Re: Tanner and the Ethical Bankruptcy of the USCF
samsloan
and fraudulent rating reports involving games against non-existent
people.
He would never have been caught and it would not have been noticed
except for the recent creation of the MSA which makes all tournament
reports available online.
Even then, nobody would have noticed except that these old results put
him over 2300 giving him a floor of 2200 and then after he had played
300 games on his 2200 floor he became a "Life Master".
Then Eric Mark, a poster to this group, defeated him easily in a
tournament game and wrote that he played awfully weakly for a
"master".
This led me to look up his historical rating results and I discovered
the false reports submitted in 1991.
When my discovery became known, Tanner agreed to resign from the board
and to resign from all his FIDE and USCF positions.
I believe that he has paid his debt to society. He is also known as
one of the best and one of the very few top level scholastic
tournament organizers. There are very few capable of handling one of
these Super-National scholastic events with thousands of kids like the
one last weekend.
Polgar, Truong and Alexander are a different matter altogether. They
were trying to steal the entire United States Chess Federation and
take all the money. They need to be prosecuted, convicted and
sentenced to a term in prison. Their activities have cost the USCF
over $600,000 and have pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy.
By the way, it is not true that Tanner was forced off the board.
Tanner resigned from the board because Bill Goichberg asked him to. I
believe that the real reason Goichberg
asked Tanner to resign had nothing to do with the ratings scandal.
Tanner would sometimes vote the opposite from Goichberg when votes
were taken on the USCF Executive Board. Goicherg only wants reliable
sycophants who always vote with him on the board. Goichberg had two
sycophants on the board, Randy Hough and Joel Channing, who NEVER
voted opposite to Goichberg when I was on the board. With Tanner gone,
the only votes remaining were myself, Don Schultz and Beatrice
Marinello and our three votes were never enough to overrule anything
done by Goichberg without board approval.
Sam Sloan
Matt Nemmers
> I believe that he has paid his debt to society. He is also known as
> one of the best and one of the very few top level scholastic
> tournament organizers. There are very few capable of handling one of
> these Super-National scholastic events with thousands of kids like the
> one last weekend.
I agree.
The man did a bad thing. He screwed up. However, when confronted he
manned up, took his lumps, and did the honorable thing. Time to move
on.
The hypocritical, zero-defect mentality some people have about
volunteers who donate their time and expertise to a dysfunctional
organization like the USCF is apalling. At least Tanner had the sack
to admit when he was wrong, unlike so many of the RGCP regulars and
others on the EB.
All the man's doing is directing tournaments. Somebody's gotta do
it....if it ain't him, then who? Probably not the useless slugs who
piss and moan but don't lift a finger to help. Bottom line: Unless
those bitching about it are willing to step up, donate their own time,
and take his place behind the TD table, shut the fuck up and let the
man be. Or don't play in tournaments he directs if it gets your
panties in a bunch.
Unless you're running tournaments yourself and recruiting others to
follow suit, you've got no standing. Live, let live, and get over
it. Tanner paid his debt.
Regards,
Matt
BL
We'll just have to disagree on this one. What he did strikes to the
heart of the rating system. He perpetrated a fraud on clients who
hired him based on his status as a master, both individually and
school districts. According to a post by Hal Bogner, he lost a
contract with a school district because of his fraud. As Mike Murry
pointed out, you would not want a nurse practitioner posing as a
doctor. I can't imagine anyone cheating in such a manner ever being
entrusted with one of the highest responsibilities on TDing in the US
ever again. But, he's part of that good old boys club, Sam. It's a
club you don't belong to. If you did, you would have gotten into the
US Championship. If you had done what Tanner did, they'd probably
expel you from the USCF.
BL
All the man did for 18, repeat, 18 years was live, work and advance in
chess circles as a FRAUD. BTW, has he ever actually admitted what he
did and apologized? My understanding from Hal Bogner is that he never
has.
None
>
> All the man did for 18, repeat, 18 years was live, work and advance in
> chess circles as a FRAUD. BTW, has he ever actually admitted what he
> did and apologized? My understanding from Hal Bogner is that he never
What about Kevin Bachler. He did a similar thing with kids(students)
and his own rating. Has he ever apoligized or resigned?
BL
My understanding is that the tournaments at issue have been pulled
from the MSA, but I think his son still has whatever rating he
obtained in those tournaments. Don't know the answer to the last
question.
None
> > What about Kevin Bachler. He did a similar thing with kids(students)
> > and his own rating. Has he ever apoligized or resigned?
>
> My understanding is that the tournaments at issue have been pulled
> from the MSA, but I think his son still has whatever rating he
> obtained in those tournaments. Don't know the answer to the last
> question.
Yes, I see. There are gaps where his rating is 21nn and then at the
next tourney he starts with a rating of 22nn. I guess they didn't want
to effect his rating as that would cause a mess with all opponent
ratings. So he gets to brag about being a master when he never
hontestly got a master rating. They should knock his rating down 200
points and restrict him to playing in Opens and classes over 2200.
Matt Nemmers
> chess circles as a FRAUD.
"Advance in chess circles." "As a fraud."
In other words, he purposely inflated a number that purportedly
predicts one's future performance at a game, issued by a non-profit
organization, so he could impress people who also play to make them
think he was better at the game than he is.
Somebody fire up the electric chair.
> BTW, has he ever actually admitted what he
> did and apologized? My understanding from Hal Bogner is that he never
> has.
Who cares? Isn't this old news? Besides, everybody who does happen
to care about this already knows what he did and he knows they know.
I'll go out on a limb and say that he probably won't be doing that
again.
I assume you're saying he should be banned from ever directing a chess
tournament again. I say that's stupid. Let it go, man.
Regards,
Matt
MikeMurray
<viu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>In other words, he purposely inflated a number that purportedly
>predicts one's future performance at a game, issued by a non-profit
>organization, so he could impress people who also play to make them
>think he was better at the game than he is.
and to pay him for services, based on this credential. In other
words, fraud.
>Somebody fire up the electric chair.
Being a flim-flam man isn't a capital offence. But he's not someone
you want in, say, accounting either. As I noted in the USCF forum,
his redemption or lack of it isn't one of my hot buttons. But various
posters were claiming what he did to be "victimless". I don't think
so, although on a scale of 1-10 (10 being stealing from one's invalid
mother's retirement fund), it ranks down in the very low single
digits.
BL
> On May 11, 9:25 pm, BL <truthita...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > All the man did for 18, repeat, 18 years was live, work and advance in
> > chess circles as a FRAUD.
>
> "Advance in chess circles." "As a fraud."
>
> In other words, he purposely inflated a number that purportedly
> predicts one's future performance at a game, issued by a non-profit
> organization, so he could impress people who also play to make them
> think he was better at the game than he is.
You miss the point. Tanner built his livelihood on a fraud. At least
one school district fired him when the found out what he'd done. Some
of us value honesty more than others. If it were Sam Sloan instead of
Tanner, I suspect you'd be singing a different tune.
>
> Somebody fire up the electric chair.
>
> > BTW, has he ever actually admitted what he
> > did and apologized? My understanding from Hal Bogner is that he never
> > has.
>
> Who cares? Isn't this old news?
You don't but others do.
> Besides, everybody who does happen
> to care about this already knows what he did and he knows they know.
> I'll go out on a limb and say that he probably won't be doing that
> again.
Have you polled all his clients over the period of 18 year? I did't
think so, which means you're talking through your sphincter again.He
won't be doing that again because he's being
watched.....................Duh.
>
> I assume you're saying he should be banned from ever directing a chess
> tournament again. I say that's stupid. Let it go, man.
That's not my position. I say let him TD local and club events, but
keep him away from state and national championships.
>
> Regards,
>
> Matt
Matt Nemmers
> > In other words, he purposely inflated a number that purportedly
> > predicts one's future performance at a game, issued by a non-profit
> > organization, so he could impress people who also play to make them
> > think he was better at the game than he is.
>
> You miss the point. Tanner built his livelihood on a fraud. At least
> one school district fired him when the found out what he'd done. Some
> of us value honesty more than others. If it were Sam Sloan instead of
> Tanner, I suspect you'd be singing a different tune.
He got fired from what he made money one, he stepped down from his
position(s) in the USCF, and he hasn't directed a tournament in
years. Now, under the veil of promoting honesty, you want to
unilaterally make him persona non grata because of some mistakes he
made 20 years ago.
I think I get the point: In your view, somebody screws up, admits
they were wrong, pays the penalty and does their time, but you want
them banned from ever being involved in the activity that got them in
trouble in the first place.
As for Sloan.....has he ever admitted being wrong? Even after having
his errors pointed out verbatim? Didn't think so.
> > Who cares? Isn't this old news?
>
> You don't but others do.
Of course you do.....from waaaaaay up there on your high-horse passing
judgment.
> > Besides, everybody who does happen
> > to care about this already knows what he did and he knows they know.
> > I'll go out on a limb and say that he probably won't be doing that
> > again.
>
> Have you polled all his clients over the period of 18 year? I did't
> think so, which means you're talking through your sphincter again.He
> won't be doing that again because he's being
> watched.....................Duh.
That's a dumb ass question. Why the hell would I want to? I didn't
feel the need to point out the obvious, but thank you for clearing
that up for the less-intuitive, Inspector Clouseau.
> > I assume you're saying he should be banned from ever directing a chess
> > tournament again. I say that's stupid. Let it go, man.
>
> That's not my position. I say let him TD local and club events, but
> keep him away from state and national championships.
Yeah. Keep him away from the tournaments he'll be LESS supervised
at. Let him be *solely* in charge of running local and club events --
ones he may even play in himself -- with nobody there to check his
work. But FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T let him work alongside NTDs and IAs at
state and national events that are highly scrutinized and where he
won't play. That *really* supports your argument.
(Readers, please note who's "talking out of their sphincter" again.)
Fuckin' moron.
Regards,
Matt
BL
> On May 14, 2:59 pm, BL <truthita...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > In other words, he purposely inflated a number that purportedly
> > > predicts one's future performance at a game, issued by a non-profit
> > > organization, so he could impress people who also play to make them
> > > think he was better at the game than he is.
>
> > You miss the point. Tanner built his livelihood on a fraud. At least
> > one school district fired him when the found out what he'd done. Some
> > of us value honesty more than others. If it were Sam Sloan instead of
> > Tanner, I suspect you'd be singing a different tune.
>
> He got fired from what he made money one, he stepped down from his
> position(s) in the USCF, and he hasn't directed a tournament in
> years. Now, under the veil of promoting honesty, you want to
> unilaterally make him persona non grata because of some mistakes he
> made 20 years ago.
You need to get your facts straight. Since 2006 he has directed over
100 USCF rated tournaments as Chief TD and a smaller number as
Asistant TD. He has been Chief TD for numerous national championships
during that period. I suggest that you look at his MSA. You'll have to
renew your USCF membership to do that directly.
>
> I think I get the point: In your view, somebody screws up, admits
> they were wrong, pays the penalty and does their time, but you want
> them banned from ever being involved in the activity that got them in
> trouble in the first place.
Again, you need to get your facts straight. Tanner has never admitted
what he did. If you were still a USCF ember, you could learn about
that in detail on the USCF Issues Forum. IMO, having done what he did,
he should never TD a national (flagship) USCF tournament again. Your
opinion obviously differs.
>
> As for Sloan.....has he ever admitted being wrong? Even after having
> his errors pointed out verbatim? Didn't think so.
What did you not understand regarding the hypothetical. If it were
Sloan in the exact same circumstances, I have no doubt that your would
be ready to fry him in the chair.
>
> > > Who cares? Isn't this old news?
>
> > You don't but others do.
>
> Of course you do.....from waaaaaay up there on your high-horse passing
> judgment.
Actually, the one who cares and who brought it to my attention was
Dylan McClain of the NY Times who was covering the National K-6 in
Dallas. McClain was shocked (his word) that Tanner, a cheat (his word)
was a TD at the event. We'll see if he notes it in his write-up on the
Nationals.
>
> > > Besides, everybody who does happen
> > > to care about this already knows what he did and he knows they know.
> > > I'll go out on a limb and say that he probably won't be doing that
> > > again.
>
> > Have you polled all his clients over the period of 18 year? I did't
> > think so, which means you're talking through your sphincter again.He
> > won't be doing that again because he's being
> > watched.....................Duh.
>
> That's a dumb ass question. Why the hell would I want to? I didn't
> feel the need to point out the obvious, but thank you for clearing
> that up for the less-intuitive, Inspector Clouseau.
Oh my. Try to follow this. You made an assertion that clearly implied
a factual basis that you apparently don't have. Inspector Clouseau
caught you out, FuckTard.
>
> > > I assume you're saying he should be banned from ever directing a chess
> > > tournament again. I say that's stupid. Let it go, man.
>
> > That's not my position. I say let him TD local and club events, but
> > keep him away from state and national championships.
>
> Yeah. Keep him away from the tournaments he'll be LESS supervised
> at. Let him be *solely* in charge of running local and club events --
> ones he may even play in himself -- with nobody there to check his
> work. But FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T let him work alongside NTDs and IAs at
> state and national events that are highly scrutinized and where he
> won't play. That *really* supports your argument.
You clearly don't understand my point. Again, try to follow this.
Tanner is a fraud and a cheat who should never again be associated
with a USCF national event. If he cheats again, I think there's a
very good chance it will be picked up--even at the local level. That
said, there may welll be a need to tighten up procedures. Tanner isn't
the only one to have done something like this--his just the biggest
fish to get fried.
>
> (Readers, please note who's "talking out of their sphincter" again.)
>
> Fuckin' moron.
LOL!! Coming from a FuckTard like you that really
hurts.......................................not.
>
> Regards,
>
> Matt
rsh...@gmail.com
organized chess in 25 or 30 years. What a waste of time it was. And
don't ask me to contribute any money to chess. It isn't worth a dime.
OldHaasie
BettorO...@aol.com
I believe the way to become a true chess champion is to QUIT the
game. Youngest to do so wins.
Matt Nemmers
Another predictable statement from the self-proclaimed "genius" and
"openings grandmaster" (LOL!) who quit the game two decades ago.
Makes it easier for him to justify to himself the fact that he (again)
failed to make good on all his claims of prowess OTB.
Regards,
Matt