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Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh

Posted By: David Rockwell
Date: Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 4:18 p.m.

In Response To: Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh (Chiva Tafazzoli)

Fisher is dead. But, in 1972, USCF membership spiked because his genius at the board inspired many to play the game competitively. He was almost as big a jerk in 1972 as he was later. What inspired people was his play, not his personality. I feel that this growth came first from people who already played Chess. They in turn brought new people into the game.

I see the same opportunity in Backgammon. When a player comes to a weekend tournament and sees the superstars of Backgammon it can inspire them to deepen their committment to the game. I remember in my early years of competition watching Joe Sylvester work his magic at the board and the effect that had on me. It made me want to excel. I wanted my chance to sit across from this Backgammon god. There's nothing that Joe could have done to promote the game (to me) more than being himself and showing me what is possible. And, I think that is still true today. The game needs its superstars to be as strong as they can be.

I imagine that when Nack started posting on this site and showed us (a small portion of) the depth of his knowledge of the opening and the rest of the game that many were inspired to follow. I know that my interest in the opening began when I heard Paul Weaver speak in Madison a couple of years ago. I left the lecture absolutely star struck. I don't care whether or not our best players are "involved" in the game. I want them to be the best. That's what they can do for me.

Messages In This Thread

• Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
  Chuck Bower -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 4:55 p.m.
  • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
    Stick -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 7:00 p.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      neilkaz -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 9:48 p.m.
      • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
        Michael Petch -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 2:29 a.m.
        • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
          Michael Petch -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 3:37 a.m.
          • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
            Phil Simborg -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 4:08 a.m.
            • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
              Gregg Cattanach -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 4:29 p.m.
              • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
                Carter Mattig -- Wednesday, 3 March 2010, at 1:18 a.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      Matt Cohn-Geier -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 10:00 p.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      David -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 11:09 p.m.
      • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
        Stick -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 11:13 p.m.
        • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
          David -- Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 11:52 p.m.
          • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
            David Rockwell -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 1:02 a.m.
            • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
              Timothy Chow -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 1:21 a.m.
              • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
                Chiva Tafazzoli -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 12:59 p.m.
                • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
                  David Rockwell -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 4:18 p.m.
                  • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
                    Phil Simborg -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 6:10 p.m.
                    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
                      David Rockwell -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 6:38 p.m.
                  • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
                    Carter Mattig -- Wednesday, 3 March 2010, at 1:15 a.m.
              • OT/Just wondering
                Sam Pottle -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 2:01 p.m.
                • OT/Just wondering
                  Michael Petch -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 12:23 a.m.
          • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
            Steve Mellen -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 3:16 a.m.
          • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
            Carter Mattig -- Wednesday, 3 March 2010, at 1:09 a.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      Chuck Bower -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 3:42 p.m.
      • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
        Ken Larsen -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 4:08 p.m.
  • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
    lenny -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 2:42 a.m.
    • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
      neilkaz -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 3:00 a.m.
      • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
        lenny -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 5:09 a.m.
        • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
          Rich Munitz -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 5:19 p.m.
          • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
            lenny -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 11:10 p.m.
            • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
              neilkaz -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 1:06 a.m.
              • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                lenny -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 2:03 a.m.
                • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                  Matt Cohn-Geier -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 2:43 a.m.
                  • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                    lenny -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 4:34 a.m.
                • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                  Timothy Chow -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 2:59 a.m.
                  • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                    lenny -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 4:33 a.m.
                    • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                      Rich Munitz -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 6:30 a.m.
                      • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                        lenny -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 4:39 a.m.
                    • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                      Mike Main -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 3:20 p.m.
                      • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                        Phil Simborg -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 3:42 p.m.
                      • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                        Neil Robins -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 5:33 p.m.
                        • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                          Bob Koca -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 5:47 p.m.
                        • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                          Phil Simborg -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 4:24 a.m.
                          • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                            lenny -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 4:35 a.m.
                            • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                              Bob Koca -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 7:51 a.m.
                            • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                              Chuck Bower -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 10:33 p.m.
                          • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                            Matt Cohn-Geier -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 7:19 a.m.
                • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
                  Phil Simborg -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 6:37 a.m.
            • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
              Rich Munitz -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 1:10 a.m.
    • " troubles BG is having -- with attendance down. "
      Phil Simborg -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 3:43 p.m.
  • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
    Rich Munitz -- Sunday, 28 February 2010, at 9:33 p.m.
  • $10,000 Challenge
    Bob Glass -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 11:42 p.m.
    • $10,000 Challenge
      Stick -- Monday, 1 March 2010, at 11:44 p.m.
  • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
    Jason Lee -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 1:00 a.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      Justin N. -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 1:32 a.m.
  • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
    Stick -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 3:13 a.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      Rich Munitz -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 4:11 a.m.
      • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
        Phil Simborg -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 11:09 a.m.
        • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
          Jason Lee -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 2:57 p.m.
    • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
      Chuck Bower -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 2:15 p.m.
      • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
        Stick -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 2:24 p.m.
        • Saturday morning speech in Pittsburgh
          Rich Munitz -- Tuesday, 2 March 2010, at 2:59 p.m.