RIP Boris Spassky

[dixiehack]

The thing that strikes me about chess in popular culture then versus other niche sports and near-sports is that it is strictly an intellectual pursuit. I’m not saying this was a country of highbrows subscribing to the Paris Review and box seats at the Met. But especially compared to the present day it would have meant people using and appreciating brainpower to follow the matches.

 

[poindexter]

RIP Spassky.

Will flags at American federal office buildings fly at half-staff?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The thing that strikes me about chess in popular culture then versus other niche sports and near-sports is that it is strictly an intellectual pursuit. I’m not saying this was a country of highbrows subscribing to the Paris Review and box seats at the Met. But especially compared to the present day it would have meant people using and appreciating brainpower to follow the matches.

1. The Cold War did a lot of weird things. The US-USSR track meet in the Kennedy era had an attendance of 90,000 and great TV ratings.
2. There was also a novelty aspect. Having a US chess champ was kind of like if there was an Ohtani equivalent who came from Uzbekistan. So people got into it out of curiosity.
3. The commentary on the PBS broadcasts was hilarious. One of the broadcasters said at one point, "That's either a brilliant move or a complete disaster. I don't know which though."

 

[HanSenSE]

It was similar to when Americans were winning the Tour de France. How much of a "thing" in the Tour in the U.S. now?

It hasn't been the same without Bo Jackson. But Armstrong scene in "Dodge Ball: gets more hilarious over the years.

 

[da man]

1. The Cold War did a lot of weird things. The US-USSR track meet in the Kennedy era had an attendance of 90,000 and great TV ratings.
2. There was also a novelty aspect. Having a US chess champ was kind of like if there was an Ohtani equivalent who came from Uzbekistan. So people got into it out of curiosity.
3. The commentary on the PBS broadcasts was hilarious. One of the broadcasters said at one point, "That's either a brilliant move or a complete disaster. I don't know which though."

For some reason this made me think of the Spike Jones line, "It'll either be a photo finish or an oil painting!"

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

RIP Spassky.

Will flags at American federal office buildings fly at half-staff?

Almost an hour and I'm the first like here? We're slipping as a board and as a country.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

1. The Cold War did a lot of weird things. The US-USSR track meet in the Kennedy era had an attendance of 90,000 and great TV ratings.
2. There was also a novelty aspect. Having a US chess champ was kind of like if there was an Ohtani equivalent who came from Uzbekistan. So people got into it out of curiosity.
3. The commentary on the PBS broadcasts was hilarious. One of the broadcasters said at one point, "That's either a brilliant move or a complete disaster. I don't know which though."

The 1970s equivalent of "Bold move, Cotton."

 

[BTExpress]

Superstars was cool because those people were actual athletes -- I remember Bob Seagren winning the first one and thinking that was awesome.

The network stars BS? Not at all interested.

Come on. You LOVED the Gabe Kaplan-Robert Conrad kerfuffle.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Remember the original Saturday Night Live cast's promo "Battle of the Network Ts and As"?

 

[mpcincal]

Remember the original Saturday Night Live cast's promo "Battle of the Network Ts and As"?

No, but I remember this:

 

[Dog8Cats]

I’ve always thought of the Tour de France and America’s Cup as opposite sides of the same coin.

No one in the U.S. cared about the TdF until a U.S. rider won it.

No one in the U.S. cared about the America’s Cup until the U.S. didn’t win it.

It was similar to when Americans were winning the Tour de France. How much of a "thing" in the Tour in the U.S. now?

 

[dixiehack]

WWOS and the early days of ESPN proved there was far more appetite for sports programming than the major pro leagues and NCAA were willing to provide with their antiquated broadcast restrictions. Arguably we are now past Peak Sports, but it took nearly two generations to get there once the floodgates opened. But back then, people would devour any scrap that looked like sports. (Acapulco cliff diving anyone?)

 

[playthrough]

Way back in 1979, when SI had its 25th anniversary, my Phoenix colleague George Kimball pointed out that in the magazine's very early years in the '50s, it had several horses, a dog, a deer, and a duck on its covers before it ran one with an NBA player.

Those early covers were so random, before becoming more personality-driven. The first cover of course was Eddie Mathews under the lights in Milwaukee. The second cover was a bunch of golf bags, like you'd see outside a course's pro shop on a Saturday morning.

 

[brn623cl]

1. The Cold War did a lot of weird things. The US-USSR track meet in the Kennedy era had an attendance of 90,000 and great TV ratings.
2. There was also a novelty aspect. Having a US chess champ was kind of like if there was an Ohtani equivalent who came from Uzbekistan. So people got into it out of curiosity.
3. The commentary on the PBS broadcasts was hilarious. One of the broadcasters said at one point, "That's either a brilliant move or a complete disaster. I don't know which though."

I do appreciate the Cold War gave 15 year old me this memory under the category of weird things.