09/27/2006
10 Questions with Josh Friedel
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by IM Greg Shahade
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- Hello
Josh, so normally I wouldn't give an interview to two members of the
same team with such a short delay, however since you begged me on ICC,
I am agreeing to do so. Why exactly do you want to be interviewed so
badly? What is your all important message to send to the chess
community?
First of all, Mr. Shahade, it was YOU who begged ME to do it. You
offered me fame, fortune, women, etc. But I turned them all
down. Well, mostly. I'll tell you where to send the girls
later. Anyhow, I figured since
David's
interview would give
everyone the totally wrong impressions, I'd help remedy the
situation.
2. In Boston you are considered to be an arch-villain,
having left the Boston Blitz to play for the San Francisco Mechanics in
one of the biggest free-agent moves of the offseason. Why did you move
across the nation? How does it feel to be so despised by such a large
city?
Please. I
lived near Boston for over 19 years, and the only thing I fear there
are the drivers. Also, as you can see by their record, the Blitz
hardly need me. In fact, they paid me more to leave this year
than to play last year!
3. Are you the strongest player ever from New Hampshire? Tell us
about the New Hampshire chess culture in 1000 words or more please.
Not even close. It is a little
known fact that I'm actually the WEAKEST player in the state, and the
only reason the others don't play is that it would make things
uninteresting.
4. Ok let's get more serious, talk to us about the league.
What teams/players have impressed you the most?
I have one word for
everyone. Ilya Krasik (That's
two words - editor's note). The guy is amazing. They
should put him on board 1 instead of board 4, switching him up for that
Joker LarryC. Rxe4? Did anyone see that? True, d5 was
most likely easily winning, but that Krasik had to play Rxe4 just to
show to the world he's a badass.
5. Do you think that the San Francisco Mechanics are going
to win the league Championship? If not you, who else will win?
Please. Though most of what David said
was total crap, he was right about one thing. I will not allow
that to happen. Now, I may have made a couple mistakes along the
way, namely miscalculating and not letting Costigan queen his f-pawn,
and accidentally forcing Panchanathan to resign with Rh3+. It was
a typo, I meant to play Rh4. But hey, mistakes happen.
6. Tell us the
difference between the team and match atmosphere in Boston and San
Francisco.
The support in both places was
amazing. In Boston, I had the treat of driving through downtown
Natick to get to the match. That really prepped my head.
Also, having come all prepared for my game, I'd have LarryC tell me to
play this random, unsound piece sacrifice instead. But compared
to San Franpsycho, that is nothing. Here I have to ride on Bart
forever, listening to babies crying and David whining to me about not
knowing what to play. Then when I get to the Mechanic's, I'd have
Yermo come up to me and tell me all the ways my opponent could have
beaten me in my previous game. I mean, wow, how can I not play
well in an atmosphere like this? Also, the Mechanics. What
kind of name is this? I mean, at least Marcel can say "THE SHARKS
ARE SWIMMING" every week. What am I supposed to say, "THE
MECHANICS ARE FIXING CARS!!!" ??
7. So
you didn't win the Samford Chess Fellowship, but your lower rated
teammate David Pruess did. How much do you hate him.
There are no words to describe it. Except
those. And those. And those.
8. What are your goals in chess? How much do you study each
day? Do you plan on being a professional chessplayer? Do you like how I
asked three questions in one?
I have no goals. I currently study negative 2
hours a
day (2 hours by myself, 4 with David). As far as being a
professional, I'm torn between chess and cattle farming. That is
four questions.
9. What has been your
most memorable game of the USCL so far, including games from 2005?
As a rule, I try to forget my games as soon as
possible. Unfortunately, I still remember the game with... Yes,
it is working!!!
10.
Tell us about your general impressions of the US Chess League so far.
What amuses me the most is the team spirit.
Everyone always huddled around each other's games, David jumping up and
down contantly like a hyena on crack. And John Donaldson, the guy
who holds everything together. I mean, I know I'm trying to
sabotage the team and everything, but he makes it tough. I mean,
when I look across the room, and I see those puppydog eyes...
Thanks for your extremely serious
replies Josh! Good luck in the rest of the season.
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