My name is Jay Hornung and I've played this game since 2004, so its fair to say I've been around for quite sometime. I've also made quite a lot of friends over the years and have a fair good reputation among the Pokemon community.
Two very close friends I've known for the last 5 years have recently found themselves on the ban list for 1 year. They are Alex Frezza (2 Nationals Top 8) and Con Le 2010 National Champion. I'll copy and paste Con's post from Facebook as why they were banned.
"Here the story.. I got accused for trying to earn play points for nationals, i came back around spring regional then mapped out how many play points i needed for nats. I had mapped out 17 exactly with my plan more than what i needed. Got 3 from regional, then attended 3 pre releases. at the 3rd pre release i went and signed up paid for my packs and then had to leave because of a family emergency, So Alex continued the tourney for me not thinking it was that big a deal to get the 2 packs. We figured there is no prize payout, no harm done and then got our story manipulated by certain people running it that lead to a 1 YEAR SUSPENSION, and take away Alex prizes for the whole year and worlds invite + 1 year suspension for a pre releases. Honest mistake turned into outrageous assumptions. I think this is absolutly nuts the penalty doesnt match the crime at all, and the pre release was only 1 point that wouldnt have mattered towards the motive. We didnt get a chance to even tell our side of the story yet and are trying to dispute this"
Now I've played this game for a long time and I almost never stick my neck out for people. However, in the case of Con and Alex I have to make an exception. I just don't feel right keeping quiet on this.
The first point that I know is going to be made is that there has to be more to this story and Con and Alex aren't telling the full truth.
If there is Con and Alex haven't told me, but this is why I believe them
-Alex already had a Worlds invite with over 500 championship points, nobody would risk a Worlds invite for anything that happens at a prerelease.
-Con didn't need the play points from the Prerelease and would have plenty for Nationals anyways.
I'm not saying what they did was right, but I honestly believe they saw no harm in it and Alex just wanted the 2 packs. Most competitive players just don't take prereleases seriously anyways and simply go to trade and hang out with friends since there is ZERO prizes on the line. It was also in there local area they felt like they were just among friends...hanging with the guys if you will. I certainly wouldn't say anything if one of my local friends did the same thing.
This seems minor compared to the large amounts of cheating that I see going on at Prereleases. Literally at the last prerelease I went to EVERYBODY around me was swapping cards to make their Prerelease deck better (I didn't btw). I honestly feel like this should be a stern talking to and a slap on the wrist, but a year ban and Alex losing his Worlds invite seems crazy.
Why should you care?
Neither Con and Alex received a phone call from Pokemon asking for their side of the story (once again I believe this because Gary Warren made a similar claim when he was banned). They were literally banned based on the testomony of another person and have almost no way to appeal this.
This personally scares the hell out of me that I could get banned without Pokemon ever talking to me or investigating the sitauation. Honestly this should care everyone of you as well.
All I'm asking is that Nintendo talk to Con and Alex, rethink their punishment, and consider rethinking how bans are handled, investigated, and the appeals process involved.
I'm not saying that some bans aren't deserved (Newman jumps to mine), but there really should be a good through investigation and a way for players to appeal their case. Con and Alex are great guys and great representatives the Pokemon TCG and its brand. These are the type of guys you want playing this game and you should be proud play this game. In the past they have been heavily devoted to this game and I really think they deserve to have an investigation and a few phone call made.
Sincerely,
-Jay Hornung
Two very close friends I've known for the last 5 years have recently found themselves on the ban list for 1 year. They are Alex Frezza (2 Nationals Top 8) and Con Le 2010 National Champion. I'll copy and paste Con's post from Facebook as why they were banned.
"Here the story.. I got accused for trying to earn play points for nationals, i came back around spring regional then mapped out how many play points i needed for nats. I had mapped out 17 exactly with my plan more than what i needed. Got 3 from regional, then attended 3 pre releases. at the 3rd pre release i went and signed up paid for my packs and then had to leave because of a family emergency, So Alex continued the tourney for me not thinking it was that big a deal to get the 2 packs. We figured there is no prize payout, no harm done and then got our story manipulated by certain people running it that lead to a 1 YEAR SUSPENSION, and take away Alex prizes for the whole year and worlds invite + 1 year suspension for a pre releases. Honest mistake turned into outrageous assumptions. I think this is absolutly nuts the penalty doesnt match the crime at all, and the pre release was only 1 point that wouldnt have mattered towards the motive. We didnt get a chance to even tell our side of the story yet and are trying to dispute this"
Now I've played this game for a long time and I almost never stick my neck out for people. However, in the case of Con and Alex I have to make an exception. I just don't feel right keeping quiet on this.
The first point that I know is going to be made is that there has to be more to this story and Con and Alex aren't telling the full truth.
If there is Con and Alex haven't told me, but this is why I believe them
-Alex already had a Worlds invite with over 500 championship points, nobody would risk a Worlds invite for anything that happens at a prerelease.
-Con didn't need the play points from the Prerelease and would have plenty for Nationals anyways.
I'm not saying what they did was right, but I honestly believe they saw no harm in it and Alex just wanted the 2 packs. Most competitive players just don't take prereleases seriously anyways and simply go to trade and hang out with friends since there is ZERO prizes on the line. It was also in there local area they felt like they were just among friends...hanging with the guys if you will. I certainly wouldn't say anything if one of my local friends did the same thing.
This seems minor compared to the large amounts of cheating that I see going on at Prereleases. Literally at the last prerelease I went to EVERYBODY around me was swapping cards to make their Prerelease deck better (I didn't btw). I honestly feel like this should be a stern talking to and a slap on the wrist, but a year ban and Alex losing his Worlds invite seems crazy.
Why should you care?
Neither Con and Alex received a phone call from Pokemon asking for their side of the story (once again I believe this because Gary Warren made a similar claim when he was banned). They were literally banned based on the testomony of another person and have almost no way to appeal this.
This personally scares the hell out of me that I could get banned without Pokemon ever talking to me or investigating the sitauation. Honestly this should care everyone of you as well.
All I'm asking is that Nintendo talk to Con and Alex, rethink their punishment, and consider rethinking how bans are handled, investigated, and the appeals process involved.
I'm not saying that some bans aren't deserved (Newman jumps to mine), but there really should be a good through investigation and a way for players to appeal their case. Con and Alex are great guys and great representatives the Pokemon TCG and its brand. These are the type of guys you want playing this game and you should be proud play this game. In the past they have been heavily devoted to this game and I really think they deserve to have an investigation and a few phone call made.
Sincerely,
-Jay Hornung
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