In article <1992Dec22.094830.5935@doug.cae.wisc.edu>, pavao@cae.wisc.edu (Pavao Aaron) writes:
|> Greetings to Aryk Nusbacher and those who read these lines!
|>
|> First of all, I said nothing of winning Crown, just fighting there.
|> It is, IMHO, the single most challenging tournament of the year/half-year. It
|> is because of the calibre of fighters and the will to win that the challenge
|> is greatest. It is the CHALLENGE, the striving toward perfection, which I
|> hope for. It is the striving toward perfection (again IMHO) that is the
|> pinnacle of chivalry.
|>
|> Besides, IF I ever get to Crown and IF I get to, say, the semi-finals,
|> I'll either yield or die putting up a good fight. I wouldn't wish to skew the
|> contest too much (actually, the quarter-finals may be a good stopping-point as
|> well...).
|>
|> -> Shandler
|>
|> SCA: Chandler (Shandler) Greyfeathre
|> MKA: Aaron Pavao
|> NET: pavao@cae.wisc.edu
|> "The computer doesn't hate you, it's just out to get you."
|>
The choice is yours, but think of those entering the tournament who
very much want to win with the intent of reigning. Think of how someone
would feel if you eliminated them from the tournament and proceeded to
throw the next round. Think of how the winner will feel if he finds out
that you threw the bout or yielded. They will always wonder if they would
have won had the bout not been 'rigged'. Do you really want to spoil
someone else's moment of triumph in this way? The desire to test your
mettle is certainly a valid consideration, but anyone fighting that day
can be approached and fought (or met in a different tournament) on any other
day. Think of the Crown tournament as 'A tournament of those who wish to be Sovereign' and decline graciously. This would take you closer to the pinnacle of
chivalry than accepting the invitation under false pretences. (assuming your
Kingdom's Crown tournament is invitational) If, some day, you do decide
to follow the course of action you describe, I recommend that you tell noone
of your intent to eliminate yourself. There are those who may take a very
dim view of it.
I've been invited to several crown tournaments. While I've never been a
serious contender, I stopped accepting the invitations when mundane
considerations made reigning as King impractical. Though I felt
honoured to have been considered worthy of invitation, I was saddened to
have to decline. While I could have quite easily fought in the
tournaments, secure in the knowledge that my chances of reaching the
finals would have been vanishingly small, I would have felt dishonest in
doing so. You must of course follow your own conscience.
