that he believes that Fischer has
> renounced his membership, but is not sure.
>
> The reks by Don Schultz were apparently based on the transcript of
> the third press conference, held on September 14, 1992 in Yugoslavia
> during the 1992 Fischer Spassky Match in which Fischer famously
> stated, among other things, "I would appreciate it if all of my fans
> cancelled their subscriptions to their horrible magazine Chess Life -
> I call it Chess Lies."
>
> However, none of his statements at that press conference could
> reasonably be considered to be a renunciation of his USCF membership.
> In addition, it is doubtful whether statements made at a press
> conference, particularly in a foreign country, are legally effective
> and binding.
>
> Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
> 1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
> grandmasters life members.
>
> Therefore, Bobby Fischer is a life member again and should be given an
> ID number with his named placed in the MSA, unless of course he writes
> a letter renouncing or resigning his USCF membership or unless a
> document is produced showing that he previously renounced his USCF
> membership.
>
> Sam Sloan

Date: 24 Aug 2006 11:55:22
From: John A Swartz
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

I think the US Congress may still handle that - anyone know when the
last time Congress wasted their time to pass that resolution?

Websurfer wrote:

> I suggest that the USCF also officially recognize Bobby Fischer as the world
> chess champion.
>
> "Sam Sloan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF
>>
>>At a meeting of the USCF Executive Board in Chicago on Monday August
>>14, 2006, Bobby Fischer was reinstated as a member of the United
>>States Chess Federation.
>>
>>The motion by new Executive Board Member Sam Sloan provided that
>>Executive Board motion EB 02-40, that had passed in 2002 by the
>>Objections Procedure without a formal vote by the board, was vacated
>>and reversed. Since that motion had expelled Bobby Fischer from
>>membership because of his statements on 9/11, this means that Fischer
>>is a USCF member again.
>>
>>However, two board members expressed the view that Bobby Fischer has
>>renounced his membership. They were unable to produce any documents
>>establishing this and, unless such documents can be found, Bobby
>>Fischer is a member again.
>>
>>The vote was passed by 4-1-2. Voting in favor were Sam Sloan, Bill
>>Goichberg, Beatriz inello and Robert Tanner. Joel Channing voted
>>against. Don Schultz and Randy Hough abstained.
>>
>>Beatriz inello, speaking by speaker phone, made an especially
>>strong statement as to why Bobby Fischer should be reinstated.
>>
>>At issue was EB 02-40, which was reported in the 2002 Delegates Call
>>but not in the minutes and which provided the following at
>>http://www.uschess.org/docs/pdf/15EBactionsvolex02.PDF
>>
>>"The US Chess Federation informs Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
>>that, because of his deplorable public reks in support of terrorist
>>actions, his right to membership in the United States Chess Federation
>>is cancelled. The Interim Executive Director is asked to write to FIDE
>>and to the US Chess Trust about this action and about the public
>>reks of Mr. Fischer, with a request that those organizations join
>>with the USCF in condemnation of these reks." PASSED BY THE
>>OBJECTIONS PROCEDURE
>>
>>Among the reasons I gave in support of my motion were that Fischer has
>>the right of Freedom of Speech, plus the Objections Procedure is
>>intended only for routine non-controversial motions and this motion
>>clearly was not one of those. Thus, the expulsion of Fischer was
>>improper. In addition, only two USCF members have ever been expelled.
>>The other was Norman T. Whitaker and he was reinstated shortly
>>thereafter.
>>
>>Bill Goichberg pointed out that even mass murderers serving life
>>sentences in prison are allowed to be USCF members and to play rated
>>games and Fischer has never even been charged with a crime.
>>
>>Beatriz inello strongly defended Fischer's right to Freedom of
>>Speech.
>>
>>Joel Channing, speaking against the motion, stated that it would be
>>bad for the image of the USCF to have someone such as Mr. Fischer as a
>>member.
>>
>>Don Schultz abstained, saying that he believes that Fischer has
>>renounced his membership, but is not sure.
>>
>>The reks by Don Schultz were apparently based on the transcript of
>>the third press conference, held on September 14, 1992 in Yugoslavia
>>during the 1992 Fischer Spassky Match in which Fischer famously
>>stated, among other things, "I would appreciate it if all of my fans
>>cancelled their subscriptions to their horrible magazine Chess Life -
>>I call it Chess Lies."
>>
>>However, none of his statements at that press conference could
>>reasonably be considered to be a renunciation of his USCF membership.
>>In addition, it is doubtful whether statements made at a press
>>conference, particularly in a foreign country, are legally effective
>>and binding.
>>
>>Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
>>1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
>>grandmasters life members.
>>
>>Therefore, Bobby Fischer is a life member again and should be given an
>>ID number with his named placed in the MSA, unless of course he writes
>>a letter renouncing or resigning his USCF membership or unless a
>>document is produced showing that he previously renounced his USCF
>>membership.
>>
>>Sam Sloan
>
>
>

Date: 20 Aug 2006 01:14:24
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Louis Blair wrote:
> "[']As far as the US Chess Federation goes, I have nothing
> to do with them, I consider them to be a pro-Soviet, criminal
> organization, terrible people. I would like... I would
> appreciate it if all of my fans cancelled their subscriptions to
> their horrible magazine Chess Life - I call it Chess Lies - and
> withdrew from the membership of this organization. I haven't
> been a member of this organization for, I don't know, maybe
> for about 17 years or something. I have a strict practice not to
> open Chess Life, since 1976 I haven't looked, haven't
> touched it. I see the cover, that's it, I never open it. Also, the
> US Chess Federation even now, I told them I'm not a member
> of the organization and I have nothing to do with them. Until
> recently, they were still using my name, saying I'm a member,
> trying to solicit memberships using my name. This is the kind
> of people they are.[' - Fischer] --- From the transcript of the
> third press conference, September 14, 1992, as printed on
> pages 88-89 of No Regrets." - posted by Neil Brennen
> (2002-09-28 22:20:33 PST)

So, assumming Fischer is not looking at the cover to
see if he "made" it this month, he looks at what -- the
mailing label, to check if he is still 2800+? ; >D

9/14/1992 minus 17 years equals 1975. Now if Fischer
hadn't looked at CL since 1975, no wonder he still believed
he was world champion when he played Spassky in '92.
If all he looked at was the covers, he must have gotten
sick to death of seeing Karpov and Kasparov on there.
OTOH, once a year the editors would print photos of the
regional team championships, consisting of some even
uglier nerds, without the pretty monkeysuits.

Somebody seems to be thinking unclearly, since if
Fischer won a Life membership, how could he stop
being a member of the USCF while still breathing?
Did he "renounce" his Life membership, or "transfer" it
to someone he hated? If so, how could the USCF board
claim to have stripped him of that which he no longer
had? This "Life membership" variation seems to be
unclear, and very double-edged.

-- help bot

Date: 19 Aug 2006 23:22:30
From: Louis Blair
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

"[']As far as the US Chess Federation goes, I have nothing
to do with them, I consider them to be a pro-Soviet, criminal
organization, terrible people. I would like... I would
appreciate it if all of my fans cancelled their subscriptions to
their horrible magazine Chess Life - I call it Chess Lies - and
withdrew from the membership of this organization. I haven't
been a member of this organization for, I don't know, maybe
for about 17 years or something. I have a strict practice not to
open Chess Life, since 1976 I haven't looked, haven't
touched it. I see the cover, that's it, I never open it. Also, the
US Chess Federation even now, I told them I'm not a member
of the organization and I have nothing to do with them. Until
recently, they were still using my name, saying I'm a member,
trying to solicit memberships using my name. This is the kind
of people they are.[' - Fischer] --- From the transcript of the
third press conference, September 14, 1992, as printed on
pages 88-89 of No Regrets." - posted by Neil Brennen
(2002-09-28 22:20:33 PST)

Date: 19 Aug 2006 16:43:11
From: Chess Freak
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

LOL! Nice to know that the USCF Board is spending time on
such IMPORTANT topics.

What a waste of everyone's time, Sloan.

"Sam Sloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF
>
> At a meeting of the USCF Executive Board in Chicago on Monday August
> 14, 2006, Bobby Fischer was reinstated as a member of the United
> States Chess Federation.
>
> The motion by new Executive Board Member Sam Sloan provided that
> Executive Board motion EB 02-40, that had passed in 2002 by the
> Objections Procedure without a formal vote by the board, was vacated
> and reversed. Since that motion had expelled Bobby Fischer from
> membership because of his statements on 9/11, this means that Fischer
> is a USCF member again.
>
> However, two board members expressed the view that Bobby Fischer has
> renounced his membership. They were unable to produce any documents
> establishing this and, unless such documents can be found, Bobby
> Fischer is a member again.
>
> The vote was passed by 4-1-2. Voting in favor were Sam Sloan, Bill
> Goichberg, Beatriz inello and Robert Tanner. Joel Channing voted
> against. Don Schultz and Randy Hough abstained.
>
> Beatriz inello, speaking by speaker phone, made an especially
> strong statement as to why Bobby Fischer should be reinstated.
>
> At issue was EB 02-40, which was reported in the 2002 Delegates Call
> but not in the minutes and which provided the following at
> http://www.uschess.org/docs/pdf/15EBactionsvolex02.PDF
>
> "The US Chess Federation informs Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
> that, because of his deplorable public reks in support of terrorist
> actions, his right to membership in the United States Chess Federation
> is cancelled. The Interim Executive Director is asked to write to FIDE
> and to the US Chess Trust about this action and about the public
> reks of Mr. Fischer, with a request that those organizations join
> with the USCF in condemnation of these reks." PASSED BY THE
> OBJECTIONS PROCEDURE
>
> Among the reasons I gave in support of my motion were that Fischer has
> the right of Freedom of Speech, plus the Objections Procedure is
> intended only for routine non-controversial motions and this motion
> clearly was not one of those. Thus, the expulsion of Fischer was
> improper. In addition, only two USCF members have ever been expelled.
> The other was Norman T. Whitaker and he was reinstated shortly
> thereafter.
>
> Bill Goichberg pointed out that even mass murderers serving life
> sentences in prison are allowed to be USCF members and to play rated
> games and Fischer has never even been charged with a crime.
>
> Beatriz inello strongly defended Fischer's right to Freedom of
> Speech.
>
> Joel Channing, speaking against the motion, stated that it would be
> bad for the image of the USCF to have someone such as Mr. Fischer as a
> member.
>
> Don Schultz abstained, saying that he believes that Fischer has
> renounced his membership, but is not sure.
>
> The reks by Don Schultz were apparently based on the transcript of
> the third press conference, held on September 14, 1992 in Yugoslavia
> during the 1992 Fischer Spassky Match in which Fischer famously
> stated, among other things, "I would appreciate it if all of my fans
> cancelled their subscriptions to their horrible magazine Chess Life -
> I call it Chess Lies."
>
> However, none of his statements at that press conference could
> reasonably be considered to be a renunciation of his USCF membership.
> In addition, it is doubtful whether statements made at a press
> conference, particularly in a foreign country, are legally effective
> and binding.
>
> Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
> 1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
> grandmasters life members.
>
> Therefore, Bobby Fischer is a life member again and should be given an
> ID number with his named placed in the MSA, unless of course he writes
> a letter renouncing or resigning his USCF membership or unless a
> document is produced showing that he previously renounced his USCF
> membership.
>
> Sam Sloan

Date: 03 Sep 2006 16:25:58
From:
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

Chess Freak wrote:
>
>LOL! Nice to know that the USCF Board is spending time on
>such IMPORTANT topics.
>
>What a waste of everyone's time, Sloan.

Just because Sam Slaon fills groups such as rec.games.chess.computer,
soc.culture.usa and alt.politics.bush with off-topic material, that
doesn't mean that you have to follow his example when you reply.

Date: 19 Aug 2006 13:06:46
From: Paul Rubin
Subject: Re: Bobby Fischer has been reinstated in the USCF

[email protected] (Sam Sloan) writes:
> Bobby Fischer won a USCF life membership in a chess tournament in the
> 1950s. In addition, the delegates have passed motions making all US
> grandmasters life members.

Fischer is an Icelandic grandmaster now. See also:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.politics/msg/e5def8d0eb5ec5de