Hello there Judges,

This week, we feature Mike Noss, L2 who is (temporarily) from Philadelphia PA, but permanently from Springfield, NJ!  Mike started back during the original Mirrodin block and leveled up during the Scars of Mirrodin block.

Why did you become a judge? I became a judge because I loved the game and loved knowing the ins and outs of how it worked.

Occupation: Professional Student
Favourite card: Mystic Snake Least favourite card: Stasis Favourite format: 3x Champions of Kamigawa Draft
Commander general: Rafiq of the Many Favourite non-Magic Game: Pokemon
Best tournament result: PTQ Top 8
Random fact about yourself: I’m a sentimental pack rat (no not the RTR one)

Tell us your favourite judge story.
My favorite judge story would have to be from GP DC 2013 dubbed GP Laser after 18 of us commandeered the Laser Tag Arena next to the Expo Hall Saturday night and had a 3 team match where Team Philadelphia was victorious over Team SCG and Team Everyone Else!

Tell us an embarrassing story that you’re not afraid of everyone knowing.
I’m pretty proud of this story more so than embarrassed but it is a little embarrassing. The Friday afternoon of GP Pittsburgh 2013, I was driving the car with Dimah Eroshkin to pick up Nicola DiPasquale and our amazing RC Shawn Doherty. After picking up those two, there were some nonsensical talks of Shawn handling the two brass balls Nicola had given him to hold at Nicola’s house while waiting for us to arrive as we were driving down the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Now for those that know me, they might know I like to drive a bit fast so I found myself going around 80 mph [128 Km/h for m.k.s Countries] on the 65 mph [105 Km/h] speed limit road. I was in the right lane of two and there were no other cars around except for one slightly behind me in the left lane going the same speed I was. We came up to an overpass and right on the other side was a cop. As soon as both of us saw it, we hit the brakes and slowed down to 65 mph. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough as the cop had pulled out and started to follow me being in the right lane. Nicola, Dimah, Shawn, and I were getting a little nervous about the possibility of me getting pulled over on our way to the GP. The car in the left lane did not want to speed up to pass us so instead slowed down and pulled into the right lane right between us and the cop. As soon as this other car did that, the cop turned on his lights and pulled him over as our car erupted in laughter about how lucky I had gotten for not getting pulled over.

How has being a judge influenced your non-Magic life?
Being a judge has made me a capable leader and public speaker in my non-Magic life where I find myself as a Teaching Assistant in front of a bunch of undergraduates talking chemistry every week. Being a judge has given me valuable life skills that I would not have had otherwise that allow me to be the best I can be outside of my Magic life as well.

You were nominated by Andrew Rula because you inspire loyalty among those you mentor. What do you enjoy most out of mentoring judges in your area?
The best part about mentoring other judges in my area is sharing in their success when they do something amazing, whether it’s passing their judge exams or running smooth events and leading their local communities.

What motivates you to continue being a judge?
If it weren’t for the community and friends I’ve made over the past 10 years of judging, I probably would’ve stopped a long time ago, but there’s something about all of you guys that keeps me coming back for more.

What’s the best part about your local Magic community?
The best part about my local Magic comunity is how big it is. It’s only in a densely populated area like this that you can get 30+ person weekly events at the local store, and that is just an amazing thing in and of itself. It’s really nice that we have so many players and so many stores in such a small area and everyone knows everyone else. On top of that, it’s incredible that we have so many stores that work together to make local events the absolutely best they can be like with the Philadelphia Legacy Series.

What’s the biggest rule-breaking play you’ve ever made as a player?
I was playing in a standard GPT back after Gatecrash had been released and I was playing esper control against another Judge, Anthony Hullings, who was playing jund. I had an Obzedat, Ghost Council that I had exiled on my previous turn that I had forgotten the trigger for during my upkeep. We called the judge for the event over, George Roehr, and he explained the correct fix of giving Anthony the option to resolve the trigger during my main phase then and there or wait till the start of the next phase. Unfortunately for Anthony and very fortunately for me, Anthony chose to wait till the combat phase allowing me to cast Supreme Verdict to kill his Olivia Voldaren while he had 7 mana available and then attack him with my hasty Obzedat, Ghost Council that combat phase.

If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would want to chat with Ender Wiggen to better learn how to accomplish the things in life that I’d like to accomplish.

What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed?
Probably spend more of my time in my lab on my crazy chemistry experiments.

What character in Magic (real or fictional) represents you the best, and why?
I’m going to have to go with the Shadowmage Infiltrator. He always finds a way to get the information he’s looking for.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’d like to thank everyone in the judging community for being an important and integral part of this family. It means a lot to me to know you’re all there and that we have each others’ backs.

Two Truths and a Lie
Two of the following statements is true, and one is false. Figure out which!

1. I’ve judged on the Pro Tour before.
2. I spent several summers as a gold caddie.
3. My favorite deck ever is U/B Faeries.

 so once again thanks to Mike Noss for sharing his thoughts with us!
Judges we hope to see you in 7 days featuring another Judge rockstar!

see you next week!