[Mr. Mulliner]

When I read the phrase "Tiger Woods of chess," I wasn't thinking "black chess player." I was thinking it must refer to someone who dedicated himself at an early age to the game of chess and showed genius at it.

As much good as Tiger Woods might do in his success at golf, I hate to see him become a racial icon. It's not race that got him where he's at and it shouldn't be race that makes him someone to look up to.

The same applies to this chess player.

[Cagey]

As much good as Tiger Woods might do in his success at golf, I hate to see him become a racial icon.

Tiger Woods would probably be the first to agree with you. I think it was shortly after one of his first big wins when Clinton asked him to come to the White House for a publicity photo op and Tiger declined the invite knowing he was going to be used because of his race.

Hole n one probably knows the details.

[jpl]

As much good as Tiger Woods might do in his success at golf, I hate to see him become a racial icon. It's not race that got him where he's at and it shouldn't be race that makes him someone to look up to.

One of the great things about Tiger is that he agrees with you 100%! He's about the furthest thing there is from a racialist. Jesse Jackson tried to "co-opt" him a couple of years back and Tiger, God bless him, basically told Jackson to go f**k off.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Yeah, but let's cut some slack. There's plenty positive in this story; just his mother's attitude towards American opportunity says a lot. So if indeed it's hype to suggest that one of the 400 best chess players is equivalent to the best golfer, OK.

But the guy is attempting to inspire excellence in children who are tempted by the Jacksons and Sharptons of this country to become cynical. There is simply no surplus of people in this country successfully working at that.