Chess and Life
[I was reorganizing my shelves, thinning out my collection, and I ran across the following piece, from Badger Chess (Nov/Dec 1994). The words aren't mine, but I wish they were.]
An angry mother asked the directors of the Wisconsin Junior Championship why lower rated players had to play higher rated players when they must surely lose. Couldn’t players of similar ratings play one another; why should anyone want to humiliate a child?
Now, we could weasel around this, and say it’s not the humiliation, it’s playing the game; the result is, after all, merely one moment that caps even hours of struggle. If a person doesn’t focus on the game, there isn’t much there.
Later, I watched a flock of the young men swoop through the lobby of the Gruenhagen Center — elbows held away from the body, stepping lightly, stepping briskly; chattering and laughing; growing up knowing how to give and take. No one takes up chess with any assurance of ever winning a game. Even the best are worked up to their level, so every chessplayer is assured of losing some. This is the nature of competitive sports, and some provide for the athlete to get beat up on the way to being “humiliated.” The likely answer to her question is, it must be fun! Ask any kid.
Of course, she was being a good mother, a little protective, a little sharp,; and she probably felt good about it. “Humiliating” the TD is fun, too; and probably just as good for all concerned. Fair return for people who must abide the troubles of others lightly.
[Back to words from my own keyboard: If at times it seems the TD is delighting in tormenting you, remember that it often seems that parents and coaches take equal delight in tormenting the TD, so rest assured that no one will escape unscathed.]
February 17th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
to be humiliated is to be humbled in the worst of possible ways meaning when you least expect it but is that so bad for any of us? ‘when you lose you win’ is an ancient sufi proverb precisely for the aforementioned reason. i’ve watched many players in wisconsin develop over the past few years and i can say unequivically that the ‘winners’ aren’t really the winners and the losers have been my real teachers in a very non-chess sense. to watch these young kids deal with defeat can be heart wrenching but its at this very point that we become more human and compassionate toward our competitors its at this point we ‘learn’ more about what it means to think about something other than ourselves and is there anything more beautiful than humility in another? its more beautiful than the greatest of chess combinations its where the angels commune so next time you’re at a chess tournament take some time to watch those playing at the bottom of the table show interest in what they are doing since without them your place at the top doesn’t seem so meaningful.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Arlen, if you happen to find any issues of Badger Chess from the early 70s that you no longer want, I would be happy to take them off your hands. I’m looking for games records from the Kettle Moraine Chess Club when I was young and still had hopes of not being humiliated on the chessboard.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:08 am
Badger Chess from the early 70’s? If you have any of them, I suspect Bill Williams would love to see them, as BC didn’t come into existence until later than that. The early 70’s were covered in Wisconsin by Pete Webster’s “Joyous Chess” newsletter, and then George Carian’s “Wisconsin Chess News.” I’d have to check the archives to be certain, but off the top of my head, Wisconsin Chess News was published at least until 1980, and BC didn’t start up until after WCN ceased.
If you’re within reach of the downtown library, their periodicals room has a complete set of all issues of Badger Chess. I have a duplicate bound volume of BC I got from Michigan (seems like everyone who wants to get rid of Wisconsin chess material has my email address by now) but it’s from the early 90’s.
March 14th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
You’re absolutely correct…I meant Wisconsin Chess News – Carian’s publication. Do you know if the downtown library has those as well? I should have checked back sooner. Thanks much.
March 14th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I tried to get them from George, but alas he’s destroyed all the old stuff it seems.
Wish he and his wife Mary still were playing.