chess

Most chess players who know Bobby Fischer are familiar with his unmitigated self- reliance. People who did not do things his way usually found themselves outside his inner circle. It was not unusual for him to passionately stick to his guns no matter what the cost. He was especially insistent on proper playing conditions, i. e. proper lighting and quiet. Another legendary sporting figure was baseball player Ted Williams, who redefined batting in baseball as Fischer was later to define chess. Despite being more of a conformist than Fischer, Williams held a special niche among sportsmen of his generation. He rarely, if ever, gave an autograph — refusing to tip his hat on the many occasions he was thunderously applauded, even after a home run in his final at bat. And he frequently refused to modify his batting stance to mitigate situations on the field. Ironically, despite their prideful and admirable stances during their lives, death forced its inevitable compromises on both of them. Tourist buses stopped in droves to visit Bobby’s grave despite his hunger in life for privacy. William’s son arranged the cryogenic removal of his deceased father’s head with the vain hope — we think — to give him some measure of immortality.