In the interest of full disclosure, one could reference

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer

All I kept thinking as I read through this was, "How could someone so brilliant say things so hateful and illogical?"

I don't know. There are probably many theories (mental illness jumps out as one possibility).

As far as Bobby Fischer is concerned, his downfall and later public pronouncements were tragic, but not as tragic as the loss of a human life. May he rest in peace.