Subject: My emminent release
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 21:52:47 PDT
From: "Nathan Russell" <russellnathan@hotmail.com>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

G'day Frank and Dojo readers everywhere,

        This is basically a few opinions I have reached concerning my ban and
the conclusion of it.

        I would like to thank everyone who took the time to form an opinion on
the issue. Thank you to those who wrote to me stating their beliefs on
the situation and how they thought it should of been handled and how
such a case should be handled in the future. Thank you for your time, it
really helped me to reach the opinion which I now have. Basically, the
one argument that completely crumbled all denial I felt that I had done
anything wrong was as follows. What if it had been Mike Long that did
what you did ? This simple question made me sit back and think why we
have rules. Did the DCI think I cheated ? I think the answer is no. Did
anyone who played in my tournaments think I cheated ? Again I think the
answer is no. However for a system to work it must be applied equally
and fairly to all participants. If I choose to participate in the DCI I
must adhere to a standard. In my ignorance and naivety I thought that my
high conduct and sense of fairness would allow me to be treated as a
special case. Essentially, in a way that may allow me to abuse my
position. That is why I had to be punished and that is why I now accept
that. As far as the DCI is concerned the ball is now in their court. I
only hope that they continue to do the right thing by their members and
continue to remove all cheating from the game of magic.

                                                Cheers,

                                                        Nathan Russell

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com