Well, here's my rant for the day, you can skip to the next post if you feel the need.
I think there are two sides to every story here. Sure, I don't think that local Florida players should be given a free entrance to Worlds just due to their physical location, But there are some valid arguments to be said about an open tournament.
I originally got into the pokemon "game" when Gym Challenge set came out, even though we (my son and I) were collecting since Jungle came out. I had the idea that my son and I could become closer, and we could have fun together, which indeed has happened. We progressed, both of us, as players to become some of the best players in the area. Then the professor program came around, and first I did, then Josh became a professor to help out some of the younger, and perhaps not quite so skilled players in the area. Due to some bad experiences with a local gym, a friend and I set out on our own, opened up another gym in town, and now have helped many, many new people to get into the game. I spend quite a bit of money and time helping out our gym participants, with local tournaments (usually the time spent AND money for tournament support), buying pokemon stuff for challenges and the like, cards for more unfortunate kids, picking up kids from outlying areas, and travelling to major events in the Toronto area. I am the tournament organizer for our area, and when we attend events in Toronto, I seem to be the Judge of choice lately, with my son at my side. I also was a head judge and contributed majorly at a tournament here where all money raised went to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We raised $2000 that day. I also try to help (when I can) people internationally to get promos they need for their leagues due to current shortages for one reason or another, sometimes actually buying promos to send. As luck would have it, both Josh and I are still among the best players in our area, but due to being judges, will never see even close to top spots in the standings. I know that both Josh and I could hold our own in a tournament setting with any of those in the top 16 spots, including "Naught Rheal" or whatever his name is (sorry couldn't resist). Being in Canada, chances are slim that someone will magnanimously pay for Josh and I to go down to play. Seeing that Pokemon Organized Play won't even schedule a State Championship here in Canada, chances are slim that we'll even get a Gym or Stadium Challenge. If we do, WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE JUDGING? What do you think our chances are of getting an invite? I'm not posting here to blow my own horn, .... though I guess I did do that a bit didn't I? But when you look at it honestly, what makes my contribution any different than say RainbowRichards, who from what I've been told does exactly the things I mentioned in this post? Or how about Ukpokemonpro or NoPoke who have managed to keep the game alive in the UK with little or no support from Nintendo, or how about Rainbowgym's plight, working to build pokemon against almost insurmountable odds? Or how about Skywolf1's dedication to champion the rights of our international brothers and sisters? How does that seem better than SteveP's contribution, or Farbsman's or any of the contributions made by team compendium or hey even yours? Yes, you! ... the person reading this post? Do I think Worlds should be an invite only event? OF COURSE I DO! I just feel that not enough is being done to invite those that really should be invited, whether they are "Top 16" or not! Hey, I'd love to go down there, invited, even as a judge, but chances are slim that will happen. So if I can afford to go to one big tournament with my son this year (which we've never been able to do up to this point), the one I'd want to attend would be Worlds. I'd like to say that all our hard work has payed off, and if we can afford to go, we should be able to play. Another possibility that would be great, but chances are it will never happen is this: If Nintendo was really serious about growing the game, they should put 3 things front and center right NOW. They should a) fix up the tournament software. B) Investigate the standings due to an apparent glitch with unreliable tournament reporting and c) get the professor program up and running with benefits for those professors - like invites to Worlds and such, and not just for those that do the most tournaments either because it wouldn't be hard for me to do 2, 3, or even 4 tournaments a week with a player base that is growing to over 60 people now. I'm not sure if my post actually made a point for, or against, invites. But one thing is for sure, that's my rant for the day.
