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First I like to thank Pojo for
putting this interview up for me.
Pojo Screen Name:
http://www.pojo.biz/board/member.php?u=51914
Ally:
Well first
things first I like to thank you for taking the time
out of your life to do this interview with me. My
first question is what is your full name?
Sam:
Well a lot of ppl don’t quite know
who I am so for all the readers reading this I'd
just like to introduce myself, my name is Sam Gomez.
You might remember me from SJC Seattle.
Sam: On the side note you’re very
welcome; in fact, I should be the one who is saying
thank You.
Ally:
Well you're very welcome ^_^. You
mentioned SJC Seattle you want to tell the Pojo
readers a little about that?
Sam:
Certainly! It was my first ever
Shonen Jump Championship. I went with one goal in
mind and that was to make an impact. You see there
are tons of players in this world who are considered
pros at this game. I'm on my way up that ladder to
reach that level and what better way to do that than
to win a SJC. Of course I didn’t win, but I
certainly made the impact I wanted. I may not be at
every SJC but you can bet your dollars I'll be at
Nationals, and I'm going to be looking to make
another Impact. Quite possibly National Champion? I
may take the title back to the Northwest!
Ally:
What impact did you make at SJC
Seattle?
Sam:
Well for starters I definitely got my
name mainstreamed through my region and not only did
I make day 2. I won the Scrub Brush Challenge,
although a lot of ppl criticize SJC Seattle as a
weak SJC. We had top players in attendance like Emon,
Matt Laraunts, Austin Kulman, and many more but for
once the standings were over not one of them made it
but me; and I think that definitely says something
in of itself. I'm on my way to the top no matter
what the challenge is; I’ll keep climbing that
ladder.
Sam: If there’s anything I love about
this game it’s the competition, Shonen Jump Seattle
was a stepping stone for me. It was all about making
an impact, or simply getting my name out there. I'm
10x better now and come Nationals I'll be in full
force; bank on it!
Ally:
Good for you! Let’s hope that does
happen. What deck were you running at SJC Seattle
and what place did you finish?
Sam:
I finished 8th place which didn’t
quite seem right in my opinion. I was third place
going into the last round, but hey top 8 is after
all top 8. The deck I was running was nothing more
than a mere Toolbox/Hydrogeddon deck I don’t really
know what to quite call it; it was pretty amazing
and it took me really far, so I'm grateful for that.
The deck was actually undefeated coming into this
event. My Buddy Adam Bettiol and I were building
this deck which consists a set of Hydrogeddons and
the ever popular Cyber-Stein. I think by looking at
the deck you wouldn’t think much of it but when it
plays it merely dominates if played right.
Ally:
You said placing 8th doesn't seem
quite right. Aren't you happy that you topped 8 at
all? I mean top 8ing a Shonen Jump is suppose to be
a huge accomplishment after all.
Sam:
It was definitely a huge
accomplishment, and I am definitely grateful don’t
get me wrong, but coming in as 8th place just
doesn’t seem fitting. I'm a man who loves attention
and when you come in as 8th place people just sorta
look down on you but again it was definitely a great
accomplishment; and I am totally happy about the top
8 but lets face it for bragging rights and old
prides' sake, coming in as 1st place or 2nd place is
much better than 8th.
Ally:
You can brag about how you topped 8 a
Shonen Jump but then again that’s not cool or fun.
Who did you have to play in day 2 SJ?
Sam:
You’re right it isn’t cool or fun but
when you have regionals with the likes of a National
Champion (Austin) and the #2 ranked guy in the
nation (Eric Ing) it’s important to be known as
something down here; especially, when ppl look down
on you all the time. I didn’t mean it as "rub it in
your face bragging rights" I meant it as "I've done
this, I'm good enough to be in your league" Its
merely my way of trying to be someone down here. Oh
boy my opponent for day 2 was none other than the
infamous Chris Moosman. Now I played this guy in a
regional the day after Nationals last year. He
definitely knows his stuff and he has a reputation
as one of the best to boot. I enjoy every match I
have with pros like him, because it gives me that
feeling that I have everything to prove and nothing
to lose (Underdog pretty much).
Sam: Since then; however, Chris and
I have become pretty good friends I'd say. I talk to
him occasionally and he's a really cool dude.
It’s too bad my YVD isn’t working I'd
love a rematch with him.
Ally:
Hehe if you get it working maybe then
you can beat him ;). Did you think that your deck
had a chance against Chris?
Sam:
I sure hope I get it fixed sometime;
I'm really busy these days to extract the problem
and fix it. Let alone all the downloading that’s
required....just thinking about it makes me head
hurt. I think I definitely had a chance; everyone
has a chance against everyone. The problem was the
experience. He had more experience over me, and I'll
admit he had a lot more skill than me. The chance I
had was we we're pretty much a mirror match. The
difference? I had Cyber-Stein, he didn’t, but like I
said the experience won him the game. To this day I
regret activating that Enemy Controller...ugh. Now
if we played I can guarantee you it would be one
fantastic match that only I, and Chris Moosman can
deliver.
Sam: Like I said earlier I'm 10x
better. I'm like a fine whine, and I only improve
with time...its just Evolution! (I had to say that,
inside joke).
Ally:
What you mean you regret activating
the Enemy Controller? What would of happened if you
didn't activate it?
Sam:
Well I discussed this with Chris, had I not made
that move by activate Enemy Controller to repell his
Cyber Dragons attack on my Cyber-Stein (which by the
way would have not been game, see the mistake?) he
would have taken the initiative and activated his
Enemy Controller from his hand and sacrificed his
Cyber Dragon to take control of my Cyber Twin
Dragon, then once he had done that, then I would
have activated Enemy Controller blocking his attack.
His last card in hand was Smashing Ground which
would be useless and his facedown trap was
bottomless trap hole as well as a face down monster.
Meanwhile I was holding Exiled Force.
Sam:
Where next turn I would have been
able to summon Exiled Force and use it to destroy
his facedown monster, then my Cyber Twin would have
been able to finish the game.
Sam: Like I said before,
everyone has a chance to win; it’s how well you see
that chance and how you react when that door to
victory is right before your eyes.
Ally:
Mistakes like that can happen, but
you'll just have to live and learn from them.
Anyways on a different subject for the time being
are you currently on a team?
Sam:
I was on a team at Shonen Jump but
since then I've decided to part ways. No I am
currently not on a team and at the moment I'm not
really looking. I'd like to be on the infamou Team
OTK but quite frankly I don’t think the time is
right to get back on a team. I had a bad experience
on my last team.
Ally:
What happened on the last team if
you're willing to talk about it?
Sam:
It was bad leadership, because I
didn’t want to take orders from someone who didn’t
want to quite contribute to his team.
Sam: He just took credit for
everything, and I got tired of it; but I'd rather
not talk about it since it’s over; and I'd rather
not rekindle the fire.
Ally:
M'kay! Let’s talk about this other
team you want to join. Why do you want to join Team
OTK?
Sam:
Haha well I guess because they are
good! When I first saw them at my first regional I
noticed them right away, they consistently top 8
every regional, if I had to say so I will simply say
they pretty much dominate every regional. Not to
mention the fact that I befriended most of the
teammates on there. They function as a team, and I
never see any kinds of bad sportsmanship from any of
them. They travel together and everyone gets along,
if I had to be on a team it would be them. They are
definitely a fine example of what a Team should be.
Ally:
Sounds like a great team to me! I
hope you get on it ^_^! Speaking of top 8's, can you
tell the readers a little bit about your
credentials?
Sam:
My career in this game has merely
picked up sometime two years ago I think. My
creditionals are really not that satisfying, besides
my SJC success. I think I'm the future of this game,
rather than the present. Hopefully at Nationals I
can add a day 2 appearance to my list of very small
accomplishments. Like I said I'm a strong candidate
for being the future of this game, not the present.
Although who knows Nationals is around the corner,
dreams can come true and I can become this Nation's
next Champion. That would be really cool if that
happened...although so would a match with Emon
Ghaneian be great too.
Ally:
I'm pretty sure you can match Emon
any day. Ok what you think of the current banned
list.
Sam:
I think this ban list is definitely
an improvement from what we've seen over the years.
Given the obvious facts that Ring of Destruction and
Snatch Steal are currently legal I think this list
is the best we've had to date. I was just getting
used to the last format once Cyber-Stein got banned.
I sure hope Upperdeck does something about this new
Chaos stuff, me and my buddy Raj Singh have major
plans for those cards and if they are as hyped up to
be this format may just end up in well...Chaos!
Ally:
oOo that sounds interesting. Would
you like a banned list where there was almost an
unlmit of everything like Swords of Revealing Light,
D.D. Warrior Lady, Torrential Tribute, and so on?
Sam:
Oh no please don’t do that, 35 Pot Of
Greeds and Exodia would be everywhere! I can’t
really ask for a better format, I'm willing to play
whatever format Upperdeck throws at us, I say bring
it on!
Sam: If it were up to me I would have
banned Demise a long time ago. I’m sure UDE will do
something about this. I still remember that
Cyber-Stein deck winning Shonen in less than 10 min;
let’s hope Demise suffers the same fate. I bet you
agree with that too.
Ally:
I do agree with you hehe. You think
Demise might see a surprise banned or will it be
banned next list?
Sam:
I'd definitely like to see a surprise
ban. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Demise get banned
one night before Nationals! Haha that would be so
funny! Either way I see it getting banned or
restricted whether it be this format or next.
There’s actually a deck that I think sounds really
good on paper that I'd like to try out. I actually
give full props to Raj Singh on this because he
pointed it out to me. Let’s just hope this deck
doesn’t show its face at Nationals...
Ally:
Hehe my personal opinion I think it's
just going to get a flat out banned. There’s no
chance in hell you tell us the deck you have planned
would you?
Sam:
haha if I did that Emon might win
another SJC that snake! I'll PM you the idea if
you'd like. For now I'd rather keep it private.
Sam: If UDE wants to save Nationals
my suggestion is to ban Demise asap!
Ally:
Hehe let’s hope it's banned before
then. if you had to change the forbidden list what
would it be and why?
Sam:
I'm sure a lot of ppl would say
Snatch Steal. I don’t mind that card too much; I've
never really had a problem with it. It’s just broken
in its own ways. If it were up to me I'd keep it at
1 per deck. I would ban Ring of Destruction lets
face it, we've all lost to those cheap "I'll Ring
for Game" expressions. It really takes the fun out
of the game when me or my opponent presses hard with
a heavy monster then plays 1 trap card that not only
destroys a monster but deals damage. Demise needs to
get banned asap as well as any other strong otk
cards. Time Seal should come back it serves no
purpose on the banlist. At the moment I can’t think
of anything else that needs immediate changing and
let’s ban Confiscation too.
Ally:
It's been overly cheap ever since it
came off the banned list. What card wins more games
in your own opinion, Ring Of Destruction or Snatch
Steal?
Sam:
Definitely Ring of Destruction. I've
had the worst luck lately; I have Ring be my
Destruction for quite awhile. I'm sure if Kyle Lopez
is reading this he will understand our little
regional encounter in Seattle awhile back when he
Ringed me for the game. It was 0 to like 5
advantages and I have the advantage and he tops ring
for the win and it was so cheap lol. Snatch Steal
and Ring of Destruction can both be countered in
many ways but Ring of Destruction in my opinion is
the card to watch out for.
Sam: Snatch Steal has its side
effects, Ring is a take no prisoner’s card. It’s
abused in too many ways.
Ally:
I couldn't agree with you more. Well
unfortunately the interview is almost over :<. For
my last question what advice can you give to new
players that are just now starting the game?
Sam: Never back down when you’re
against someone good, always remember you have the
chance to win any game. It’s just a matter of
realizing it, never let mind games get to your head
if theres anything that’s going to make you lose
your focus it’s when an opponent has to stoop to
mind games to win the game. Befriend all the pro
players you can, get advice and if you can get
lessons. There isn’t a better way to start working
you're way up the ladder of success without guidance
and only the top players in your area can get you on
that ladder. In time you too can become the top
player in your area, or even the world!
Ally:
That’s great advice! Well, I like to
thank you once again for doing this interview with
me. Can you please give a closing statement for the
readers?
Sam: I'd like to thank you for the
interview and hopefully I can see all you readers at
the 2007 U.S. National Championships. It’s big-time
ladies and gentlemen. The lights are on bright and
the arena is packed, so get ready...its time to
duel!
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