Subject: The real scrubs [iSSUE] Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 10:17:32 +0800 From: "Santi M. Dapul" To: CC: To the Lowly Scrub: I myself do not play in or have ever joined a DCI sanctioned tourney, league or whatever. Yet I consistently play with, and win against, some of the higher ranked league players in my country, with decks that are entirely of my creation (many of which are reflected here in the dojo...). As far as professional Magic is concerned, people like me are nonentities, "scrubs", and amateurs. I share in the Lowly Scrub's reluctance to get ranked because frankly, a DCI rating is becoming less and less of an honor when one considers the institution which bestows it. Watching DCI-sanctioned tourneys has become more akin to the WWF than FIDE (chess tournaments, yes, that other great strategy game). While this may not hold true in other countries, from the posts lately I think the overall quality of sportsmanship, good playing and fun (which, ironically, the DCI set out to "bring back" to the game) has gone down the toilet. Let me take this opportunity to point out the real "scrubs" of the game, those who after months (or years, in my case) of playing have not learned to take the game seriously enough to respect it, nor understood it enough to take it for what it is, A GAME. The money aspect has become blown all out of proportion, and, like in any money driven league (think baseball) will eventually split the game open. Cheaters, whiners, and so on will always be there, but unless the DCI and WOTC take steps to curb such childishness in the tourneys, professional Magic will soon have the same artificial, laughable stigma as professional wrestling. So again, I may not win $25,000 with my BoobyFish deck, but it still feels pretty good to trounce some arrogant hothead with a PTQ record. And to all those deck engineers out there, you are the real reason for Magic's continued success. Keep your cards out of your laps, peace. 8-P paolo rosales (mr_jetlag@hotmail.com)