Ruel Likely For Hall Of Fame Now That He’s Suspended

Posted on August 21, 2009
Filed Under Articles, Flashbacks, Staff | 1 Comment


RENTON, Wash. — Wizards of the Coast officials expressed optimism Friday that Olivier Ruel would be an eventual shoe-in for the Pro Tour Hall of Fame now that he’s suspended.

“There have been a lot of players who have done great things for Magic: The Gathering,” said Mark Rosewater of Wizards. “Some of these players you notice, and then others you don’t notice so readily, simply because there are so many who are exceptional. However, now that Ruel has been suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct — now I’m beginning to see how great he’s been for Magic: The Gathering,” Rosewater said.

“I mean, now I can finally see that Ruel is really a dashing antiauthority maverick — like Mike Long,” he said.

“I don’t know why I didn’t see that before,” Rosewater said.

Rosewater said that pushing for players who haven’t cheated or haven’t displayed unsportsmanlike conduct is easy.

“Anyone can endorse someone who’s never cheated or never done something unsportsmanlike,” Rosewater said. “It’s endorsing cheaters and the unsportsmanlike — that’s what takes courage,” he said.

Other experts said that the suspension makes Ruel a top contender for the honor, which he could become eligible for in 2008.

“There are two things that I know,” said longtime Magic observer and professional Gary Wise. “One, that players we’ve never heard of — you know, the ‘chaff players’ — should automatically concede to their deserving betters once they can’t make Top Eight,” Wise said.

“And two, if we were to vote for Ruel, or vote for Mike Long, or Ryan Fuller, or Bob Maher, or whomever we vote for or might select, they would deserve it,” he said.

“Because we voted for them,” he said.

Wizards spokeswoman Tina Gaffney said that the two issues are similar.

“The world of ‘not cheating’ and ‘playing by the rules,’ it’s like, that world ‘can’t make Top Eight,’” Gaffney said. “So, it should just concede to cheating and unsportsmanlike conduct. Do you see what I mean?” she asked.

- Aug. 11, 2006

Comments

One Response to “Ruel Likely For Hall Of Fame Now That He’s Suspended”

  1. Jeff H on January 29th, 2010 3:42 pm

    I love how people were like “yeah he cheated, but look at how much he won!” Um, how do you think he always did so well???

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