From: brandee@gate.net
Date: Tue, 05 Aug 1997 06:54:03 -0400
Subject: Re: Florida State Championship Deck

The deck is called "The Green Machine":

16 Forests
4 Quick Sands

4 Llanowar Elves
4 Jolrael's Centaurs
3 Maro's
4 River Boas
3 Barishis
4 Yavimaya Ants
1 Creeping Mold
1 Orangutang
2 Serrated Arrows
2 Winter Orbs
4 Spectral Bears
1 Hurricane
4 Giant Growths
3 Quiron Rangers

Side Board:

1 Winter Orb
3 City of Solitudes
3 Tranquil Groves
1 Orangutang
2 Creeping Molds
3 Emerald Charms
2 Blossoming Wreaths

The Quiron Ranger, Spectral Bear combo is key due to the fact that
Spectral Bears can only untap the next turn if the opponent is playing
with black creatures (not to mention the incredible mana advantage). 
Many opponents during the tournament on Saturday seemed to forget that I
could attack and block with my Spectral Bears every turn assuming I had
a forest in play.  This combo in addition to a River Boa is what sealed
the semi-final victory for me.  My opponent had  a white knight and a
longbow archer out with no crusades and we were down to a 5 turn tie
breaker (the person with the highest life total won)and he made the
mistake of attacking when my Spectral Bear was tapped.  I, of course,
picked up the forest and blocked causing him to lose his creature.  He
apparently forgot the very next turn because I did it to him again. 
(Pressure -- what can you say.)  

Anyway, I played a variety of decks on Saturday:  red/blue
(creature/deny deck); white weenie w/ crusades, abeyances, etc.;
straight blue (Al Sousa's deck); 2 other abeyance/gerard's blessing
decks (surprise, surprise) and a black deck with card denial.  

Although the abeyance/gerard's decks were annoying, the deck did its
best against this deck and the blue deck.  The deck is a pound, metta
deck with surprises and it works well.

Thank you very much to those who were rooting for me on Saturday.  The
match against Justin was a nail biter and although I feel I beat him
fairly and squarely and I feel I would have had a terrific chance of
beating him despite the fact that he forfeited the first round due to my
sideboard being ready for him, I truly appreciate his honesty and I wish
more players displayed his type of honor.