All Posts Tagged With: "Legends"
The Legendary Tom Murphy
For some time I have intended to write a post on the chess scene in Dupont Circle, a park in the Northwest section of Washington, DC. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to do it justice this afternoon, but I want to direct the collective attention of the Agora to a piece in today’s Washington Post Magazine on Tom Murphy, arguably the King of Dupont Circle. Cash from both my wallet and Billy Joe’s wallet has found its way into Tom’s. He is a hustler, but above that he is a teacher. The story from the Washington Post Magazine is also about the intoxicating way that chess, like art and music, can capture a man’s soul.
I know Tom Murphy, and consider him a friend. This article is relatively fair, but it does not fully do justice to his sparkling brilliance, his civility, his character, or his abiding integrity. Also, the author makes it a story about “what could have been”, but if you really know Tom Murphy, it’s hard to escape the notion that it’s not quite too late, that his story is really one of “what could be.”
Click here for the Washington Post Magazine write up. There is also a short video interview with Tom that will give you a glimpse into the special world of Dupont Circle’s Chess University. Also, check out the coverage (and other content) at The Chess Drum.
I hope you’ll take the time to read Tom’s story. Tom is a colorful genius, and rather than post at length about him here and now, I’m going to selfishly make the 2 block walk to the circle, tell Tom I liked the article, play a few games with him, and more likely than not, lose ten dollars.
Timeless Talent
Sometimes I think I was born 40 years too late. I spent the last hour watching black and white YouTube clips of great performers performing. I asked myself, who in the charts today has the potential to be timeless? Who could be a Bing Crosby, an Elvis Presley, or a Johnny Cash? It seems to me that our generation lacks giants. There is, no doubt, artistic genius today, and one would expect it to be even richer as it benefits from the inspiration of those who came before. I still can’t think of a popular artist today that can overwhelm an audience with artistic genius. Need an example? Here is Ella Fitzgerald singing “How High the Moon.”