I have almost completed the last article for elemental searchers, but decided to insert a break due to recent occurrences. If this particular article seems like I am just soap-boxing that’s probably because I am. Just bear down anyway and you may learn something. 

Who are you? Are you anyone special or recognized? Has your team flown from SJC to SJC and landed several members in top 8 spots? Whether you answered yes or no, does this have any real effect on your skills in the game? 

Let us start some situations to get things rolling.  

At Shonen Jump San Mateo I had just completed my first match. As I was bringing up my slip I bumped into a guy I met once before at the Regional prior. He is a pretty nice guy. We started talking a bit. 

Him: “So, how did you do?”

Me: “I played a little kid. Doesn’t mean anything. How did you do?”

At about this time I proceed to learn that he 2-0ed Wilson Luc – recognizably one of the top names in the nation. That right there is one hell of an accomplishment in my eyes and should be in your eyes too. 

But do you know his name? Will he ever be known? 

Paul Levitin was without a doubt the hottest YGO player in the nation rolling into this SJC. That isn’t an opinion. Just fact. Coming off of four consecutive top eight finishes, this guy was shooting for his fifth. Another good friend of mine (a hell of a nice guy to play against) ended up ending this streak by defeating him. Would you not accept this as a great accomplishment as well? 

But you do not know who he is either. Do you even know the name of the guy who went 8-1 but did not make it to Top 8? To a lot of you these are just a couple of nobodies in a sea of random nobodies in the crappy San Francisco metagame. 

Learning this game in the early stages I watched just as you all do now. I learned about all these players that have had success at major events and always thought that, one day, I could do the same. 

Well you can. It may not come with the fame and massive national respect that others have, but you still can. When SJC rolls around to your area you can represent and make yourself an impact. You may not get seen by the others but you’ll have seen yourself. You will have pitted yourself against the best and shown them what you can do. 

I will say this honestly. I have kept up with quite a few Shonen Jump Championships. I am pretty sure locals there have made an impact as well. But I have never seen the amount of trash talking towards them that I have seen towards San Francisco. This is based purely on observation, but the reasons are so cloudy. Why are we so different? Why are we so inferior in your eyes? 

The fact of the matter is I want to make one message clear: Wherever you live, whichever part of the United States you represent, you can make an impact. Practice to make yourself the best you can be. When SJC comes around go out there and throw two fingers to any self-proclaimed “pro” who wants to look down on you purely because he does not know you yet. 

t(‘.’t) 

That about ends the soap-box. I just had to get it off my chest. Until next time… 

Peace