Hello POJO, I have been playing Pokemon for several months now and I must
say this: It is a wonderful game with strategies and combos and collectors
and all the fun things that surround such a phenomenon.I am quite an
accomplished player (as is my girlfriend) winning several local
tournaments. I was overjoyed on going to the FX tournament in
Orlando,Florida on the 15th of January and I felt really good about our
chances to play well or maybe even win it! What I witnessed was a pack of
the most pathetic ,whiny little twerps calling people cheaters and trying
to intimidate kids ALL DAY LONG! The judges were DCI and had NO control
over these kids.The rules were bent at least 10 times in thier favor(use of
Japaneese cards,coins,time limits ect.)and they didnt have the B---s to
kick a single one out.Is this the way all tournament are around the
country?? I love the game and all, but most of these kids had a frightening
"Win at all costs even if it includes cheating"mentality that caused me to
leave in the middle of the tournament. I was 4-1 and was looking for the
win! I wont play another tournament and thats a shame because I like to
play and I enjoy the FRIENLINESS of a good competition.The last straw came
when some little punk accused my girlfriend of cheating.She won easily and
didnt lose a single prize to this supossed"ranked"player. He didnt bother
to call a judge....he simply picked up his cards and then whined to a judge
afterwards.This drove my girlfriend to tears because she is not used to
dealing with this kind of element.The funny part about this is that HE
actually cheated and she let it slide!! (He used a Scoop-up with only 1
Pokemon in play.) I confronted this kid as calmly as possible and he had
absolutly no rebuttle to the arguement. Instead of getting voilent or
stooping to his level we simply left. It wasnt fun. I do applaud the 11 and
under kids because they behaved so well and because they had fun. I wanted
to play them and give them the prize if I won just because of the joy they
were showing. So I have a message to all you kids and adults alike who take
themselves and this game WAY too seriously.....Get a life! To the DCI I say
this......Take control of these apes! To POJO I say.......Thanks for the
free magazine! I get it every month.   I will continue to play the game
because I like it but I will not play another tournament until all the bad
seeds are weeded out. If you have had a similar experience in tournaments
and would like to vent your frustration, then e-mail me
at     <mailto:Gamecorp@ij.net>Gamecorp@ij<mailto:Gamecorp@ij.net>.net and
let me know.     Finally, I would just like to say that for all the gamers
out thier like me who just play the game for the enjoyment of it, and maybe
even some friendly competition, I applaud you and respect you ,because long
after Pokemon is gone those character traits you show will stick with you
in  everything you do!! You know who you are! As for the rest of you.....I
pity your lack of morals and I wish you well because if you bring the same
garbage to the table in Pokemon as you do in life......youre in deep trouble!
                                                                            
      Thanks for your time,
                                                                            
       Bill M.