Subject: Fixing the Pro Tour Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 06:20:52 -0600 From: jbeckmon To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Frank, I would like to respond to Fixing the Pro Tour 518 by Len Blado. I couldn't read your Unsolicited guidelines because it was down. I hope this email is acceptable. In response to Fixing the Pro Tour by Len Blado. I disagree totally with most of your statements on how to fix the pro tour. Here are some Ideas I have on how to fix it and whats wrong with your statements. 1. Pro Tour Players should not be given a "free" ride to all the pro tours. To prove that they are actually pro players they should have to qualify for each pro tour (with the exception noted below). Not only would this show how good they are if they can keep making it to the pro tour but it would give a lot more players a shot at making the "big money" of the pro tour. There are a lot of really good players out there and who's to say that a particular pro tour player isn't getting a "free" ride on the tour by not having to qualify each time. Maybe the pro tour would grow stale with the same guys playing the same decks and beating the newer players but keeping their spots on the pro tour if the pro's don't have to keep qualifying and improving. This would really open up the pro tour to all magic players and not an elite few "free" riders. If they're good enough they'll continue to qualify like David Price has done. If not then tough luck. The pro tour doesn't exist solely to provide them enough cash to keep going but for all magic players in general because with all the cards magic players buy we are paying for the pro tour by keeping Wizards of the Coast in business. 2. There should be more Pro Tour Qualifiers since no more Pro players would be getting "Free" rides. The amount of slots each Qualifier provides to the Pro tour should be dictated by how many people show up at that particular qualifier. 3. Players could play at pro tour qualifiers in any region and all regions to prevent small regions from not getting high turnouts. Any player could travel to that region to try and qualify. If the qualifiers in different regions were held on different dates that would give players from other regions the chance to travel to different regions if they don't qualify in their own region thus increasing the competition levels in all regions. 4. Since Pro Tour players would no longer be getting a "free" ride each Qualifier could provide an all expense trip (lodging, travel, etc) to the pro tour for all players that qualify there. This would eliminate the problem of Pro players having to play in multiple tournaments to earn enough for travel expenses. Wizards of the Coasts is making enough money off of Magic Players that this minor expense (How many would be in the pro tour? 300 at Max or something?) should not be a problem for them. Plus they have sponsors already and maybe could get more. 5. I think these ideas are reasonable and would open up the pro tour to anyone who was good enough to qualify for it. Instead of giving the top 64 players "free" births in an additional pro tour they'd have to re-qualify. 6. The World Champion should get 1 Years worth of pro tours to attend for free. Because after all becoming a World Champion is a long tough road. Also the Player of the Year should get 1 Years worth of Pro Tours to attend for free because after all thats about as hard or harder than becoming World Champion. Other than that perhaps the #1 performer at each pro tour should get a "free" ride to the next pro tour. 7. I don't know how bad cheating is at the Pro Tour. I didn't see any cheating at Regionals. I think your suggestion on Judges may be a little too many as it's probably going to be hard to get that many. If there is a lot of cheating then defintely they need more judges and the judges travel and lodging should be paid as well. Thats just my humble opinion. I know that the pro tour players may not be happy with it but hey every magic buying player that wants a fair shot at the pro tours "Big money" should get it because we're all paying for it not just the pro tour players. Sincerely, Jon Beckmon jbeckmon@micron.net