Subject: Long overdue return ,State report Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 14:22:41 PST From: "Keith Ouellette" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Nevada State Championships Keith Ouellette here reporting on the NSC (see above). If you've never experienced a high caliber Magic event like States before you've been missing one of lifes most precious moments. Allow me to attempt to reconstruct the scene with my mere text. After the las Vegas style entertainment finished their number the coliseum darkened. The orchestra flared to life and a lone spotlight shone on the grand prize, the NSC plague. The crowds gasp was replaced by the eruption of flame and fountain. The Pyrotechnics and fountain show was one of the most amazing i've ever seen during which the competitors were lead into the playing hall. The orchestra slowed and the lights were aimed towards the massive five color flag. With hands to their hearts the players eyes welled with tears during the Magic:the gathering Anthem. The crowd cheered as the lights came back up. The competitors had wiped their eyes and only grim determination remained. Only one player would leave with the title Nevada State Champ (NSC) ! As I looked across the massive hall I noticed some of the top competitors and crowd favorites were not playing. I would assume that WOTC's strict guidelines on illicit substances and weight minimums kept those few from attaining their dreams. Clean up and we'll see you next year. As the players took their seats the "magnificent" Matt Tabak, head judge was escorted to the podium by two bombshells from the adult film industry. I felt this was very distracting to the players but Matt always has liked flashy entrances. Matt took the mic and announced all the standard floor rules. He then took the time to answer the always asked question with "YES WE WILL BE PLAYING PARIS MULLIGAN!! I CAN"T BELIEVE YOU ASKED ME THAT!! WHAT ROCK HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING UNDER!!" he then pulled out a pistol and asked if there were any more questions?... Not a sound. O.K. then six rounds of swiss lets get it on! The first few hours flashed by. The always present computer technical delay was made bearable by the outstanding chinese acrobats. A few hours after that and the swiss rounds were over. One last performance that included circus animals and the announcement was made. The players advancing to the final rounds would be, in no particular order; Joe Spica of "Team Cack" Darryl Wilson Rob "Scrubby" Swarowski of "The Six Shooters" Shannon Krummick of the "Vegas Highrollers" Jeff Driscol of "Team Cack" Justin Alpert Stanton Peay of the "Vegas Highrollers" John Carman the quarter finals paired up Darryl and Shannon. With Darryls punishing red attack sped by the suddenly popular Lotus petal for turn two destructive urge or Ball lightning. Shannons Counter Phoenix wasn't able to handle that kind of pressure. next Joe and vegas transplant from Alaska John Carman met. The red players lucked out not facing Johns "white weenie of the North". He was packing plenty of prot red firepower which would have cooled off those red decks quickly. Always cool under pressure Joe Spica never felt the white heat of johns deck and he easily locked the board and the match with his Umbilicus/Tradewind/'geddon deck. Justin Alpert was the next to fall to the wrath of the "Cacks" as Jeff Driscols Recurring Whale tricks crushed his Tradewind/'geddon deck. Finally the last Highroller in the quarter finals Stanton was paired against Scrubby. Scrubby left without a scratch. He won the match in one game after Stanton double Mulliganed the second game and conceded. The Semi finals Keep the children from the room. Two Cacks collide in an epic display of manhood. Jeff and Joe enter a vicious battle of "snoodle the noodle" and Joe's noodle comes out on top! Darryl and Scrubby are packing more heat than the earlier pyrotechnics show. It all ends pretty quickly with Scrubby's experience and standard red winning over Darryls turn 2 Ball lightning lotus/Sligh. The Finals Scrubby blasted away with his heat and Joe fought back as best he could. It was a well played match but in the end it was Scrubby of the Six Shooters who walked away with the prize. In an emotional speech Scrubby wanted to thank all of his teamates who's hard work and dedication to winning got him here. After the closing ceremonies the finalists were all taken by limo to the official afterparty where rivalries were set aside and champagne flowed. Now the competitors could relax and live it up in true vegas fashion... but hey, that's another story. Enjoy the crown Scrubby! Keith Ouellette Vegas Highrollers ps One last thing i would like to address is the posting of tourney reports and deck lists. I have the decklists and permission of the players to post them. It goes against my insticts to take all the creativity out of the deckbuilding proccess by listing excact contents but If thats what everyone wants then thats what i'll do. I am hoping to start a trend of reports that include deck concepts and ideas but it should be up to you to build test and use your creativity to put together a deck. please comment on this. I'd like your input. Thanks again and bye from fabulous Las Vegas! ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com