"Tim Hanke" wrote in message news:DdHRa.85398$H17.26167@sccrnsc02...
"StanB" wrote ...

One well-known chess player once said, "Why must I lose to that idiot?"

And every chessplayer has *thought* it.

Without question. However, the difference between thinking it and
saying it is what makes for the different impression.

I once beat a regular poster to RGCP (who carries the NM title; name
withheld because it's not important to the story) in a tournament game
where he walked into a desperation trap in time pressure. At the time
we played the game, he was fighting to keep his rating over 2200.
With the old rating system, he got hit for the full 32 points. This
NM is known for sometimes being very wound up after a game, especially
a tough one. However, I'll never forget his response. He didn't try
to hide his disappointment, but never once did he say or do anything
disparaging. He shook my hand, congratulated me, and calmly talked
about the game afterwards.

Now THAT, no matter what, is class. I know that loss hurt him, and I
know he HAD to be thinking, "How could I lose to that clown?".
However, he never said or implied it. Any true competitor with pride
in his performance will think those thoughts. A gentleman (or lady)
wouldn't ever say it.

-bmr-

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* Boyd M. Reed * *
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Tim Hanke