Mike Long Quits

[Magi]

Before anything else, I would just like to say that I have no idea how I started recieving Mike Long e-mails. The first one in my junk box is dated October 7, and I've gotten 3 more since then. I haven't opened any of them except this latest one. Since the e-mail he's sending them to is not one that I check often, it's possible that I may have gotten more in the past, but since they all end up in my junk mail folder they get deleted after 7 days or however long they get stored in the junk mail folder. This latest e-mail is dated Oct 20, 2005 so it's pretty damn fresh.

I may have visited mtginsider in the past, but I'm pretty sure I didn't sign up for anything, seeing as how I lost interest in mtg almost a year ago. So I have no idea why I get these e-mails.

Anyways, his name pops up on TMD every now and then so I figure this might be of interest to some of you. Here's a brief gist of his latest 21 page e-mail:

I’m retired from playing pro Magic.  Period.

I’ll play in no PTQs, Grand Prix, LCQs or even Pro Tours or World
Championships—even if they elect me to the Hall of Fame next year.

His e-mail goes into fairly personal stuff, plus it's reallly long so I won't post the whole thing here but if anyone wants it just pm me. In the end he does end up trying to hawk some Ravnica product at you. It costs $47 or some figure close to that.

I am unsure how this will affect the T1 community.

[forests failed you]

One less supercheater in the game; clearly, I am moved to tears.  Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[dandan]

Crap combos will now require you to have all of the cards in hand rather than 1 in your lap.

Not sure how Vintage will cope without his decks causing 4 cards to be added to the B&R list every 3-4 months.

[orgcandman]

Maybe I'm gonna catch some flak for this (ok, I'll probably catch a lot of flak for this) but I don't think it's a super good thing (tm) that Long quits.

Here's my reasoning:

When you think of Magic, not just as a game, but as a sport, you'll realize that just like any sport (including terrible "sports" like WWE wrestling) there are characters you like (Finkel/Budde for Magic, Woods for Golf, Jordan for Basketball, Gretzky/Orr for Hockey, The Ultimate N00b/we for WWE Wrestling). Then there are the antithesis of what you feel like these greats stand for.

More than that though, these villains of the sporting world have 1 thing in common: They incite emotion.

When's the last time you went to a PTQ/GPT/Regionals/Natl.'s etc. and said the name "Mike Long" without people turning their heads? You can bet your ass that if Mike Long were back on the Pro Tour every Magic player would be eagerly watching, waiting for him to lose. It's the reason that Red Sox fans watch Yankee games.

Sure, Mike Long is a cheater, an asshole, and scum. However, his antics probably got more people interested in the PT than all of the Zvis, Buddes, and Finkels that you can imagine. It is for these reasons that I feel like it would be a shame for Long to completely quit.

I know I'll get major flames for this, but I feel like it has to be expressed. Just because he's a cheater doesn't mean he can't still do some good for the game.

[Luiggi]

I don't think your opinion is so far-fetched, orgcandman... In fact that's one of the main reasons Mark Rosewater voted for Mike Long on this year's Hall of Fame Ballot. Yes, it got him a lot of flak, but I honestly agree with his decision and would've voted Long into the Hall of Fame, too, if for nothing else then just for being Magic's premiere villain. Anyway, I got your back on this one, .

Now in terms of him quitting the game or not, I really couldn't care less. It's not like I know the guy or have strong feelings about him one way or the other...

Luiggi

[t3h_fury]

Good riddance.  He's an egotistical self-centered jerk. 
However, Orcandman made some good points.  It was really fun to hate him...

[Whatever Works]

he quit so he could fully dedicate himself to finding secret tech and revealing it to his members with the trust that he wasnt keeping the real tech and playing it in tournements himself like all the other REAL cheaters like anyone who ever beat him...

Or thats what his email appeared to be from me...

[prosbloom225]

So who cares, he's a cheater?  Not me, he has done quite a bit for magic and especially the whole vintage combo scene.  On top of that, he used to have some really good tips and lists in his emails.  Recently they've been buy my cards, short story about an awesome play from someone at a major event, buy my cards, signature, ps buy my cards.

[Klep]

He's a cheater. I'm glad he's gone.  I'd much rather he'd never been a part of this game.  Sure, he caused controversy, but that's because he's despicable.  He doesn't deserve the fame and fortune he has acquired as a result of this game, because he did not come by it honestly.  The sooner he's gone from the collective conciousness of Magic players, the better.  It will be a very sad day if the Hall of Fame ever opens its doors for such a terrible example of the Magic playerbase.

[Revvik]

he quit so he could fully dedicate himself to finding secret tech and revealing it to his members with the trust that he wasnt keeping the real tech and playing it in tournements himself like all the other REAL cheaters like anyone who ever beat him...

Or thats what his email appeared to be from me...

So it's a publicity stunt for his email subscription list?
Seriously, I've read spam porn emails less sleazy than those things.

[everythingitouchdies]

well it should be no surprise to anyone that I am sad. I loved that guy.

[knickers]

I don't even see why you guys get so worked up?
You are just giving him the attention that he wants and needs.
Plus the fact that you are sound like whiny 2 year olds.

Get over it.

He's gone, wish him luck, and wish he never comes back.