What a Piece of Jank!!!
The Jank Awards
Hello everyone. It is I. And like a renegade master, I am back once again. In this blog, where everyone is focussing on points and the changes to the game, I’d like to do what I did, this time last year, and highlight some of the amazing people that I have met within the community and tell you (probably against their will) just what they contribute towards the ‘scene’ and explain why these people are integral to the future of our game that we all know and love.
So, let’s get into it…..
Award for most humble man in X-Wing
Winner: Matt Whitham (Matt With-Ham)
This is Matt. He doesn’t smell of ham at all, and he doesn’t really carry it in his bag unless he’s shopping, or eating it. But he may be vegetarian, or something, so I don’t really know.
What I DO know is that he has a big beard, a kind heart and an almost fanatical devotion to the pope. Although one of those things is not true.
Matt became a friend of mine through X-Wing. I have some awesome caped target locks and ‘Live Stream Dream Team’ range rulers because of this man. He approached me at Nerf Herder to present me with aforementioned target locks because he enjoyed this little corner of the internet called my blog. He gives up his own time to make awesome swag for us all within the community and can often be seen frequenting the hallowed halls of Harlequins up in Preston. Quite simply put, he cares about people. He is a great opponent, and a thoroughly nice guy to boot.
I always felt that Matt didn’t feel overly comfortable with being ‘X-Wing Famous’, so this may come as a surprise to him that I write these words about him.
In summary, I am glad to have Matt in my life. He enhances my gaming experiences and if there was anyone more humble, I am yet to find them. So please welcome Matt into the X-Wing Hall of Fame, and give him a massive cuddle if you see him out and about.
Award for Just being as Safe as Fuck
Winner: Will Pintar
Will. Something we all like if we have rich, elderly relatives. After all, money is more important than family, right? I jest. Or do I? Anyway….
Will is quickly becoming one of my favourite people in the world. He lives and breathes the ‘Don’t be a Dick’ philosophy and is a true advocate for community expansion and building bridges between people and teams. When encouraged by Ben Hibberd, he’s one of the funniest and chilled guys I’ve ever met. He cares more about the enjoyment of his opponents games, than he does of the result, and this makes him a formidable player. He’ll smash your face in, like a smiling assassin, and you’ll thank him for the experience afterwards.
As one of the hosts on the Sith Takers Snap Shot Podcast, I notice he’s starting to speak French a little. I’m not sure how I feel about this. But alongside his compadre’s on that podcast, tend to put on a really good show. Not as good as Tuesday Night Fly Casual (on the Weekend Warlords Network), mind you, but still great none-the-less.
In all seriousness, I appreciate Will a great deal. Anyone that gives so much to the community with very little expectation of anything in return, is fine in my book. So ladies and gentleman, please give the 8ft 3in lanky X-Wing Famous smiling assassin my regards if you see him out and about.
Award for most ridiculous game of X-Wing vs Me
Winner: Paul Tyrer — Beanie Games Regional 2017/18
So, the first time I met Paul was great. We were drawn against each other in a mid-table classic to win absolutely bugger all. It was round 6, and we were both bollocksed. I cluster mined Paul’s Auxzitucxk (sic) Wookiee things into a corner. he spent 25 minutes of the game trying to escape the devastation Sol Sixxa had left in his wake. It was ridiculous and sticks in my memory to this day as one of the best and most fun games I have ever had.
This was totally down to Paul being an absolutely amazing opponent and providing me with many great memories of that day.
I had a real chance to sit down with Paul at the Sheffield Store Championships recently and found we had many many things in common. Our love of Pro Wrestling being one of them. If you go back and read my previous blogs, you’ll see one has the ‘Break The Walls’ Chris Jericho picture as the header. This was as a nod to him. He’s now someone I enjoy spending time with, and will always try to seek out at the tournaments. So Paul, if you’re reading this, thanks for adding your unique personality into my X-Wing world, and I hope to see you soon.
Award for best Lookalike in X-Wing
Winner: Marty Vicary (aka Captain Rex)
We all know Captain Rex, right? No? Well, let me tell you just how privileged I feel to have become a friend of this incredible man.
Simply put, if I became a father/husband/person half as honorable as this gentleman, then I would be happy.
Rasta introduced me to Marty at the System Open 2018, for the reason that we both have an unhealthy obsession to flying Scurrg H-6 Bombers, and in particular, he’s only one of two players I’ve found in the country that plays Sol Sixxa at a competitive level.
We’ve since exchanged Scurrg Lists, spoken on the phone (after an absolutely awesome game against his son Matt at Nats this year, that invariably put me out of making the cut when he beat me by 3 points), and he’s a regular viewer of Fly Casual on a Tuesday.
After getting to know this beautiful man, and his wonderful family, I would just like to say that I’m glad you stuck with the game when it went to 2.0. I’m humbled that the game provides you common ground and gives you a platform to spend time and bond with your family. I wish I had the same bond with mine.
You sir, quite simply, are a Legend.
Award for Best Newcomer, and new owner of #CapeMeta
Winner: Matt Coles
Matt Coles plays down in the deepest darkest depths of the Devon/Cornwall Area. But, Matt needs no real explanation. I met him last year when he came up to Warlords to play. He’s a young man, and like me, has had a rough time.
The cape gave me the confidence I needed to overcome some of my short-comings and when I decided to stop wearing the cape, it was suggested to me that instead of ‘retiring’ it, I should ‘pass the torch’, so to speak. And based on my interactions with Matt, the conversations we’ve had, and the sheer balls of the guy to tell me things about himself that I consider to have been very difficult for him, I decided that there was no-one else I’d want the cape to go to. If it gives him the confidence and the safety that it gave me in my recovery, then it would have done it’s job. He’s perfect to continue the ‘legacy’ and it’s a symbol of pride and confidence to help anyone overcome the mental health problems that most of us experience within the gaming community.
It’s never about winning or losing. It’s about having the confidence to function, interact, and meet awesome people to aid in the recovery process. X-Wing allows this. I needed it. I think Matt needs it (I could be wrong!), so I thought he could benefit from what Ben Hyde started, I continued and now he owns.
Good Luck Matt. You’re awesome.
Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community
Winner: Rasta Maice
The People’s Champion. Rasta is without doubt the figurehead of UK X Wing. The first ever European Champion, Father of the World Champion, Warlords Team Captain and thoroughly beautiful person.
I’m not going into too much about this, but I will say this…. We all have problems. We all have shit go down. And we all struggle.
Rasta is the guy that despite having to deal with his own problems, always puts others first. Always. I have yet to find anyone that, after meeting him, has a bad word about him. He’s pretty much the Godfather of UK X-Wing, the central point of our community and the reason I play this silly game of plastic spaceships. If he was an upgrade card, it would be ‘Selfless’.
So, Rasta Maice, thank you for everything you have done for me. I owe you a debt I could never repay.
And Finally….
So join me in congratulating the winners. It’s been fun doing this blog, and, here’s the twist….
I wanted to highlight the above people for the purpose of this final statement.
It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. It matters if you are a good person. And being a good person is a choice. So please, choose it. All of the above choose to be people over competitors. They choose honour over victory. They choose kindness over success. Choose Wisely.
Anyway, that’s it from me. There are loads more people to mention, but thats for another time.
So, hug your partner, tell your kids you love them, hold your head up high, and Leeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttssssss X-WIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!
One Love
Steve x