4th 'Annual' TMD Awards

[Prospero]

To quote DA:

The last ones were in 2005, and before those, I think it was 2003.  So they actually deserve the title of "annual" less and less each time.  Still, in keeping with tradition, let's keep the description.

It's all pretty self-explanatory.  Pick your favorites for each category and explain why.  

1) Best Poster
2) Funniest Poster
3) Worst/Most Hated Poster
4) Best Trashtalker
5) Best Deck Innovation
6) Most Influential Figure
7) Biggest Forum Whore
8) Pimpest Deck/Collection
9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest)
10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious)
11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award
12) Best Tournament
13) Funniest Single Post
14) Best Article
15) Best Tournament Report
16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles)
17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles)
18) Greatest Asset to the Community

1) Best Poster - The Atog Lord

2) Funniest Poster - Twaun007

3) Worst/Most Hated Poster - ______

4) Best Trashtalker - Yangtime

5) Best Deck Innovation - Greg, 'Fenton Oath'

6) Most Influential Figure - Iron_Chef

7) Biggest Forum Whore - Grubb!

8) Pimpest Deck/Collection - Greg

9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) - Guli, Humans.

10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart - ______

11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award - Iamfishman (Ray, please, WATERBURY...)

12) Best Tournament - Vintage Champs 2013

13) Funniest Single Post - Lochinvar81:

http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=45816.msg634424#msg634424

14) Best Article - Something by forest failed you.  I've enjoyed pretty much everything Vintage related that I've read.

15) Best Tournament Report - It's more than a year old now, but Raffale Forino's 2012 GenCon report:

https://www.starcitygames.com/article/24921_Awaken-The-Giant--Martello-Shops-And-3rd-Place-At-Vintage-Champs.html

16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - JLim17

17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - JLim17

18) Greatest Asset to the Community - Iron_Chef

[A.-1.]

Pick your favorites for each category and explain why. 

1) Best Poster - kameli0n, Iron_Chef, Calvin240sx, Prospero, and all the other TOs that host tournaments within driving distance. I love seeing tournament announcements.

2) Funniest Poster - Samoht if you like that type of humor.

3) Worst/Most Hated Poster - This category should probably be removed to avoid flame wars.

4) Best Trashtalker - Pokey isn't much of a trashtalker, but when he does, he usually wins.

5) Best Deck Innovation - Can any one person claim credit for BUG Fish in Vintage? Amadeus Kurz?

6) Most Influential Figure - Iron_Chef. East Coast bias.

7) Biggest Forum Whore - ???

8) Pimpest Deck/Collection - This is a tough one. Greg Fenton/Jeff Anand? It's been awhile since I've played either one.

9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) - Guli was the sole reason why I started to take Humans seriously.

10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) - Other than Orlove? Hmm... Prospero! Don't be so modest, Nick.

11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award - TD/the old Blue Bell regulars. It was awesome to see AJ come out of semi-retirement and make the finals in Vintage Champs.

12) Best Tournament - Eternal Weekend

13) Funniest Single Post - Tom Dixon loves Grafdigger's Cage. That whole thread is gold. I guess you have to know Tom for it to make sense.

14) Best Article - Nat's first article for LegitMTG. It also brought to my attention a website that I never knew existed.

15) Best Tournament Report - I'll have to agree with Prospero. Raff's report was amazing.

16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - Joel's been in the Vintage scene for over a year, but these awards aren't really annual.

17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - Another tough one. I'll take the easy way out and say both Greg and Joel.

18) Greatest Asset to the Community - The Nicks

[brianpk80]

1) Best Poster - The Atog Lord
2) Funniest Poster - Tom Dixon
3) Worst/Most Hated Poster
4) Best Trashtalker - Tom Dixon
5) Best Deck Innovation - Smennen
6) Most Influential Figure - jlim
7) Biggest Forum Whore
8) Pimpest Deck/Collection - Pokey
9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) - Pokey, Red Deck Wins
10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) - The Atog Lord
11) "What the deuce happened to ~" dicemanx
12) Best Tournament - Champs/NYSE tie
13) Funniest Single Post - Akroan Horse
14) Best Article - Brian Demars "On Vintage" http://www.starcitygames.com/article/26163_On-Vintage.html
15) Best Tournament Report -
16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - jlim
17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - jlim
18) Greatest Asset to the Community - Calvin

[Soly]

I don't have many, but here's my votes
 
2) Funniest Poster  -  Twaun
3) Worst/Most Hated Poster  -  Yours Truly / Smennen.  (It's a tie!)
9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) - me for RUG
10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) - NickD
11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award  - Tommy Kolowith
12) Best Tournament  - NYSE
17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - jlim

[Twaun007]

1) Best Poster – Not so much mtg related, but I have always loved this poster.

2) Funniest Poster – The Team Serious Gif Thread Derailment Syndicate.  

3) Worst/Most Hated Poster – Mike “The Salad” Solymossy – TMD unleashed a gorilla when they unbanned him. GWS 4 Life!

4) Best Trashtalker – Everyone’s favorite Venerable Saint and Vintage brew master, Brian Demars. Never have I heard so much hate for single cards or certain Vintage archetypes.  Makes me chuckle every time.  

5) Best Deck Innovation – I don’t know who it was, but whoever cut the Auriok Salvagers for Restoration Angel in Bomberman. I just remember that deck blowing up in the East

6) Most Influential Figure – I think Matt Elias takes this one. His article series and ability to top 8 with every archetype was insane. Seriously, the guy played everything under the sun and won with it.

7) Biggest Forum Whore – AmbivalentDuck, Guli, and The Dark Sith Lord himself, Stephen Q. Menedian.  At one point I believe these guys grinded multiple threads to a stalemate which qualified for TMD lockage. Reminded me of the Western Front in 1915.

8) Pimpest Deck/Collection – JACO –The deck from his SCG win was gorgeous and I know what he keeps hidden in his solid platinum vaults deep in the Chi-Town Underground.

9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) – The Dark Sith Lord himself, Stephen Q. Menendian. I’ve never heard so much propaganda about Gush, Gushing, Gushinger, and Gushingerest. I think there’s even a book about it out there.

10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) – The Atog Lord, first time I met him he was rocking one of these with the strength and chi flow of a Kung Fu genius.  

11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award – Jdizzle – I used to kick it with him back in the GWS days. My guess is, he finally created some type of advanced mathematical algorithm and traveled to the ends of space and time.  

12) Best Tournament – On May 4th of 2013 I ran an invite only tournament called the TwaunSerious Open. It was pretty much the entire Team Serious Crew and a sweet prize pool. It was awesome!

13) Funniest Single Post – President Skroob in the card creation form here. Hilarious on so many levels.

14) Best Article – Awakening the Giant – Raffael Forino’s 3rd place report from GenCon 2K12. For people who devote themselves to Workshops his article was way more than just a tournament report. It’s witnessing a legacy.  

15) Best Tournament Report – It’s not so much a single tourney report but more like a weekend tournament experience. Isaac85’s Romp across states here. If you lived it, you’ll understand.

16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) – Not so much a new player, but helping in creating an avenue for new players to enter vintage, Nat Moes. Doing the Team Serious Podcast and his Vintage Article Series are the perfect mixture to help curious mages interested in the Vintage format.

17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - Justin Kohler – That dude was the beast of the East. I think his Birth Certificate even has Top 8 somewhere by his name.  

18) Greatest Asset to the Community – The Nicks – Those two created a Vintage mecca in the Eastern United States. Who else in the states can compete with that?



EDIT: This is all for fun and is in no way supposed to be taken seriously. Seriously, like 1000%.

[RitNecroWin]

1) Best Poster Prospero
2) Funniest Poster twaun
3) Worst/Most Hated Poster Can't say anyone for this
4) Best Trashtalker Soly's grown up so much but he's still getting the vote here.
5) Best Deck Innovation Smennen
6) Most Influential Figure Rich Shay
7) Biggest Forum Whore Hmm due to Punk Floyd often posting three-five posts rather than 1 giant one, you're getting my vote
8) Pimpest Deck/Collection have you seen my foil German signed altered stack? Going with myself
9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) Not sure- greg fenton with Oath
10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) Prospero
11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award
12) Best Tournament NYSE looked to be insane
13) Funniest Single Post - no clue
14) Best Article anything by Forest Failed You
15) Best Tournament Report- no clue
16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) no clue
17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) Joel Lim
18) Greatest Asset to the Community Nick Coss (hands down)

[GrandpaBelcher]

1) Best Poster - President_Skroob
2) Funniest Poster - Twaun P. Pwnertown
3) Worst/Most Hated Poster -
4) Best Trashtalker - Soly
5) Best Deck Innovation - Mark J. Trogdon
6) Most Influential Figure -
7) Biggest Forum Whore -
8) Pimpest Deck/Collection - Abe "Katzby" Corson is the only completionist collector I know
9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest) - Guli
10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) -
11) "What the deuce happened to ~" meadbert
12) Best Tournament - Twaunserious Invitational
13) Funniest Single Post - There are several that are funny because the poster is taking himself too seriously
14) Best Article -
15) Best Tournament Report - http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=37434.0
16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - Any newcomer
17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) -
18) Greatest Asset to the Community - Anyone named Nick

[TheWhiteDragon]

Biggest troll (should totally be a category): Thewhitedragon

[xouman]

A bit late, maybe

1) Best Poster - vaughnbros. I respect a lot his ideas, and I'm pretty interested in his opinion.
5) Best Deck Innovation - Let's say Guli, but there are others working here. However Guli fights to make some cards work.
6) Most Influential Figure - Smennen for me. He does not only create (or help making popular) successful decks, but advertise them.
7) Biggest Forum Whore
8) Pimpest Deck/Collection - Roger Riera, and this is his site: http://ooh---shiny.blogspot.com/. A fabulous Pimper and even better person.
9) "I own this freaking deck" award (The person who has played and talked about the same deck on TMD the longest). I'd like to say oshkoshhaitsyosh and his UR landstill, but he switched some months ago. But for most of 2013, he played that deck with great results and told to us.
10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart (other than Jacob, because that's obvious) - Prospero?
14) Best Article -  I enjoy articles from Lochinvar Forests failed you.
15) Best Tournament Report.The one I liked the most was Raf's Forino GenCon report, from 2012.
16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles). BrianPk80. Maybe not a newcomer, but in 2013 he posted quite more than previous years. Great making and sharing them with the rest of the community.

[Guli]

So I am a innovative whore that talks about his 'deck' too much

Haha, what a way too be remembered, I hope my kids never find this forum :p

[jlim17]

Just seeing this post now! I wanna play (i.e. very, very busy at work today)!

1) Best Poster - Prospero - Remember the time a small, tiny thread started with, "So I just got crushed by Mark Zug today...". Anyways, every one of his posts is well thought out, well written, and damn right insightful.

2) Funniest Poster - Twaun007 - This man can gif.

4) Best Trashtalker - Soly - Vintage has its Chael Sonnen back!

5) Best Deck Innovation - thebliff - This is where the meervolk came from...well, mostly 

6) Most Influential Figure - Iron_Chef/Prospero - The launch of the NEV series brought a lot of people to the format, including myself.

7) Biggest Forum Whore - samoht - Love him or hate him, this man's not afraid to share his opinions  , something I truly admire on this forum.

8) Pimpest Deck/Collection - JACO - From the glimpses I saw at NYSE and Eternal Weekend, pretty sure this conversation ends here.

9) "I own this freaking deck" award - Pokey - Red Deck Wins

10) Person who, without, TMD would fall apart - Prospero - I'm not one for there only being one right answer to a question, but yeah, this is that one.

11) "What the deuce happened to ~" award - womba - Primers the whole format on SCG then drops the mic.

12) Best Tournament - Vintage Championships...I "may" be biased here

14) Best Article - I don't have a best one off the top of my head, but I would like to prop the following for their article contributions:  forests failed you, womba, voltron00x. I've admittedly only read articles here and on SCG so I don't mean to leave any other great article contributors out here.

15) Best Tournament Report - For a TO TR, I'd say LotusHead for his pics and extra insight that help immortalize each of his events. For an individual TR, Raf, don't think its even close.

16) Newcomer of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - Calvin240sx - "New" Vintage TO in the Lancaster, PA area; a key influence in designing/tweaking the decks of his locals; and also for bringing more people into the format most recently.

17) Player of the Year (based on influence, posting, and articles) - Tie between Greg and Pokey. Pokey had more Top 8's, which included wins, than anyone I know. Greg, also had a ton of Top 8's, had much less than Pokey, but Greg's included winning the 1st NEV Invitational and his Top 4 at Vintage Champs. The consistency of these two is absolutely scary.

18) Greatest Asset to the Community - Iron_Chef - No explanation needed (this is not an explanation)

[Soly]

4) Best Trashtalker - Soly - Vintage has its Chael Sonnen back!

Considering The American Gangster Chael P. Sonnen is the man I look up to, I appreciate that.  Some of my favorite:

"I fight like Jon Jones, talk like Shawn Combs and have trombone-sized stones like John Holms"

"They'll tell you failure is not an option. That is Ridiculous; Failure is always an option... but it's a choice.  You can choose to fail, or you can choose to succeeed..."

"I once held a position in office and you know what?  I left the only way a government official should leave his job...  In handcuffs".