MY DAY AT THE POKEMON LEAGUE
by Dave Fishel

Once again I went to FutureWorld Sports in Santa Maria, California.  The date
was 10/10/99.  However, it was not for another tournament, but for the
Pokemon League.  It is fun, but there are many flaws in the system, such as
the fact that anyone can earn a badge, no matter how much they suck, and that
the age groups weren't divided as well as they could have been.  However, the
prizes are much better than in the tournaments, so who cares in the long run.
 

Enough of my bitching already, I'll get to the deck.  I decided to give
Venusaur a rest from regulating this week.  Even superstars need a break. 
The idea is not a new one, so you all know how it works.  I just bought
Fossil cards and I decided "What the hell, I'll try Hitmonlee."  Here's the
deck, named after its maker:

Davemaker

Pokemon:12
3  Scyther
3  Electabuzz
3  Hitmonchan
1  Hitmonlee
1  Chansey
1  Kangaskhan

Energy: 23
10  Fighting
9  Electric
4  Double Colorless

Trainers: 25
4  Energy Removal
3  Energy Retrieval
3  Plus Power
3  Scoop Up
2  Bill
2  Professor Oak
2  Gust of Wind
2  Super Energy Removal
2  Item Finder
2  Computer Search

I am typing the results of my matches the night after they happened, so I
won't remember all of the names.  The very first thing that I did when I got
there was participate in the league activity, which consisted of seven easy
Pokemon questions.
10 Points

Game 1:  Shawn (Psychic and fighting deck with the new Gastly, Haunter,
Gengar line)

This guy is one of the three good people there.  He is also a friend of mine.
 I thought that I would lose this one fast, because I started with Chan, he
had Gastly.  Just about the worst match up.  Luckily, I drew a Scyther, and
started to power him up.  When he was ready, I scooped up Chan and sent
Scyther into the heat of the battle.  He proceeded to bring out Lickitung, to
replace an injured Gastly.  Chan made short work of him.  He ran out of
basics, and I finished him off with Scyther.
Record 1-0
30 Points

Game 2:  Adam (Raindance)

This is another of my friends, and a frequent tourney winner.  However, his
deck is gradually losing its efficiency due to many new Fossil cards coming
out.  He also never revises his deck.  He really had no chance, I got an
Electabuzz out on the first turn, but no electric energy.  I oak on the first
turn, and get the energy I need.  I pretty much go on a rampage from there. 
He did get out a Blastoise, but he was no match.
Record 2-0
50 Points

Game 3:  Adam (same guy)

We finished the last game so fast, we played again.  This time I had no easy
kill with Buzz, but Scyther and Chan managed to fend for themselves.  I don't
remember this one well, but I remember that we had a 3-3 prize tie, and the
judge was about to call time on us.  Luckily, I drew Buzz near the end and
managed to work the rest of his pokemon from there.
Record 3-0
70 Points

Game 4:  Some kid who didn't look or play like he belonged in this age group
(Fire and plant)

I don't remember a lot except that he sucked pretty badly, and I knocked out
every pokemon with my starting Electabuzz.
Record 4-0
90 Points

Game 5:  Same kid

This game he actually took a prize.  His problem was that he evolved too
early.  Unfortunately, the prize was from when I killed him with Chansey,
destroying an Arcanine, which happened to be his only energized pokemon.
Record 5-0
110 Points

Game 6:  A girl who seemed like she was the older sister of another kid
there, and didn't really want to play (Fire)

This game, I was really in a hurry, and I don't remember much at all.  I
started with a Chan, and she had a Charmander.  Luckily, I got a good draw of
energy removals to stall, and all that I had to do was jab and special punch
my way to victory.
Final Record 6-0
130 Points

There was a tournament after the league play, but unfortunately, I had to go
out to dinner, so I missed out.  Hopefully, I will be able to go next week,
and there will be more than three worthy competitors.

PROPS AND SLOPS
Props: Shawn, for giving me a ride, and for using the new Gastly/Haunter.
Props: Dave, the owner of the store, for having the same name as me, and
running these kinds of events.
Slops: Shawn, for not giving me a ride home.
Slops: All of the people that sucked, and shouldn't have been there.

If you have any questions/comments/death threats/love letters/etc, send them
on over to:
Dave Fishel
(Yakkoman1@aol.com)