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For Rent

Pojo.com's Yu-Gi-Oh! Interviews
A Normal Pojo User Interview (Part 1) With Sam Gomez
By Ally
5.09.07

First I like to thank Pojo for putting this interview up for me.

 

Pojo Screen Name: http://www.pojo.biz/board/member.php?u=51914

 

Ally: Well first things first I like to thank you for taking the time out of your life to do this interview with me. My first question is what is your full name?

 

Sam: Well a lot of ppl don’t quite know who I am so for all the readers reading this I'd just like to introduce myself, my name is Sam Gomez. You might remember me from SJC Seattle.

 

Sam: On the side note you’re very welcome; in fact, I should be the one who is saying thank You.

 

Ally: Well you're very welcome ^_^. You mentioned SJC Seattle you want to tell the Pojo readers a little about that?

 

Sam: Certainly! It was my first ever Shonen Jump Championship. I went with one goal in mind and that was to make an impact. You see there are tons of players in this world who are considered pros at this game. I'm on my way up that ladder to reach that level and what better way to do that than to win a SJC. Of course I didn’t win, but I certainly made the impact I wanted. I may not be at every SJC but you can bet your dollars I'll be at Nationals, and I'm going to be looking to make another Impact. Quite possibly National Champion? I may take the title back to the Northwest!

 

Ally: What impact did you make at SJC Seattle?

 

Sam: Well for starters I definitely got my name mainstreamed through my region and not only did I make day 2. I won the Scrub Brush Challenge, although a lot of ppl criticize SJC Seattle as a weak SJC. We had top players in attendance like Emon, Matt Laraunts, Austin Kulman, and many more but for once the standings were over not one of them made it but me; and I think that definitely says something in of itself. I'm on my way to the top no matter what the challenge is; I’ll keep climbing that ladder.

 

Sam: If there’s anything I love about this game it’s the competition, Shonen Jump Seattle was a stepping stone for me. It was all about making an impact, or simply getting my name out there. I'm 10x better now and come Nationals I'll be in full force; bank on it!

 

Ally: Good for you! Let’s hope that does happen. What deck were you running at SJC Seattle and what place did you finish?

 

Sam: I finished 8th place which didn’t quite seem right in my opinion. I was third place going into the last round, but hey top 8 is after all top 8. The deck I was running was nothing more than a mere Toolbox/Hydrogeddon deck I don’t really know what to quite call it; it was pretty amazing and it took me really far, so I'm grateful for that. The deck was actually undefeated coming into this event. My Buddy Adam Bettiol and I were building this deck which consists a set of Hydrogeddons and the ever popular Cyber-Stein. I think by looking at the deck you wouldn’t think much of it but when it plays it merely dominates if played right.

 

Ally: You said placing 8th doesn't seem quite right. Aren't you happy that you topped 8 at all? I mean top 8ing a Shonen Jump is suppose to be a huge accomplishment after all.

 

Sam: It was definitely a huge accomplishment, and I am definitely grateful don’t get me wrong, but coming in as 8th place just doesn’t seem fitting. I'm a man who loves attention and when you come in as 8th place people just sorta look down on you but again it was definitely a great accomplishment; and I am totally happy about the top 8 but lets face it for bragging rights and old prides' sake, coming in as 1st place or 2nd place is much better than 8th.

 

Ally: You can brag about how you topped 8 a Shonen Jump but then again that’s not cool or fun. Who did you have to play in day 2 SJ?

 

Sam: You’re right it isn’t cool or fun but when you have regionals with the likes of a National Champion (Austin) and the #2 ranked guy in the nation (Eric Ing) it’s important to be known as something down here; especially, when ppl look down on you all the time. I didn’t mean it as "rub it in your face bragging rights" I meant it as "I've done this, I'm good enough to be in your league" Its merely my way of trying to be someone down here. Oh boy my opponent for day 2 was none other than the infamous Chris Moosman. Now I played this guy in a regional the day after Nationals last year. He definitely knows his stuff and he has a reputation as one of the best to boot. I enjoy every match I have with pros like him, because it gives me that feeling that I have everything to prove and nothing to lose (Underdog pretty much).

 

Sam:  Since then; however, Chris and I have become pretty good friends I'd say. I talk to him occasionally and he's a really cool dude. It’s too bad my YVD isn’t working I'd love a rematch with him.

 

Ally: Hehe if you get it working maybe then you can beat him ;). Did you think that your deck had a chance against Chris?

 

Sam: I sure hope I get it fixed sometime; I'm really busy these days to extract the problem and fix it. Let alone all the downloading that’s required....just thinking about it makes me head hurt. I think I definitely had a chance; everyone has a chance against everyone. The problem was the experience. He had more experience over me, and I'll admit he had a lot more skill than me. The chance I had was we we're pretty much a mirror match. The difference? I had Cyber-Stein, he didn’t, but like I said the experience won him the game. To this day I regret activating that Enemy Controller...ugh. Now if we played I can guarantee you it would be one fantastic match that only I, and Chris Moosman can deliver.

 

Sam: Like I said earlier I'm 10x better. I'm like a fine whine, and I only improve with time...its just Evolution! (I had to say that, inside joke).

 

Ally: What you mean you regret activating the Enemy Controller? What would of happened if you didn't activate it?

 

Sam: Well I discussed this with Chris, had I not made that move by activate Enemy Controller to repell his Cyber Dragons attack on my Cyber-Stein (which by the way would have not been game, see the mistake?) he would have taken the initiative and activated his Enemy Controller from his hand and sacrificed his Cyber Dragon to take control of my Cyber Twin Dragon, then once he had done that, then I would have activated Enemy Controller blocking his attack. His last card in hand was Smashing Ground which would be useless and his facedown trap was bottomless trap hole as well as a face down monster. Meanwhile I was holding Exiled Force.

 

Sam: Where next turn I would have been able to summon Exiled Force and use it to destroy his facedown monster, then my Cyber Twin would have been able to finish the game.

 

Sam: Like I said before, everyone has a chance to win; it’s how well you see that chance and how you react when that door to victory is right before your eyes.

 

Ally: Mistakes like that can happen, but you'll just have to live and learn from them. Anyways on a different subject for the time being are you currently on a team?

 

Sam: I was on a team at Shonen Jump but since then I've decided to part ways. No I am currently not on a team and at the moment I'm not really looking. I'd like to be on the infamou Team OTK but quite frankly I don’t think the time is right to get back on a team. I had a bad experience on my last team.

 

Ally: What happened on the last team if you're willing to talk about it?

 

Sam: It was bad leadership, because I didn’t want to take orders from someone who didn’t want to quite contribute to his team.

 

Sam: He just took credit for everything, and I got tired of it; but I'd rather not talk about it since it’s over; and I'd rather not rekindle the fire.

 

Ally: M'kay! Let’s talk about this other team you want to join. Why do you want to join Team OTK?

 

Sam: Haha well I guess because they are good! When I first saw them at my first regional I noticed them right away, they consistently top 8 every regional, if I had to say so I will simply say they pretty much dominate every regional. Not to mention the fact that I befriended most of the teammates on there. They function as a team, and I never see any kinds of bad sportsmanship from any of them. They travel together and everyone gets along, if I had to be on a team it would be them. They are definitely a fine example of what a Team should be.

 

Ally: Sounds like a great team to me! I hope you get on it ^_^! Speaking of top 8's, can you tell the readers a little bit about your credentials?

 

Sam: My career in this game has merely picked up sometime two years ago I think. My creditionals are really not that satisfying, besides my SJC success. I think I'm the future of this game, rather than the present. Hopefully at Nationals I can add a day 2 appearance to my list of very small accomplishments. Like I said I'm a strong candidate for being the future of this game, not the present. Although who knows Nationals is around the corner, dreams can come true and I can become this Nation's next Champion. That would be really cool if that happened...although so would a match with Emon Ghaneian be great too.

 

Ally: I'm pretty sure you can match Emon any day. Ok what you think of the current banned list.

 

Sam: I think this ban list is definitely an improvement from what we've seen over the years. Given the obvious facts that Ring of Destruction and Snatch Steal are currently legal I think this list is the best we've had to date. I was just getting used to the last format once Cyber-Stein got banned. I sure hope Upperdeck does something about this new Chaos stuff, me and my buddy Raj Singh have major plans for those cards and if they are as hyped up to be this format may just end up in well...Chaos!

 

Ally: oOo that sounds interesting. Would you like a banned list where there was almost an unlmit of everything like Swords of Revealing Light, D.D. Warrior Lady, Torrential Tribute, and so on?

 

Sam: Oh no please don’t do that, 35 Pot Of Greeds and Exodia would be everywhere! I can’t really ask for a better format, I'm willing to play whatever format Upperdeck throws at us, I say bring it on!

 

Sam: If it were up to me I would have banned Demise a long time ago. I’m sure UDE will do something about this. I still remember that Cyber-Stein deck winning Shonen in less than 10 min; let’s hope Demise suffers the same fate. I bet you agree with that too.

 

Ally: I do agree with you hehe. You think Demise might see a surprise banned or will it be banned next list?

 

Sam: I'd definitely like to see a surprise ban. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Demise get banned one night before Nationals! Haha that would be so funny! Either way I see it getting banned or restricted whether it be this format or next. There’s actually a deck that I think sounds really good on paper that I'd like to try out. I actually give full props to Raj Singh on this because he pointed it out to me. Let’s just hope this deck doesn’t show its face at Nationals...

 

Ally: Hehe my personal opinion I think it's just going to get a flat out banned. There’s no chance in hell you tell us the deck you have planned would you?

 

Sam: haha if I did that Emon might win another SJC that snake! I'll PM you the idea if you'd like. For now I'd rather keep it private.

 

Sam: If UDE wants to save Nationals my suggestion is to ban Demise asap!

 

Ally: Hehe let’s hope it's banned before then. if you had to change the forbidden list what would it be and why?

 

Sam: I'm sure a lot of ppl would say Snatch Steal. I don’t mind that card too much; I've never really had a problem with it. It’s just broken in its own ways. If it were up to me I'd keep it at 1 per deck. I would ban Ring of Destruction lets face it, we've all lost to those cheap "I'll Ring for Game" expressions. It really takes the fun out of the game when me or my opponent presses hard with a heavy monster then plays 1 trap card that not only destroys a monster but deals damage. Demise needs to get banned asap as well as any other strong otk cards. Time Seal should come back it serves no purpose on the banlist. At the moment I can’t think of anything else that needs immediate changing and let’s ban Confiscation too.

 

Ally: It's been overly cheap ever since it came off the banned list. What card wins more games in your own opinion, Ring Of Destruction or Snatch Steal?

 

Sam: Definitely Ring of Destruction. I've had the worst luck lately; I have Ring be my Destruction for quite awhile. I'm sure if Kyle Lopez is reading this he will understand our little regional encounter in Seattle awhile back when he Ringed me for the game. It was 0 to like 5 advantages and I have the advantage and he tops ring for the win and it was so cheap lol. Snatch Steal and Ring of Destruction can both be countered in many ways but Ring of Destruction in my opinion is the card to watch out for.

 

Sam: Snatch Steal has its side effects, Ring is a take no prisoner’s card. It’s abused in too many ways.

 

Ally: I couldn't agree with you more. Well unfortunately the interview is almost over :<. For my last question what advice can you give to new players that are just now starting the game?

 

Sam: Never back down when you’re against someone good, always remember you have the chance to win any game. It’s just a matter of realizing it, never let mind games get to your head if theres anything that’s going to make you lose your focus it’s when an opponent has to stoop to mind games to win the game. Befriend all the pro players you can, get advice and if you can get lessons. There isn’t a better way to start working you're way up the ladder of success without guidance and only the top players in your area can get you on that ladder. In time you too can become the top player in your area, or even the world!

 

Ally: That’s great advice! Well, I like to thank you once again for doing this interview with me. Can you please give a closing statement for the readers?

 

Sam: I'd like to thank you for the interview and hopefully I can see all you readers at the 2007 U.S. National Championships. It’s big-time ladies and gentlemen. The lights are on bright and the arena is packed, so get ready...its time to duel!

 

 

 

 

 


 


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