Subject: Cheating in Magic, a Different Perspective Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 00:10:18 -0400 From: Gary Krakower To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com I am a very casual Dojo reader, and I believe this is only the second time I have ever submitted a report. Nonetheless, I have to admit that the current debate about cheating and its ramifications has been intriguing to read. I did not read all the posts on this topic, but I would like to address a few areas that have been discussed and then give my perspective on the situation. Sit back and enjoy, I will try to keep it as light and entertaining as possible. Having read Brian Hacker’s post, I have to admit that I was amused. When I read some of the responses, including ones referring to him eloquently as “scum”, I was a bit disappointed. Brian is not a cheater, nor will he ever become one. It simply is not part of his character. He was using gentle sarcasm to point out what he perceives to be a flaw in the current DCI punishment system. I should know that Brian does not cheat, because if anyone can accuse him of cheating it would be me. Whenever, I participate in a team ante draft against him, I swear he drafts an “anti-Krakower” deck. A typical post draft as-we-sit-to-play discussion: Krakower: Wow, I have 6 Cloud Spirits in my deck. Hacker: Too bad I am starting 8 Skyshroud Archers and CoP Blue Krakower: %*&^%*& I also have to admit enjoying reading Hammer’s post. It was one of the few where I could actually here a person’s voice saying the words he typed. Now, my perspective is a bit different, but that is likely because I am not a typical Magic player. I am 30+ years old, and have worked full-time since completing my MBA in 1990. For the past several years, I have had the enjoyment of running my own company. Magic to me provides a different type of social gathering than I normally participate in Toronto. I find attending Origins and the Pro Tours to be essentially a nice holiday from “regular life.” The financial aspects of the game mean little to me, and this is not out of arrogance, it is simply that I have earned a living for many more years than a typical Magic player has. My perspective now is certainly different from what it would have been had the game been created when I was a student. There appears to be a number of factors when discussing the Long incident, however I think a few basic human emotions play into it. Envy - Many people are envious of Mike Long’s success. When something happens that may ruin his image further, they will jump on him in a second, even before all of the data is in. This is not “bad”, it is just human. When I first heard about the incident at Origins, I smiled, and the first thing I said was “By the end of the day, people will claim he had an alternate deck in his crotch” (some word play that nobody understood). Rumors that his deck was 61 cards sort of validated this belief. Greed – People will do strange things for money. At my age, one’s reputation is a bit more important than winning a few thousand dollars (if you shudder at this, reconsider your opinion in a few years), however I do not doubt the fact that the finances of the game have driven some people to commit unsavory acts. One thing people should recognize is that Magic in its current form cannot be considered steady form of income for anyone. Yes, every year a couple of people make a nice salary (ie: Finkel this year, McCabe last year), however, for the most part, even a good year will net a Magic player less money than a full time job involving the lines “Would you like to King size that combo” Ego & Fame – Wow, these are big ones. Magic is its own world, there are the top players, the wannabes, the people who are happy just playing. In many ways, this is like any other sport, albeit on a smaller scale. In my opinion, ego and fame are the biggest driving forces for people to commit these types of acts. Yes, the money is good, but many Magic players more than anything else want to be "known.” If Mike cheated, this would be the driving factor, why else cheat when 11-0 unless you wanted to be known for going undefeated. Now, as Matt Vienneau pointed out to me, I am woefully naïve when it comes to anticipating cheating. He asked if I ever checked to make sure other people’s sleeves are all facing the same way, and I said it never occurred to me. Nonetheless, having played in 2 Worlds and several Pro tours I have to admit I cannot think of any times when I thought my opponent was cheating. I did not always like my opponent , but that did not mean I believed he was a cheat. Regardless, Matt does have a point. I play much tighter now than I did last year, and extra measures to ensure the game is being played cleanly is a good tactic. One other problem with the current focus on cheating is that there is a potential for some really harsh backlash. To give an example, I played Svend Geertsen in Pro Tour Chicago. Not once, but twice he accidentally drew 2 cards, mainly because of the poor condition of the cards (no sleeves). Svend is one of the nicest kids I have met, and unless he is an accomplished actor, neither incident was intentional. I made him shuffle the deck both times and we continued without needing a judge. Before everyone starts believing that all offenses should result in a DQ, recognize that all situations are not created equal. Regarding Wizard’s policies. I believe as well they are a bit light, but thusfar, I have never been involved in a match that required any real intervention. Nonetheless, I imagine the Long incident was the definition of a nightmare situation for them. Believe it or not, if they DQed Mike Long, many people would be posting that it went too far. And, what happens if it was someone without such a colorful background, should they be treated the same? It is very easy to sit back and say DQ a player when you do not have any responsibility afterwards, but the situation is just not that simple. Do I believe Mike Long cheated? Well, I have to say I am rather uncertain. If he did, then I feel sorry for him, because he sold out what reputation he had left in an attempt to go 12-0 in a Magic tournament. If he did not, then I feel sorry for him because he will be labeled a cheater in the future even when he is playing honestly. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Gary Krakower