\nLevel:<\/strong>\u00a02
\nLocation:<\/strong> El Cerrito (Near Berkeley) CA
\nJudge start date:<\/strong> L1 4\/2011, L2 3\/2012
\nWhy did you become a Judge?\u00a0<\/strong>It started with being the local rules know-it-all, then realizing that I was not very good at it. I then wanted to see how deep the rabbit hole went. I am still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
\nOccupation:<\/strong> PC Analyst for AC Transit
\nFavourite card:<\/strong>\u00a0Berserk<\/a>
\nLeast favourite card:<\/strong>\u00a0Mindslaver<\/a> (I auto-scoop everytime)
\nFavourite format:<\/strong> Commander followed by Legacy.
\nCommander General:<\/strong>\u00a0Hazezon Tamar<\/a> (not close)
\nBest tournament result:<\/strong> Game day Champion
\nRandom fact about yourself:<\/strong> As a child I used to do impressions of Donald Duck<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Tell us your favourite Judge story. Tell us an embarrassing story that you\u2019re not afraid of everyone knowing. During the PTQ at the end of round 3, I sat down to watch a match. Time had been called and they were in turns. Guy uses Ghost Quarter<\/a> on the player to my left. He tanks a bit and then searches his library for a land. It was a signed Guru Plains. I thought to myself, \u201cI hate those now,\u201d only because mine were stolen. Then something caught my eye. There were cards all over his playmat – I could only see bits and pieces of it. In the upper left corner was a black mana symbol. It looked kind of familiar. I couldn\u2019t place it right away. Then my brain clicked and told me that in the bottom left corner there should be a blue mana symbol. \u201cTHAT\u2019S MY STOLEN PLAYMAT.\u201d \u00a0The idea went through my brain like I had been shot. I didn\u2019t say a word to either player, got up and walked to the Judge’s station. “Hey guys we have a serious problem. There is a player here with my stolen playmat. He probably has my cards too.”<\/p>\n Immediately, Louis Fernandes<\/a> Sean managed to talk with the hero of our story. We worked out a reward for returning my collection. He apologized that some cards were sold already. I didn\u2019t care – most of the cards that were really important were still there. After 3 days of headaches and lack of hunger, the stress of not knowing what\u2019s happening was almost too much to bear.<\/p>\n If I were not a believer in fate or destiny, this was all the reason I needed for that to change. Every single person in this event was the exact person to help me recover from a painful chapter in my life.<\/p>\n How did you get involved in Magic in the first place? What motivates you to continue being a Judge? What is one tip you have for other Judges? What\u2019s the best part about your local Magic community? What is your favourite non-Judging moment that happened with other Judges? What has been your favourite Magic event that you\u2019ve Judged? What positive aspects has the Judge Program contributed to your everyday life? If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or alive, who would it be and why? What is the strangest card interaction you have seen in a tournament? What is your favorite \u201cafter event\u201d story? How do you have fun during events? If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate? If you were a creature what would be your creature type?![\"nickr3\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2014\/11\/nickr3-150x150.jpg\")
\n<\/strong>My first event as a Comp REL Head Judge, I was a bit nervous being a fairly new L1 Judge. My mentor was playing in the event in order to keep an eye on me. The event started smoothly, and by the end of R1 I had finished checking all the decklists. My mentor came up to see if I had finished with the lists, and with a smile I said \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re here, I need to talk to you about your list.\u201d He had forgotten to list the quantity of a few cards in his side board. This judge is now L4 Sean Catanese<\/a><\/span><\/span>. This taught me a few important lessons. \u00a0Judges make mistakes also and it\u2019s OK\u00a0to make them.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>At a PTQ about a year ago, I had a pretty big emotional breakdown. Fairly close to the beginning of the event, I had to stop judging because I was in tears.\u00a0 Many Judges have seen glimpses of my particular story on SeaCat’s blog<\/a>.\u00a0 This story still makes me emotional.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/span> and Jess Dunks<\/a>
<\/span><\/span> sprang into action. I had to leave the room. All of the emotions hit me like a brick. I couldn\u2019t speak. I could barely move. Luckily for me, Vicente Davis<\/a>
<\/span><\/span> overheard what was going on and mentioned that he knew the guy who had my stuff. I then pulled Sean Catanese<\/a>
<\/span><\/span>\u00a0into the fray. He was the best person to help me resolve this. By this time, my brain had checked out. I was an emotional wreck. I couldn\u2019t eat or sit still. I didn\u2019t know if I was happy or angry or sad. All I knew was my stolen cards were here.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Many years ago, my closest friend Josh got some Unlimited starter decks from the Game Room in Toledo, Ohio. We had no idea what we were doing, but it seemed fun. Little did I know that would start an addiction that lasted 20 years. Even managed to \u201cquit\u201d once.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I have seen more of the world through the windows of a convention center than I would have normally. I want to continue to see more places.<\/p>\n![\"NickR\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2014\/11\/NickR-300x278.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Steal one idea from another Judge at every event you attend. Incorporate that idea into your Judge skills.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I am fortunate to play Commander, Legacy, or Modern any day of the week. I never have to play standard.<\/p>\n
\nWhat is your favourite non-Magic hobby?
\n<\/strong>Making music. It has been a part of my life even before I was born. My father is a musician, his father, and his father before him. I come from a long line of musicians. Mostly brass and woodwinds but I don\u2019t play any of those. I currently have a 5-string Bass and a newly purchased 8-string guitar.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The creation of The Fat Guy Mafia. When I was getting my feet wet as a traveling judge on the west coast, I quickly fell into a group of similar judges from California. Our \u201csmall\u201d team of 4 (Will Bumgardner<\/a><\/span><\/span>, TJ \u201c80%\u201d Morrison<\/a>
<\/span><\/span>, Adam \u201cTaz\u201d White<\/a>
<\/span><\/span>) started showing up at the same events and started rooming together. Were all big guys and I\u2019m the smallest at 250lbs. We would go to some restaurant and order massive amounts of food, then spend the next few hours eating and laughing. I know on more than one occasion my ribs were sore the next day from both overeating and laughing.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Each event creates a special moment in my life. It\u2019s very difficult to pick one. I think I\u2019d have to say GP Seattle 2012. At that event I leveled up. It was my first GP as a Judge and second GP ever. That event defined so much of my Judge career. Eric Levine<\/a><\/span><\/span> running at me for a celebratory level up hug. My first sealed stamped product. My first Cascade Games event. While looking back at all these moments, they might not seem like much, but they all have a place in my heart.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Being an I.T. guy, it would not surprise many that customer service and conflict resolution are key qualities in my day to day. Learning how to improve on both of those aspects has made me much more effective at my job.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Victor Wooten<\/a>: Getting the chance to talk with one of the greatest bassists in the world would be a chance of a life time. Talking with him about music as a language and being able to just groove.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Enter the Infinite<\/a> + Chains of Mephistopheles<\/a> = Made my brain hurt for a while.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>After GP Sacramento, there was a Judge dinner of about 10 Judges. I started with a nice hard cider and a steak. Frank Chafe<\/a><\/span><\/span> performed some amazing magic tricks for all of us. About 30 minutes later I ordered a second steak (have to keep my FGM cred in check).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>1. I like high 5\u2019s. It is crucial for maintaining a high energy output.
\n2. Stories of crazy game states. I heard once of 9 dissolves being cast in a single turn. (SCG Oakland, by Chad Havas. Currently the record.)
\n3. Diet Coke.
\n4. Being around other positive people.<\/p>\n![\"nickr2\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2014\/11\/nickr2-300x225.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Grow an awesome beard!<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Ninja: I\u2019m not a small guy but I manage to sneak up on people and have the ability to hide in plain sight.<\/p>\n