![\"sabin](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2016\/01\/sabin-alpha.jpg\")
Name: \u00a0<\/b>Nicholas Sabin<\/a>\n<\/span>Level: <\/b>3
\nLocation:<\/strong>\u00a0Wendell, North Carolina
\nJudge Start Date:<\/strong> I certified for L1 at a Junior Super Series qualifier in 2004.
\nWhy did you become a Judge?<\/strong>\u00a0I had friends who were active in the judge program, and their stories about how much fun they had made me want to have that fun, too!
\nOccupation:<\/strong>\u00a0Associate Technical Account Manager at Yardi <\/a>Systems, Raleigh, NC
\nFavourite Card:<\/strong>\u00a0Villainous Wealth<\/a> (AKA “Nemesis Wave”)
\nLeast Favourite Card:<\/strong>\u00a0Grand Arbiter Augustin IV<\/a> (Grand Theft Arbiter)
\nFavourite Format:<\/strong> Commander!
\nCommander General:<\/strong>\u00a0The Gitrog Monster<\/a> (AKA “Peggy Schuyler”)
\nFavourite Non-Magic Game:<\/strong> Hearthstone!
\nBest Tournament Result:<\/strong> I made Top 8 at New Hampshire States in 1998!
\nRandom fact about yourself:<\/strong> My computer wallpaper is the updated art for Time Walk<\/a>.<\/p>\n
What are some of the rewards and challenges of being a Regional Coordinator?<\/strong> What advice would you give to members of your region? What advice would you give to a Judge growing up through the program? Could you recognize a few outstanding members of your region? Does your family travel with you? How do you not lose your mind as a RC? What do you feel needs to be improved in the Judge Program? What has been your best experience in the Judge Program? What motivates you to continue being a judge? What has been your favorite magic event that you\u2019ve judged? If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or alive, who would it be and why? What hobbies do you have outside of Magic? What character in Magic (real or fictional) represents you the best, and why? How often do you Travel for Magic? What are some of your Regional Goals? Tell us an embarrassing story that you\u2019re not afraid of everyone knowing. How has being a Magic Judge influenced your non-Magic life? Who are your role models within the Judge Program? What are the qualities that drew you to them? How do you have fun during events? [Editor’s Note:<\/em> Meg Baum wrote most of this profile.]<\/p>\n Two Truths and a Lie<\/strong> [expand title=”The answer to the last Two Truths and a Lie…”]Jeff admits that he did not learn\u00a0the Suzuki Violin from 5th grade through 8th grade.[\/expand]<\/p>\n
\nBeing an RC is rewarding because it gives me a direct opportunity to serve and cultivate my community. It is challenging in that building consensus is difficult and managing my time and attention takes its own degree of work.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Remember that we’re all working together. The people around you can raise you up if you let them, and they’ll also rely on you to do the same.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Be nice and work hard. If you develop a reputation for being a pleasure to work with, you’ll probably get more opportunities to judge.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Abe Corson<\/a><\/span><\/span> has a knowledge of both rules and policy that can only be described as “encyclopedic.” Brian Bradshaw<\/a>
<\/span><\/span> is the Johnny Appleseed<\/a> of my region; he covers a large, under-served part of the region and certifies new judges like it’s his life’s calling. Liz Richardson<\/a>
<\/span><\/span> has more energy and aptitude for customer service in her left pinkie finger than I have in my entire body. I could go on and on; my region has tons of amazing judges.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Sabin1\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2016\/01\/Sabin1-200x300.jpg\")
What\u2019s the farthest you have ever traveled for a Magic event?
\n<\/b>GP Bochum in 2010. That was a lot of time on airplanes.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>They do not. My wife, Amanda, might enjoy traveling to some of the nicer event locations, but bringing our dogs would be a problem (Maybelle especially).<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>By dealing with one thing at a time, and by realizing that as much as I benefited from the gracious patience and help of other judges, showing that grace and patience to my colleagues is the least that I can do.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I think we need to implement a better system for handling the scalability of Magic tournaments. When I started judging, 500 players was considered significant for a U.S. Grand Prix. Nowadays, our expectations are much higher, and yet we still use many of the same systems.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>It’s a tie between when I certified for Level Three (at Pro Tour San Juan in 2010), and when Jason Reedy<\/a><\/span><\/span> certified for Level Three (at Worlds in 2011). Jason is a very dear friend of mine and, as happy as I was to achieve L3 myself, seeing Jason get there was extremely rewarding.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I continue to judge for two reasons: the people make it worth it, and I’m better at judging than I am at most other activities (save for sleeping and eating).<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>That would be Pro Tour Austin. It was a PT where I felt like I performed to the upper end of my ability (at the time), and also happened to take place in a great location (Texas barbecue and Shiner Bock<\/a>? Seriously?) with a ton of great friends.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Winston Churchill; somebody that witty and that exceptional would make an excellent drinking buddy.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I play a lot of Hearthstone (TeamSabin#1342 — add me!) by myself, a bunch of Dominion with my wife, and as much EDH as I can manage. I’ve also been learning how to play tennis, which is an exercise in joy and humility.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>The gorilla in the Gorilla Titan<\/a> artwork. As far as “why,” you’d have to ask Riki Hayashi.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Less often than I once did. I attend every in-region Grand Prix, and I try to be present for the SCG Tour as well.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I’d like to see a Level Three judge in each state. I’d like to see stores in the major metropolitan areas working together to schedule PPTQs to the optimal benefit of the players. I’d like to see a Grand Prix (or, better yet, a Pro Tour!) in Raleigh.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"sabin4\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2016\/01\/sabin4-201x300.jpg\")
What\u2019s one thing in your region which makes playing magic special?
\n<\/b>The players in my region are both some of the best in the country, and some of the friendliest. People are very laid-back and kind; I’ve rarely had a bad experience playing Magic in the Mid-Atlantic.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I organized a dinner one night during U.S. Nationals in Baltimore in 2007. During the dinner, I enjoyed a couple of fine beers. However, I forgot to drink any water during the day, so the combination of alcohol and dehydration left me literally falling asleep at the table during my meal. Quite embarrassing.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I once heard Seamus Campbell<\/a><\/span><\/span> refer to the judge program as a “cult of constructive criticism and self-improvement,” and it rings true. Being a judge has surrounded me with intelligent, capable, friendly people who have helped me grow and improve. I’ve gotten to travel all over the world and meet some of my dearest friends, all because I chose to join the program.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I wish my thinking was as nuanced and as articulate as Toby Elliott’s<\/a><\/span><\/span>. I wish I could anticipate and plan as well as John Alderfer<\/a>
<\/span><\/span>. I wish I was as skilled at nurturing and developing people as Andy Heckt<\/a>
<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I tell a lot of awful jokes, and I collect high-fives.<\/span>![](\"https:\/\/ssl.gstatic.com\/ui\/v1\/icons\/mail\/images\/cleardot.gif\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\n
\nTwo of the following statements are true and one is false. Figure out which!<\/p>\n\n