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ron_suarez_chess@yahoo.com · May 18th 06, 08:54 PM posted to rec.games.chess.misc,rec.games.chess.politics

wrote:
"YOU DANCE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO BRUNG YA"

I am convinced the only reason this poll is even close is because
Neil Brennen and his cohorts are voting early and often. This straw
vote is certainly not legitimate. The real reason the USCF won't
conduct a scientific poll is not lack of money, as Mike Nolan
suggested. It's because the leadership prefers to donate $50,000 to
one of its buddies without caring what members prefer to see printed in
Chess Life.

In a recent message to the (Chess Journalists of America) Paul
Hoffman wondered why a "mainstream journalist" like himself should join
the CJA. Then Mr. Hoffman scorned an offer to be interviewed by Larry
Evans after his chief supporter Neil Brennen advised him to ignore
questions coming from "hacks" like GM Evans and Larry Parr. GM Evans in
turn called Mr. Brennen "an equal opportunity hater." Subsuquently Mr.
Brennen asked to have his name removed from the email list.

CHESSTOURS TO HOFFMAN

Dear Mr. Hoffman,

Neil Brennen has been attacking Larry Evans and Larry Parr for
years on rec.games.chess.politics. His use of the word "hack" tells us
all that we need to know about Mr. Brennen.

GM Larry Evans asked us to relay an offer to interview you.

If you are interested, please let us know.

For your information, Chesstours is the syndicate that distributes
Larry Evans' newspaper column. Our staff handles e-mail.

Here are just a few sample questions:

1. Why was there no open bid for the 50,000 edesign?

2. Why were you given 10K up front without any written report?

3. On what basis did you make your recommendations? Did
you consult any past reader surveys of Chess Life readers?

4. Do you think you know more about chess or what is needed
in Chess Life than any of the three grandmasters you fired?

5. Since secrecy has plagued the USCF for decades, do you
think that your attitude helps dispel ugly chess politics?

As the old saying goes, "You dance with the people who brung ya."

NEIL BRENNEN TO CJA GROUP

In a message dated 5/13/2006 11:59:48 AM Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

Mr. Hoffman,

I suggest ignoring the emails from chesstours, AKA Larry Evans. He
forgot - if that is truly the word - to identify himself..

Best wishes to all except one [GM Evans].

HOFFMAN DECLINES TO BE INTERVIEWED

In a message dated 5/13/2006 10:41:40 AM Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

Thank you, Neil. I appreciate the heads-up. As a newbie to the nasty
world of chess poltics, I'm liable to fall for opening traps that
everyone else knows! At least if this correspondence is posted, it's
actually my own words, as opposed to all the false things that have
been attributed to me and "credentials" that have been posted that
aren't mine but other Hoffman's

In any event, with due respect to all of you, I think it is time that I
bow out of this thread and return to the work the USCF has asked me to
do.

I have prepared no written reports. I am not going to discuss
personnel matters like who writes for the magazine and who doesn't
because that it not an appropriate subject for a public forum. I'm
trying to use my twenty-five-year experience in magazines to help the
USCF publish a more engaging magazine that will attract new members and
better retain existing ones. And I'm trying to avoid being embroiled
in the ugly petty politics of chess that have doomed many
well-intentioned efforts in the past. I'm just a consultant. I give
the USCF advice and implement ideas they want me to implement.

--Paul Hoffman

I must say that neither Larry Parr or Evans could really be called
"nasty".

What I have read of Evans is straightfoward chess and comments. I
certainly cannot recall reading any of his writings that were attacking
to individuals, especially in a nasty way.

The only negatives I would say are two. Awhile back, I posted a
statement on this forum and Chesstours converted my statement into a
question for Larry in Chess Life. He commented on the issue at hand
and that was that. I certainly did not seek to be in his column,
although when Chesstours sent me an email asking if they could use my
comments I agreed. I did not realize that they would use the comment
as a question in Chess Life though. I was not and am not angry over
this, just amused.

The second negative observation that I have is that Evans' column does
seem to be extremely redundant in discussing Fischer, on and on.
However, that is my personal opinion and I can understand the
motivation that there are many that have not seen it before. I can
understand this even though I disagree with it. I must repeat though
that my impression of GM Evans is that he is sharp and honest, not
nasty or negative.

As for Larry Parr, the only thing I know is that his writings are very
pedantic. His style of prose is convoluted to say the least. I don't
see nastiness or meanness though. In my opinion, if he were to have
discourse with someone like Mr. Hoffman, the worst I see from Larry
would be very sharp and cutting questions and comments. That is not
necessarily a bad thing for an interviewer though.

Larry is certainly opinionated on the wrongness of drug testing. I
don't know many fellows that are proponents of that issue though. I
know that this is why he is presently not a due paying member of the
USCF as he has stated such on this forum not too long ago. I certainly
can respect him on this too.

While there are some points that I disagree with Mr. Parr on, I
certainly do not find him to be nasty or mean either. I must say that
if I had a chance to sit and chat with either Mr. Parr or GM Evans, I
would look forward to the conversation with either. I see both as
"good guys" in the metaphor of chess as life.

I stand for what I think is right, not what any "side" believes. While
I find Phil Innes and his comments and actions disingenuous at the
least, I can certainly separate the individuals and agree with Mr. Parr
and GM Evans on this point.

Ron Suarez