The year 2001 is upon us, and like most other people in the world, I've made a few resolutions in an attempt to improve my overall sense of well-being and all that. Three of the resolutions are just some personal things I'd like to improve upon - and they'll probably have a small effect on the fourth resolution I've made.

The first resolution is to drink more water. Dumb as it sounds, I feel like crap if I don't get enough fluids. I'm doing pretty good so far, seeing as how many times I walk the three flights of steps up to the bathroom. The second is to learn more about, and possibly practice, Feng Shui. What I know so far about this eastern philosophy is that it involves WAY MORE than just rearranging the furniture in your living space. I've found some good websites on the subject and I'll keep you updated. The third is to run a mile in six minutes. I was pretty close last summer, but living in the frozen wastes of Northwest Ohio isn't conducive to outside activities - and I hate running inside.

Now to the fourth resolution and the crux of this article. My goal for the year 2001 is to finish in the Top 8 at a major tournament. Lofty, I know, but competition and being the best is in my blood. I've been playing tournament level Magic since the Tempest Limited PTQs, so why haven't I succeeded before? Well, let's dig the ol' letter jacket and yearbook out of the dusty boxes of yester-year and see what has made me successful at other activities in my life.

Back in high school (eight friggin' years ago), my football team went 7-3. As a matter of fact, the overall record of football teams I was on is 29-13. Not too shabby. I also wrestled as a kid from grades 3 through 8. My record in the 8th grade was 17-1, with several tournament championships that year. Heck, in the 5th grade I finished in 7th place at the county spelling bee. I was also on the high school academic team, and my team finished in 4th place at the schoolwide college bowl tournament. So winning and doing well is nothing new to me.

Fast forward to the present time and my mediocre Magic "career." I call things as I see them - and I stink. I am not good, at all. My best performance ever is in a Sealed deck tournament that started at midnight, and included a Tempest starter, an Exodus booster, and a Mirage booster! Complete randomness, I know, but Fling and Vitalizing Cascade took me to a third place finish. Other than that, I usually go 1-2 and drop for some Draft action. Hindsight is 20-20, so let's take a look at what made me good and apply that to Magic:

Football practice started at 3 p.m. or so and lasted till 5:30 on Monday through Wednesday. On Mondays we watched films, Thursday we reviewed plays under the lights on the field, and Saturday we ran and had a light workout after the game on Friday. Total hours invested: roughly nine. In the post season, the team spent four days a week lifting or running for about and hour and a half each day. Total hours invested: Six or so. Wrestling practice was about two hours every day, four days a week, depending on when we had a match. Total hours invested: Eight. And when I was getting ready for the county spelling bee, my mom made me SEVERAL audiotapes where she read the word, gave a definition, and used it in a sentence. Rather intense for a 5th grader, but I wanted to win.

Total time spent playing Magic during the week: Two hours, sometimes. None, usually.

Hmmm, as my parents like to say to me: "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..."

Next time (if the Ferrett allows) (He will - The Ferrett), is quality better than quantity? Should I spend more time playing Magic against anybody that can tap a land, or find better players than myself and get pounded in the head?