Subject: Rumors and opinions
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 17:02:59 -0700
From: jpannell@polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

        Well as is the cse after amost every major event there are rumors that
so-in-so cheated. This time the major focus is on Mike Long due to the
Bloom under the leg incident that happened 12th round nationals.  Having
played against/watched mike play various times over the last 2 years know
that he is one on the most annoying players in the game but have never seen
him cheat.  My personal opinion of him is that he is a cheater but what I
think is really irrelevant.

        What matters in the evidence. If the DCI can't prove he cheated to a
reasonable degree they cannot ban him the DCI is part of a business and
they cannot but their business on the line to make a point about cheating
with Mike. WotC is a million dollar buniness that can't put it self at risk
due to something that is just a publisity stunk.

        All of you out there have your own opinions which you are entitled to but
the DCI has more at risk than just one person they have millions of dollars
at stake.  Most of you I believe have no reason to say that Mike is a
cheater but are only doing this based on things you hear or the fact that
you just don't like Mike.

        Maybe Mike is a cheater I don't know for sure.  I have my opinion but that
is not relevant as I said earlier.  As many of you who know me would agree
to I am rather eratic when I play I have droped cards and not realized it
sometimes the card I need to win the game.  But I am not a Cheater but do
make mistakes that could look like Cheating.  My reputation does not cause
people to think I cheat which is the difference in my case.  And my point
is that if "Joe Bob" had dropped a Bloom the reaction would be much
different.  Since this was Mike everyone assumed cheating.  Is that fair
maybe, maybe not?  But still most of you know that Mike may not have
cheated but it may have been just bad luck on his part.

        So I ask in the future if we as a magic community would be less rumor
based and more on fact.  I know this is asking a lot since we are human but
please we are not all scum and slobs in this game are we?

Thomas Pannell
Level 2 DCI Judge
San Luios Obispo, CA
Formerly of Atlanta,GA