Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Blono Tecmo XVI


It was Friday and I stayed at school making sub plans and catching up on work while I waited on fatferris61 to meet me to drive to Blono Tecmo XVI.  Mike gets to my school and we headed out making some pretty good time on the drive.  Next thing I know, an Illinois state trooper has his lights on and is behind me.  I immediately pull over which happened to be on an interstate bridge just 25 miles from our hotel destination.  As he approached my glow-in-the dark Honda Civic he asked me why I parked on the bridge.  He also wanted to know if I was trying to get him killed.  I honestly was just trying to pull over.  After about 15 minutes he gave me my citation, which to my surprise, was only $120, and we were headed back on I-74 for some Tecmo scrimmages at the Extended Stay Hotel in Bloomington.


Mike ordered some Pizza from Marco's and we played 13 games until roughly 4 AM.  The rust was real.  My passing progressions were noobish at best.  Defense was lacking.  Hell, I wasn't even tapping well when we first started.  Mike won four of the games and played pretty well.  I definitely had reservations about any high finishes for the tournament.  If there was any consolation, I maintained my sobriety since November 2018.  I was able to get up pretty easily the next morning before heading to The Station for Blono Tecmo XVI because of this.



The Station was a quaint little place, which was perfectly suited for a Tecmo tournament.  For the first time in my three year Blono experience, the tournament was in a public place.  This didn't change the experience as people still enjoyed themselves (maybe in a more responsible fashion).  The tournament kicked off with two more inductees to the Blono Tecmo Hall of Fame.  T-shirt designer and entertainment extraordinaire Jerm Plue, along with multi-Blono champion (and new dad) Kasey Wells was welcomed with nice words from Tim Mann and Hall of Fame plaques.  Rules and expectations were covered and we were off.  


Before my games I was able to catch up with both newly inducted Hall of Famers and an old friend Matt Tarrillion from Perrysburg, MO.  I also caught up with Bryan Furr and quickly realized he was one of my shot mates from last year.  As a police officer I told him my sob story about the speeding ticket.  The Daniels brothers, Donny Ballou, Tim Mote, and the list goes on.  So many people I am glad to see each year.  Such nice guys who are there for the camaraderie as well as the competition.

I opened up group play against Travis Thomas, a newcomer to Tecmo tournaments.  He called PIT vs RAMS.  I went with the scoring.  I tried to explain my history and experience with the game,  but the 45-0 result just made me feel bad.  Next year I propose 28-point max differential per game. Travis, please make it back next year!


Game 2 was against Ken Jenkins, a guy I remember from the past two years, but never talked to.  He won the toss, but deferred and I called PHI vs RAI from the Player 2 side.  This is my go to matchup for racking up differential and it did not disappoint with the score ending at 0-49. Both these guys could have been so pissed, but in true Blono fashion, they were talkative and open to learning new things about the game.

(he exited out before I could get the blue screen picture)

Game 3 was against Jayson "Black" Lynch, former Blono champion.  Jayson was smart and called a trash can matchup of IND vs N.E.  I took the defense.  The game was pretty close in the first half, but Jayson didn't get much Tecmo luck and I capitalized with John Stephens and Marv Cook.  Final score was 3-35.  Jayson is a good guy for Tecmo.



Final game of group was against Pete S. (Pistol Pete).  In providing seeding input for groups before the tournament, I heard nothing but great reviews for Pete.  I ended up placing him as a 1 seed.  I was told that I had grossly misjudged him and we started a CHI vs CIN matchup.  Tomczak decided to be a turd in this one.  He threw four passes out of bounds, including a JJ pick to Barney Bussey who came from out of bounds to do so.  Pete was down 10-7 late in the third, completed a long pass to Rodney Holman, after which I allowed him to score so I could get the ball back to clock control.  Once I switched Neal to RB I basically used the 4th quarter to go up for good 17-14.  Pete was super excited.  Good for him.  I thought he played well and knew what he was doing.  I was fortunate enough to play a really bad game and still get the victory.  While I won my group I lost the number one overall seed by only winning by three.


The number one overall seed was DPS with a 150-something differential, followed by Todd Daniels (147), myself (146), and I believe Mort (133).  Mike won his first three games in group, but because he only had a four person pool he had to play the other top seed Geoff Stork again.  In this game he ended up losing.  Storks edged out Mike in differential to win the group.

For a complete list of group play standings click here.

I awaited a bye round as the elimination bracket kicked off.  Mike won his first round game against Tony Hupp.  I waited the winner of Pistol Pete and Jason Mann.  Pete won and when I won the toss with a Jenny Jizz PAWG for our game I knew I had the perfect matchup.  He just got done playing me in a close game manning CIN.  My favorite team is S.D.  I called it, and as assumed, he took CIN.  My pass progressions came back and Butts was too much for Fulcher and company.  Final score was 42-7.


The next game was the winner of Tim Mann and my buddy Mike.  Mike was able to knock Tim off and now I play someone who practices with me before tournaments.  We know each other's strengths and weaknesses.  We know each others tendencies.  Mike went with a safe call for him (CIN vs K.C.).  Most know, I despise the Chiefs on Tecmo, at least playing with them.  I did pick them with my mind and not my heart.  One, because Mike always plays really well with K.C.  Two, because they are the better team in all three phases.  Last, but not least, Mike knows I play short pass game a lot.  I knew when the time presented itself I could get Paige to win routes, even on Fulcher.   That's what happens.  Paige caught two in-stride TDs with Fulcher covering.  Despite losing three turnovers to Mike's one, I won the game 14-28.


My next game was against Matt Tarrillion from Missouri.  Great Tecmo player and better human being.  This was the guy that beat me in pool play the year I won Madison.  He also gave me a scare one year at Midwest.  I knew this would be a tough one so I called CIN vs MIA.  For once in was glad I had CIN because I knew I would be able to run.  I played damn near perfect.  I was only up 14-7 late in the third, and managed to win 21-7, but the score was close than it indicated.  Matt ran well, but just got behind.  Can't get behind with the Dolphins.  You just can't.


My next game was the winner's bracket championship versus Mort.  I won the toss and here is the game.

After losing to Mort, I had to wait a few games to play DPS.  I know DPS has improved his game by playing every Monday in the DMEN Tap league in Chicago, IL.  I'm so jelly.  I watched him play Mort very closely before I played Mort so I knew I would have to play well to avoid a loss.  Here is the DAL vs. PIT matchup that DPS called.

That was much closer than it needed to be there at the end.  Great job Daniel.  You guys from Chicago really make me want to change my mind about Chicagoan's.  You are all so passionate about the game, but the friendship always comes first.  

In the next two games I would have to beat Mort twice for the title.  Mort won both tosses, but deferred the matchup call to me both times.  Thanks Mort.  It almost worked for me!




Congratulations to Mort on a great run.  While I really wanted to be a two-time Blono champ (and actually get my name on the belt) I have no problem and no excuses losing to Mort the way I did.  I was just glad we put on a good show for the Blono faithful who stayed and cheered us on. 


 2nd Place Second Year in a Row

 Tecmo Psycho and the Champ Mort

Tecmo Psycho (2nd Place), DPS (3rd Place, and Mort (1st Place)

Tim, Chris, and Mike P., you guys improve this thing every year.  You also do it without the lure of cash prizes, publicity, or recognition.  It is a true grass roots Tecmo the way it should be, and that's why this guy is coming back every year.  Don't change.  There's a reason this is the longest Tecmo tournament in the country, and will continue to be.



Mike and I stayed after.  Mike played some pick-up games with Matt Tarrillion while I scarfed down a mound, and I do mean a mound of beef, Fritos, Flamin Hot Cheetos, white queso, and cheddar cheese.  My God was that heavenly. I cannot believe I didn't take a picture of this.  Well wait, yeah I just inhaled it without thinking, but it would have made an epic picture.

Once I finished eating I helped Black Lynch move all the televisions into storage.  Some of those beasts could cause hernias.  Go with smaller CRTs Tim!  We said our goodbye's and headed back to the hotel.  Mike and I watched some YouTube videos before crashing.  The next morning we packed our stuff and headed to the car.  It was like Christmas morning.  A snowy, winter mix was coming down.  The drive home which normally takes about 2.5 hours (without excessive speeding) took just over 5.5 hours.  There must have been somewhere between 50-75 slide-offs, flipped trucks, and semi trailers.  All in all, I would do it again in a heartbeat.  Can't wait for installment 17!

Until next time,

Long Live Tecmo