July 19-July 29, 2001 73rd Summer North American Bridge Championships Toronto,Ontario Vol. 73, No. 4 Monday, July 23, 2001 Editors: Brent Manley and Henry Francis Courageous Cowan rejects self-pity, continues bridge For 13 months, New York attorney Phil Cowan has battled inoperable brain cancer. He has undergone a variety of medical treatments and is struggling to make it against long odds. Given those circumstances, one might ask what the 57-year-old is doing at the Toronto NABC. Cowan’s answer: “Dealing with it as best I can.” One of the best ways for him to cope, he says, is to play bridge. Although he is not nearly as sharp as he was before he was stricken, Cowan still plays with the dedication that led him to about 20 Summer NABCs in a row, playing mostly with regular partner Steve Becker. The two have played together and won numerous events since they started in the Seventies. They played the first two qualifying sessions of the Life Master Pairs earlier in the tournament and, despite Cowan’s condition, were only slightly below average in each session. “The doctors seem to think bridge is good for me,” Cowan says. The sentiment is echoed by his wife, Edna. “It exercises his memory,” she says, Phil Cowan, center, his wife, Edna, and longtime friend Steve Becker Continued on page 4 CEO Silber to leave ACBL Levin-Weinstein break string David O. Silber, chief executive officer of the ACBL since 1998, announced at Sunday’s meeting of the Board of Governors that he will leave the organi- of seconds with LM Pairs win zation at the end of the month. After a string of what seemed like “a million” sec- The two have been friends for a long time but part- At the meeting, Jim Kirkham, ACBL President, ond place finishes in major events, Robert Levin and ners for only about three years. Practically from the thanked Silber for his many contributions to the ACBL Steve Weinstein finally made it through to the top, tak- beginning, their extraordinary chemistry has produced and the United States Bridge Federation and indicated ing the lead after the first final session of the Life a succession of high finishes in major events, includ- that the Board of Directors will appoint a CEO search Master Pairs to win the event by nearly a full board. ing a victory in the Cavendish Invitational Pairs in Las committee to identify a successor. Second place went to Ralph Katz and Gary Cohler. Vegas a couple of years ago. Kirkham announced that the search committee will Levin and Weinstein thought that was their break- be chaired by Wayne Hascall, who represents District through, but the string of seconds resumed after that. 12 on the Board. Even more frustrating was the fact that on several of In the interim, Jack Zdancewicz, ACBL’s chief finan- the occasions -- including the Cap Gemini in Europe cial officer, will serve as acting chief operating officer. and last year’s Vanderbilt Knockout Teams -- they were winning until the last board. Of course, second in several major events is noth- ing to sneeze at. “It’s been good,” said Weinstein, “but It's Goodwill Day! it feels a little better now.” Today is Goodwill Day and my co-chairs and I The partnership came together when Levin and invite all Goodwill Committee members to join us from Weinstein, both in longtime partnerships, were ready 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for the Goodwill Meeting in the Im- for a change. “We have worked really hard,” said Levin. perial Room at the Royal York Hotel. Weinstein had to make an adjustment from the We look forward to seeing each of you. Precision system he had played for many years, but Aileen Osofsky, Chairman the two settled on a 2/1, Standard American. “It’s an National Goodwill Committee Robert Levin, left, and Steve Weinstein won LM Pairs Continued on page 6 Just ask Martha: no hanky panky with computer deals In some circles, computer-generated At one time, the ACBL did business with deals have a decidedly bad reputation. Many an East Coast company which supplied the players believe the deals are manipulated to: computer deals for tournaments. Now, all (1) Be more difficult. deals are generated at ACBL Headquarters (2) Assure that all finesses fail. in Memphis. (3) Have wilder distributions. Here is the process by which the com- In fact, computer-generated deals are puter-generated deals are created: truly random deals – no more, no less. If you Once a month, Martha Walls, who works prefer the less-exotic deals you sometimes in the Publishing Department, unlocks the find in your regular club game, it may be room near her office where the deals are cre- because the deals have been inadequately ated. The office stays locked at all times. shuffled, which tends to produce more even To start up a new set, Walls boots up the distributions. computer and opens the random-deal gen- Then again, some of the truly outland- erator created by ACBL systems analyst Jim ish deals reported in various publications Lopushinsky. were dealt by humans. Continued on page 4 Martha Walls, a non-bridge player, works on preparing computer deals Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS Zero tolerance three years later Monday, July 23, 2001 The ACBL Board of Directors -- citing a com- 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Easybridge! Accreditation with Easybridge! creator Edith McMullin and the Easybridge! mitment to “improving acceptable player behavior staff. Manitoba Room, Royal York Hotel. (Stage A in the morning, lunch break, Stage B in at all times” -- adopted Zero Tolerance as ACBL the afternoon). Accreditation is free. $20 covers course materials. policy, effective with the 1998 Spring NABC in 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Competition and Conventions Committee at the Royal York Hotel, York Room Reno. 10:00 & 11:30 a.m. ACBL Online Seminar. Join Canadian expert Drew Cannell in Room 801 at the Metro Unacceptable behavior has decreased – our goal, Toronto Convention Centre to learn about this new ACBL service. however, is to eliminate unacceptable behavior as much 10:00 a.m. – Noon Accredited Teachers Update Meeting with Audrey Grant and the ACBL Education Department staff. Library Room, Royal York Hotel. as possible. 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Audrey Grant, Improving Your Judgment. Room Please report conduct that is unacceptable while 801, Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Grant, Toronto, is the author of the ACBL teaching keeping in mind that we must be tolerant of other series: the Club, Diamond, Heart and Spade Series and the new Commonly Used Conventions. people in general -- and bridge players in particular. 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Goodwill Reception. Ballroom, Convnetion Level Royal York Hotel. (For Goodwill Also report conduct that is outstanding or refreshing. Committee members only. Commendable behavior includes (but is not lim- 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Curtis Cheek, Staying Low: How to Avoid Bad ited to): Slams and Dangerous Heights. Room 801, Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Cheek, • Being a good “host” or “guest” at the table. Huntsville AL, is a bridge professional who has won numerous regional events. • Greeting others in a friendly manner. • Praising the bidding and/or play of the oppo- After evening session ITT Conditions of Contest subcommittee, Boardroom, Royal York. nents. • Having two clearly completed convention cards Tuesday, July 24, 2001 readily available to the opponents. This is also a regu- 9:00 a.m. – Noon. Easybridge! Accreditation with Easybridge! creator Edith McMullin and the Easybridge! lation. staff. Manitoba Room, Royal York Hotel. (Stage B only). Accreditation is free. $20 covers Unacceptable behavior includes (but is not lim- course materials. ited to): 9:00 a.m. – Noon Education Liaison Workshop. Library Room, Royal York Hotel. MiniBridge Seminar with • Badgering, rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, Sandra Landy of Great Britain. Landy introduces the teaching method that is causing a profanity, threats or violence. sensation in English schools. • Negative comments concerning opponents’ or 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Competition and Conventions Committee at the Royal York Hotel, Boardroom. partner’s play or bidding. 10:00 & 11:30 a.m. ACBL Online Seminar. Join Canadian expert Drew Cannell in Room 801 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to learn about this new ACBL service. • Gloating over good results. 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Larry Cohen, The Real Deal. Room 801, • Constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Cohen, Boca Raton FL, is the author of To Bid or Not to the table. Bid: The Law of Total Tricks. He is an ACBL Grand Life Master and a regular columnist • Loud and disruptive arguing with a director’s for The Bridge Bulletin. ruling. 6:30 p.m. Jeff Meckstroth and Marc Smith will sign copies of “Win the Bermuda Bowl with Me” at If you experience someone exhibiting discourte- the Royal York Hotel book stand on the Convention level. ous behavior or being other than civil, please call a 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Kathie Wei-Sender, Championship Bridge. tournament director immediately. If you feel that there Room 801, Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Wei-Sender, Nashville, if a three-time world was a very serious breech of discipline, in addition to champion. She was named ACBL Honorary Member in 1987 and inducted into the Bridge the resolution by the tournament director at the table, Hall of Fame in 1999. please discuss the problem directly with the Director- in-Charge of the tournament. Wednesday, July 25, 2001 Should it become necessary to call a tournament 9:00 a.m.