New Trick Columnists?

[Ben Bishop]

I really enjoy all the regular columnists in Genii right now, but I'm wondering if there are any new "trick" columnists on the horizon (like Maven, Farmer, Acer, etc.). Michael Weber? Jerry Sadowitz? J.K. Hartman? Just curious...

[Richard Kaufman]

No one new scheduled. I think we've got a great mix of tricks every month, with no single columnist appearing too often.

As for having:

Michael Weber--that would be great, but he's not interested.

Jerry Sadowitz--I don't hire psychotics.

J.K. Hartman--I think we have enough card material right now (more than enough in some folk's opinion!).

[Tom Stone]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
-I don't hire psychotics.

Hmm, so you need to find columnists from outside magic then? ;)

[Guest]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:

Jerry Sadowitz--I don't hire psychotics.

ohhhhh!

care to explain?

[John LeBlanc]

Originally posted by Nordatrax:

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
[b]
Jerry Sadowitz--I don't hire psychotics.

ohhhhh!

care to explain? [/b]

You're kidding, right?

John
http://www.escamoteurettes.com/blog/

[Richard Kaufman]

No, I'm not kidding. Jerry Sadowitz appears, from his behavior, to be mentally ill. He has, without cause, attacked me (and numerous others) in The Crimp for absolutely no cause whatsoever. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he ignores it. In person he avoids all controversy and can't even look the people he's defamed in print in the face. His rantings in print can only be termed "psychotic."

[John LeBlanc]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
No, I'm not kidding. Jerry Sadowitz appears, from his behavior, to be mentally ill. He has, without cause, attacked me (and numerous others) in The Crimp for absolutely no cause whatsoever. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he ignores it. In person he avoids all controversy and can't even look the people he's defamed in print in the face. His rantings in print can only be termed "psychotic."

The "Are you kidding?" question was aimed at Nordatrax. I sure knew what you meant and why.

John
http://www.escamoteurettes.com/blog/

[Ryan Matney]

A beginner's column might be nice. Self-Working card tricks, and other simple one off tricks maybe with a little history and proper credits for someone just starting.

[Guest]

Am I kidding?

No. And Im still not.

So whats the full story?

[Ian Kendall]

The beginning was a trick using the face up bottom deal in Gene Maze's bottom deal book. Jerry had issues with this and its similarity to a Peter Kane trick that had been in the Crimp. Things snowballed from there.

Trust me, you don't want to know the rest.

Take care, Ian

[Guest]

This is one of those situations where no good can come of me knowing more.

And, whats more, its non of my beeswax.

So of course, I hear everything!

If though the parties in question dont wanna talk about it, then feel free to tell me to bug off.

[Ian Kendall]

Trust me, bug off.

Take care, Ian

[Guest]

Thats the reply I thought I would get.

Consider me offed.

[Richard Kaufman]

I won't tell you to bug off: there's no harm in discussing or quoting here some of the things Sadowitz has written. However, the amount of foul language means there will be at lot of asterisks necessary.
But, if someone wants to quote some of Jerry's lovely language regarding these issues here, be my guest. His mental state speaks for itself and is best revealed through his own writings.

[Steve Hook]

One thing to remember is that people with mental problems can't usually control those problems.

I don't know if he's truly psychotic but some tolerance might be appropriate. Not that one would necessarily want to have him over for dinner so that he could hurl F-bombs around one's children, but at the same time, it doesn't seem useful to be angry with him for something which sounds to be out of his control.

No? Yes?

[Guest]

If Mr. Kaufman has no qualms about it being dragged up, someone feel free to fill me in.

Second, your member number 3??!?!

who came before you?

[Ian Kendall]

The problem is that quoting Jerry will not throw much light, as anything is almost certainly going to be out of context, or a long way from it.

Diligent reading of the Crimp provides a significant insight into Jerry's point of view, but since few people are able (or willing) to read in enough depth the point is moot. I'm certainly not going to quote screeds of another publication - I'm not here to defend or condemn Jerry. However, without having access to at least volumes 1 and 2 of the Crimp you are unlikely to understand the situation.

Take care, Ian

[Terry Screen]

Psychotic or not, and I don't know him, no matter what anyone says about Jerry Sadowitz, the fact still remains that he is one of the top card men in the world. I doubt that anyone in these boards would ever question his skill with a deck, but further than that, he is (for my money) a creatively thinking genius when it comes to cards.
True . . he has published some outrageous and controversial stuff in 'The Crimp' but that's his prerogative. It's his publication just as Genii is Richard's. You don't have to agree with his point of view.
Let's face it. The Crimp aside, he pretty much keeps himself to himself. To my knowledge he (sadly) doesn't frequent any magic discussion boards and his E Mail address is probably known only to a select few. It's fairly well known that he works on occasion in International Magic Shop in London and the tales of his abrupt manner there seem to be outnumbered by the many folks with a 'genuine passion for magic' that he has gone out of his way to spend time with and help.
So . . he doesn't suffer fools gladly. I think in the magic business that's not just an occupational hazard but a necessary survival mechanism.
My apologies if this is coming across as hero worship but the truth is that Mr. Sadowitz is single handedly responsible for getting me hooked on Card Magic and for that I will always be grateful. I don't even own that much of his output. More's the pity! If anyone's upset enough with his antics to be throwing out any of his books then look no further than my doorstep. Heh heh.
His talent aside, I doubt that anyone would ever question his dedication to and his undying (and possibly unmatched) passion for Card magic.
And that's a good thing in my book.

Terry.

[John LeBlanc]

Originally posted by Nordatrax:

Second, your member number 3??!?!

You want...information.

Well, he's not a number, he's a free man!

John
http://www.escamoteurettes.com/blog/

[Ian Kendall]

As I recall the first two users were test accounts when the forum was first set up, and they were later deleted.

Take care, Ian

[Chris Aguilar]

I would guess one of them might be webmaster Brad.

[Richard Kaufman]

I never raised the issue of Sadowitz's credibility as a card man. He's clever, but that is trumped by his psychotic rantings in print.
I'm waiting for someone to display some of it here ...

[Ryan Matney]

Is nobody going to explain to the guy what the deal was?

You don't need to own the Crimp to understand what the fight was about I don't think.

Sadowitz thought that Richard should have credited Charlie Miller, Peter Kane, and Sadowitz himself in the publishing of a face-up bottom deal concept by Gene Maze because the Miller, Kane, and Sadowitz items were all published earlier. Jerry added in his hate for americans and they fell out bad, the end.

Richard, what was your side of all that, since most only know the side from The Crimp?

By the way, I was called a greedy american pig by Jerry in a recent issue. I'm one of the privledged few as well. I'd try to get the other side of anything Sadowitz says before accepting his story at face-value...

[Ian Kendall]

These facts were as posted earlier. However, if you have read the magazine you would understand better _why_ Jerry got angry (thinking about that, I cannot know Jerry's mind - this is purely my interpetation of the information I have to hand).

Take care, Ian

[Ryan Matney]

I have read the magazine and I do understand why Jerry got angry in as much as I understand the side presented. That's why I asked for Richard's side of it.

Point being, I know from other situations that what is written in the crimp is not always the full story.

[Guest]

Thanks for all the info.

I was just curious. Nothing more or less.

Thanks again!

[John Carey]

Life's too bl---y short for all these squabbles.
Magic for me and countless others is an escape from all the crap going on in this crazy and dangerous world we live in today.

We see every day on the news how the internet is being used to whip up hatred and cause tension in our world.

Jerry you are a great cardman
Richard you are a great publisher and writer.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH REGARDS JOHN :)

[Matthew Field]

Originally posted by john carey:
Jerry you are a great cardman
Richard you are a great publisher and writer.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Having been involved in the situation (I edited "Gene Maze and the Art of Bottom Dealing") I tried to reconcile things with Jerry by letter and then, when I moved to London last year, in person. Jerry wouldn't speak to me.

Life is too short. I give up.

Matt Field

[Richard Kaufman]

Me, too: I give up.
Thread closed.