Bobby Fischer
Dick Cavett - Was It Only A Game
“Among this year’s worst news, for me, was the death of Bobby Fischer.Telling a friend this, I got, “Are you out of your bloody mind? He was a Nazi-praising raving lunatic and anti-Semite. Death is too good for him.”
He did, indeed, become all that. But none of it describes the man I knew.
Towering genius, riches, international fame and a far from normal childhood might be too heady a mix for anyone to handle. For him they proved fatal.
I’m still sad about his death. In our three encounters on my late-night show, I became quite fond of him.”
(tip to Joseph)
Comments
Thanks for posting this. Mr. Cavett provides a well-written memoir, and an engaging interview. It's nice to see that some people can mourn the man who preceded the madness.
Posted by: Teodomiro
| February 14, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply to this comment
I couldn't help but be amazed again at Cavett's consummate skill at interviewing. I remember (what was it, 30 years ago?) marveling then at his ability to handle difficult and challenging people. You could tell Fischer was a tough one: clipped responses, nervous tics (did you see his right leg?), and Cavett, patiently scratching away at that massive intellect to see what forces moved beneath it. The only modern interviewer I've seen who touches Cavett's skill is Stewart.
Posted by: Brian Donohue
| February 14, 2008 9:57 PM | Reply to this comment
I'm sorry, what? Seriously, even allowing for a heavy dose of fanboyism that's a pretty hard statement to take. Stewart is not a real interviewer, political commentator, intellect, or media figure. I mean, his show is on after puppets making crank phone calls - he can't be held responsible!
Posted by: calligraph
| February 15, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply to this comment
Brian - I'll have to look at some of the old Dick Cavett's that are out there. I did want to say I think Moyers is a pretty amazing interviewer.
Posted by: jillbryant2003
| February 16, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply to this comment
Hint: Referencing a show that was canceled a long time ago Shows that you haven't actually watched the Daily Show in a long time. Avoid doing that when commenting on interview styles of the person you don't watch.
Posted by: RedSeven
| February 17, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply to this comment
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