English Chess Forum

Colin Patterson wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:59 am

Double whammy on tonight's American Football highlights (Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys):

The commentators first waxed lyrical about Cowboys' Wide Receiver Amari Cooper being- "a quiet guy, who rarely talks ... always practicing his chess in the locker room ... a real student of the game."

Then later, as if shackled to their previous comments, came the inevitable likening of the football game to - "a really interesting game of chess."

You think that's bad - I'm expecting the commentators to come out with all sorts of puns about the Vikings Tight End in their game against the Packers on 23rd December.

Latest Private Eye (1509) page 8, refers to Ray Keene retiring from Times.

Oh that's interesting, would like to see it if anybody's able to scan.

EDIT: and here it is

Not sure it counts as a media comment, but I noticed a chess set with game in progress was on a table in Len McCluskey's ('Unite' union) office when he was interviewed on BBC 6 p.m. News last night (about 17 minutes in). Position looked plausible too, as best my eyes could tell (which wasn't too much)

He was mentioned on this site recently as a genuine chess fan.

On this thread, indeed .

Etan Thomas, writing on Colin Kaepernick, gives us

[you] have to tip your hat to the NFL’s brilliance in making a chess move Bobby Fischer would admire

and concludes with

It’s checkmate for the NFL.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 1:54 am

Etan Thomas, writing on Colin Kaepernick....
concludes with

It’s checkmate for the NFL.

In case anyone isn't sure, he is saying that they have won.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:53 am

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 1:54 am

Etan Thomas, writing on Colin Kaepernick....
concludes with

It’s checkmate for the NFL.

In case anyone isn't sure, he is saying that they have won.

The spanner in the works was that at half an hour's notice, the venue was switched to somewhere the media could attend, without Kaepernick telling the NFL or any of the 25 teams that had gathered at the original venue.

A cynic might think Kaepernick was more interested in being the centre of attention than finding a team.

Or alternatively, that his thinking is like that of Etan Thomas, and so he called the NFL's bluff; why did the NFL want to exclude the media, why did they refuse Colin's request to move it to a Tuesday when all the teams, with their top scouts, could attend? Pretending it isn't about race isn't sensible

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:47 am

Or alternatively, that his thinking is like that of Etan Thomas, and so he called the NFL's bluff; why did the NFL want to exclude the media, why did they refuse Colin's request to move it to a Tuesday when all the teams, with their top scouts, could attend? Pretending it isn't about race isn't sensible

Or alternatively, why is the NFL bothering to do this for one free agent, when they don't do it for any of the others?

The NFL doesn't sign players; the GMs of the franchises do. I don't think the NFL is conspiring against Kaepernick. I think there are a number of reasons why GMs aren't signing Kaepernick:
- They're not in the market for a Quarterback. E.g. the Packers don't really want to pay the money Kaepernick would undoubtedly want to play backup.
- They don't have cap space.
- They don't want their team to be the centre of the media circus that will surround Kaepernick playing for them, for fear it will disrupt the team.
- They think their fanbase don't want him to play for their team, due to Kaepernick's anthem protests etc. last time. He certainly divided fan loyalties in his last season at the 49ers.

Fundamentally, if a team doesn't want to sign a particular player for whatever reason, what can be done about it? The teams don't even need to give a reason as to why they're not signing a particular free agent in normal circumstances.

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:34 am

A cynic might think Kaepernick was more interested in being the centre of attention than finding a team.

Yeah, that's why he spent three years out of the game for speaking out, he wanted to be the centre of attention.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 2:14 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:34 am

A cynic might think Kaepernick was more interested in being the centre of attention than finding a team.

Yeah, that's why he spent three years out of the game for speaking out, he wanted to be the centre of attention.

I think he spent three years out of the NFL so far because the league's teams regard him as too controversial, and so they won't sign him no matter how good he is.

In terms of getting back into the NFL, he had a venue and 25 NFL teams were present at it ... and decided to go elsewhere at half an hour's notice, where 0 NFL teams were present. This doesn't sound like the action someone would take if their objective was to get in the NFL. However, if their objective was to raise awareness for him and his cause because he's still really good and NFL teams should sign him, then it would. Actually, if that is the aim then I think that's fair enough.

The whole timing of the workout is strange. It's Week 11, and most teams aren't really looking to sign starting Quarterbacks; they're either all-in with what they've got, or they're happy to tank the rest of the season to get better draft picks.

Adam Schiff learns to play chess.

Well, whoever said humour had to be funny