No Wonder Why We Are So Soft

[Lvubun1]

They should be watching Bruce Lee and porn not playing chess.
BY MIKE MCALLISTER
The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS - (KRT) - Physically, the two games could not be more dissimilar. One requires a minimal amount of exertion, with all the movement of a couch potato reaching for the remote control. The other requires the agility of Baryshnikov, the strength of Samson, and the hand-eye coordination of Caine - the Kung Fu character, not the London-born movie star.

Dallas Mavericks forward Popeye Jones, however, has found a common thread between chess and basketball.

"In chess, you try to control the middle of the board - just like in basketball, where you try to control the paint area," Jones said. "If you can control the middle of the board, you have a good shot of winning the game."

Although the perimeter-driven Mavericks remain a team without a dominating inside presence, it's doubtful many NBA teams can match the Mavericks' ability to dominate the middle of the chessboard.

At least a third of the Dallas roster dabbles in chess, mostly as a way to pass the time on road trips.

Jones and point guard Nick Van Exel recently split two games, while Jones took two out of three against fellow forward Raef LaFrentz, who admittedly is a little "rusty." Center Shawn Bradley also is a chess player, while Dirk Nowitzki is rumored to possess at least a working knowledge of the game.

Although many other modern-day athletes rely on video games as their diversion of choice, the Mavericks' chess kings say they enjoy the cerebral action of the game. Thinking two or three moves ahead, the players are forced to stay sharp mentally. But they can still get some relief from the daily stress of their profession.

"When you read a book, you can still have your mind on basketball," LaFrentz said. "But when you're playing chess, you're not thinking about basketball. You can escape it a little bit. It occupies your mind."

Jones received his introduction to chess as a kid, when his cousin taught him a few basic moves. But it never really took. Video games took over - John Madden's NFL games are his favorite. He also played a lot of cards.

But at Murray State, Jones became re-acquainted with the game because one of his suitemates was an avid chess player. That's when Jones picked up chess in earnest. Even one of his sons, 8-year-old Seth, has become adept at playing.

"I may end up sending him to chess camp because I don't have the patience to teach chess," Jones said.

They started young

Van Exel's first involvement with chess came on the playgrounds of Wisconsin, where he grew up. While waiting for enough players to arrive for a pickup basketball game, Van Exel and a few buddies passed the time "playing chess, checkers and other stuff."

LaFrentz, meanwhile, also recalls playing as a kid. But he didn't make it part of his routine until turning pro as a 1998 draft pick of the Denver Nuggets. One of the assistant coaches back then, Kim Hughes, was a big-time chess player, and he helped develop LaFrentz's interest.

In fact, the Hughes connection influenced not only LaFrentz, but also Van Exel and Jones, the latter having played 40 games in Denver in 1999-2000. The three players still recall Hughes' ability to work the chessboard.

"He's the best I've ever played," LaFrentz said of Hughes, who's no longer with the Nuggets. "He'd just smoke us, kick our butts. While we're thinking three moves ahead, he's thinking 10 moves ahead."

It's that kind of strategic warfare that makes chess so appealing - and why the players can apply it to their own sport.

"Basketball is a thinking game of sorts," Van Exel said. "When you're on the bench during timeouts, you're thinking about what you're going to do, thinking about being prepared, how to defend your opponent, thinking about the situations that are coming up. You're trying to visualize it in your head. It's similar to chess in that aspect."

Added Jones: "With chess, it's all there on the table. The opponents' pieces. Your pieces. Everybody can see what's going on. So you've got to think ahead and stay ahead of your opponents. It's a lot of fun for me."

Certainly, the Mavericks aren't the only team with players interested in chess. Jones said when he played in Washington last season, rookies Kwame Brown and Brendan Haywood were interested in the game. In fact, one of Haywood's cousins is a chess champion in North Carolina.

Tough competition

Jones said he was undefeated in Washington. But the competition is a little stiffer in Dallas. No one dominates, although Jones is probably the most consistent player.

"I've beaten Raef most of the time," Jones said with a laugh. "But he may have something up his sleeve."

Replied LaFrentz: "I'm not going to pretend that I'm an expert or even very good. But against guys at this level, I'm decent."

As for Van Exel, he still receives looks of surprise whenever he settles down at one end of a chessboard.

"On our last big road trip, the players were looking at me, the stewardesses were looking at me," he said. "They didn't think I could play. While I don't think I'm that good, I can play. I know the basics. I don't think anybody's going to beat me in three moves."

Not unless the Mavericks can fit Bobby Fischer under the salary cap.

[Member]

lol

[FlyinGK22]

hey thrs nothin wrong with chess. its a fun game, dont get me wrong, im not a chess master or nething. but atleast hes staying out of trouble.

[centrlpark08]

My eyes hurt reading that whole thing.........good article.