The Alexander/Chess Connection

Not another Football-related posting? No-This is a Chess-related posting! Shaun Alexander has more than a passing fancy in chess. In fact, he set up his own foundation and donated $7,500 to play some kids, and he did this for free. What a nice guy!

The Times has another article about Alexander and Chess:

So, can chess make someone a better athlete, or at least a better running back? John Fedorowicz, a chess grandmaster and a sports fan, does not think so. "Chess is kind of a sport itself, but I never saw any kind of carryover to other sports," he said. If playing chess made someone a better running back, Fedorowicz said, then they would all play and they would say, "I wasn't anything until I started playing chess." Alexander said he thought there was a bit of a connection between chess and being a running back. "While you're watching film, you're thinking about ways to beat people, and that's kind of the way it is with chess," he said. "Every move, you're thinking about getting an advantage for yourself. That's how it is with football as well."

I am sorry the Jerome Bettis will have to lose on Sunday, but since he has to lose, he will be tossing the mantle of niceness to a worthy opponent in Alexander.