Kenilworth Kibitzer

The latest cycle is as noteable for the players who have dropped out in protest (Carlsen, Adams) as it is for those who never signed up in the first place (Kramnik, Morozevich, Topalov).  The period in chess history after 1993 is perhaps comparable to the steroid era in baseball, where only in retrospect can we truly process the shame and denigration that has been heaped on the highest title in chess.  The title doesn't have much worth now because there is no one player dominant enough to lay claim to best in the world for any extended period of time, but still we must hope chess does not go the way of boxing with multiple titles and general disinterest (well, except that it did).  Our heroes are dead, all we control are the 64 squares before us; play well.