ANOTHER PREDICTION CAME TRUE

When editor Dan Lucas cancelled Evans On Chess he said the reason was
Chess Life no longer needed a question and answer column. Here is a
posting that I placed online last June. Lo and behold, the December
2006 issue of Chess Life has a Q&A column conducted by GM Joel
Benjamin. As I predicted.

From: - view profile
Date: Sun, Jun 11 2006 5:19 pm
Email: "
Groups: rec.games.chess.politics, rec.games.chess.misc


WHY GM EVANS HAD TO GO

I, for one, miss the question and answer format
of Larry's column. If Larry won't be doing it anymore,
hopefully the column itself won't die... someone else
can simply fill his shoes. -- Ed Collins

Ed Collins need have no fear. Joel Benjamin will
be conducting a Q&A column in the pages of Chess Life
after a decent interval. Editor Lucas stated that the
format was tired which was why, he said, the Evans
column would not fit into the new magazine. The editor
owed GM Evans something better than this verbal dreck.

In reality, Q&A is never tired in hobbyist publications.

From the first moment I heard the news that one of CL's
two most popular writers was being fired, I predicted that
GM Benjamin would be assuming the column in the pages
of the magazine after a certain interval.

Watch. He will.

The eternal themes are still with us. The Winter
ratpackers, Greg Kennedy as help bot and his ilk
hate the fact that GM Evans has scored so well in
so many reader surveys. Hence they pound the
drumbeat that reader surveys are out of date and
don't mean much anymore.

More dreck.

They literally hate Larry Evans for his long-term success,
and they will deny the evidence that exists for his popularity.

Dropping either Soltis or Evans made no editorial
sense. Soltis survived because his column does not
deal with controversial material. Such is not his purpose.

Larry Evans had to go because his was the last
independent voice left in the magazine. You will NOT
be reading in the new Chess Life about how FIDE
delegates were paid thousands in bribes, being
required to click handphone cameras to show the
bribe givers how they marked their ballot.

Moreover, USCF loyalists will defend the news
blackout as a good thing. What USCF members do
not know will not hurt the political class.

A BLACK EYE

The whole business over the Q &A column is a
black eye for the new editor. To be sure, he has the
right to fire GM Evans and hire GM Benjamin. There is
no argument here.

What one finds so deeply unsavory is the
outright lying by Dan Lucas to accomplish the
transition. I would hope that GM Evans will have
something to say. Certainly, the new editor would
never merit a handshake from the 5-time U.S. champion
whose column was the soul of Chess Life..

An editor who resorts to these tactics shows a
character weakness. My God! We know Editor Lucas had
the SUPPORT, for Pete's sake, of the drudges on the
USCF Executive Board when getting rid of GM Evans and
bringing in someone who won't rock the boat.

What courage, in the name of heaven, did it
require from the editor to tell GM Evans, "I have
decided to fire you and to assign the Q &A column to
GM Benjamin. My bosses want someone else and perhaps
I do, too. I am unsure [or sure, for that matter], it
is time for you to go."

A couple of you sent messages expressing
amazement that I knew exactly what would happen and
how it would happen. Hah! The whole ploy was so
obvious and speaks of the editor as a rotter, though
he will likely survive if he just toes the line and
carries out the expected ploys.

GM Evans was owed something more than crapulous
lies from the young editor. He was owed at least a
straightforward firing with frank talk.

Why does chess seem to attract so many
pusillanimous souls? One recollects the drones at
Delegates meetings taking direct orders on how to vote
and raising or lowering their hands literally, at
times, on cue.

We can conclude that Editor Lucas believes that
GM Evans career as author, player and leading
journalist merited nothing more than a lie serving as
part of a ploy.

The man's behavior exhibited cowardice alloyed
with arrogance.



wrote:
ANOTHER PREDICTION CAME TRUE

When editor Dan Lucas cancelled Evans On Chess he said the reason was
Chess Life no longer needed a question and answer column. Here is a
posting that I placed online last June. Lo and behold, the December
2006 issue of Chess Life has a Q&A column conducted by GM Joel
Benjamin. As I predicted.

From: - view profile
Date: Sun, Jun 11 2006 5:19 pm
Email: "
Groups: rec.games.chess.politics, rec.games.chess.misc


WHY GM EVANS HAD TO GO

I, for one, miss the question and answer format
of Larry's column. If Larry won't be doing it anymore,
hopefully the column itself won't die... someone else
can simply fill his shoes. -- Ed Collins

Ed Collins need have no fear. Joel Benjamin will
be conducting a Q&A column in the pages of Chess Life
after a decent interval. Editor Lucas stated that the
format was tired which was why, he said, the Evans
column would not fit into the new magazine. The editor
owed GM Evans something better than this verbal dreck.

In reality, Q&A is never tired in hobbyist publications.

From the first moment I heard the news that one of CL's
two most popular writers was being fired, I predicted that
GM Benjamin would be assuming the column in the pages
of the magazine after a certain interval.

Watch. He will.

The eternal themes are still with us. The Winter
ratpackers, Greg Kennedy as help bot and his ilk
hate the fact that GM Evans has scored so well in
so many reader surveys. Hence they pound the
drumbeat that reader surveys are out of date and
don't mean much anymore.

More dreck.

They literally hate Larry Evans for his long-term success,
and they will deny the evidence that exists for his popularity.

Dropping either Soltis or Evans made no editorial
sense. Soltis survived because his column does not
deal with controversial material. Such is not his purpose.

Larry Evans had to go because his was the last
independent voice left in the magazine. You will NOT
be reading in the new Chess Life about how FIDE
delegates were paid thousands in bribes, being
required to click handphone cameras to show the
bribe givers how they marked their ballot.

Moreover, USCF loyalists will defend the news
blackout as a good thing. What USCF members do
not know will not hurt the political class.

help bot wrote:

OTOH, GM Evans has taken a very negative stance
toward the USCF for quite some time, and in view of
this, why would anyone expect them to show kindness
in return? Kindness seems to be exactly what Mr. Parr
is asking for here, albeit after the fact.

-- help bot, co-inventor of the pivot

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers. He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

I have not received even one letter complaining about the other two
grandmaster columnists (plus two non-grandmaster columnists) being
fired, nor have any such complaints been posted to this forum, but I
receive letters complaining about Evans being fired all the time.

Any magazine editor who refuses to listen to reader complaints (not to
mention board complaints) and refuses to bring back the most popular
writer the magazine has ever had, deserves to be fired himself.

Sam Sloan

"samsloan" wrote in message
ups.com...
help bot wrote:

OTOH, GM Evans has taken a very negative stance
toward the USCF for quite some time, and in view of
this, why would anyone expect them to show kindness
in return? Kindness seems to be exactly what Mr. Parr
is asking for here, albeit after the fact.

-- help bot, co-inventor of the pivot

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers. He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

It's interesting how some magazines, particularly trades, live only to
please advertisers; others, which do not accept advertising, exist only to
please subscribers; and still others, like Chess Life, exist for no
particular reason whatsoever.

On Fri, 8 Dec 2006 13:07:09 -0500, "Ange1o DePa1ma"
wrote:

"samsloan" wrote in message

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers. He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

It's interesting how some magazines, particularly trades, live only to
please advertisers; others, which do not accept advertising, exist only to
please subscribers; and still others, like Chess Life, exist for no
particular reason whatsoever.

To please the editor who pleases the EB ? Ultimately, I don't know
why it swallowed the lie, perhaps it will die.
:-)

WHO CARES WHAT READERS WANT?

...still others, like Chess Life, exist for no
particular reason whatsoever. -- Angelo

"Based on reactions I have heard from many members, I believe that the
cancellation of this column is negating the favorable effect of Chess
Life's new appearance and making it more difficult for USCF to gain
membership." -- USCF president Bill Goichberg

GM Larry Evans was one of the two most popular writers
in Chess Life according to every CL survey ever taken of the
readership. He was fired because the powers that be
wanted to rid the magazine of its single independent
voice. The editor played ball to get the job and lied to GM Evans.

There were no legal ramifications. Dan Lucas could
have telephoned Larry Evans and said, "I want a new Q
& A man because my bosses also want a new guy. You
are going because I and the bosses want you out."

What baffles me is the sheer arrogance of hiring a $50,000
consultant (without any open bidding) to redesign Chess
Life and the USCF website at a time when the federation
is in the red.

Just as baffling is paying for FOUR Evans On Chess
columns that were already accepted and not using them.
More waste of USCF resources.

These columns were all posted at worldchessnetwork.com. See--

WHAT'S NOT IN CHESS LIFE

http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/modules....rder=0&thold=0

WHAT'S NOT IN CHESS LIFE (2)

http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/modules....rder=0&thold=0

WHAT'S NOT IN CHESS LIFE (3)

http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/modules....rder=0&thold=0

WHAT'S NOT IN CHESS LIFE (4)

http://wcn.tentonhammer.com/modules....rder=0&thold=0





Ange1o DePa1ma wrote:
"samsloan" wrote in message
ups.com...
help bot wrote:

OTOH, GM Evans has taken a very negative stance
toward the USCF for quite some time, and in view of
this, why would anyone expect them to show kindness
in return? Kindness seems to be exactly what Mr. Parr
is asking for here, albeit after the fact.

-- help bot, co-inventor of the pivot

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers. He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

It's interesting how some magazines, particularly trades, live only to
please advertisers; others, which do not accept advertising, exist only to
please subscribers; and still others, like Chess Life, exist for no
particular reason whatsoever.

samsloan wrote:
help bot wrote:

OTOH, GM Evans has taken a very negative stance
toward the USCF for quite some time, and in view of
this, why would anyone expect them to show kindness
in return? Kindness seems to be exactly what Mr. Parr
is asking for here, albeit after the fact.

-- help bot, co-inventor of the pivot

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers. He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

I have not received even one letter complaining about the other two
grandmaster columnists (plus two non-grandmaster columnists) being
fired, nor have any such complaints been posted to this forum, but I
receive letters complaining about Evans being fired all the time.

Any magazine editor who refuses to listen to reader complaints (not to
mention board complaints) and refuses to bring back the most popular
writer the magazine has ever had, deserves to be fired himself.

Sam Sloan

wrote:
GM Larry Evans was one of the two most popular writers
in Chess Life according to every CL survey ever taken of the
readership. He was fired because the powers that be
wanted to rid the magazine of its single independent
voice. The editor played ball to get the job and lied to GM Evans.

Used to be most popular. A lot of us got tired of the same old Fischer
rehash. In the four articles that you cite, three were about Fischer
and the other was about a man that hlped a philosphy enslave most of
the world and terrorized the rest. Evans was stuck in the past and
could not break out.

sam sloan wrote:

help bot wrote:

OTOH, GM Evans has taken a very negative stance
toward the USCF for quite some time, and in view of
this, why would anyone expect them to show kindness
in return? Kindness seems to be exactly what Mr. Parr
is asking for here, albeit after the fact.

-- help bot, co-inventor of the pivot

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers.

But the readers do not have the power; the editor,
and the other officers of the USCF have the power.
Heck, I was a reader for many years, but not once
was my opinion a factor in any such decision.

He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

Not true. This fact was discussed right here on rgc.
As I recall, Mr. Parr and I seemed to agree that Key
Krackers should have gone ahead of Evans on Chess.


I have not received even one letter complaining about the other two
grandmaster columnists (plus two non-grandmaster columnists) being
fired, nor have any such complaints been posted to this forum, but I
receive letters complaining about Evans being fired all the time.


Perhaps that is because Larry Parr organized a
letter-writing campaign in support of Evans, but not
the other two GMs. In addition to requesting that
complaints be sent to Chess Life, Mr. Parr has
spent a good deal of time bashing the new editor
*specifically* for his firing of Evans, not the other
"victims" you mentioned.


Any magazine editor who refuses to listen to reader complaints (not to
mention board complaints) and refuses to bring back the most popular
writer the magazine has ever had, deserves to be fired himself.

It seems to me that this would be a decision made by
the same person or group which hired the new editor in
the first place. In other words, they would have to not
only realize their supposed error, but admit it publicly.
What are the odds?

Larry Parr keeps claiming he has no problem with
the editor having the right to fire Evans; but in the very
same posts, he demonstrates that he not only does
have a problem with it, but will continue to have until
doomsday. Personally, I am strongly against this
sort of micro-management; especially when it is the
obvious result of special interest meddling, as here.

-- help bot

ANOTHER OUTRIGHT LIE

Perhaps that is because Larry Parr organized a
letter-writing campaign in support of Evans, but not
the other two GMs. -- Greg Kennedy

I organized no letter-writing campaign. Period.

Readers spontaneously complained about the omission
of Evans On Chess, as Bill Goichberg himself verified when
members approached him at tournaments..

One never ceases to be amazed at how Greg Kennedy
envies his betters. He believes that he mighta been a
Larry Evans -- he was likely never a coulda been -- if
only he had not been marooned in Indiana.


help bot wrote:
sam sloan wrote:

help bot wrote:

OTOH, GM Evans has taken a very negative stance
toward the USCF for quite some time, and in view of
this, why would anyone expect them to show kindness
in return? Kindness seems to be exactly what Mr. Parr
is asking for here, albeit after the fact.

-- help bot, co-inventor of the pivot

This is ignores the fact that Evans is popular with the readers.

But the readers do not have the power; the editor,
and the other officers of the USCF have the power.
Heck, I was a reader for many years, but not once
was my opinion a factor in any such decision.

He is
the most popular columnist we have. When Evens was fired, two other
grandmaster columnist were fired at the same time. Nobody has even
noticed that they are gone.

Not true. This fact was discussed right here on rgc.
As I recall, Mr. Parr and I seemed to agree that Key
Krackers should have gone ahead of Evans on Chess.


I have not received even one letter complaining about the other two
grandmaster columnists (plus two non-grandmaster columnists) being
fired, nor have any such complaints been posted to this forum, but I
receive letters complaining about Evans being fired all the time.


Perhaps that is because Larry Parr organized a
letter-writing campaign in support of Evans, but not
the other two GMs. In addition to requesting that
complaints be sent to Chess Life, Mr. Parr has
spent a good deal of time bashing the new editor
*specifically* for his firing of Evans, not the other
"victims" you mentioned.


Any magazine editor who refuses to listen to reader complaints (not to
mention board complaints) and refuses to bring back the most popular
writer the magazine has ever had, deserves to be fired himself.

It seems to me that this would be a decision made by
the same person or group which hired the new editor in
the first place. In other words, they would have to not
only realize their supposed error, but admit it publicly.
What are the odds?

Larry Parr keeps claiming he has no problem with
the editor having the right to fire Evans; but in the very
same posts, he demonstrates that he not only does
have a problem with it, but will continue to have until
doomsday. Personally, I am strongly against this
sort of micro-management; especially when it is the
obvious result of special interest meddling, as here.

-- help bot