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I read over this article, whose only source is Life Magazine, and either Larry Evans or Brad Darrach are the likely culprits behind the story. Without much effort, strong contradictions become apparent when compared with credible sources. Fischer confirmed to NYTimes, 4/05/72, he intended to play. Life is claiming he beligerantly refused, but NY Times confirmed Fischer even offered an apology to FIDE if there were any misunderstandings! Brad Darrach and Harry Benson were also behind the false news report that Nixon had extended an invitation through Harry Benson (imagine that!! the president of the United States can find no better courier than a rumor mill reporter) Darrach claimed Benson delivered this news to Fischer and Fischer was supposedly overwhelmed - - but Fischer does not remember such a thing because it never happened. Darrach made it up, concocted from thin air. The NY Times investigated and their findings were the White House offered “No Comment.”. Bobby Fischer confirmed there never was an invitation. Brad Darrach was behind a plethora of such false rumors in the press, including claiming privy information whilst Fischer was confined behind the gates and under protection of the Ambassador College/Worldwide Church of God campus security. Brad Darrach claimed Fischer was “dating” outside the cult, which is entirely untrue, and Fischer confirms this in his 1977 interview with church dissidents. Brad Darrach claimed Fischer was going to buy a large house in California and settle down, married - - but the truth was, Fischer was preparing for the biblical exodus and gave all his money to Herbert's church, and what little remained was pilfered by Stanley Rader, the church lawyer who had gained access to handling Fischer legally. Fischer eventually became fed up and sued “Life”/Brad Darrach (1977) for publishing a defamatory fictional novel about his personal life. Brad Darrach has a long, sordid history of publishing such false, defamatory rumors and bears traits of unethical, yellow journalism, not only against other celebrities but toward his own colleagues, which led to encountering more than one lawsuit. One such rumor NY Times dispelled: “…Fischer told a reporter that the story that he had sold Life magazine an exclusive interview during the match with Spassky was ‘a dirty lie.’” ‘I was busy,’ he said. ‘If I'd given an interview to every body that asked, I'd have lost the match.’” NYTimes 9/23/1972
Let's Play Chess Fri, May 19, 1972 – 52 · Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) · Newspapers.com
