Chess on Steroids

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that starting with the Asian Games this week, chess players will be randomly tested for banned substances such as steroids. “I would not know which drug could possibly help a chess player to improve his game,” competition manager Yousuf Ahmad Ali said. But since chess wants to be an Olympic sport, they must clean up the sport by insuring that none of the competitors are using baned substances.

Now the question that comes up at this point is “Chess? An Olympic sport??!!!” The dictionary defines sport as: An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. Is sitting in a chair and moving little pieces around on a board a “physical exertion”? What’s next? The Monopoly board game competition? Why not go with Twister, at least that involves some physical exertion, and the mixed doubles could be fun to watch!!!

In any case, chess will certainly be a scintillating competition to watch on TV. I wonder if ESPN plans to carry all the matches?