(This story was originally written about 1970 - even before there was a National Chess League in the 1970's, much less the US Chess League in the 21st century!)
Josh Jokim was very upset.
Apparently, his team didn't think as highly of previous year's contribution as he did, at least judging from their "final" salary offer. Josh thought he had done rather well for a rookie, but he now regretted signing only a one year contract. Not that it had been a bad contract for a first round draft choice: $1,200,000 bonus and a $82,000 salary with fringe benefits, including $25,000 for making the team and playing over half the matches.
He was glad that they didn't send him down to the farm system, because in the Big Leagues everything is first class. Besides, who wants to go on a nine hour bus ride to play the Akron Fianchettoes? And how many first-year players get to crack the starting lineup of a National Chess League team, even if it was the woeful Philadelphia Woodpushers?
During salary negotiations, Josh had presented all his impressive statistics to the General Manager, but to no avail. Pretty good for a rookie:
He also argued that he finished 7th in "Rookie of the Year" balloting and that the team's attendance had gone up from last year's abysmal 87,000 per game to 108,000 per game.
But he still was only offered a 30% raise. The nerve of some people! Didn't they remember his stalemate trap that enabled us to score a half point off the New York Grandmasters for the first time in years?
And if he had to hold out, what if missing training camp harmed their brightest prospect in years?
Of course, Josh wouldn't starve; his restaurant chain and sporting goods stores added nicely to his revenues from his television show and the few commercials he had done. It was a hard life, but Josh put up with it.
So now he was working out at a local "Y", playing blindfolds and simultaneous exhibitions for the youngsters who came every day to see their favorite clockpusher. For all he cared, the team could repeat their twelfth place finish. However, Josh did like the other players, and even though he hoped he could move up a board this year, he wished them well individually.
On the other hand, he hated their archrivals, the Washington Pawnswappers. In their 8th match with their rivals last year, the Washington eighth board had swindled him, enabling Washington to win the match 5.5 - 4.5. The scoreboard had already shown that Denver had won their match over Miami 7-3, and this had settled the Woodpushers into last place for the rest of the year. The Philadelphia press reminded him of this game constantly thereafter. Why couldn't they mind their own business? They couldn't do nearly as well; how would they like to have a master threatening to trap their Queen while they were in time pressure? It is easy enough to write afterwards that Nc4 was an easy win, but to find it in limited time with your clock running is quite another thing.
Finally, about a week before the season was about to begin, Josh received a call from the Philadelphia General Manager:
"Josh, we've just traded you to the Los Angeles J'Adoubes for a 65 year old Grandmaster, a third round draft choice, and two minor leaguers."
Jokim had always heard that the American Chess League was the weaker league, and now he was going to find out! Such an exciting life! How could anyone ever stand doing something dull for a living like playing a physical sport?
Josh Jokim was very upset.
Apparently, his team didn't think as highly of previous year's contribution as he did, at least judging from their "final" salary offer. Josh thought he had done rather well for a rookie, but he now regretted signing only a one year contract. Not that it had been a bad contract for a first round draft choice: $1,200,000 bonus and a $82,000 salary with fringe benefits, including $25,000 for making the team and playing over half the matches.
He was glad that they didn't send him down to the farm system, because in the Big Leagues everything is first class. Besides, who wants to go on a nine hour bus ride to play the Akron Fianchettoes? And how many first-year players get to crack the starting lineup of a National Chess League team, even if it was the woeful Philadelphia Woodpushers?
During salary negotiations, Josh had presented all his impressive statistics to the General Manager, but to no avail. Pretty good for a rookie:
- 37.8% wins on 8th board (heck, the entire team only scored 31.8%!)
- 17th in the league in Queenside castling
- 23rd in Queen sacrifices (didn't mention on 45th in SOUND Queen sacrifices!)
- Best on the team at putting his opponent over on time (a near league rookie record of 3)
- Most Stolen Pawns in August (32)
- 6 Game-winning points
He also argued that he finished 7th in "Rookie of the Year" balloting and that the team's attendance had gone up from last year's abysmal 87,000 per game to 108,000 per game.
But he still was only offered a 30% raise. The nerve of some people! Didn't they remember his stalemate trap that enabled us to score a half point off the New York Grandmasters for the first time in years?
And if he had to hold out, what if missing training camp harmed their brightest prospect in years?
Of course, Josh wouldn't starve; his restaurant chain and sporting goods stores added nicely to his revenues from his television show and the few commercials he had done. It was a hard life, but Josh put up with it.
So now he was working out at a local "Y", playing blindfolds and simultaneous exhibitions for the youngsters who came every day to see their favorite clockpusher. For all he cared, the team could repeat their twelfth place finish. However, Josh did like the other players, and even though he hoped he could move up a board this year, he wished them well individually.
On the other hand, he hated their archrivals, the Washington Pawnswappers. In their 8th match with their rivals last year, the Washington eighth board had swindled him, enabling Washington to win the match 5.5 - 4.5. The scoreboard had already shown that Denver had won their match over Miami 7-3, and this had settled the Woodpushers into last place for the rest of the year. The Philadelphia press reminded him of this game constantly thereafter. Why couldn't they mind their own business? They couldn't do nearly as well; how would they like to have a master threatening to trap their Queen while they were in time pressure? It is easy enough to write afterwards that Nc4 was an easy win, but to find it in limited time with your clock running is quite another thing.
Finally, about a week before the season was about to begin, Josh received a call from the Philadelphia General Manager:
"Josh, we've just traded you to the Los Angeles J'Adoubes for a 65 year old Grandmaster, a third round draft choice, and two minor leaguers."
Jokim had always heard that the American Chess League was the weaker league, and now he was going to find out! Such an exciting life! How could anyone ever stand doing something dull for a living like playing a physical sport?
