If you are not a bridge player (and that will include all but maybe three people who read this blog), you can stop reading now.
The Lone Wolff is the autobiography of Bobby Wolff, one of the greatest bridge players of all time. He has won numerous national and world championship events, and there is no question of his abilities. He also demonstrates that he has high ethical standards. I have no doubt that he has always tried to do what he thought was best for the bridge world. But this book just pissed me off.
It is Wolff’s self-righteous attitude that left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I did not like him. As the protagonist in this story, that makes it hard to like his book. He’s probably a decent guy, but he comes off as an asshole. His word for it is “maverick,” a word which i’m sick to death of hearing.
The span of time is vast, and the topics are numerous. Wolff basically discusses four areas: his personal life and bridge career, cheating scandals and ethical considerations, professionals and sponsors, and ACBL politics.
I did find myself interested in the details of some of the cheating scandals, and learning the details of the “Oh, Shit” case. The beginning of the Nick Nickell team was interesting, as well as the more general evolution of professionals and sponsors.
The list of things that rubbed me the wrong way is much longer:
- Despite his vow to “tell it like it is,” there is an awful lot of lip service paid to people throughout the book, just because they were on his side. For example, both his brother and his first wife, early partners of his, received much praise from Wolff in their bridge abilities. But soon after, Wolff disparages the abilities of known experts such as Jim Jacoby and Charles Goren. I believe the word mediocre was used regarding Goren. Perhaps he’s using different measuring sticks? It’s just not consistent and makes me doubt the sincerity of some of his statements.
- He talks about a few incidents early in his career where he is on the wrong side of ethical situations. Such as reporting an incorrect score (favorable to him, of course), and not proactively trying to correct it. It’s tough to swallow that from someone who is now such a policeman for bridge ethics. He admits it was wrong, but sort of blows it off and makes excuses.
- He admits to a complete lack of diplomacy, and seems somewhat proud of it.
- He admits to bullying committees in order to get his way. He admits to using his clout to push things through the Board. His explanations amount to “the ends justify the means.”
- He seems to think that a lot of people hold grudges against him and that it affects their actions regarding political workings of the ACBL. He’s probably right. But then he claims naivety and is surprised when a particular ruling goes against him.
- He comes across as awfully paranoid that people are out to get him. Suppose he presented idea A. When people don’t support it, or support idea B instead, he often assumes it’s because of his personal history with them, instead of the merits of the ideas.
- He seems to have very little respect for anyone who isn’t what he considers a great bridge player, an old-timer, a pro. Isn’t there more to a person than that?
- He wants to revamp how the ACBL is run – which is fine, it obviously is broken and needs to be fixed. But his proposal basically says that the people in charge should be a) world-class bridge players, but b) not professionals or sponsors (due to conflicts of interest). This leaves an extremely small pool, and how many of that small pool even want to be in politics?
- He wants to take credit for everything. The book is full of places where he’s pointing out his role in accomplishing X, Y and Z. And not in a way where you can say, “wow, cool, Bobby Wolff did that?” but instead he’s ramming it down your throat, “And I was the one who…”
One thing i think i can thank him for is the warning not to get involved in ACBL politics. I have considered that i might want to give it a try at some point, but i am completely disenchanted by it now.
I am probably being too hard on him. But he admits that his book was going to piss off a lot of people. I wonder if he thought he would evoke such strong negative reactions in people who don’t know him personally and who he doesn’t dis in his book.