Subject: Dallas PTQ (9-28) and Fox Controversy Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 10:01:58 CST6CDT From: "Dequan A. Watson" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Hey Everyone, Before I start with this, I want to let everyone know ahead of time that , yes there will be a little bit of ranting, and yes there will be a little bit of a tourney report, and yes I did forget some of my opponents names. With that said and done, let's get down to business... For starters, there is a bit of a controversy here in Texas about Ed Fox events. i think what has been posted on the net is a bit biased as to him and his tournaments and also, Ed could not possibly post anything on his own behalf, as his letter would seem as a 'cover-up' or whatever. I am by no means taking sides in this controversy, but I think if there are going to be any arguments or whatever, both sides need to be presented equally. My personal gripes with Mr. Fox are few. I can say, that I hate the fact that all his events start at 9A.M. Sometimes that is a bit hard to make, considering he runs them in Dallas and that is an hour and a half drive for us. He interrupts the tournament for about a total of 15 minutes usually to take time to run one of his auctions (later dubbed by Jeff Zandi as 'FOXtions'). He has done a few things to make people unhappy and also has this thing going on that he ALLEGEDLY let people cheat. I want to address each of these individually. First off, about the early tournament time. It is rough and yeah, we are a little groggy getting there and all, but it does allow things to run smoother. HE can get things underway by 10AM. I can also say that we usually leave his tournaments earlier than most. I am by no means saying that it is a good thing to have an early registration and start time for your tournaments, but mainly that it is a double edged sword. Now, these mini-auctions he runs (e-mail me and I will give you the lowdown on them, their actually pretty entertaining sometimes) do take up a little bit of the tournament time and slowthings down a bit. However, by starting early, he does allow himself a lot of extra time to play with during the day. In addition, regardless of how many people complain, there are several others that love it and can't get enough of his auctions. Some people even show up to buy things and that's it. So yeah, us 'hardcore' competitors may be bothered by it, there are several others that go to the tournies that love it. Fox also knows that people are not always gonna be happy with him and that people have personal gripes and problems with him. He recognizes this and does what he can to give back as of late. For instance, this past Dallas PTQ was a one spotter. Since he knew people were already getting fed up with one seaters and whatnot, he decided to give $50 to third and 4th place and $150 to second place. That worked out all well and good for everyone. In addition, he also gave the top 8 product prize. He was also giving away those shiny pre-release dragons to anyone that helped during the day. Lastly, befor egoing on with the report, I would llike to talk bout this supposed cheating incident that happened at the Southern Regionals Tournament this year. First of all, I have met some of the Team Oklahoma guys, and I do not think that they are the type to cheat. Also, add into the fact, that Ed is a fair guy most of the time. He DOES NOT allow cheating at his events. Also, what people haven't been pointing out about this event, was that it was a TEAM touranament, that was UNSANCTIONED. So Fox made less out of it. I am not knocking the Houston guy sin any way. If you ever think that some one is cheating, it should be brought to the judges attention immediately. Overall Ed Fox and his tournaments are nott too bad, they are pretty well run and people are honestly starting to take more of a liking to Ed than they have in the past. So if you were staying away, try a few more and give him a shot. Like I said earlier, I don't really want to sound like I am taking sides (but I know I do). I had a bunch of gripes, but when I got home and thought about the days events, it wasn't so bad. **WE NOW RETURN TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURNEY REPORT*** We got to Dallas just after that start of the first round and Ed allowed us to play, but we would have to be paire dup with our own teammates. Ah well, better than not playing I guess.... Just for the record, I wa splaying Turbo Tech with GAMEBREAKER!!!! So I won't go into too much detail here, bt if you can figure what I was playing more power to ya. Round 1 Ryan Harvey ww/control variant Game One The weenies come out tonight :( Too bad my critters weren't hungry, they hid away and didn't eat his knights and clerics. HE gets an easy win. I could have won this game, but I made a judgemental play that I later realized cost me the game. Game Two This was like the greatest game I have ever had agaisnt a weenie deck, we are both doing the lafe gain thing for a bit (he got double soul warden out). I just go back and forth, eventually he casts a cataclysm and I almost let it threw as it would help me, but I counter it anyway and get the win. Game Three This was nowhere near as spectacular as game one. Thist ime, he get sa mediocre start and I just draw GAMEBREAKER!!! and barrel threw for the win. GAMEBREAKER!! is soo big :) Everyone knows that DUCKS don't beat DRAGONS :) Matches 1-0 Games 2-1 Round 2 Nathan Segrest playing r/b sac/control (yeah, don' ask, you have to see it) Game one Anyone remember the Mike Tyson Micheal Spinks fight from back in the day. Yeah, it was just like that. He came out throwing a few hits on me and burning me a bit and then I just laid a few cards down and dropped him like a bad habit. Easy win, on to game two. Game Two This was just like another mike Tyson beating, but it was more like the Tyson/Carl'The Truth' Williams fight. I just went WHAM! BAM! SLAM! Him not drawing land this game didn't help either. Matches 2-0 Games 4-1 Round 3 Scott Gherhardt Gherhardt's Pile Game One It was a really good game as we go back and forth, but eventually he gains the upper hand and does some damage and beats me with a thalakos drifters. Game Two I start to mount some offense and then he drops two mawcors in back to back turns :( I get sad and the mawcors beat me like Rick James slaps a cheap whore. :( Matches 2-1 Games 4-3 Round 4 Don't remember his name playing r/g/u control/bridge/tongs Game One His deck comes out and does it's thing and I never get my mana flowing. He wins by beating me over the head with double cloudchaser. Not really a Rick James beating, it wasmore like Ike beatin' Tina after a abd day at work. Game Two I get rolling and my SB comes alive. He tries to start dropping the arsenal, but I just start capsizing and beating. Game Three This was the best game of the three, but I break out my boxing gloves again and take him out faster tha Clinton shot his load on Lewinsky's dress. He was a nice guy though and really fun to talk to. Good Luck on your acting career dude! Matches 3-1 Games 6-4 Round 5 Jeremy Baca playing counterphoenix variant We decided to ID. I did the math and thought I was in (it wa slike a 70% chance) yeah, I know, I should have played. But, I didn't know what he was palying and it was like I was pulling all the random decks all day and I was really prepared for metagame decks. I must admit though, This qualifier was about as random as The Wu-Tang clan stealin' music awards and an awards ceramony. I finish the day at 3-1-1 and make 9TH! :( Sad day. I am being secretive about my tech (I have too dude, the feds are after me and I keep gettin' creepy phone calls from Scully and Mulder). But if you want to talk about tech or just want to gab about rath cycle just e-mail me. You all know a brutha can't go into a public forum without giving some SHOUTOUT!!!..... BRANDON GEER We're expecting big things out of this kid. He got 23rd at the Pre-release this weekend, his first major tournament. And to top it off,he threw a fit about not making the top 8! :) It's OK dude, keep it up, it comes with time. The best part is, this guy is only EIGHT YEARS OLD !!!! NATHAN SEGREST For takin' a tech deck and fairing pretty decent with it in bad matchups all day. JEREMY BACA For Qualifying and getting back on the tour. BUD SCHRIEBER It's about time ou started comin' out to tournaments. BILLY GEER Great to see your business runnin' smooth and you offerin' to help us pay our way to Pro Tours and stuff. ED FOX For giving the PR Dragons awya for just helpin since we didn't get a chance to play in the PR. JEFF ZANDI For keepin' your hea dup on a bad day and still being great entertainment. ED FOX For still enduring long anough to get threw the bad times and giving the free product to Brandon for his birthday and stuff. All the people in #mtgpro that give mt their support, I will be on the PT yet dudes, luck just keeps slippin' by. and I also have to show you the flipside ( I will prolly call this the Shutdown section next time) MASON PEATROSS For going 0-3 three and then having complaints :( RYAN HARVEY For not listening to me about deck changes and then going 1-2 in the PTQ. TEAM HOUSTON and the AUSTIKNIGHTS where were all of you in Dallas? JEREMY BACA For getting in on the draw and me missin' out :( All the players that blame all their losses on bad magic luck. Luck only accounts for so many of your losses guys...come on ! Well, that's my time, next time you read one of my reports, I will hopefully be telling aboutmy plan to go to Rome. DeQuan Watson Team Captain Waco Flatliners PowrDragn or DragnPowr or Quatum on IRC gccwatsd@wagic.tstc.edu DuQeR@aol.com And then DeQuan step forth......hrm....still no reaction :( And then DeQuan step forth......hrm....still no reaction :(