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The "Nice" Trophy

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Submitted by Dozy on Sat, 05/31/2008 at 3:45pm.

In The Devil's New Dictionary, Richard Ianelli defines the word “nice” like this:

  1. Pleasant and forgettable: as in, it certainly was a nice party;

  2. Inoffensive and unremarkable: as in, he sure is a nice guy;

  3. Sweet and unattractive: as in, she's a really nice girl.

And on chess.com we have a Nice trophy.

Of course, it's not called that; it's called “Good Sportsmanship”. It's given when a game remains a pleasant and forgettable experience (no great effort was required) against an opponent whose forays on the chess board were inoffensive and unremarkable, and whose demeanour in losing was friendly and complimentary.

I should know: I've got eight of the things. And every time I get one I'm reminded of Ianelli's definition of the word Nice.

Well, I'm not nice. I love to crush my opponents, and I hate losing games (even though I recognise that I'm going to lose a goodly percentage of them).

OK, I don't rant and rave when I lose (I've had so much practise resigning games that the pain is largely anaesthetised by an overwhelming sense of deja vu), Neither do I slow down play, nor consider allowing the game to time out just to avoid the inevitable.

I guess I'm just an all-round good sport.

A real nice guy!

But please stop sending me those darned consolation prizes!


» posted in Dozy's Inferno
| 325 reads | 5 comments
 

Comments:

by batgirl - 20 months ago
NC United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 4475
nice post.
by Dozy - 20 months ago
Blue Mountains Australia
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 2209
Hi emiab,
Patzer is (I think) a yiddish word that describes a poor player, a wood pusher, an amateur.  Since almost all of us are amateurs, to an expert we all qualify as patzers!
Personally I don't mind wearing the label.  I play for the enjoyment it gives and, once in a while, get to turn in a pretty good game -- and I have a very short recall period for the games I lose.

by emiab - 20 months ago
Romania
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 752

lol. I like the Goodsportsmanship trophy. I feel good to send it to someone who just played a great game with me  which did not end as he or she wished. But because they continued the game and  did  everyting they  could I hold them respect .

that says a lot about me . if you want to win the game do your best, but do not ask of me to resign cause I won't .

and what is a Patzer ???? 


by Dozy - 20 months ago
Blue Mountains Australia
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 2209
Thanks, Tim.  Maybe we could suggest an alliterated trophy to take its place.  Say the PPPP Prize:  Pleasant Patzer, Perennially Perplexed....
by Pistoleer - 20 months ago
Ireland
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 479

*laughs merrily* Good post. Since it looks like ive given ye 4 out of the 8 i guess i should offer me apologies! ;P

Interesting interpretation..i know its tounge in cheek but still i guess i hadnt thought of it that way at all. Fer me giving that trophy is one of the best, showing respect and appreciation fer the game and person if i liked them. Like the words in the trophy.. "integrity, sportsmanship, ethics", and the image of a handshake.. as someone recently posted about (Batgirl perhaps?) chess can be, and is to me, often more than just a game, hence the sense of honour and respect.

Some people ive played here are not good sports...and those are the most disapointing and unrewarding games for me. So the fact that there is a trophy for it encourages me to use it when i do find a good sport.Oh and also its not just in the sense of "you lost but ye were a good sport.." win or loose.. someone can have the qualities of  great sportsmanship.

I cannae promise never to give ye another mate ;) but i didnt realise i had given ye so many! Ill think of a different one next time :P Cheers


 
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