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Pook's Place

May I Have the Envelope, Please?
By Pook
02.09.05 

            Back in November, I announced that Pook’s Place would be holding its first ever contest, a contest to find an anime mascot for my section on Pojo.  Almost three months later, we find ourselves just moments away from finding out who will be dubbed the winner, either Koori or Grunge.  But, like any good award ceremony, let’s wait until the very last minute to announce the winner.  In the mean time, we will announce the technical awards…oh wait, that’s the Oscars.  Uh oh, Yu-Gi-Oh, Oscars, I feel an idea coming. 

            As many of you know, I live and work in Hollywood, and it is that time of year when the entertainment industry find many different ways to honor, well, themselves.  But why should celebrities get to have all of the fun?  What about us, the duelists of the world?  Shouldn’t there be an award ceremony for us?  I’m thinking it is about time we got the recognition that we deserve.  For the time being, the only award ceremonies involving Yu-Gi-Oh is that at small store tournaments, regionals, nationals, and the World Championship.  In a strange way, each of these can be related to Hollywood awards show. 

            Store tournaments are usually very small, but in the long run, help with players’ standings and rankings.  This is very similar to the Hollywood Foreign Press’ Golden Globe awards.  The Golden Globes are the first in the series of award ceremonies for the year, and there are only about 90 members who get to vote for the winners.  The winners and nominees have good odds to get more nominations for the other awards, but it is not always the case.  This is just like the local shop tournaments.  The top few players may win often in the store, but that does not necessarily mean they will earn a spot in regionals.  At this point, it’s anyone’s guess. 

            Next in the dueling hierarchy comes the regionals.  This broadens the playing field by encompassing a much larger group of potential winners.  The regionals are like the Directors’ Guild of America (DGA) Awards.  The DGA’s are the next major award ceremony, but this time, all of the members of the Guild are invited to vote – there are significantly more members of the Guild than there are in the Hollywood Foreign Press.  This is where it starts getting serious.  Directors know movies, and they especially know good movies.  To be a part of this competition is a high honor, and winners here usually make it all the way to the top.  The same principle applies to the regional tournaments.  Whereas you may have been used to playing 30 people, the number of opponents can easily shoot up to 300, most of which are just as good as or better than you.  Seems a little intimidating, right?  Rest assured that you are in good company.  It takes that little something extra special to make it in this tournament, and the same thing applies for the DGA’s.  Not just anyone can walk home with this honor. 

            The third stop on the competitive tour is the national tournament.  All of the stops are pulled out for this one.  Now, you are competing against the best of the best in the nation, and there is going to be some stiff competition.  This is why the national tournament is the equivalent of the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) Awards.  The voting members of this organization are the movie stars themselves.  There are more members than the DGA, and more people tend to watch this competition closely.  For the most part, the winners of the SAG awards will not only get nominated for an Oscar, but it usually makes them the favorite; usually being the key word.  If you can walk out with this title, you’ve made it, and you are a star.  Same thing goes for nationals.  If you win, you’ll have the support of the nation behind you when it comes time for the World Championships.  You are already a winner, but there is still that last obstacle to overcome. 

            The end of the award season goes out with a bang.  The Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences’ Academy Award, or Oscar, is the top of the mountain.  This has the biggest voting pool, and it garners the attention of the entire nation, if not the world.  To win an Oscar is the pinnacle of success for many, as is winning the World Championship for a duelist.  There, you are to face the very best of the best of the best, not just in one country, but in the entire world.  Sure, there may not be a fancy awards gala, but there is a lot of fun to be had at the tournament.  At the Oscars, celebrities get to show off expensive new clothes and styles to the world; at the World Championships, duelists get to show off their decks, their collections, and their desire to win.  At both awards, the winners are rewarded with a gold statuette.  But most importantly, if you happen to win, you will forever be remembered for it.  There are some people who can rattle off every Oscar winner for the past few decades, all because watching the Oscars is a memorable event.  Yeah, I can’t tell you the names of the winners of the two World Championships, but I remember every detail about attending, and how ferocious the gameplay can get.  There are no long acceptance speeches or people arriving in limos, but the spectacle is exactly the same.  And then after the Championship, it’s time to start all over again. 

            Well, I think that I’ve made my point.  And now, it’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for – the announcement of the winner of the first ever Pook’s Place contest is…Koori!  Congrats Koori, you’re picture will now be the official mascot of Pook’s Place.  And I do want to thank Grunge as well.  Like my earlier article said, I really couldn’t choose the winner myself, but to me, you are both winners.  Thanks to everyone who voted.  Until next time, happy dueling!