Subject: Re: Long's Lap
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 05:15:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Hsu <hikaru@r39h52.res.gatech.edu>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

This is in response to Albert Birckhead's post on what has now becomes
known as "The Mike Long Incident" (of course, there are many "incidents"
which could fall under the same name *ahem*).

You said that "It could have been an honest mistake just as easily as
cheating."  If by that you meant that there is no definitive proof of
Long's cheating this time, I will give you that.  But if you mean that
there is equal chance of him either cheating or not cheating, then you are
extremely naive.

I will quote one of my good friends (who played at Nationals, and who I
think others may have already quoted):
"Do you think it's plausible that a player playing in the final round of
Swiss at Nationals, televised on ESPN2, in front of dozens of people, to
'accidentally' drop a card in his lap and not notice?  I didn't think so."

Now, I will rebut your other points:

You said, "Why do half of you people even care? ... It has no effect on
you."

Why do you care?  You obviously care enough to write to Frank.  And it
obviously effects me because I have taken the time out of my day to write
this.  I am upset that a person who has been caught cheating previously
and ADMITTED to cheating (see Hammer's post) is allowed to represent my
country at worlds.  It is a blow to the integrity of the game, and I just
plain don't like it.  That is reason enough.

You also said, "If I had the opportunity to win $18 k in two days
by cheating, I would." (Typos corrected)

Ok, so now we know why you care.  You would cheat (given the opportunity
for big bucks), and you must be in the right *cough*, so you chose to
defend it.  Fine, that's you.  Don't speak for the rest of us.  Not
everyone is like you, got it?

Geez, some people.

And for the record, if the DCI were to do something like ban Long (which I
don't think they will), I will sleep just a little easier.

David Hsu
Person@Nationals (Didn't play in "The Big Game" though)