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NEW YORK -- The historic 1972 title chess match between American Bobby Fischer and the defending Soviet champ, Boris Spassky, was as much about Cold War politics as it was about pawns and bishops.Now, a chess board used in the Match of the Century is slated to be auctioned off in New York City on Friday, in a memorabilia sale timed to coincide with the FIDE World Chess Championship, which began in the city this past Friday.Fischer and Spassky used the board in games 7 through 21 at the world championship in Reykjavik, Iceland. It replaced a stone board -- likely substituted because of Fischers unpredictable and demanding demeanor -- that had been used in the earlier games and now resides in the National Museum of Iceland.Heritage Auctions has set an opening bid of $75,000 for the board, now owned by an unidentified New York collector.Chris Ivy, Heritages director of sports auctions, said the Spassky-Fischer match remains revered both for the level of play, and the geopolitical climate of the time.After World War II, the Soviets had dominated the world championships, regarding their success as evidence of the superiority of the socialist system.Fischer portrayed the match as nothing less than the free world against the lying, cheating, hypocritical Russians. ... They always suggest that the worlds leaders should fight it out hand to hand. And that is the kind of thing we are doing ... over the board.The match made Fischer the first American chess champion, and a national hero. His win came the same year that the Soviets beat the U.S. mens basketball team for an Olympic gold medal.Fischer died in 2008 in Iceland, where he went to live in 2005 when offered citizenship. He had been on the run from U.S. authorities since a 1992 rematch with Spassky in Yugoslavia violated economic sanctions against Slobodan Milosevics Serbian government.When Fischer made anti-American statements after the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, the U.S. revoked his passport and unsuccessfully sought his return.The chess board, which both players signed in black marker after the legendary match, is on view at Heritages New York offices. It is being offered with the table and two matching chairs that the players used during the match.Also in the sale is a set of 1959-1960 Bobby Fischer handwritten U.S. Chess Championship score sheets.Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Oakland Athletics Shirts . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Athletics Jerseys 2020 . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Oakland Athletics Gear . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.PHOENIX -- Mike Hazen seemingly had the perfect job, working in his hometown as the general manager of the Boston Red Sox.One aspect was missing: Final say in baseball decisions. That belonged to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.So even though Arizona is on the other side of the country and the franchise has been stuck in a rut, Hazen jumped at the chance to become vice president and general manager of the Diamondbacks.There are some great players here and my job is to help bring this franchise to the next level, Hazen said during his introductory news conference Monday. Its an enormous responsibility and were here to make a commitment to the fans. First and foremost were here to win a championship.With the addition of Hazen, Tony La Russa will shift from chief baseball officer into an advisory role. He had been in charge of the Diamondbacks baseball operations since May 2014.I have 50 years of teaching and developed credibility and trust, La Russa said. If I left after the season we had, I couldnt live with that the rest of my life.Arizona was searching for someone with a blend of traditional baseball evaluation skills and analytics after firing GM Dave Stewart a day after the 2016 season end.The 40-year-old Hazen fits those skill sets.He was a two-time All-Ivy League player at Princeton and played two seasons in the minors after graduating and being drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1998.Hazen spent five seasons with the Cleveland Indians, working in scouting and player development, before moving to Boston. He worked 11 seasons with the Red Sox, winning World Series titles in 2007 and 2013 while making the postseason five times.Hazen was involved in every aspect of baaseball operations in Boston and spent four seasons as assistant GM before being promoted to vice president and general manager before the 2016 season.ddddddddddddes been a part of championships, hes been a leader, hell be a leader here and will, without a doubt, outwork us all, Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick said.Hazens first order of business will be to replace manager Chip Hale, who was fired the same day as Stewart.He could turn to Phil Nevin, the manager of Arizonas Triple-A affiliate, who interviewed for the job when Hale was hired.Another potential candidate could be Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, who has a good relationship with Hazen.In my opinion, he is ready to be a major league manager, Dombrowski said from Boston. Whether he would be their top choice, I cant say. We would not stand in his way.After that, Hazen will begin reshaping an organization that has had only brief periods of success since winning the 2001 World Series.Arizona won the 2011 NL West title, but followed that with five straight non-winning seasons. The Diamondbacks went 79-83 in their first season under Stewart and Hale, but took a step back this season (69-93) despite adding pitchers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller.I want to help in any way possible in my role to make this a great franchise -- it is a great franchise -- to take it to another level, Hazen said. It will be my goal every day I come to work, itll be the goal of all those who work beside me and Im excited to start doing that.---AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed to this report. ' ' '