tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post4753706832507152856..comments2024-02-22T13:53:00.516-05:00Comments on Elizabeth Spiegel's blog: Delegates' Meeting + My ThoughtsElizabeth Vicaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04880561980096775673noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-63649895015973907382008-08-25T15:54:00.000-04:002008-08-25T15:54:00.000-04:00Painful as this may be to many to hear, and even c...Painful as this may be to many to hear, and even contrary to what may seem like common sense, the fundamental problem with chess in the US is that the USCF is run by chess players and chess people (whatever that means). I am a life long lover of Chess. I love the game for the sport, the art, the science and just plain the fun of it. In Europe and other parts of the World Chess has emerged as a legitimate, almost mainstream, form of entertainment, of interest to the public at large as well as to the chess playing base. And yet in the US, outside of the amazing (truly) work being done with scholastic chess, chess in America is a joke and a backwater. Imagine Michael Vick running the NFL. Imagine Barry Bonds or even Manny Ramirez or Alex Rodriquez running Major League Baseball. The silly and petty back and forth of these lawsuits is merely symptomatic of a greater malaise, indeed a cancer. The fact is the US public sadly could not care less about chess. Really. So who on earth is Susan P worried she is being defamed to? And Sam Sloan--he sounds like a reprobate. One needs only review the editorials of Chess Life to see that whoever runs this show is living in a bubble insulated from the reality that Chess in America is in decline, not on the rise. The only thing that infuriates me more than thinking my membership dollars are going to fund this nonesense, is the lack of quality of the monthly Chess Life magazine (aside from some very good columns written by long-time columnists who must writhe in pain at the thought of having to work for such a shoddy organization). I say: a curse on the whole USCF house. Throw everyone out, bankrupt the orgnazation and start over. Thanks to people like Elizabeth and others, scholastic chess in this country is a real bright spot. But that is the ONLY bright spot. Let's bring professional chess to America, educate a public that would embrace the game if promoted correctly and leave behind this self-perpetuating backwater of an organization that has done NOTHING I can discern to promote chess in this country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-41014320994115353162008-08-25T11:06:00.000-04:002008-08-25T11:06:00.000-04:00Liz, Thanks for your excellent correspondence. The...Liz, Thanks for your excellent correspondence. The whole situation was confusing, and you summarized it well. --Howard GoldowskyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-77563853099648661882008-08-24T09:38:00.000-04:002008-08-24T09:38:00.000-04:00I posted a comment on Ms Polgar's blog to the effe...I posted a comment on Ms Polgar's blog to the effect that she should resign but got deleted. Reason - commentary on chess politics "not allowed" on her personal blog.<BR/><BR/>My point was that she could not claim to be helping uscf as a board member and at the same time file a lawsuit that has the potential to bankrupt the organiation. In my opinion, it is unprofessional and against her fudiciary duty to serve the organization. The timing of the lawsuit, right after the annual delegates meeting, is also suspect. Ms Polgar is free to persue her lawsuit but she cannot have her cake and eat it too.<BR/><BR/>I am not a uscf member but am totally disgusted by the behavior of many in the organization, especially the officials. I am very interested in scholastic chess but the current headlines in mainstream media such as New York Times is detrimental to the promotion of chess in the country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-4084476943280025392008-08-24T02:56:00.000-04:002008-08-24T02:56:00.000-04:00Thank you for a well-written andthoughtful post.I ...Thank you for a well-written and<BR/>thoughtful post.<BR/><BR/>I have followed the various stories on the "fake Sam Sloan" from a distance. I think it would have been very interesting to hear the presentation made about the evidence addressing the alleged link. Nobody, of course, should pose as someone else. If Mr. Truong did so, that is unfortunate indeed.<BR/><BR/>I share your view that it is hard to imagine anyone "needing" to pretend to be Sam Sloan, as he says enough outrageous things on his own without the need for editorial "assistance".<BR/><BR/>On the whole, though, I am pleased I was participating in the only US Open event I was able to do, the blitz tournament, on that Saturday. On the whole, I think that the USCF needs fewer accusations and scandals and more blitz chess tournaments.<BR/><BR/>I've always enjoyed Susan Polgar's weblog, and admire the things she has done for youth chess and chess promotion generally. I do not have a real position on the "fake Sam Sloan" question as to Mr. Truong, as I have not reviewed the evidence.<BR/><BR/>Regardless of who is in the right,<BR/>if she and Mr. Truong intended to sue the USCF and its officers, they should have resigned any official positions prior to doing so. It's really not hard to understand why.<BR/><BR/>The attacks by different folks against other folks in USCF is off-putting to people who just want to enjoy chess. I have been bored for years with the level of needless vituperation<BR/>shown in USCF matters. <BR/><BR/>Scandals--real and manufactured, accusations, counter-accusations, and massive clashes of would-be titans over what is in essence a non-profit which is a fraction of the size and impact it could have with a more constructive approach.<BR/><BR/>The lawsuits by Mr. Sloan and by <BR/>Ms. Polgar and Mr. Truong should be dropped. They're just a distraction for everyone. They do not serve to advance chess, and they do not serve to advance the credibility of those who maintain them.<BR/><BR/>I think that chess can empower children, create bonds of friendship among adults, and provide a 64 square map to the pathless land of truth.<BR/><BR/>I think it's time for everyone, literally and metaphorically speaking, to return to playing chess.Gurdonarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14808311825546186934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-84994778733631595432008-08-23T00:49:00.000-04:002008-08-23T00:49:00.000-04:00There's a 53 page legal document hosted on RapidSh...There's a 53 page legal document hosted on RapidShare. It is an action to remove the Polgar vs USCF et al suit from <BR/>State to Federal jurisdiction.<BR/><A HREF="http://rapidshare.com/files/139397302/kronenberger.pdf.html" REL="nofollow">http://rapidshare.com/files/139397302/kronenberger.pdf.htm;</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-8249259863471503662008-08-23T00:08:00.000-04:002008-08-23T00:08:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-18128501970112902512008-08-22T21:04:00.000-04:002008-08-22T21:04:00.000-04:00It really is obvious that US chess has become an i...It really is obvious that US chess has become an incredibly small and closed group. This is really amounting to an equivalence to drama in a high school gym class. <BR/><BR/>In the long run, it's chess and the promotion of chess as a valuable educational tool that needs to be kept in sight. I fully realize that this is someone's own blog and they are well within their rights (and personal satisfaction) to write about whatever their heart content, but hopefully in the future blogs will talk about all the great things that the USCF is doing to <BR/><BR/>1) Increase participation in tournaments<BR/>2) Addressing the problems of making chess a valuable educational tool to help not only the young and the old<BR/>3) Perhaps focus on methods to fuel chess forward consistent with the end goal (if you want chess to be a business, then appeal to businesses; if you want chess to be a valuable educational enabler then seek out government grants etc.)<BR/><BR/>In any case, vent away ... Paul and Susan probably deserve it to some extent (although it's shocking to think that Paul would do such a think .. however it might be easier to believe that he posed as someone else than think it).<BR/><BR/>So end of my own little rant ...<BR/><BR/>Oh ... about the Kid's Reviews .. thanks! ... I've often wondered who these "kids" were with some fairly sophisticated reviews on Amazon. Perhaps now that the truth is out on that, some of my own chess reviews will get something more than a handful of helpful votes! Okay, I don't really care but it would be nice to make it in the top 100,000 votes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-88118316801634917382008-08-22T15:29:00.000-04:002008-08-22T15:29:00.000-04:00"Admittedly it was the only war fought over 2..."Admittedly it was the only war fought over 2 years without any loss of life despite battling from the Arctic to the Antarctic and every continent and ocean and using deadly blue and red laser beams."<BR/><BR/>lol. Although I remember a few fatalities. There was Kwinn & Dr. Venom, General Flagg, and quite a few nameless ninjas. And who could forget "Bongo the Balloon Bear".likesforestshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12363355892919115087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-24217520119941501162008-08-22T09:31:00.000-04:002008-08-22T09:31:00.000-04:00*sigh*I'm sick of all the bickering... Enough alre...*sigh*<BR/><BR/>I'm sick of all the bickering... Enough already, grow up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-31292966127030197452008-08-22T06:34:00.000-04:002008-08-22T06:34:00.000-04:00Doug is right about the CTU and IMF although those...Doug is right about the CTU and IMF although those are more special mission forces rather than a national police agency - like the US Park Police. Sort of like GI Joe was to the US military in the first war on terror - which is worth noting ended up with the failure to capture and prosecute Cobra Commander, Destro and the rest of the Cobral Cabal - a portend to the current war on terror? Admittedly it was the only war fought over 2 years without any loss of life despite battling from the Arctic to the Antarctic and every continent and ocean and using deadly blue and red laser beams.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-58239560965808230832008-08-21T21:08:00.000-04:002008-08-21T21:08:00.000-04:00"Can anyone think of any reason wire fraud would b..."Can anyone think of any reason wire fraud would be under their sphere?"<BR/><BR/>Look up what they do and it should be clear (not trying to sound condescending, but its spot on).<BR/><BR/>love<BR/>AbuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-35965451487152826822008-08-21T16:45:00.000-04:002008-08-21T16:45:00.000-04:00Polgar is guilty of at least 2 things:1. hooking u...Polgar is guilty of at least 2 things:<BR/><BR/>1. hooking up with the worm Truong<BR/><BR/>2. maintaining a cut and paste blog (well at least she is now acknowledging where she is cutting and pasting from)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-41338192751011067552008-08-21T07:51:00.000-04:002008-08-21T07:51:00.000-04:00@ Bill Brock:Absolutely spot on. The zeal with wh...@ Bill Brock:<BR/><BR/>Absolutely spot on. <BR/><BR/>The zeal with which and the manner in which the producers of the Fake Sam Sloan evidence have pursued this could easily cause someone to dismiss their efforts. <BR/><BR/>And I acknowledge this despite believing that the underlying report was correct.<BR/><BR/>I'm confident you'll get a quick dismissal as soon as Judge Chin gets around to looking at the case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-85526052243747440542008-08-20T23:33:00.000-04:002008-08-20T23:33:00.000-04:00Disclosure: I'm one of the defendants in Sloan vs....Disclosure: I'm one of the defendants in Sloan vs. Truong et al.<BR/><BR/>As I've said ad nauseam (literally!) in other venues, the problems is not Sloan. I can now add that the problem is not Truong, either. <BR/><BR/>The real problem is that supposedly responsible people within USCF take such losers seriously...and that many in USCF enjoy destroying the reputation of good people for sport.Bill Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14550157556545540714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-83921040388419838862008-08-20T15:34:00.000-04:002008-08-20T15:34:00.000-04:00Nice commentary. Really enjoyed your version of h...Nice commentary. Really enjoyed your version of how the events transpired.<BR/><BR/>However, after having been subjected to Sloan's postings in RGCP for almost a decade, I have a hard time imagining why this frivolous lawsuit of Sloan's is even being entertained. The FSS' posts were no more crass, off-topic, or illiterate than the real Sam Sloan's are, and were actually more entertaining half the time. It's not like the guy has a reputation that could be damaged and is worth protecting.<BR/><BR/>Again, great commentary. Keep it up.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15268773532303471266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-47897230133100013572008-08-20T14:29:00.000-04:002008-08-20T14:29:00.000-04:00Anonymous, in your list of "national police forces...Anonymous, in your list of "national police forces" you omitted 2 of the most important: The Impossible Missions Force or IMF(led by Jim Phelps) and The Counter Terrorism Unit, or CTU, led by Jack Bauer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-30587757028249239062008-08-20T09:06:00.000-04:002008-08-20T09:06:00.000-04:00The Hal Bogner / Fred Gruenberg thing was covered ...The Hal Bogner / Fred Gruenberg thing was covered at chess usa<BR/>http://tinyurl.com/63qoj8<BR/><BR/>On the USCF Forums, Fred Gruenberg (through Seven Muradian) clarified about whom he was speaking:<BR/>"From: Fred Gruenberg. This is my first time reading or posting on this forum.<BR/>First of all I NEVER lie!! I really don't have to. I DID have a conversation with Hal Bogner at the National Open in front of the TD's room. Actually there is even a witness to the conversation. Hal did admit to harrassing Paul and Susan and admitted even calling Texas Tech Universitry and making adverse remarks about them. I asked him to stop and he said he would think about it. And that's what happened and that's what was said!!!!"<BR/><BR/>ChessUSA requested comment from Hal Bogner. Bogner asked that his responses on the Issues Forum be his answer.<BR/>"What Sevan has posted on behalf of Fred Grunberg (...) is a fiction. It is certainly possible for someone to hold an opinion that I have harrassed Susan Polgar and/or Paul Truong by addressing issues or expressing opinions, though harrassment is not my purpose. And under some circumstances, it would be amusing to have a hallway conversation with Professor Hal Karlsson somehow twisted into having "called Texas Tech".<BR/><BR/>Sevan - Thank you for helping clear up that Fred Gruenberg's allusion was to me. But yes, somehow, he has become confused about something - with or without any help from anyone else."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-43948542574400548722008-08-20T01:30:00.000-04:002008-08-20T01:30:00.000-04:00As a background comment - you asked about how the ...As a background comment - you asked about how the Secret Service ended up being involved. OK here goes...deep breath...Like many governmental bodies, the Secret Service and its area of responsibilities are the product of historical accident and legacy. Consider there are actually MANY national police forces - (1) The FBI, (2) The DEA, (3) Tobacco, Alcohol and Firearms, and (4) US Marshal service to just to name a few. Each were created at different times in response to different perceived needs but share a common root: a perception there was a threat or need which existing police entities were unable to deal with because of a lack of training, resources or a limitation on their jurisdiction. The FBI rose to prominence during the 1920-1930 gangster era. The DEA became important because the FBI pointedly were NOT active in the 'war on drugs'. ATF filled in with those pesky tasks which Customs and local police didn't or couldn't deal with. The Secret Service in turn were originally officers of the Treasury Dept. and were created at the end of the US Civil War in 1865 to deal with counterfeiting. They were the "secret service division" of the Treasury. Because they were under the control of a Federal agency, the Secret Service ended up inheriting the investigation of crimes under federal jurisdiction which the Marshal service did not or could not pursue. After Pres. McKinley was assasinated in 1901 Congress authorized the Secret Service to take over protecting the president even though the Marshal service continued to provide protection on and off....another deep breath...<BR/>Investigation of counterfeiting led in turn to working on cases involving forgery of government checks and so called currency equivalents (traveler's checks and cashier checks) and wire fraud/credit card fraud. This last area of interest involves a lot of computer investigations - so the current jurisdiction of the Secret Service includes violations of Federal computer crime laws and in fact there are about 2 dozen some Electronic Crime Taskforces (ECTFs) based across of the country to help coordinate with local police agencies with this growing area of crime....so that is why the freaking Secret Service is involved with the United States Chess Federation...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-87202183781423834002008-08-20T00:00:00.000-04:002008-08-20T00:00:00.000-04:00And people make fun of organized religion??And people make fun of organized religion??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-79538217141177131352008-08-19T21:52:00.000-04:002008-08-19T21:52:00.000-04:00what a surprise the USCF is a complete joke... it ...what a surprise the USCF is a complete joke... it was also a complete joke 6 years ago when i joined this is earth shatteringAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556698110353046854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-30947688919705131892008-08-19T21:04:00.000-04:002008-08-19T21:04:00.000-04:00PS - I was not present in Dallas, and was not serv...PS - I was not present in Dallas, and was not served with Susan Polgar's lawsuit there. I believe that some of the others named were not, either.<BR/><BR/>But what her lawsuit basically contends is that "Because she is a woman and of foreign descent, USCF has long harbored ill will and jealousy towards Polgar and more recently, the SPICE program. The USCF has apparently become alarmed and irrationally concerned with Polgar's success and her championing of chess among all people, especially young women." The lawsuit then contends that all those named "have become embittered and have conspired unlawfully to use the internet and international media outlets to slander, defame, and disparage Polgar personally, to damage her business relationships and to inflict emotional distress upon this very popular and gifted person".<BR/><BR/>It must be very difficult to live for decades as a role model.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-90568562153554515842008-08-19T20:52:00.000-04:002008-08-19T20:52:00.000-04:00Thanks for the summary, Elizabeth.Please note, tho...Thanks for the summary, Elizabeth.<BR/><BR/>Please note, though, that whenever I post anywhere, I do so openly under (or over) my own name.<BR/><BR/>If you have some reason to believe otherwise, perhaps you could contact me privately and let me know what it is.<BR/><BR/>-halAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-78268159973633240592008-08-19T19:53:00.000-04:002008-08-19T19:53:00.000-04:00Thanks for the update.But what a sad, sordid tale ...Thanks for the update.<BR/><BR/>But what a sad, sordid tale it is all around. So much for the idea that playing chess helps to train the brain, or otherwise increase intelligence. If this idiotic episode were widely known outside of chess circles, I'd be embarrassed to admit that I'm a chess player. <BR/><BR/>The seeds of USCF's destruction have evidently spouted from within its own EB. How very, very sad.<BR/><BR/>Can bankruptcy be staved off?<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>Erices_trickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15511350526999060149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-22638997052267910092008-08-19T19:45:00.000-04:002008-08-19T19:45:00.000-04:00FYI, in the spirit of Brangelina, it is convenient...FYI, in the spirit of Brangelina, it is convenient to refer to Truong/Polgar as:<BR/><BR/>Trolgar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556305125957341024.post-45015322802407601652008-08-19T19:39:00.000-04:002008-08-19T19:39:00.000-04:00Thanks for the correction -- I'll remove the refer...Thanks for the correction -- I'll remove the reference!Elizabeth Vicaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04880561980096775673noreply@blogger.com