MrMeches
New Member
Nats, a Newbs Perspective
So as long as my son and I have been in Pokemon, we have never been to Nationals. This year would end that in a BIG way. Demetre had his deck ready to go and the airline ticket in hand when our buddy Adrian showed up to take us and the Smith Boys to the airport Weds. It was all nerves and excitement on the plane wondering how not only he, but I would do. Thankfully I have a great home base in Fort Worth and Dallas so it was not that easy to find a friend to look to for some words of encouragement.
MasterProfessorBirch, my dad (inside info), shared our flight and we arrived at Columbus in the afternoon and found the family taxi! Off to the Hyatt! It was a great locale, and the rooms were nice, beds were full of pillows and the air-conditioning was at 60 so things were good to go since my heart rate was pounding and blood pressure rising with anxiety and nerves.
Finally, we go eat at Barley’s and see Dave, Pete, and Mike there and I thank them for this opportunity. They remind me not to thank them now as we have only just begun and to let them know at the end if it was everything I expected! What a great group of guys, honestly!
So Staff meeting and I finally get to put faces with names and meet Blizzard our Masters Head Judge and he is everything I expected and more. The appearance may seem intimidating, but the soul is pleasant and kind and I would lean on that in the days to come. PokePop and Chrisbo were also in the Masters and again, knowledge is power so absorbing their insight on things allowed me to really grow. Thursday the Judges did pick up events and I finally got to get my feet wet a bit in the Nats forum. Things were illusive to how Saturday would go because of the sheer numbers we would encounter. Nonetheless, I was there to do the job and kept reminding myself that it depends on my Impartial and unbiased rulings to make the event fair and fun.. the whole purpose of the weekend!
The professor Cup comes and goes and thing were starting to build within me as to the final numbers, 500+ in the Masters and we, the Staff, didn’t skip a beat. Pulling together and learning from one another as if it were an all day seminar of Pokemon was just fantastic. The first round jitters got the best of me, but then I realized it was no different than back home in North Texas working for MPB, just more people. Needless-to-say, I found my stride Round 2 and never looked back. Throughout the 9 rounds of Pokemon action, I would gain endless amounts of support and knowledge form some of the best in the Country, all directed by Blizz, the big man with soft voice and great direction. He allowed us to use his presence when needed but ultimately looked to us to make sometimes difficult decisions and assist when we were faltering, which didn’t happen often! BDS gave great indirect assistance and when a major issue for me arose, we came to a very conclusive, fair, and more importantly positive decision. My confidence never shook again. The real Fish was there to stay.
This experience led to the Greatest Pokemon moment for me individually that I ever have achieved, being assigned to the US Naitonal Finals Match. This was an accomplishment recognized by my peers and more importantly, after things were done, by players that approached me and said that it couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Being humble I accepted their well wishes and tried to dismiss this as that is who I am. Praise is wonderful, but I know that I am imperfect and learning moment by moment.
Later that evening at the Staff meeting, I was astonished by the well wishes from everyone and the continued congratulations on a successful journey that has allowed me to grow within the Family we all Love.
I want to give a great recognition to those that have had the confidence in my abilities and to those that have supported me throughout the week. To Pete, Dave and Mike, OP wouldn’t be what it is today without the three of you. As much as you thanked us, it is you 3 that continue to make this game grow to the size it is and also bring together the family we have created. Thanks for an unforgettable Week and hope that more will come in the Future!
To Blizz, our Head Judge of Masters, I got your back 100%. The time we spent together shows the greatness of a man that has the stars in front of him. Many blessings in your future Sir, and if you ever need someone to reach out to, brother I am there!
To BDS, intimidating as you may appear, there is just a big teddy bear and joy inside of you. Thanks for your encouragement to all the Judging staff for all age groups.
To my Peers in which we Teamed together United to present the most Fair and Fun event we could with positive structure, I thank you for all of your insights and I take from you a core group that will always be tops.
To my Daddy, MPB, I will continue to do the best I can to represent the Mentor you have been and show the rest of the US. I look forward to the day that I can pass the knowledge you have given to me on to another in the hopes that your legacy will continue.
TO my Friends and Family, my continued success is a direct reflection of the people that surround me. From all of you I find the Strength, Courage, Wisdom and Humbleness that pushes me to do the Very Best I can!
Last but not Least to my wife. Thanks for the opportunity you give me regularly to be a Big Kid again and do something that means a lot to me. You are my true driving force and without you, I am nothing!
I can’t wait for World’s. Though we won’t be there in person, we will be thinking of the entire Pokemon Family that just continues to grow!
Thanks for considering me part of the Family!
Danny Fish
So as long as my son and I have been in Pokemon, we have never been to Nationals. This year would end that in a BIG way. Demetre had his deck ready to go and the airline ticket in hand when our buddy Adrian showed up to take us and the Smith Boys to the airport Weds. It was all nerves and excitement on the plane wondering how not only he, but I would do. Thankfully I have a great home base in Fort Worth and Dallas so it was not that easy to find a friend to look to for some words of encouragement.
MasterProfessorBirch, my dad (inside info), shared our flight and we arrived at Columbus in the afternoon and found the family taxi! Off to the Hyatt! It was a great locale, and the rooms were nice, beds were full of pillows and the air-conditioning was at 60 so things were good to go since my heart rate was pounding and blood pressure rising with anxiety and nerves.
Finally, we go eat at Barley’s and see Dave, Pete, and Mike there and I thank them for this opportunity. They remind me not to thank them now as we have only just begun and to let them know at the end if it was everything I expected! What a great group of guys, honestly!
So Staff meeting and I finally get to put faces with names and meet Blizzard our Masters Head Judge and he is everything I expected and more. The appearance may seem intimidating, but the soul is pleasant and kind and I would lean on that in the days to come. PokePop and Chrisbo were also in the Masters and again, knowledge is power so absorbing their insight on things allowed me to really grow. Thursday the Judges did pick up events and I finally got to get my feet wet a bit in the Nats forum. Things were illusive to how Saturday would go because of the sheer numbers we would encounter. Nonetheless, I was there to do the job and kept reminding myself that it depends on my Impartial and unbiased rulings to make the event fair and fun.. the whole purpose of the weekend!
The professor Cup comes and goes and thing were starting to build within me as to the final numbers, 500+ in the Masters and we, the Staff, didn’t skip a beat. Pulling together and learning from one another as if it were an all day seminar of Pokemon was just fantastic. The first round jitters got the best of me, but then I realized it was no different than back home in North Texas working for MPB, just more people. Needless-to-say, I found my stride Round 2 and never looked back. Throughout the 9 rounds of Pokemon action, I would gain endless amounts of support and knowledge form some of the best in the Country, all directed by Blizz, the big man with soft voice and great direction. He allowed us to use his presence when needed but ultimately looked to us to make sometimes difficult decisions and assist when we were faltering, which didn’t happen often! BDS gave great indirect assistance and when a major issue for me arose, we came to a very conclusive, fair, and more importantly positive decision. My confidence never shook again. The real Fish was there to stay.
This experience led to the Greatest Pokemon moment for me individually that I ever have achieved, being assigned to the US Naitonal Finals Match. This was an accomplishment recognized by my peers and more importantly, after things were done, by players that approached me and said that it couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Being humble I accepted their well wishes and tried to dismiss this as that is who I am. Praise is wonderful, but I know that I am imperfect and learning moment by moment.
Later that evening at the Staff meeting, I was astonished by the well wishes from everyone and the continued congratulations on a successful journey that has allowed me to grow within the Family we all Love.
I want to give a great recognition to those that have had the confidence in my abilities and to those that have supported me throughout the week. To Pete, Dave and Mike, OP wouldn’t be what it is today without the three of you. As much as you thanked us, it is you 3 that continue to make this game grow to the size it is and also bring together the family we have created. Thanks for an unforgettable Week and hope that more will come in the Future!
To Blizz, our Head Judge of Masters, I got your back 100%. The time we spent together shows the greatness of a man that has the stars in front of him. Many blessings in your future Sir, and if you ever need someone to reach out to, brother I am there!
To BDS, intimidating as you may appear, there is just a big teddy bear and joy inside of you. Thanks for your encouragement to all the Judging staff for all age groups.
To my Peers in which we Teamed together United to present the most Fair and Fun event we could with positive structure, I thank you for all of your insights and I take from you a core group that will always be tops.
To my Daddy, MPB, I will continue to do the best I can to represent the Mentor you have been and show the rest of the US. I look forward to the day that I can pass the knowledge you have given to me on to another in the hopes that your legacy will continue.
TO my Friends and Family, my continued success is a direct reflection of the people that surround me. From all of you I find the Strength, Courage, Wisdom and Humbleness that pushes me to do the Very Best I can!
Last but not Least to my wife. Thanks for the opportunity you give me regularly to be a Big Kid again and do something that means a lot to me. You are my true driving force and without you, I am nothing!
I can’t wait for World’s. Though we won’t be there in person, we will be thinking of the entire Pokemon Family that just continues to grow!
Thanks for considering me part of the Family!
Danny Fish
