7 Responses to “hall of fame”

1. Jonathan Ferguson Says:
   January 28th, 2008 at 11:40 am

   What a great group. I’d vote for Baze, Nickell and Passell.

2. Jonathan Ferguson Says:
   January 28th, 2008 at 11:52 am

   To answer your question, I think Passell and Nickell are the shoo-ins and it’s close between Baze and Lair. I’d hate not voting for either of those two.

   Of course, the client-haters will vote for Baze, Lair and Passell.

3. Bob Katz Says:
   January 28th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

   I have no problem at all with professionals and clients. A team is a team and it is nobody’s business how it got put together.

   However, someone please correct me if I am wrong. While Nickell has been on teams with remarkable accomplishments, is he considered a GREAT player?

   If not then I think he is not a hall of famer. But I do have this caveat: I do not know all the facts. Maybe there are other factors or he is a better player than I am aware.

4. stacy Says:
   January 28th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

   I can improve this conversation with some info. First, take a look at this:

   The ACBL Hall of Fame Open Award shall be given annually to living individuals who have achieved prominence in the game of bridge and have an outstanding tournament record. They shall be elected by electors, as described in Section 5 of these operating procedures.

   The ACBL Hall of Fame von Zedtwitz Award shall be given to living or deceased individual(s) who have achieved prominence in the game of bridge and have an outstanding tournament record but who may not have been in the limelight for a significant period of time. A deceased person must be deceased for three years before becoming eligible for selection, but this rule may be waived if at least six HoFC members vote to do so. Each year, as many as two (2) recipients may be selected by the HoFC whenever deemed appropriate.

   …
   The ACBL Hall of Fame Blackwood Award shall be given to individuals who have contributed greatly to the ame of bridge without necessarily being world class players. Each year, up to one (1) recipient may be elected by the HoFC, whenever deemed appropriate.

   In either the von Zedtwitz or Blackwood category, in a year where the HoFC believes that an additional award is clearly warranted, the Board may, upon receiving appropriate rationale from the HoFC in advance, vote to approve an additional award for that year.

   Nominees in the Open category must have attained the age of 60 by January 1st of the year of the induction ceremony.

   The primary basis for consideration in the Open and von Zedtwitz categories is the player’s North American and international record and achievements as a member and representative of the ACBL.

   An individual’s personal history, whether good or bad, should be considered in nominating candidates or selecting recipients.
   

   …
   Admission to the ACBL Hall of Fame may occur in one of the following ways:

   a. Election as a member in the Open category by the electors
   b. Selection for the Blackwood Award by the ACBL Hall of Fame Committee
   c. Selection for the von Zedtwitz Award by the ACBL Hall of Fame Committee
   

   ACBL Hall of Fame Charter

   Now, in the packet of information that accompanied the ballot was a sheet presenting the performance record of the nominees. I’m paraphrasing:

   ACBL++ TITLES (wins/seconds)
   Baze: (3/2)
   Burger: (6/11)
   Lair: (9/8)
   Mohan: (8/4)
   Nickell: (18/2)
   Passell: (9/11)
   Sokolow: (1/0)

   In terms of WBF Open Titles, only Mohan (1 bronze), Nickell (3 gold, 2 silver) and Passell (1 gold, 2 silver) have records.

   Tobi Sokolow, of course, has impressive Women’s numbers: 10 ACBL wins, 8 seconds; 3 WBF gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals as well.

5. Bob Katz Says:
   January 28th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

   Based on the rules regarding prominence and outstanding tournament record Nickell certainly qualifies. I guess I think the standard may not be perfect as written. For example there were members of UCLA’s basketball championship teams that won NCAA titles in all the years they were on the team but were supporting players.

   Is it possible to be a supporting player in bridge championships? I do not really know the answer. I believe it is impossible in pair events where one plays all the hands and is a full one half of the pair.

   But in team games where there are 6 players and it is possible to play only half the hands as one quarter of the team and thus only a 1/8 participant? Obviously you have contributed, but is it on a hall of fame level.

   Lest there be any confusion, I am not demeaning the championships. All members of a sports team get a ring and are champions. And I am not criticizing those who hire professionals. Had I the means I would likely do it myself.

6. Michael F Says:
   February 1st, 2008 at 10:53 am

   I have no problem with clients per se. I would prefer a system set up so that it rewards the Maria Theresa Lavallas and Ira Corns of the world more that our current system does, though.

   Having said that, arguably (and apocryphally) the most important conversation in bridge in the last twenty years was:

   “Dick, you want to try for the Bermuda Bowl this year?”
   “Only if we have Meckwell and the Texas Bobs as teammates.”

   “We got ‘em. You on?”

   The consequences of that conversation (however it happened) have coloured bridge in the ACBL, and all over the world, ever since. “Who do you fancy in the Spingold?” “Well, there’s NICKELL, of course, and…” Who else can you say that about?

   For that reason if for no other, Nickell deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.

   I think Passell is a no-brainer. On the other hand, without his sponsors over the last X years, he wouldn’t be half the bridge player he is. Which is the core of my ambivalence, of course.

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   July 20th, 2008 at 2:05 am

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