Vintage All Star Team 2005!

[forests failed you]

So guys, who are the fifteen most influential players in Vintage right now?

Pick fifteen in no specific order and post it up in this forum.  At the end of the week we'll tally up the votes and see who the TMD community thinks are the shining stars of its format!

You may only vote for each player one time (obv) and you must vote for 15 players, no more and no less.

Cheers,

Brian

[Klep]

15 seems a rather arbitrary number.  Why not 8 as in Top 8, or 3 like they do for National teams?

[Machinus]

When are we going to have Vintage Pro Points?

[Kowal]

Phil Stanton used to do them.

I was number one.  I think I still am, but I'm not sure since I haven't played much recently.

[forests failed you]

The reason for fifteen is because it is my thread and that is the number I picked.

However, the reason I picked it is because there are eight or nine players that are obviously going to make it in because they are the obvious choices.  I actually wanted some of the tier two almost tier one players to get props on having a great year.  A little recognition to players who don't always get the nod as the best few.

Fifteen is the number.

But please don't fill this thread up with randomness.  Just votes please.  If you have any ideas regarding the thread feel free to PM me.

[Roxas]

I also agree that fifteen are too many.  If you reduce the number, I'll cut some. 

No particular order.

Stephen Menendian (Smmenen)
Jacob Orlove
Roland Chang
Andrew Probasco (Brassman)
Justin Droba (JDizzle)
Peter Olszewski (dicemanx)
Richard Shay (The Atog Lord)
Brian Demars (forcefieldyou)
Vroman
Ben Kowal
JP Meyer
Jim Gaffney (godot^)
Bob Yu (Clown of Tresserhorn)
Ted Knutson
Randy Buehler

[Komatteru]

15 is a good number.  It's round.  You could do 10, but that works well.  My list is going to be like all North Americans because I just don't know Europe well enough (sorry guys!!).  This is my list right now.  Clearly, there are some names that would be on here were I to consider the past, but this is based on the last 6-8 months or so, based on play and posting (with articles being a secondary influence).

Robert Vroman
Stephen Menendian
Brian Demars
Justin Droba
Matt Endress
Jacob Orlove
Roland Chang
Andy Probasco
Koen
Peter Olszewski (Diceman)
Justin Timoney (Outlaw)
Jim Gaffney (Godot)
Josh Franklin
Ugo Rivard (2 SCGs is pretty significant, even if I question the deck)

and yes, I'll include
Travis Laplante

even though he plays a pile every week.  However, every week, he wins.

Props to Randy Buehler as well.  I didn't put him on because he works for R&D and isn't really all that active in our format.  It's pretty much a well-known fact that Randy is one of the best players ever in the history of the game, so his success in Vintage isn't the least bit surprising.  There are a few others players that would be in my list if they weren't in a state of semi-retirement (i.e., not much access to Vintage these days, severely hampering their once omnipresent influence).

[xrizzo]

by handle...

vroman
smemmen
thug
buehler
atog lord
chains
dozer
elric
orlove
jdizzle
rasko
bram
jp
SCG
moxlotus

[Klep]

Steve Menendian
Andy Probasco
Rob Vroman
Rich Shay
Kevin Cron
Roland Chang
Ugo Rivard
Justin Droba
Peter Olszewski
Justin Timoney
Jacob Orlove
Travis LaPlante
Koen
Jim Gaffney
Ray Robillard

[JDawg13]

Stephen Menendian
Justin Droba
Andrew Probasco
Robert Vroman
Richard Shay
Justin Timoney
Koen
Hero 't Mannetje (pyromaniac)
Roland Chang
Travis Laplante
Ugo Rivard
Peter Olszewski
Ray Robillard
Jim Gaffney
Jacob Orlove

[MoxMonkey]

Stephen Menendian
Ray Robillard
Travis Laplante
Andy Probassco
Justin Timoney (Outlaw)
Brain Demars
Richard Shay
Kevin cron
JD
Jacob Orlove
Koen
Roland Chang
Ugo Rivard
Rob Vroman
Jigglypuff

Puff cause hes put down several wins with SSB and shown he can use the deck and isn't the uber newb luck sac we all want him to be also cause he owned me in the mox touranment in top 4 when he went against everything he said and used Flame/Vault to beat me when I had Sev/Bel   Losing to Time Vault is Savage.

[iamfishman]

If this list has to do with writing, I should not be on it.  As for tournies, I frequently do well at local ones but can't seem to catch a break at a SCG, and well, let's not even talk about my abysmal winless record at all the Waterburies I have been to.

My List, in no particular order:

Travis LaPlante (JuggernautGo)*
Andy Probasco (Brassman)
Justin Timoney (Outlaw)
Ben Kowal (Kowal)
Brian Demars (ForcefieldU)
Rich Shay (The Atog Lord)
Justin Droba (JDizzle)
Steve Houdlette (Grand Inquisitor)
Ugo Rivand (???)
Nate Pease (JigglyPuff)
Steve Menedian (Smennen)*
Rob Vroman (Vroman)
Jacob Orlove (J_Orlove)
Kevin Chron (Chains)
Eric Miller (???)

Honorable mention:
Pete and SCG- Not a player per say, but most certainly a huge impact on type 1.

*Love him or hate him, he is a major influence in type 1.

[Moxlotus]

Robert Vroman
Stephen Menendian
Brian Demars
Justin Droba
Mat Endress/me-I'm counting us as 1 person
Jacob Orlove
Roland Chang
Andy Probasco
Peter Olszewski
Travis Laplante
Josh Franklin
Ugo Rivard
Rich Shay
Bob Yu
Lorenzo unknownlastname from Italy

[vroman]

as a relative newcomer, Im only including ppl Ive talked to in person or online, as I dont know the majority of the name players. this results in a short list, so disregard my vote if necesary.

vroman
droba
menendian
cron
chang
yu
laplante
shay
endress
demars
fuckin lou - honorary mention for best tattoo I have ever seen

[what]

Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn
Doug Linn

e: fixed typos

[Anusien]

I actually wanted some of the tier two almost tier one players

How does that make them on the All-Star Team?  Don't you only want tier one?

Klep
Silvestri
Dave Feinstein
Anusien
Kowal
Danzig
Bardo
Matt
Cron
Doug Linn
Rich Shay
EverythingItouchDies
DanDan
UrzaTron
Ephraim
Ray
JP
Orlove
Zherbus

17 people is just as arbitrary as 15 people.  That's the TMD community ownage team.  I feel like I should touch on a few of my controversial choices:
Klep, Matt and Veggies are on there for their incredible ability to own people with a few choice phrases.  What I do with logic, they do with snark.
Rich Shay: His recent posts on SCG's CS versus Oath thread is enough.
UrzaTron: I'm sorry about haxxoring the Gibson and stealing KoboldClamp.  Truce?
Dave Feinstein: TO PENIS!

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

Most influential eh? What is the criteria? Deck innovation? Has to go to Vroman or Menendian. Performance? Vroman or Chang. In anycase, here's a list of people I highly respect:

Jim Gaffney
Stephen Menendian
Robert Vroman
Roland Chang
Justin Droba
Brian Demars
Mat Endress
Josh Franklin
Scott Limoges
Brad Granberry (Rico Suave)
Jacob Orlove
Andy Probasco
Peter Olszewski
Fuckin' Lou
Kevin Cron

The list goes on (Shay, Laplante, Ugo, Jesus, Shock Wave (do you still play vintage?)), but like Demars said, only 15. On a side note, here's my list of people who I think suck:

1) Ted Knutson

Seriously guys, SCG is wicked awesome (MUCH props to Hoefling and ESPECIALLY Bleiwess) but both times I met Knutson he was condescending and an ass.

-Bob

[Hi-Val]

Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars
Brian Demars

You misspelled "Doug Linn" there, slugger.

[forests failed you]

In no order

Josh Raynor
The Brassman
Jdizzle
Bob Yu
Robert Vroman
Josh Franklin onelovemachine
Steven Menenian
Samite Healer, Jeff Anand aka Pimp of the World
Jacob Orlove
Travis Laplante, juggernaut go
Ben Perry
Ben Kowal
Kris Taylor (Pacmanxsa)
Kevin Cron
Peter O (dicemanx)

[onelovemachine]

My personal fifteen most respected players in no particular order:

Kevin Cron, for solid results at every tournament I have ever seen him participate in
Steve Menedian, for working on a bigillion decks
Brian Demars, for always playing a subpar deck and winning with it
Jeff Anand, for being a motherfucking pimp
Mark Biller, for making slaver good
Benjermin Perry, for mulling to three
Robert Vroman, for innovating Stax
Paul Fisholo, for making Fish good
Peter O. - lack of an attempt to spell your last name, for solid play and deck construction

And the Entire Colorado Crew:
Bob Yu
Jim Gaffney
Fuckin' Lou
for being fucking amazing to hang out with.  The next time we do, I'll bring the bong.

And even
Kris Taylor
Jeremy (fuck I forgot your last name!)
Scratch

With Special mention going to the Fishiest.

[Dante]

In no particular order:

Ugo
Peter o (dicemanx)
Kevin cron
Smemmen
Jdizzle
Changster
JACO
vroman
FFY
Kowal
Brassman
Endress
Koen
Rich shay
JuggernautGo

16th and 17th go to Dan Carp & Outlaw, in no particuar order.

[Komatteru]

My personal fifteen most respected players in no particular order:

Kevin Cron, for solid results at every tournament I have ever seen him participate in
Steve Menedian, for working on a bigillion decks
Brian Demars, for always playing a subpar deck and winning with it
Jeff Anand, for being a motherfucking pimp
Mark Biller, for making slaver good
Benjermin Perry, for mulling to three
Robert Vroman, for innovating Stax
Paul Fisholo, for making Fish good
Peter O. - lack of an attempt to spell your last name, for solid play and deck construction

And the Entire Colorado Crew:
Bob Yu
Jim Gaffney
Fuckin' Lou
for being fucking amazing to hang out with.  The next time we do, I'll bring the bong.

And even
Kris Taylor
Jeremy (fuck I forgot your last name!)
Scratch

With Special mention going to the Fishiest.

Geez, I put you on my list and you don't put me on yours.  Some gratitude!

[dandan]

How does that make them on the All-Star Team?  Don't you only want tier one?

DanDan

17 people is just as arbitrary as 15 people.  That's the TMD community ownage team

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the mention. I fear my tag 'More Vintage than Adept' is all too true, but being Vintage I could act as a proxy for a Good Player^TM. I'd be the scribbled-on Plains of the team.

[Jacob Orlove]

Alphabetical order, with nicknames, because I am awesome that way:

Andy Probasco (Brassman)
Bob Yu (Clown of Tresserhorn)
Brian Demars (forcefieldyou)
Jacob Orlove (Jacob Orlove)
Jim Gaffney (Godot)
Justin Droba (JDizzle)
Justin Timoney (Outlaw)
Kevin Cron (CHA1N5)
Koen van der Hulst (Thug)
Mat Endress  (Lost in Admiration)
Peter Olszewski (Dicemanx)
Rich Shay (The Atog Lord)
Roland Chang (Changster)
Robert Vroman (Vroman)
Stephen Menendian (Smmenen)

[Zherbus]

Zherbus
Azhrei
Matt D'Avanzo

...

oh wait.

[Changster]

You also forgot Eric Wilkinson... who??? 

[Razvan]

Since all the geeky kids are doing it, I have to do it too... And having a set number is a bad idea, because you either have to cut someone you don't want to, or fill it up with people you don't want to.

Also I won't pick Dicemanx or Shock Wave, because they are so far superior to anyone alive at this game, it's not even funny. Also, this is heavily influenced by whom I played, or seen play, or watched, etc...

1. Steve Wolfman - For an uncanny ability to win everything at every format
2. Rich Shay - He doesn't need an explanation
3/4. Vroman/Cron - For sticking with workshops when even I gave up, and mad ability to win
5. Marc Perez - Again, doesn't need an explanation. I abhore the deck he made, gave me more headaches than ANYTHING. Plus he's awesome.
6. Stanton/Orlove - For the ability to be everywhere T1 related at the same time. Plus I hear Orlove has played a good tourney or two...
7. Finch/Rosu and Listowel - These people are road warriors, dropping in at every tournament, and always placing people in Top-8. They are like a hive mind. This is one person. Except:
8. Shawn Stewart - By far and away, the most solid strategic player I have ever seen
9/10. Rudy/Hero - These guys play magic because it's fun, and win because they are good
11. Smennen/Rakso/Zherbus - Say what you will, the ammount of work these guys have put in their articles/etc... has established the popularity of our format
12. Jason Zhang - Probably the most under-rated player I know
13. Ray Robillard - Same as above, under-rated, but a great player and obviously a mammoth of T1
14. Al Dubuc - For being a bit of the above, under-rated, for being a phenomenal player and deckbuilder, and the second best trash-talker I have ever seen, but pales in comparaison to:
15. Arend Kraehling - A very good control player, and by far and away the biggest jerk in the game. If you think Treppanier or Demars come even close, believe me, they are only flavor of the month. This is the best trash-talker ever, bar none

[Juggernaut GO]

Since I was out of the loop for about 4 months this year  I'll put who I know performed well in 2005 either at tournaments I was at or read about.

1:Ray Robillard: in addition to running the greatest tournament in america, he makes top 8 at nearly every event he plays at.

2:Robert Vroman:  Invented a great deck at the start of the year, and continues to top 8 at every tournament

3:JDIZZLE:  For having the nuts to continue to play combo, and smoking nearly everyone he faces.

4:SMENNEN:  for the same reasons as JD, also for contributing a buttload to the community.

5:T-Money/Outlaw:  Very solid player who put up some good top 8 numbers this year, even though he stole my 2 voidmage prodigys sunday !

6:Roland Chang:  Reigning vintage champion, nuff said.

7:Andy Probasco:  Even though I can never beat him, he gets a lot of credit for making gifts a popular deck, as well as numerous top 8 appearences.

8:Ben Kowal: Same reason as Andy, but I can beat him !

9:Brian Demars:Great player, hates red headed canadians, makes alot of top 8's.  Im buying tequila when he comes to waterbury.

10:Ugo Rivard:2 wins at a SCG is not a fluke like some people would say.  He's a solid player, and the crew he hangs with is good people.

11:Mat Endress:Solid player with both gencon and SCG top 8 appearances, I remember him asking me for my white bordered brainstorms in chicago earlier this year, so he is cool in my book.  White border FTW!


12:Nate Pease:at 16 he's already won or split 6 pieces of power since he started taking up type 1 earlier this year.  I drag him around to every tournament I go to.

13:Dicemanx:Back to back top 8 appearences at rochester, and a solid player.  He also explained well why to demonic tutor for ancestral.

14:Jacob Orlove:top 8 in richmond, as well as all the work he does on TMD
   
15:Dave Feinstein:  HE INVENTED TYPE 1, HONESTLY...
   
 

[Outlaw]

I'm going to put up people that are very significant to me and that have actually put up numbers.  Retired players can't really be on all star teams.  My list is in no order!

Travis LaPlante - Amazing Workshop player that has been attempting to innovate alow recently
Andy Probasco - Teammate that has taught me so much about playing, thinks of magic in theory quite alot.  Beautiful guy.
Robert Vroman - Created Uba stax, put significant numbers up with it.  Plays the same deck and everyone knows it.
Stephen Menedian - Self-explanatory despite how much I frown on meandeck.
Nate Pease - Very young player that is putting up significant numbers, reminds me alot of myself.
Peter Olzewski - Significant contributions to Dragon and control.dec, amazing player.
Rich Shay - Helped create Control Slavery and inspired me to actually play it, then inspiried me to not play it so I could beat it.
Ray Robillard - Top 8's every time he plays, despite how much of a noob he is for not playing in a waterbury Ever.
Kevin Cron - Reigning Vampire / Stax madman, significant contributions to stax.  Is also in every single Gifts deck (Darksteel Kevin)
Roland Chang - Significant contributions to stax, amazing player from what I hear, too bad hes on meandeck.
Jaris Wicklund - Not many people realize how amazing of a player this guy really is, top 8's quite a lot.
Crossman Wilkins - Another teammates that can pick up a deck and play it well, amazing trait and has the sweetest name on the planet. 
Demonic Attorney - Chris is an amazing player that has been checking out different decks lately.  Very contributing to discussions. 
Eric Dupuis - Absolutely amazing player.  One of the scariest guys ever to play agaisnt. 
Eli Kassis - Had to think of a 15th, takes 3rd almost as much as GGs takes second.

Thanks to everyone who put me in their lists!

[everythingitouchdies]

I see both Josh and Brian give me recognition... you know because I am the shit in my local scene. I just dont go far from home, dont own cards and dont do anything online but cause trouble.

Really I have been out of the mix too long to do this, I dont know everyone anymore but I am going to give it a go. Some of it will be influenced more by the michigan scene than anything else, since thats where I play and know things, but I will try to bring some justice to it.

1. Brian Demars
2. Roland Chang
3. Jacob Orlove
4. Josh Franklin
5. Vroman
6. Andy Probasco

Those Ones I feel good about and stand behind.

7. Justin Droba
8.  Ray Kehr
9. Steve Menendian
10. Sean Bauer
11. Chris (Pacman XSA)
12. Brian Hall

Because steve is an Icon, and the rest are pretty much all the bad ass locals...

13. DicemanX
14. The Kid that pissed everyone off in Rochester
15. Rich Shay

And then Just because...