Traditionally, there are two ways to make a name for yourself in the Magic community:

• Play well consistently on the Pro Tour
• Write well consistently on the internet

But recently, a new category has emerged for those not willing to dedicate themselves to at least one of the above paths:

• Play erratically and write poorly, but aggravate as many people as possible.

And who is the trailblazer for this new Magic player type? Why it's none other than the fashionably challenged misanthrope - Peter Szigeti, a.k.a. PTR.

Szigeti has received a good deal of attention lately on The Sideboard. Prior to this year, he had garnered the occasional Feature Match - but that started changing during his participation in the Magic Colony. His performances in Tampa and Osaka were not noteworthy, but being part of Wizards'"grand experiment" elevated his name recognition. And then there was Nice. In the days before the event, a virtual shouting match had broken out between Szigeti and Sol Malka on Wizards' discussion boards. It became so acrimonious that Ed Fear stepped in with a challenge designed to make them"put up or shut up." Within a day Szigeti accepted - but Malka declined, and most likely the whole incident would have ended there. However, Wizards' propaganda machine, the Sideboard, had other plans. During the Pro Tour, both parties were profiled, with the interviewer making sure to ask about the challenge.

But the coverage didn't stop there: Szigeti was also featured in two matches and covered on the fourth draft - a good deal of scrutiny for someone at his performance level.

Now while the coverage amount might seem excessive for someone who eventually placed 23^rd, it didn't set off any alarms. Sometimes the Sideboard likes to focus on players during an event regardless of how they are doing.

What really got my attention was the U.S. Nationals preview. Under the final section entitled Controversy?, the following appeared:

"Before U.S. Nationals even begins, many are wondering what did and will become of the Ed Fear challenge posted on Misetings.com prior to Pro Tour-Nice.... When level 5 judge Jeff Donais questioned Malka in Nice about whether or not he would accept the challenge, Malka is quoted to have replied 'Peter is absolute (expletive deleted).... You have to prove yourself first, son.' With PTR finishing in the Top 32 of Pro Tour: Nice, he has done just that. Whether Malka will accept the challenge now that Szigeti has officially 'proven himself' is yet to be seen...."

The above is disturbing for two reasons: First, when did breaking the Top 32 at a PT constitute"proving yourself" as a professional Magic player? I know there is no actual equation where a Pro Tour N^th place/lifetime winnings above x = proving yourself, but I would think that the threshold has to be a Top 8 finish or $25,000. There are certainly exceptions to this, but breaking a PT Top 32 for the first time in a non-team venue would not constitute one.

Secondly, there is the issue of Donais discussing the challenge with Malka. This could be explained away as harmless curiosity on Donais' part - however, I've found over the years that Wizards employees don't just do things on a whim. More than likely, he wanted some DCI/Sideboard involvement in the contest if it took place: a reporter for sure and possibly a judge as an"unofficial" observer.

And why would Wizards be interested in covering a challenge where one of the opponents is known primarily for his rudeness and immaturity?

Because Szigeti is the villain type they've been looking for.

That's right. Of all the game's"bad boys," PTR is the most Magic-friendly. There are a number of factors that make him desirable for Wizards: The primary one is the self-imposed limitations on his conduct. In the Nice profile he states,"[t]here is just one line I won't cross - I won't get banned from the DCI." Up to this point in the game's history, the villains have always been those individuals who had little or no respect for the rules and those who enforced them. Because of this, there has always been a tension between using them as foils during event coverage and trying to get rid of them due to their actions.

But with Szigeti, this problem goes away. Wizards gets plenty of smooth controversy, but without any bitter suspension aftertaste. This is not to say they support his antics outside Pro Tour events - in fact, I'm willing to bet that most of their employees find his actions distasteful. However, as long as he steers clear of any rule infractions the situation is win-win for Wizards.

Then there is his understanding of his role as a Pro. During the profile, he comments,"I think people read the Sideboard coverage not just to see how the cards interact, but how the people interact. They like to see a show, that's more entertaining." This is a concept few Pros actually grasp. It's not enough anymore to just play your game and pick up your check; as Magic matures, the expectation is that they will devote more time"selling" the game to the current and future customer base.

Now, there are many ways Pros can do this: Most of the time, it involves them showing up and interacting with players on a local and regional level. PTR, who has never been known for his people skills, instead does it by assuming the role of showman a la Jesse"the body" Ventura. He is obnoxious, elitist, immature, and flamboyant. It's the kind of combination people either love or hate - but regardless, it generates large amounts of publicity, which Wizards can exploit.

Finally, there's his fan base: Szigeti has a vocal following on the Internet. The group's size is unclear, but unlike past villains he seems to enjoy a decent amount of public support. This gives the Sideboard more flexibility in how they cover him; they don't always have to cast him as the heavy in Magic's soap opera. If you're not sure what I mean, think back several years when Mike Long was at the height of his evilness. Had the Sideboard printed stories casting him in a favorable light, they would have caught all kinds of flack for their decision. With Szigeti, that problem won't exist because regardless of how they cover him, there will be a receptive audience.

So from Wizards' perspective, PTR is the answer to their publicity prayers, right?

Wrong.

Let's back up for a moment. Earlier I said Szigeti is the villain type they're looking for. However, he's not quality evil. Or to put another way, in a world of Dr. Evils, he is only a Mini Me. What makes him less desirable?

1. A Less Than Stellar Record - After being on the Pro Tour for about two years, his best individual showing has been 23^rd place at Nice. His winnings to date: $6000. Admittedly, that's $6000 more than I've made, but then I haven't devoted the last 2-3 years to playing Magic. The return seems a bit low for the time he puts into the game....

Unrelated rant
This is for the pre-college crowd out there: During the Nice profile, Szigeti says he was"playing sports; baseball, football and wrestling. I was on a full scholarship, but Magic got in the way of school, in the way of sports, and all funding got lost."

If you're in college and Magic is affecting your grades/scholarship, quit Magic. That degree will be more important than anything you can win at a Pro Tour. And take it from someone who has thousands to pay back on his school loans: Anyone that gives up a full ride at college for Pro-level Magic is nuts. Even if, for example, Szigeti wins $200,000 dollars over the next 8 years, he only averages $25,000 a year before taxes. That's sitting at the poverty level.

Oooh, give me that life.

End unrelated rant

.... He does best at team limited events and in GPs (where his odds of dueling non-pros is much higher). Wizards needs a villain that can perform as well as he trash talks, and at this moment PTR does not fit the bill. And while Nice might have been seen as a turning point, his Nationals performance says otherwise.

2. He's Become Predictable - Szigeti's Magic career is predicated on his antics. As he puts it,"[p]eople want to see how far I will go." But his statement about never doing anything that would get him banned ultimately hurts his image. Beyond trash talking and donning a new outfit for every event, what else can he do without breaking the rules?

French kiss the Head Judge at Worlds?

Parade naked past the Top 8 at the next PT?

Actually, the problem isn't his limitations - it's that he revealed them to the world. With one sentence, he effectively neutered himself.

3. He's Not Funny - Some of you are thinking,"you just doesn't understand the younger generation's humor." Incorrect. Almost all teenage to college-age boys have always found the following to be funny:

• Swearing profusely
• Bodily functions
• Genitalia
• Situations where someone is humiliated (either by themselves or a prank)
• Violent slapstick

Essentially it's not very intellectual, but there's nothing wrong with it. Every guy I know enjoys a little base humor now and then. The point is, Szigeti's not good at it. If you need convincing, look at what is considered by many to be his best work: The Geddes Cooper Incident. Here's a synopsis if you are pressed for time - back in 2001, PTR takes a page from the Jerky Boys and contacts Cooper on IRC Efnet. He impersonates a then-PT regular (Lawrence Creech) and discusses the possibility of Cooper teaming with him for a GP and PT. After reading the logs and the running commentary, you get the distinct impression that this is less about humor and more about bullying someone he hates. Throughout the transcript, Szigeti makes it clear that Cooper is not liked on the tour and his card skills are lacking. While there is no way to prove the first point, I find their second assertion ironic - especially since in high level events where Cooper and Szigeti are both in attendance, PTR in every case, save one, came in lower than Cooper on the final standings. The most recent example of this occurred at 2002 U.S. Nationals.

If the above constitutes one of Szigeti's best comedic efforts, he needs to work on his material.

4. Begging For Votes - In the Nice profile Szigeti talks about his belief that in the future he will become one of the top players of all time; rivaling even Kai. However, this followed a none-too-subtle plea for invitational votes:"The main goal [for Szigeti], however, is to make it to the Magic Invitational. That's one of the reasons why the Los Angeles resident keeps drawing attention to himself - ('I think if I do this, I may get in this year, because I'm not making it on Pro Tour points anytime soon.')"

Translation:"I know I'm not a good enough player to earn an invite to one of the most prestigious events in Pro Magic - but since I've acted the fool for two years, can you please vote for me?" This reminds me of writers during the Writer's War competition soliciting votes in their weekly articles. It's unseemly. It's a lot like the unattractive senior girl in high school who hasn't been asked to the prom yet (you know the one), and in desperation she starts calling cousins and offering them cash to escort her to the big dance.

Szigeti is that girl.

No self-respecting villain campaigns like this: He should be more concerned about his game and qualifying for the Invitational in the future.

So what have we learned today?

• Wizards is shopping around for a company-friendly bad guy.
• At first glance, Szigeti seems to fit their needs. However, on closer inspection, he's damaged goods.
• If they are bound and determined to foster villains in the game (a policy I've always felt was wrong), let's hope they have the sense to find one of better quality.

Michael Clauss
enderwiggan55@hotmail.com