The Bridge World Interview with Sidney Lazard

I was elated and amused when I turned to page 26 of the July Issue of The Bridge World and noted the Interview with Sidney Lazard, an old dear friend of Bobby, Norman, Edgar and yours truly.  I will never forget how kind and caring Sidney was when both Edgar and Norman were on their way out.  I remember in 1997 Sidney calling me and telling me he intended to fly to New York via Philly and drive up to see Edgar with Norman and me.   I strongly urged him to move it up a week (which he did) and just as well, as Edgar did not make it through the week.

If you are not a subscriber, sign up or borrow a copy.   Sidney’s Interview is very entertaining and informative reading.  It covers the subject of “Bridge Development,” “Early Tournaments,” “Self-Observation,” “Table Presence,” “Bridge Personalities,” and “The Sportsmanship Award” named for his son. 

”In 1999, my only child, Sidney Jr. died of cancer at the age of 41.  He was the nicest guy in the whole world, and he was a great sportsman.   By “sportsman,” I mean someone who plays hard but fair and holds no grudges.   I designed the Sportsmanship Award as a way to honor his memory by recognizing top bridge players who  emulate the ideal that I saw in my son, and to encourage all players to aspire to that standard.”

Two stories I’ve heard before appeared in the interview.   One involved Roth and Stone.  Sidney, by his own admission, kept self-destructing in a match playing with Byron Greenberg against Al and Stoney. 

“After the third such round, Roth rubbed it in by chastising Stone for not bidding a grand slam needing an onside king, saying, “he [meaning Sidney] had to have it for his weak two bid.”   Stone responded:  “Had to have it?   This guy can’t read or write.”  So, I grabbed a full ashtray (note that most players smoked in those days) and dumped it in Stone’s lap, saying “and I’m also very sloppy.”  (The version I heard was –he dumped it on his head and added, “I’m sloppy too.”  However, I’ll cede to Sidney’s version).

Under Bridge Personalities, Sidney admits to Johnny Crawford being his toughest opponent.   He never beat him but he always beat Schenken,  he added.   In the 1959 Vanderbilt, there was some unpleasant banter before the match.   He was playing with John Fisher against Crawford and Stone.   Before they started, in the presence of Chief Director, Al Sobel, Sidney tried to ‘preempt” Crawford by announcing “no talking.”   Crawford countered by challenging Sidney by “Wanna bet (on the match)?”   Sobel (a bit of a S.D. himself) was unbothered by this technically barred behavior)   Sidney had to preserve face and partnership confidence by saying “Yes.”   The remainder of the story is in Sidney’s own words:

“Then Crawford, who had recently married well, threw a big stack of money on the table and said ‘Match that!’  I’ve been known to carry a few big stacks myself, but that was too big even for me, so I countered by grabbing Sobel’s lighter and setting the money on fire.   Crawford singed his fingers putting the fire out.  (P.S.:  We lost anyway.)”

There are more titillating “Sidney” stories and names from the past you will thoroughly enjoy perusing.  Remember, the green copy of this month’s “The Bridge World.”  (This is not a paid advertisement.  JKW)