Reaction to TRASHionals

• From: sdrossboss <no_reply_at_yahoogroups.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 17:34:20 -0000
• Message-ID: <a9kbms+gpms_at_...>

I would like to say a few words about my impressions of this past 
weekend. Definite props have to go to the people at Michigan and the 
people of TRASH for putting together a well run event which a lot of 
people enjoyed. The awards were very entertaining.

To be honest TRASHionals was not what I expected. It was definitely 
hardcore and for those whose thing is TRASH this was your 
tournament.  For me, who enjoyed and did well (by some standard) in 
previous Trash tournaments (capitol punishment, foghat) this was not 
what I thought I was getting myself into. Not that I had stellar 
performances by any means but getting questions that were up 
my alley is definitely fun. I definitely have a sphere of knowledge 
that I'm confident about (obviously a compact one vis-a-vis other 
players). Unfortunately with Trashionals my reaction 
was "frustration". When you haven't heard of the answer when 
a question is read to its entirety 80% of the time its not a good 
feeling. By the same token I can't make excuses for myself not 
knowing the answers. Those who know Trash - TV, movies, characters 
spanning the decades and with depth then I applaud and respect such 
knowledge.  I'd have to say in retrospect that I'm somewhat upset 
that I went.  It just wasn't for me. My point being that I wish I had 
known ahead of time just how hardcore it would have been before I 
made a decision to attend. I had no high expectations of victory but 
I don't recall being at any tournament before and staring blankly so 
many times.  For someone who has definite interest and takes pleasure 
in playing Trash who then goes 9-4 in a tournament, it was admittedly 
on the depressing side.

I would not ask for questions to be tailored to my liking or for the 
difficulty level to be lowered, given that TRASHionals has a standard 
that it needs to meet. It's just different if the tournament's a few 
miles down the road versus $300+ and over a thousand miles away.

TRASH provides a product that many people obviously enjoy. Inasmuch 
as they continue to provide it all is well. Perhaps, at least at the 
national level, it's not for me.

Thanks for listening,

Ross Ritterman aka Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadoo