Subject: Pisicchio, Oh Posicchio!
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1998 13:11:01 +0200
From: "Robert Rouland" <r.rouland@xpoint.at>
To: "The Dojo" <fkusumot@ix.netcom.com>

Hi.  I'm not a PT player, I was not at Worlds, I have never played, met or
crossed any kind of path with Posicchio.  I'm just a player and lover of
MTG since Ice Age.  I have never really experienced any kind of overt
cheating - at least, I never detected it.  I have seen alot of sloppy play;
some I have let go and some I have not.  I have also played sloppy at times
(I recently targeted a Sliver Queen with a Terror.  Duh!).

But I feel I have to add my voice to this debate.  First, I'm an
Italian-American, and I have spent some time in Rome and in other parts of
Italy on several occasions.  I have even taken my Magic cards and played in
some local tournaments (gosh, I may HAVE crossed paths with Posicchio and
never knew it).  I have always found the Italians good guests, fun people
and great Magic players.  Yet I am deeply offended by some Italians' idea
that Americans have this negative stereotype of Italians, especially
Italy's MTG players.  This is rubbish - being around Americans all day, for
my whole life, and most of them not knowing I'm Italian, I have never come
across some rabid anti-Italian American who thinks Italian = pizza,
spaghetti, Mafia.  So put that to rest.  Please.  In fact, all you are
doing is providing your own stereotype - of Americans.  You don't like it,
and niether do we.

Second, from what I've read, Posicchio has had some bad press from other
tournaments.  The Italian players know this and must accept it.  They must
also have an open mind regardless if he intentionally cheated or not.  In
any event, sloppy play is not tolerated at major tourney events and
EVERYBODY knows that.  They should be looking to Posicchio and asking him
why he was so stupid as to have lands and spells in different directions,
not blaming others for the clear mistakes of one of their own.  As a top PT
player, he should know better.

Thrid, I have to give slops to the judges at Worlds for the ejection and
banning of Posicchio.  From what I've read, they have provided no tangible
reason/proof for the decision, except that lands seemed to be more bent
than other cards.  That's lame.  He should have gotten a strict warning,
been forced to sleeve (all cards in one direction, of course) and then a
judge on his back, not ejection and banishment.  I beleive (personal
opinion) the judges were keeping an extra close eye on him due to his past,
and when they had their first opportunity, taught Posicchio a "lesson" by
issuing the harsh penalty.  Banning somebody for 12 months in this game
hurts badly, and I would have expected more concrete proof than what I've
seen.

Finally, the damage is done.  The decisions are final.  We should all walk
away from this learning something.  Judges need to crack down on cheating -
that's understood.  Cheaters need to be rooted out, but from such
punishment must come justice, and justice can only be delivered if all
facts are in and clearly on the table.  That did not happen in this case,
and Posicchio's MTG career and reputation have been damaged as a result.
From this entire incident I hope DCI can make some good - please tighten up
the way your judges respond to such events, and the proof they need to pass
harsh judgement.  Now let's all shake hands and get back to playing some
Magic.  In the end, it is just a game.

Rob