themenofmagic

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.
Buddha

Personally, I love to use quotes as a way to express my thoughts on things. You might be asking, what is you are blogging about today.

In my previous blog, I discussed about my goals in magic. That all the work I have done has to lead to something bigger. The article talked about wanting to do coverage for either SCGLIVE or WoTC. I sent emails to both groups, explaining how I could benefit them for each of their productions.

It has never been, and never will be easy work! But the road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.
Marion Zimmer Bradley

That leads me to StarCityGames. I sent Evan an email expressing my interest in coverage. He responded back with a yes, and listed the dates of fall 2012 schedule and when I could be available. That email had to be one of the best I have ever received. The excitement was overwhelming!

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
Alfred D’Souza

This lead to more challenging part of whole thing, was explaining to my wife that I would be doing live coverage for SCG, instead of road tripping to events like I have done. She saw locations all of the country and wondered how I was going to work it out with my responsibilities. I reassured her that I would be able to take Friday and Monday off around the events for travel purposes. She did the how are you going to be away from us? My retort was “Look I am going to same amount of events but you now will have a schedule of them ahead of time!” Needless to say, the back and forth was challenging, she understands how important this is to me.

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I expect challenges when it comes to doing live event coverage. I’m personally comfortable in the booth, and watching the amount of coverage I have, that I feel I know a lot of members of SCGLIVE team. Nothing going perfect when you are live, there are countless things that can go wrong, but as broadcaster you roll with it and make it your own. Improvement comes from time in booth and working with other talented people.
Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.
Gilda Radner

Gilda has a great way of explaining of what is going to happen next for me. Get ready for some very interactive and fun commentary. I want to bring the interviews and stories from the people I have talked to on the Men of Magic podcast (available on MTGCAST.COM) with all personality that I can bring. I want to thank SCG for this opportunity that I plan on making the most of. The fun is about to begin soon. I will leave with one more quote from someone who inspired a nation…. Thanks for reading
Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and keep it lit.
Mary Lou Retton

If you are small and wish to take on the big, the first step you need to plan before you wage your challenge is your path of escape. Chin-Ning Chu

Interesting quote which leads to this article; first and foremost, I love this game, as it allows me to bring out my inner competitor that over time has been suppressed. Life has a funny way of rearranging your priorities. I have reached a point at which things are getting into order. I have a wonderful wife, 3 great children, an interesting job, etc, etc.

Things like this have allowed me the time to go back and explore what I am really missing; the thrill of competition on the highest level.

I started back into magic by putting myself in place that was comfortable – talking to people about the game and their desire for it. Joining the Manascrewed podcast (thanks to Tangent), gave me a forum in which I was allowed to speak openly about something that inspires me.

Most of you know that I have branched off from Manascrewed into The Men of Magic podcast. The Men of Magic has opened up opportunities for me in the wider world of MTG:

• I was on coverage team at GP Denver on GGSLive.
• I did two rounds of live coverage at SCGOpen in Madison, WI.
• Thanks to Channel Fireball I have been able to do interviews at locations that for financial reasons I couldn’t afford to do completely on my own.

In that time, I have gotten to know a lot of the pros on the tour. When I show up at an event they know who I am and what I bring for the magic scene as a whole. There are countless stories that I have been able to be a part of due to this. I am thankful to those people that allowed me to enjoy this so much.

There is no denying that I have goals in MTG. We all want to win a GP and make the pro tour. Be called the next great one in magic; there is that and then there is reality.

If you’re a competitive person, that stays with you. You don’t stop. You always look over your shoulder. Magic Johnson

There is a goal for what I want to do:

Coverage – I have made this point to the masses on twitter and those who I have talked to. The understanding of how to present interaction with a tactician of the game is skill that unique to the market. This is something I have worked on throughout my podcasting and radio days. There are currently only two places at which this skill can be used: StarCityGames and Wizards of the Coast.

I have had a taste of both and believe me when I say that I want more. I can see myself filling a slot for SCG that isn’t filled at the moment: Lead commentator that can interview and provide smooth the transition from play to between rounds commentary for co-hosts. Not everyone can be Rich Hagon or BDM. Chemistry is something that is developed over time as you get to know the people you work with. JVL is one of the best, especially when questioned about deck choices and match results. That round I worked with him, there wasn’t an awkward moment. It was two people giving more insight into the game. Working Joey Pasco was great. He’s the next big thing in magic broadcasting. I can see him in 10 years being like BDM in the booth for WoTC. SCG is very fortunate to have a talent like him on the roster and it shows. He at every major SCG Invitational and gets to work with best SCG has to offer.

Clearly this is a position that I would have no hesitation in accepting.

WoTC Coverage has added a second booth for interviews and game recaps; this seems like a natural fit for me. Interviewing the pros is something I have a lot of previous experience doing, and being able to review a match or have special guests come in to talk is a strength of mine.

If you don’t make the right steps to open up doors that potentially lead to those opportunities, then you are either foolish or unmotivated.

Research your idea. See if there’s a demand. A lot of people have great ideas, but they don’t know if there’s a need for it. You also have to research your competition. Magic Johnson

This quote to be tied to a couple of people in magic: Mike Flores, who has been able to spend some time working with The Men of Magic to assist in what is needed to make it better. At GPMIN Adam Styborski spoke to me for about an hour on what I wanted out magic and how I can improve to provide even more for you.
There are countless others that have assisted my goals: TSG, Evan Erwin, Trick Jarrett, Rich Hagon, BDM, various fellow podcasters; the list goes on and on.

Magic has given so much to me over the years. This is my way to giving back. The Men of Magic is something I cherish, because nobody else has done anything like it for this long before. Like Manascrewed and Monday Night Magic, The Men of Magic is a stepping stone to what I want out of this game we love: the ability to present to you as an enjoyable and educational experience that makes the viewer want more of it.

Robert Martin

Note: Originally this article was not meant to compare Tiger and Tom it morphed into as I went along.

I was reading a story about struggles of one Tiger Woods. It leads to this series of quotes, which is why I am writing this article.

“The model starts with Unconscious Incompetence, which means you don’t know you need to know something. It then moves to Conscious Incompetence (you can’t do it but at least you know you should learn) to Conscious Competence (you know how to do it but you have to think about it) and ultimately to Unconscious Competence.”

Tiger has lost his ability to be at the unconscious competence level when he plays. He was instinctive, trusted himself, and what he could accomplish on the course. Now, he has fallen into the cycle of Conscious competence (his recent win) and conscious incompetence (see day 3 and 4 at the Masters).

Golf is a highly skilled game with a combination of both mental and physical skills. Practicing for hours on a driving range and putting green, playing at high school and college, physically making the demands on your body to perform the sport, flying from event to event, testing new equipment, playing week after week in all sorts of weather and course conditions, reading greens, adjusting to wind, watching the leaderboard to wonder will you make the cut or can you win?

Now let us translate to magic terms. Playing in FNM, PTQ, GP, deck-building or net deck-building to figure out what play style works with you, drafting (online or in person) with people till all hours of morning, driving 12 hours to get to GP, losing at x-2 to miss day 2, playing thousands of matches on-line, getting very little sleep because you are still deciding on deck ideas the night of a tourney, bleeding your bank account dry being a grinder on SCGopen series or GP circuit, losing time with friends and family due to being on the road.

The realities of life are best described like this: Competitive people that play magic have aspirations to go pro. I think being a professional magic would be a unique and interesting job. The thing I had to realize was that I can’t do every dream that I have set for myself. The reality of your own skill and life gets in the way.

Watching magic in person is best way of seeing unconscious competence in action. As much as live coverage on the internet has provided us a window into the game. Nothing replaces the ability to being able to see the players, cards, and actions of best in action. #Overshouldermagic is what I call it.

The last time #overtheshouldermagic happened was in #GPINDY. I was fortunate enough to watch Tom Martell win GP. As you observed every match and plays that are made and not made, that level of unconscious competence comes into full view. There are times he would look at his opening draw, and what looked like a decent draw, and then almost immediately shuffle his cards.

Then Tom starts to look off into space. My theory on what he’s thinking is “What could’ve made me keep that hand, and what do I need not to mull lower” which is Conscious Competence in action.

Tom has been known to “snap play” in the past which is Conscious Incompetence. The human brain works in unique way. It takes input of actions and cues and puts them into a pattern. It allows us to learn redundant behaviors and actions. As we do things, it improves the possibility of us doing them again. The problem with this is it can form bad habits.

This now has been replaced with slower, methodical approach of making decisions (conscious competence). To people at home watching they saying, why is he playing so slow? Doesn’t he know the cards in his hand? What he’s doing is running through in his head, in seconds, every scenario on the board. This is something most average players can’t fully grasp.

This is learned behavior that has happened because of past failures due repeating the same action over and over, not realizing that it’s slowly ruining your game. Tom has taken that conscious competence to a level this year that shown in the results.

Take a lesson from this because it’s the reason why they are professional and the rest of us are “other players” in magic lore.

The magic community is buzzing about GP San Jose Team event. The reasons are obvious, because as much as magic is an individual sport, the players enjoy three man team side events.

There is no surprise that they play for entertainment”purposes only. The concept of team magic has gone back from the early days of magic. Hence the team I would put together for this event.

Outside of the fact that I would be weak link on the team, I was reviewing some of my podcasts, and thinking who would I put together to take on this situation.

My first pick is William “Baby Huey” Jensen. He’s a no-brainer, considered one of the greatest limited players to ever play the game. In my interview with BDM (http://www.mtgcast.com/?p=24271), he talks in depth on why William Jensen taught him his passion for drafting and how amazing of a limited player he was.

If you look at his lifetime record here are the numbers that back his case.

GP San Diego – limited – 1st place
GP Cannes  - Team limited – 4th place
GP Pittsburgh – Team limited – 1st place
GP Detroit – limited – 5th place
PT Chicago – Rochester Draft – 8th place
PT Boston – Team Limited – 1st place

If those numbers don’t jump off the table at you, then nothing will.

When you listen to my interview with William Jensen (http://www.mtgcast.com/?p=20746) you can tell that he cared about the game and people in it. Also, when I talked to him “off air”, we talked about the drafting they still do now. The people he drafts with are the who’s who of that era of magic. If he could take two of the other players off the island with him and bring him to San Jose, I would not be surprised if they didn’t win it all.

If I am building a team I would want a person to be “teacher” of the group to work with myself and the next team mate. William is a special player in magic, and one day I hope he gets rewarded for what he meant to the game by being in the Hall of Fame.

My next choice is really obvious, no it’s not LSV or Paulo or Chapin or Martell (even though any team Tom is in would be a lot of fun). It’s Ben Stark. When you listen to other people talk about Ben he is widely considered the best limited player in the world. When other pros go Ben for advice on the limited format, you know there’s something special about him.

Let us review Ben’s history in draft:

GP Kansas City – Rochester Draft – 3rd
PT San Diego – Booster Draft – 6th
GP Boston – Sealed and Booster Draft – 2nd
GP Toronto – Sealed and Booster Draft – 4th
PT Paris – Standard and Booster Draft – 1st

If you listen to his interview (http://www.mtgcast.com/?p=19683), you can see that he’s proven that when he’s focused and driven to succeed in magic he can win any event he is at. Ben also has a extensive network of fellow pros he works with (outside of team CFB). When I was at worlds he was building decks with a Japanese contingent. He would be the bulldog member of the team: someone that is driven by his ability and desire to win at his best format.

There it is: my dream team for the team format at GP San Jose. Granted, the two pros I would be playing with would be carrying me, but if you are looking at what could make a team great those would be two pieces that would make even a player like me a winner on the GP circuit.

Bonus Section – Who I would like to see as three person teams at GP San Jose

LSV, Paulo, and Paul Cheon – You have that same mix of the leader in LSV, the bulldog in Paulo, with Cheon being LSV’s close friend who put up a top 6 finish at GP Denver, even though he didn’t know the card until days before the tourney.

David Ochoa, Josh Utter-Layton, Owen Turtenwald – Another Team CFB group. PoY Owen, all it seems he does is top 8 every GP (11 lifetime). Josh is who one of players who is on quite a roll this magic season: just look at worlds and PT Philly. David Ochoa, considered the thinker of team CFB and someone whose play is respected within the community.

Tom Martell, Steve OMS, Jon Finkel – Talk about a team that would have personality all over it, plus you are sitting across from two Hall of Famers. Just consider Jon’s desire to play now for platinum status, Tom Martell’s run lately, and OMS’s history with Jon in the team format.

Gerry Thompson, Brad Nelson, and AJ Sacher – This would be a Star City Games team. Maybe again I am looking at the obvious, but these are a lot like Finkel and company in that they would draw crowds to watch!

Sam Black, Reid Duke, Rich Hoaen – They worked together for PT Honolulu. They know each other and Sam has the deck developing creative eye (see lingering souls for Tom Martell). Reid Duke is one of rising stars of the tour, placing at the top of the standings consistently this year. Rich Hoaen is called the canadian draft maestro of magic and in this format he’s a must have.

Matt Sperling, Paul Rietzl, Michael Jacob – another of the PT beach house teams. Matt and Paul are close friends and with Michael’s ability to make decks and challenge a format it could work.

Shuhei Nakamura, Yuuyu Watanabe, Kenji Tsumura – These three have worked together in past. Kenji has very limited ability to play due to school. Let us take a look at Kenji record in limited:

GP Osaka Team limited – 4th
PT Philly Team – 4th
GP Kaula Lumpur limited -1st
GP Toulouse – limited – 1st
GP St. Louis – limited – 3rd
GP Shockholm – limited – 7th
GP Kitakyuushuu – limited – 7th

Most of the team events were with Saito and Kenji. Saito could easily be the other player if Kenji can’t make it.

Martin Juza, Raphael Levy, and Gabriel Nassif – Now, to get Nassif to consider this event with marriage and other interests taking his time, is a stretch. Juza and Levy are the model MtG players that have the passion and desire to play anywhere and in any way.

Brian Kibler, Rob Dougherty, and Justin Gary – Call it Team Ascension. They work together, with both Brian and Rob being very active on the tour. Brian made a stellar comeback and is play better than ever.

Ben Stark, Pat Cox, David Sharfman – This could be a Florida connection. Any team that starts with Ben Stark looks like a winner to me. See the earlier part of the article!

Mike Flores, Zvi, BDM – It would be New York Family coming together for one show. Everyone knows the Flores and BDM relationship, but Zvi the Hall of Famer could come out of retirement for this format. One time Zvi! For those of us that enjoyed your career!

Osyp Lebedowicz, Gerard Fabiano, Antonio DeRosa – First of all, I would like to meet Osyp in person! Secondly, GFabs and Antonio have a great friendship. Add the fact Antonio just won another GP and what else needs be said.

Conley Woods, Tom “The Boss” Ross, Eric Froehlich – Another Team CFB team. This team has the deck doctor and two professional poker players together. Yes, we all saw on twitter and facebook that Tom is coming back. Could this be the one? If you saw Efro’s twitter post he’s excited; why not put these guys together???

Christian Calcano, Ali Aintrazi, Dan Jordan – The young guns of magic. Calcano is the quintessential grinder; Aintrazi takes outside the box deck design to a new level; Dan Jordan is a constant top 32 performer at events, and is a good person to boot.

Ari Lax, Adam Prosak, Todd Anderson – Why not another team StarCityGames. Due to the SCGtour they have played all formats and if they would win, what a great picture to post on the main page of SCG!

Caleb Dunward, Kitt Holland, Craig Wescoe  - Caleb is having a great start of the year with his GP top 8’s and PTQ win. This is supposedly a legacy specialist??? Like Caleb, Kitt is from Chicago, and if Matej is going to be there you know Megan will be. To finish the Chicago connection add the player who playing constantly at the top of leaderboards this year! The Chicago mafia heading to SJ!

Marshall Sutcliffe, Jon Loucks, and Ryan Spain (Although Ryan can’t play because he’s a WotC Employee) The Limited Resources team in effect. Substituting for Ryan would be friend and fellow Seattle native Zaiem Beg. BTW, Zaiem is a very underrated player.

Jason Ford, Matthias Hunt, Brandon Nelson – This group already works together to prep for events. All these players were level four in the old system . Each of them is one step away from a breakout performance that will catapult them into the “next level” of magic.

Patrick Chapin, William Jensen, Kai Budde – Call me a dreamer and I doubt this would happen, but these three are starpower and with the legendary status Kai brings to an event, Chapin’s soon to be Hall of Fame status, and see top part of article Baby Huey limited skills. It’s just a thought that would be fun for me to see.

Matej Zatlkaj, Gaudenis Vidugiris, Darwin Kastle – Yes this an odd mix of players, but Matej said he would come, and even though Gaudenis claims he’s not a great limited player the results say differently. Why not round out the team with a Hall of Famer?

Jackie Lee, Mary Jacobson, Melissa DeTora or Carrie Oliver – Melissa will team with her better half at this event, but why not since the trolls on the internet are constantly smashing these three, because “OMG it’s a woman playing magic”. Personally, I am sick of it. Talent is talent doesn’t matter what sex, race, religious preference, etc you are.

Bob Maher, David Williams, Gary Wise – Why not have three magic players from the past come together for this, instead of across the table from each other?

Extras – I couldn’t get a 3rd or are just fun

Kar Yung Tom, Chris Lansdell, and Scott MacCallum (MrScottyMac) – This would be the podcasting group for the event. Between KYT and Chris they are on every other podcast on the MTGCAST network. With ScottyMacs appearance at SCGCIN I saw him play firsthand. I wonder if he would be the captain on this team? Plus, Scotty would have to play for the whole trip!

Matt Marr, Jessie Smith (Smi77y) – these two are deck building and personal friends. Smi77y now is on SCG for his brews and is creator of 60cards.com. Matt has had good success on the tour!

Chris Otwell, Nick Bonham – The man behind mtgcast (Chris) and man who makes Djinn’s Playground podcast go (Nick), plus both are from Denver

Adrian Sullivan, Brian Kowal, – The pros from Madison, WI. This would be a perfect slot for one Sam Black

There are ton more of options out there, but I couldn’t name them all. Hope you enjoy the read!

As every podcast evolves over time, the hosts are always looking for ways to better connect to the listeners. When the show started I never thought I would be able to get the quality of guests that I have. Because of you this has all been possible! What I am attempting to do is make a history of magic in audio that people many years from now can refer to.

I am proposing an open forum for you, my listeners, to submit any ways you believe I can make this show better.

As The Men of Magic approaches its one hundredth episode, I am looking for the best way to improve the show.

Ideas to ponder (Give reasons why):

Guests: Future guests you would like or past guests for a 2nd or 3rd time on the show?

Questions: What different types of questions would you like asked?

Length of the show: Is it too long? If yes, then do you want interviews that go over (fill in blank) time to be split into 2?

Host issues: What suggestions do you have for me to improve what I am bringing to the show?

Special shows: Would you like me to get interviews with previous guests if they do something special? (Like win a GP – Aka: Tom Martell and Antonio De Rosa, write a book, etc.)

There has been interest in getting a season end interview with pro players – does this interest you?

When I go to live events, what you want to me get? Deck Techs? Short interviews? Day end reports?

Although the show focuses on, a more of historical view on magic, should I get younger talent on the show? Do the people you don’t hear from, or know enough about, interest you?

A push was made to get more international stars from the past and present. Does that interest you the listener?

I am open to all suggestions and I am trying to make this show better for you. Do note, I am not sponsored so I don’t have to curtail the questions I ask or people that come on the show. I give my interviews to Channel Fireball, StarCityGames, and Gathering Magic when I get their talent on the show, along with always being available on MTGCAST.COM.

Send all your thoughts and opinions to TheMenofMagic@gmail.com

Thanks,
Robert
@theBeme
@themenofmagic

Event #: 3469118
Time: 2/24/2012 8:50:57 PM

—— DKA ——

Pack 1 pick 1:
Swamp
Black Cat
Harrowing Journey
Shriekgeist
Kessig Recluse
Heavy Mattock (FOIL)
Faithless Looting
Briarpack Alpha
Afflicted Deserter
–> Stromkirk Captain
Chant of the Skifsang
Increasing Ambition
Clinging Mists
Midnight Guard
Fling

Pack 1 pick 2:
Island
Curse of Exhaustion
Highborn Ghoul
Wild Hunger
Niblis of the Mist
Saving Grasp
Hinterland Hermit
Evolving Wilds
Thought Scour
Gruesome Discovery
Death’s Caress
Curse of Thirst
–> Nearheath Stalker
Grim Backwoods

Pack 1 pick 3:
Plains
Dawntreader Elk
Hunger of the Howlpack
Executioner’s Hood
Reap the Seagraf
Spiteful Shadows
Afflicted Deserter
–> Farbog Boneflinger
Mystic Retrieval
Scorch the Fields
Chant of the Skifsang
Thought Scour
Bar the Door

Pack 1 pick 4:
Forest
Tragic Slip
Chill of Foreboding
Griptide
–> Chosen of Markov
Wrack with Madness
Ray of Revelation
Haunted Fengraf
Wild Hunger
Saving Grasp
Faithless Looting
Evolving Wilds

Pack 1 pick 5:
Mountain
–> Curse of Bloodletting
Chalice of Life
Executioner’s Hood
Spiteful Shadows
Deadly Allure
Chant of the Skifsang
Thought Scour
Bar the Door
Young Wolf
Silverclaw Griffin

Pack 1 pick 6:
Mountain
Russet Wolves
Heavy Mattock
Ray of Revelation
–> Hinterland Hermit
Heckling Fiends
Artful Dodge
Gruesome Discovery (FOIL)
Divination
Hollowhenge Beast

Pack 1 pick 7:
Plains
Black Cat
Shriekgeist
–> Chosen of Markov
Spiteful Shadows
Sightless Ghoul
Falkenrath Torturer
Sudden Disappearance
Hollowhenge Beast

Pack 1 pick 8:
Forest
Somberwald Dryad
Ray of Revelation
–> Hinterland Hermit (FOIL)
Artful Dodge
Clinging Mists
Sudden Disappearance
Hollowhenge Beast

Pack 1 pick 9:
Swamp
Black Cat
Harrowing Journey
Heavy Mattock (FOIL)
–> Increasing Ambition
Clinging Mists
Fling

Pack 1 pick 10:
Island
Curse of Exhaustion
Saving Grasp
Thought Scour
–> Gruesome Discovery
Curse of Thirst

Pack 1 pick 11:
Plains
–> Executioner’s Hood
Spiteful Shadows
Scorch the Fields
Bar the Door

Pack 1 pick 12:
Forest
Chill of Foreboding
–> Ray of Revelation
Saving Grasp

Pack 1 pick 13:
–> Chalice of Life
Spiteful Shadows
Bar the Door

Pack 1 pick 14:
Mountain
–> Ray of Revelation

Pack 1 pick 15:
–> Plains

—— DKA ——

Pack 2 pick 1:
Plains
Strangleroot Geist
Niblis of the Breath
Tragic Slip
Headless Skaab
Ray of Revelation
Haunted Fengraf
Saving Grasp
Faithless Looting
Hinterland Hermit
Warden of the Wall
Faith’s Shield (FOIL)
Scorch the Fields
Undying Evil
–> Increasing Devotion

Pack 2 pick 2:
Forest
Harrowing Journey
Lambholt Elder
Wrack with Madness
Niblis of the Urn
Headless Skaab
Somberwald Dryad
Saving Grasp
Faithless Looting
–> Pyreheart Wolf
Scorch the Fields
Undying Evil
Bone to Ash
Silverclaw Griffin

Pack 2 pick 3:
Forest
Kessig Recluse
Loyal Cathar
Elgaud Inquisitor
Havengul Runebinder
–> Erdwal Ripper
Shattered Perception
Gravetiller Wurm
Crushing Vines
Young Wolf
Silverclaw Griffin
Curse of Thirst
Nearheath Stalker

Pack 2 pick 4:
Mountain
Gravepurge
Torch Fiend
Heavy Mattock
Hinterland Hermit
Nephalia Seakite
Lingering Souls
–> Falkenrath Torturer
Heckling Fiends
Crushing Vines
Skillful Lunge
Gather the Townsfolk

Pack 2 pick 5:
Island
Black Cat
Shriekgeist
Lambholt Elder
Kessig Recluse
Russet Wolves
Faithless Looting
–> Stromkirk Captain
Divination
Sanctuary Cat
Burden of Guilt

Pack 2 pick 6:
Island
Secrets of the Dead
Curse of Exhaustion
Somberwald Dryad
Spiteful Shadows
–> Zombie Apocalypse
Sightless Ghoul
Bone to Ash
Hollowhenge Beast
Silverclaw Griffin

Pack 2 pick 7:
Swamp
Gravepurge
Highborn Ghoul
Torch Fiend
Vengeful Vampire
Faith’s Shield
–> Falkenrath Torturer
Talons of Falkenrath
Crushing Vines

Pack 2 pick 8:
Island
Hunger of the Howlpack
Screeching Skaab
–> Niblis of the Mist
Break of Day
Bone to Ash
Sanctuary Cat
Hollowhenge Beast (FOIL)

Pack 2 pick 9:
Plains
Ray of Revelation
Haunted Fengraf
Saving Grasp
–> Faithless Looting
Faith’s Shield (FOIL)
Scorch the Fields

Pack 2 pick 10:
Forest
–> Harrowing Journey
Headless Skaab
Saving Grasp
Scorch the Fields
Bone to Ash

Pack 2 pick 11:
Forest
–> Shattered Perception
Crushing Vines
Silverclaw Griffin
Curse of Thirst

Pack 2 pick 12:
Mountain
Gravepurge
Heavy Mattock
–> Heckling Fiends

Pack 2 pick 13:
Island
–> Divination
Burden of Guilt

Pack 2 pick 14:
Island
–> Sightless Ghoul

Pack 2 pick 15:
–> Swamp

—— DKA ——

Pack 3 pick 1:
Mountain
Secrets of the Dead
Soul Seizer
Tragic Slip
Griptide
Heavy Mattock
Ray of Revelation
Haunted Fengraf
Wild Hunger
Tracker’s Instincts
Nephalia Seakite
Evolving Wilds
Relentless Skaabs
–> Increasing Devotion
Young Wolf

Pack 3 pick 2:
Forest
Gravepurge
Griptide
Torch Fiend
Thraben Heretic
Wild Hunger
Nephalia Seakite
Evolving Wilds
–> Markov Warlord
Scorned Villager
Immerwolf
Predator Ooze
Young Wolf
Skillful Lunge

Pack 3 pick 3:
Swamp
Gravepurge
Chill of Foreboding
Griptide
–> Chosen of Markov
Ulvenwald Bear
Blood Feud
Screeching Skaab
Break of Day
Undying Evil
Artful Dodge
Gruesome Discovery
Midnight Guard

Pack 3 pick 4:
Island
Forge Devil
Kessig Recluse
Executioner’s Hood
Headless Skaab
–> Alpha Brawl
Mystic Retrieval
Chant of the Skifsang
Grim Flowering
Clinging Mists
Midnight Guard
Fling

Pack 3 pick 5:
Island
Soul Seizer
Torch Fiend
Thraben Heretic
Reap the Seagraf
Haunted Fengraf
Saving Grasp
Favor of the Woods
–> Faith’s Shield
Talons of Falkenrath
Skillful Lunge

Pack 3 pick 6:
Swamp
Harrowing Journey
Griptide
Kessig Recluse
Screeching Skaab
Hinterland Hermit
–> Erdwal Ripper
Undying Evil
Altar of the Lost
Crushing Vines

Pack 3 pick 7:
Plains
Highborn Ghoul
Ulvenwald Bear
Niblis of the Mist
Wolfhunter’s Quiver
Thought Scour
Gruesome Discovery
Altar of the Lost
–> Nearheath Stalker

Pack 3 pick 8:
Plains
Chalice of Life
Headless Skaab
Spiteful Shadows
–> Scorch the Fields
Grim Flowering
Bone to Ash
Silverclaw Griffin

Pack 3 pick 9:
Mountain
Secrets of the Dead
Griptide
Heavy Mattock
Ray of Revelation
–> Haunted Fengraf
Tracker’s Instincts

Pack 3 pick 10:
Forest
Griptide
Torch Fiend
–> Immerwolf
Young Wolf
Skillful Lunge

Pack 3 pick 11:
Swamp
Gravepurge
Chill of Foreboding
Artful Dodge
–> Gruesome Discovery

Pack 3 pick 12:
Island
–> Executioner’s Hood
Mystic Retrieval
Clinging Mists

Pack 3 pick 13:
Island
Favor of the Woods
–> Talons of Falkenrath

Pack 3 pick 14:
Swamp
–> Altar of the Lost

Pack 3 pick 15:
–> Plains

At Pro Tour Hawaii you saw teams start to form to attempt to break the format. Team CFB, Team Finkel, Juza w/ the Japanese, Team Hunt . Now each group had a sound strategy, enough people to test and prepare for the tourney. Is this going to be game defined by superstar teams that use pure numbers and testing to be dominate force in magic? Some say it already has with Team CFB, because they constantly pound in the results.

What does the player who hasn’t got a team to help them test or brainstorm ideas to be successful? He can use Magic League to see what decks are winning in daily events, but that’s a snapshot of what is happening out there? Do you try to form your own team to combat this? If you do, what is your plan?

Who is the organizer of the team?

Who is the face of the team, that person that can go on camera and talk about the team and what plan is?

Who are your deckbuilders? Who is your extreme deckbuilder (Like Conley is for CFB)?

Who are the deck tuners (the sideboard and how to use them against other matchups)?

Who are the grinders that are willing to be the gauntlet for your testing?

Who is your draft specialist to help the team come up with sound format drafting?

How do you organize after rounds to talk strategy and match-up issues?

Who will be charge of getting accommodations? Booking flights? Timing so everyone is right place at the right time?

Oh yeah, I forgot you have actually play test and draft also.

This is a rough list of what needs to be done for a Pro Tour team to test properly. This is something that needs to be accomplished, while not have people on the team with too much attitude that are inflexible with deck choices or ideas, to  find people who are willing to work and work at testing for you.

They talked about magic becoming a game of battle-cruiser magic. Maybe it is, but with teams, instead of individual players.

What price does a person have to pay to be best in magic? The battle between making magic your whole life or the player like Brian Kibler that works full time and does magic also?

I realize I will never be a pro, don’t have to time to commit to it, like I should or want too, but I am hoping the players that grind and grind to make it on the train, don’t burn out or lose something important in their lives for it.

Robert

@thebeme

I could go through the list of accomplishments that Jon has done in magic, but read this article on his HoF  status http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/halloffame.aspx?x=mtgevent/hofplayer/jfinkel

Jon has embraced every challenge that he has gone after, been successful in real life ventures, and still at moments notice can get the biggest names in New York to go for a Finkel draft.

The team with Zvi, Chapin, and others have seem to make his desire to play grow, and the results are showing it. He played one of the best matches I have seen when he played eventual champion Brian Kibler. If magic is compared to chess in mental strategy then Jon plays the game like few others ever had. In life we all try to achieve that mental awareness in what we do and what he love.

How devastating was that moment when Kibler had the 3 blasts and Jon had game on the board next turn?  For normal people  it would cause a never ending rant about how lucky he got or I should have won the game! When you see him saying I’m going to Barcelona and that if the prices for tickets wouldn’t have been insane he would be attending GP Lincoln! I don’t remember the last time Jon was going to a GP?? What a great time it is for magic to have Jon out there battling and willing to put himself  through the grind.

What I would love to see (in person) is that unknown magic player at GP Baltimore that got to 4-0 and is excited and nervous and down sits Jon Finkel. What would be running through your head if Jon sat across the table from you in a GP? Would you be scared? Would you be in awe? All those thoughts that run through your head is a clear advantage that Jon has over you.

In Barcelona, Kai will be there and so will Jon, would a lot of people love to see those to play head to head in finals? Of course, because we would be reliving magic history in here and now. There is little doubt when you refer to greatest players in magic history it starts with those two and then comes everyone else.

For those of you that never watched Jon play or know him own by what you heard of him, sit at your computer and watch him play. Then when you question what he does or doesn’t do, because you would do differently, ask yourself why is he playing differently? When you can answer that question with a constructive understanding you have learned a lesson in magic that hard to teach.

There is a sports entertainer that uses the catch-phrase “I’m the best in the world in what I do”.  It’s what makes the great players I have interviewed on the Men of Magic so amazing. Everything they sit down against anyone they believe in that saying “I’m the best in the world in what I do”

That’s a part of what makes the best in magic who they are and we are all trying to get there.

The Eye of the Finkel – be ready to be entertained and amazed…..

TheBeme

Note: My plan to get Jon on for episode 100 of themenofmagic