Subject: San Jose Part One Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 02:28:12 -0600 From: Helen Stanton To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com SAN JOSE HAPPENINGS By Jack Lewis Stanton Two weeks have come and gone since the deceptively titled Grand Prix San Francisco held in San Jose. I have been asked to relate the fanfare for said event, so, without further ado: IT WAS A DARK AND STOMRY NIGHT. Writers of the time would lead to you believe that fact. As it just so happened, it was dark and it was indeed stormy when I awoke on the morning of December 5th. My chariot (an airport shuttle bus) awaited me at the local Flying J convenience store. So, in true Magic player fashion, I bummed a ride off my Mom through the snowstorm that had set in during the earlier hours of the night. For those of you who must know, it was cold. Only 215 miles separated my hamlet of Idaho Falls from that thriving metropolis of Salt Lake City. Our driver made good time, arriving in only four hours, despite the windy and slick conditions. The time was 11am. Following my mandatory undressing at the metal detectors, I was off for the airport cafeteria, ESPN, and burgers. Four hours. That's how long I had to wait for my plane to arrive. It wouldn't have been too bad, but the sights weren't as nice as they've been in past trips. The bad weather was forcing a general crankiness to pervade the airport, and the BYU basketball team was in the area (1-24? Last year). General gloom follows those guys everywhere. Confiscating a table for myself, I set about perfecting my sideboard for the coming contest. I had chosen to play a U/W/R Tongo Variant for the event, as it had proven itself the strongest in playtesting over the previous month. As I sat there shuffling the deck, then playing out to see how it drew, several bystanders asked me if I was trying to perform a magic trick with the cards. Looking at the lay of the cards, I told them that, "Yes. I am trying to do a trick. See? I'm trying to make my mana appear! I haven't been very successful though." They didn't know what the hell I was talking about, but they wished me luck anyway.;) The plane came. It was not a very trying flight. The plane took off, the plane landed, and inbetween, I had a tomato juice. Such is the life. I was not set upon by the infamous puking baby (from events leading to Pro Tour Atlanta), nor was I assaulted by talkative moms wanting me to know just how precious they're little tyke was (as witnessed on several flights in recent memory). Yes folks. It is true. I, your narrator, was able to enter the sweet and blissful confines of sleep, dreaming of little……………SMACK!!! (Editor's note: Mr. Stanton will be with you shortly) Sorry. Now where were we. Oh yes. The flight was uneventful. San Jose, California. Coming into the land of Cali, I was looking forward to sunny skies and bikini clad women. Alas, it wasn't so. Overcast and chilly. The narcs were placing the blame on El Nino. A reward was offered for his capture, but it came not to pass. The plane was half an hour late, arriving around 4:30pm local time. El Nino, yet again. Rushing from my Delta gate over to the Skywest counter (with another dressing down at the metal detector), I discovered Alex Shvartsman's flight had been delayed, as well (he was suppose to get in three minutes after my flight). For two long hours I waited, conspiring to get even with this El Nino fellow. Just to prove that he isn't dead and gone, I will now tell a tale of Buddha Boy. Yes, it is a Zak Dolan story. Or, as Bertrand would say, "A story of That Lucky Bastard!" Zak had told me to give him a call when I got into town so that we could go out to dinner together. Calling his office, he was no to be found. So I paged him. The Mighty One soon called back, and when I started giving directions, he put a lady on the phone (the owner of the phone). As she apparently couldn't understand English (or my version of said language), Zak never showed up to the hotel and consequent dinner. Later, it was discovered that Zak didn't know this lady, having just met her in the bar while downing Guiness (without me;P). Guess there is life after Magic. Enter the Turbaned guy. Both Alex and I have decided that taxi rides aren't as fun in San Jose, as, say, the Big Apple. Our hotel came into sight (the Weston Inn downtown, four blocks from the tourney site). Jason Lauboro, who was to stay with us during the weekend, met us in the lobby and after checking in, we set off to look at our digs. Noticing a group of San Francisco guys (seven in a room), we made our aquaintances. Shortly thereafter, two Aussies by the names of Steve Edney and Sam Ward dropped in. All proved to be very cool, as most Magic players tend to be. Chinese food was the order of the night with this motley group. Afterwards, it came down to my watching Alex, Jason, and another guy (sorry can't remember) beating down on each other in last minute preparation. Sorry folks. I've found myself doing better during tourneys by getting a good night's sleep, doing all preparation over the previous month in advance. Besides, it's fun playing the peanut gallery, heckling and jeering the half-hearted strategy attempts of my peers.;) After making group promises to wake each other up (the Aussies and Frisco boys) in the morning, we hit the hay. In the morning, all awoke. The morning was…..overcast.;P Made sure the Aussies were awake (they spend way too much money on these events to sleep through them) and headed over to the site. The registration went as smoothly as any event I've been to and a time was given to be back for those possessing byes. As I somehow managed a bye, I thought it best to go out into the jungle of San Jose in search of eats. After sighting our quarry, Alex, Sam, Steve, and myself bagged what proved to be some really bad bagels. These were awful. The cream cheese had the taste of Jalapenos. Not good. The coffee, though, was superb. For those of you who wish to know, I was playing the following: Tongo Variant 4 Tundras 4 Volcanic Islands 4 Plateaus 2 Islands 1 Plains 2 Flood Plains 4 Mishra's Factory 2 Serrated Arrows (Very key in the format) 4 Frenetic Efreets (Still trying to teach them how to phase) 4 Counterspells 3 Force of Wills 2 Dissipates 4 Ophidians 2 Control Magics 4 Lightning Bolts (as mandatory in format) 2 Fireballs 2 Earthquakes 2 Wildfire Emissary 2 Swords to Plowshares 2 Disenchants 4 Tithes Sideboard 2 Red Elemental Blast 2 Blue Elemental Blast 2 Hydroblast (diversity) 2 Swords to Plowshares 2 Auras of Silence 1 Serenity (a big mistake) 1 Hammer of Bogardan 1 Disenchant 1 Mind Harness (I was taking big hits from the crack pipe when this went in. Sorry) 1 Control Magic (Very wasteful for my sideboard) The Serenity was included in the sideboard because through our testing, the various Prison decks were still very strong in the format, despite the quickness of the decks. It proved to be very ineffective in the long run, as I really didn't have the chance to use it (nor did I see it in any draws). The Mind Harness and extra Control Magic were an attempt to make sure I beat on the opponent with his own critters. Through this event and the following Utah PTQ event the next week (tourney report posted to The Dojo), I'm of the opionion that you want the critters DEAD! With the anti-enchantment cards out in force, it's my opinion that the Tongo should just eliminate the problem at hand instead of courting disaster. 1st Round-Bye 2nd Round Steve Coleman (Salt Lake City, Utah) B/R/u/w Soup deck (Frenetics, Nekrataals, Infernal Tribute, Diabolic Edicts, Bolts, Phantasmal Fiends, etc) Boy, it's a small world. With me being the only player from Idaho and Steve being one of only three from Utah, you wouldn't think we'd meet so soon. But such is fate. 1st Game-I start very slowly with only two land for the longest of times. Steve contents himself by playing a couple of Hymns on me, netting not much inparticular. I really don't get much going, as when I finally get some land to bring forth the mob, Steve Edicts my Ophidian and attempts to Nekrataal the two Frenetics that came out separately. Both fail to phase. (Note to self: Teach Frenetics art of phasing). At the end of the game, I'm kind of dead. 2nd Game-The second game goes much the way of the first. Me at two land for a while, while Steve puts the hurt on me. He even gets an Infernal Tribute out with me still at two lands. Hmmmmm. The Frenetics attempt to phase two more times, going 0 for 2 again. I believe Steve's Efreets had been hanging out with mine, as all four he put out over the course of the match failed to phase, as well. 0 for 8. I do believe I dealt a little damage over the course of this match, but not enough to overcome his great start and Infernal Tribute. What's strange is that I wasn't too bummed about the experience, as Steve is a friend and this improves his chances of going to the second day. We play four more games, with Steve taking three of the four while making several mistakes (which his teammate Matt Freed attempts to rectify). Guess it was a bad matchup against a good deck. Match Record 1-1 3rd Round-Scott Hudson (Sacramento, California) W/R/u Counter/Burn/Burn/with a little BURN 1st Game-I do believe on the third turn a Dude Ranch came out. This gave me a few minor problems, but my deck generally brought the Earthquake, Arrows, or occasional Bolt when things got hectic. A Wildfire was giving me some offense, but when Scott managed some burn to handle the Wildfire, I didn't have the counter. Meanwhile, Scott contentedly burned the hell out of me.8<() 2nd Game-I come out strong and the deck does it's thing. A rabid Wildfire goes all the way. 3rd Game-This game proved to be one of the more fun that I had during the tourney. I can't really describe the action, other than to say we were each giving the other some bigtime hell. My mad Ophidian was taking out a Dude a turn while the finally phasing Frenetic was doing a commendable job. As I had the slower start of the two decks, I was at six life with no counters in hand, needing three turns to kill Scott. I attack. Only two more turns. He draws an Incinerate and burns me. I attack on my next turn, bringing him down to death range for my next turn. He draws………a Lightning Bolt and kills me.;P Such is Magic. Match Record 1-2 4th Round-Chuck Gegax (Larkspur, California) U/R Control/Celerity 1st Game-This game wasn't very close. Chuck pounded the bejesus out of me with Hammer, Ball Lightning, and Sandstalker. Counters sometimes fail to show, along with the critter removal. 2nd Game-After a hefty sideboarding (4 Hydroblast, 1 Hammer, 2 Swords to Plowshares), I'm able to deal with his big critters, while the Frenetics come through for me. The Serrated Arrows were Very crucial, as they kept him from casting the Ball Lightnings in his hands. 3rd Game-A back and forth battle that has me needing another turn to take away his remaining life. He pulls the burn to take away mine first. The difference during the match was my Swordsing two of his Ball Lightnings. As I didn't have any other answer for them, my choice of action was proper. Match 1-3 At this point, I'm out of the running, but as there are no side tourneys I'm interested in at the moment, I decided to push on. 5th Match-Steve Pezzullo (Chico, California) Squandered Stasis After sitting at the table with Steve, I mention to him that from here, down at the low tables, if we look far enough, we can see the hope (pointing at the top tables) that has eluded us on this day (signifying what is beyond our reach). Not understanding the meaning, he asked me if I was talking smack.;) Gotta love the kids. 1st Game-It's not apparent what Steve is playing until after the Howling Mine is attempted (Countered). He does, however, find a way to sneak in a Squandered Resources. Once he played that card, I held back my reserves (while having an Ohipdian or Frenetic out in play). Every chance to Bolt him at the end of his turn was taken, though he did get a soft lock (Stasis + a few lands + a Howler). His deck decided to roll over and keep the lands, though, forcing him to sack what little he got. Once a Disenchant with enough counter ability was retained, I eliminated the offending Stasis and commenced a beating. Though I did win this first game, it was by the good graces of Steve's deck acting like a real loser. It's tough when you draw ten cards with a Squandered Resources and Stasis out and don't get enough land from a deck packing around 24 of them. 2nd Game-In came the wonderful Auras of Silence, 2 Red Elemental Blasts, extra Disenchant, and Serenity. With so much to back up my game, I was able to get my way, though Steve did manage another soft-lock situation and yet again watched as his deck failed to cough up the land. Match 2-3 Hey!!! I actually won a game through sheer skill and deck manipulation (though it was Steve's deck which was doing the actual manipulation----of Steve). Feeling downright proud of myself (at not having completely choked), I decided that I would play the last match. 6th Match James Parker (From God Only Knows Where) Playing the Invisible Deck After having Terese Neilson sign my Force of Wills, I hurridly ran over to my next round's pairing before I was late. After arriving at my table, I looked down at my opponent's side and what should be staring me dead in the face? AN EMPTY CHAIR!!! That sucks. Guy can't get the tables straight, so I have to wait for him to find me. So I wait. I wait some more. The start comes and goes, giving me the first game by forfeit. I announce in front of the judge that I'll just sit there and scout everyone's decks out while I wait. He doesn't boot me.;) Ten long minutes pass, and James doesn't show. The only thing I really have to say about this is that if you're not going to show to your pairing, despite being out of the running for the top sixty-four, then drop. I was only playing for the practice, but you took that away from me James. It's lucky that the DCI doesn't have the same rules of chess, or you might find yourself fined monetarily, as well as possibly booted from sanctioned play for a month or two. THAT's what they should do in cases like this. As for you James. You get my poop-head award for the Grand Prix. I'm not saying you're a bad fellow. I'm just saying that for one moment in time…………you were a poop-head.;) So, I end up 3-3 for the tourney, winning one actual match, while losing three. Left me hungry, so I went out and ate Chinese. I'm serious. I wasn't really disappointed (except in my last match against James the Poop-Head). I was just…….there. And a little while later, I was there, eating good Chinese food.;) One thing I must point out to my adoring fans. I did play a game against Mike Dove (Fruity Peebles) and five against Daniel Clegg (the only undefeated player through Swiss) before I went out to dinner. In the game against Mike, all I did was bolt him every chance I had while maintaining a constant vigil over his attempts at playing Goblin Bombardment. Screw the Endearing Renewel I say. Kill the bloody Bombardment. Without that, the deck is very slack. He was kind of tired, so he didn't play me another game with sideboards added. Dan, though, was fun to play against. I won the first game by countering the weenie critters that could hurt, or swordsing them into the ground. Frenetics won the day. In the second game, he got the bombs out (Blood Moon, Land's Edge). In the third, I managed to keep his threats off the board, while Hydroblasting or Blue Elemental Blasting everything. My two swords from the sideboard were key, as well. Queer sidenote to this game. I ended up siding out all my Frenetics and Wildfires due to the Suleiman's Legacy and my curiosity to see if it would work. It did, so I took the match. Dan, being the competitor that he is, played me a couple more times and slapped me around a bit. I must admit, I played like a tool, not giving Dan the kind of game he deserves. Dinner was a friendly affair at a local Chinese restaurant we had all taken a liking to. Bruce Johnson, Keith Keeling, the ever obnoxious Brian from Neutral Ground, Sam Ward, Steve Edney, Alex Shvartsman, and Jason Labra made up the table. Dinner consisted of fighting for Sweet and Sour stuff while trying to top each others' outrageous stories. Brian probably won that competition, as his stories were funny, loud (annoying the restaurant staff), vulgar, and included props AND Ben Bleiweiss.;)