Here is a log that chronicles ECC4, according to my perspective. All names mentioned will be either in a first name basis, or by their #capcom nickname.
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May 28, 1999
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Motel 6 and the Break
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Ok. We (meaning Team Texas) were supposed to leave at 9:45pm on Thursday night, arriving in NJ around 1:53am Friday morning. Of course, planes are always delayed, so we didn't get there until 5:10am. We got our car and went to Motel 6, arriving about 6:00am. So we checked in, and ate BK for a while. I then convinced the hotel manager to give us a night free, since we literally missed our planned arrival. So it was about 1:00pm. We started to go to the Break, but then we saw the Maxstah in front of the Motel. So we BSed for a little, then headed out to the break. Not suprisingly, no one was there, besides the Cannons, but we played a little in order (about an hour) to get the feel of the sticks. Then Maxstah comes and decides that everyone wants to go to NY. So most of them go, leaving us behind, because we left some people behind to sleep (Mike Zavar and Jumpsuit Jesse) SO we went to pick them up, (along with Kuro, where we met at the Break)and lo and behold, Team Cali was there with our guys, shooting the shit. We relaxed for a little, and decided to go to NY also. I swear there was like 20 fools total going, with Tobias being our tour guide throughout the NY trip.
When we got on the train, we were talking about old and new times, but some people (like John Choi and Kuro, to name a few) wanted to take some zzzzzz.... That's ok, since it was a long flight to get here. We conversed, then got off our original train, then went on another to arrive at Penn Station. From there, it was a walk, and like 3 subways to get to the Chinatown area. Then it was like 8 MORE blocks to the actual arcade we all wanted to see. Well, once we got there, we saw the people who took the first trip to NY, Maxstah, Ink and Ponder, etc. I swear, that arcade was the most rundown piece of shit, fish smelling, oriental infested (hehe) arcade I've ever been to. And to top it all off, no restrooms! Then we all played games for like 2 hours straight. Then Toby decides that we are to go eat, so we do, at some authentic Chinese restaruant. It was good shit, and we were talking about words that each region of the country uses (Cali: hella; EC: yo and yous; and Texas: fixin'). Then we arrived back at the arcade, played fer about 15 mins, and decided it was time to go back. So toby gave us the scenic tour, while some went directly back to the Break, going right by Times Square. This is where our Texas boy Chris got ahold of a 90lb. white anaconda (I think). We finally get back to NJ about 11:30 pm, where we find the break packed as shit. People were playing every game, with about 10 quarters lined up for each one. When the break closed at 1 am, everyone FINALLY went back to the motel.
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May 28, 1999
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Back at the Motel 6...
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We went back to the hotel, where everyone in Team Texas wanted to sleep. Me, I had to go pay money for the other nights. The fucking guy right there is fucking insane, so I fume a little, while finally meeting GoodRoots in that same room where I was arguing. I told him good luck, then went off. I arrived at John Choi's room, where Choi, Omni, King Tin, and a few others were staying. Then someone changed it to HBO, where they had Real Sex twentysomething. We all had a good laugh on that one, when Calipower, Jumpsuit, Maxstah, Jason Cole, and countless others came in the room. Max was trying to hook up his super gun, but couldn't. I was becomeing tired, so I left and went to sleep. Jesse soon came afterwards.
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May 29, 1999
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ECC4 begins....
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Well, most people got to the arcade at 12 noon. That's when the Break opened. But the tournament brackets were not set as of yet. So we decide to go eat at the Pizzaeria next door. But that was some greasy shit, but I ate anyways. We get back, play and play, and the tourney FINALLY starts at 2pm I think. Luckily I had the 4th match in the bracket, so I started early. I beat my first guy rather easily, and didn't get to play again until a few hours later. So I talked to mostly everyone, and played the Revenge from Mars pinball game. That game is so cool. My next match is then up, playing against some A-Birdie. I won that one easily as well, so I was feeling good, until I found out that some guy named Alex Valle was my next opponent. So I was saying to myself, why do I have to face this fool? But until that match, it was like ANOTHER hour before I get to play him. So when me and Alex were playing, there was many a fool watching in the other room, being confused that I played Ryu and he played Charlie. I lost that one, and waited longer for my match. Then I played some EC guy named Charlie with his Guy, and lost to that. So that was my day in a3. But I watched the rest of a3, and enjoyed it. But, it was the first time that I saw a Chicken Shit Vega being played. I know it's whatever it takes to win, but damn! That was to me, pure chicken shit. I call it the agressive turtle. When the finals had ended, it was close to 10pm, and brackets were slowly being made for the next Tournament, Super Turbo. From there, they had the preliminary rounds, then ended 10 mins before the Break had closed. From there, I got to meet Todd (zeruel), his girlfriend Gina (A-Sakura) and countless others from IRC and everywhere else. So the break closed, leaving us to go to White Castle with Calipower.
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May 29, 1999
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Oh boy... back at the motel... | |
Well, we ate at White Castle, eating some of the NASTIEST food ever, while my drink was bleeding the ink from the paper cups.... Bad food. At the same time we were eating, other folks went to the liquor store to buy some beer, and by the time we finished, they got back, all in time to go back to the hotel. Then I went to back to my room, were I started to fall asleep. Then Rob comes in, saying to wake my bitch ass up, and start drinking. So I get up, start drinking, and having a good time. So Calipower comes back to our room, and HE starts drinking. Then it was like 20 or 30 people coming in and out of the room. So me and Mike and Rob decide to do the same thing. We went everywhere, and before I know it, it was only me, Calipower, and Rob (CaliSean) left, either drinking or having laughs at 6am in the morning. So I decide to leave Cali in his room, while me and Rob go to sleep in our room. And this was like at 7am.
Well, I got up around 11 am. So did everyone else in our room. So we had to hurry the fuck up if we were to make the tournament in time. Some people were in the losers bracket already in Super Turbo, so they had to go to the arcade first. Since I was on the winners bracket, I had time to get ready while the other people are getting dropped off. While getting ready, we saw Rob (CaliSean) and Thao, and told them to go with us, since everyone had left THEM. That is when I finally met Thao, and he seems to be pretty cool. But, he always wanted to check a little something on Rob. And all this time I thought Rob had nothing like that. So we went to the Break, finally, around 12:45. They were still playing the losers bracket, so I had time to goof off. So I went to get a little snack, and wait for my next game. Then my second match came up, against Jesse Howard. Jumpsuit told me that this was a hard guy, so I asked for advice. He said to pick Ryu, so I did. (I suck with Ryu in ST). Well, Jesse brought out OG Ken and proceded to whoop the living hell outta me. Then I picked DeeJay, and STILL got my ass whooped. Damn this! But I talked to Jesse after our match, and I told him I've heard a lot about him, and he wasn't shit. Haha, not really, but I gave him my respect, humbly. By the time my match in ST started, 2i started. So five minutes pass by after my ST match, and my 2nd Impact match had started. All this time I was tired as fuck from the previous night, and didn't even feel like playing much. But I did anyways, and I played some guy. I think he played Ken or something, but I know I beat him easily. Then, right after THAT, I had to go back to ST and play Henry Cen. Oh boy, there was mad shit talking here! AFter some words (I'ma whoop ya!) We started. I played Honda, and he played OG Guile. I won the 1st, and he beat me the 2nd. I picked Honda again for the final match, but he BARELY wound up beating me on that one. I had that one. But, I'll get him again next time. Then it came around to my second match in 2i, it was some guy who played Alex. It was a good, basic Alex player, but I wound up getting the best of him, but BARELY. I was still out of it (being sleepy and all) at the time. It was an HOUR before my next match in 2i, so I got a kick outta watching the ST finals, and also saw Jumpsuit get the crap whooped AGAIN outta him by John Choi's Sagat. From there it was a little 30 minute break between ST and Alpha 2. So, I watched some 2i action until my name was one of the 1st (I think) outta a2. So my fist opponent there was none other than Tom Cannon. I remember that whooping he gave me last year in 2i, so I thought he was gonna murder me in this game, since I haven't played too often since a3. But, by some dumb luck, I wound up winning that one, with him and his Dhalsim and my Evil Ryu. So, I got half my revenge on the Cannon Bros.! Right after that, I had my match against Elu in 2nd impact. That was a good matchup, especially when Elu parried Sean's EX Tornado in the air! And he retaliated with a quick hit to end my round in a loss. But I prevailed over him eventually with a Sean vs. Sean matchup with the lucky green clothes to take the win. During my match with Elu, I started to become alive again, with the coke finally kicking in, and started to get a little hyper. Soon was my second match in a2, where some guy with SOMEONE (forgot the char) beat me. RIGHT after that, I have my next match, against some EC'er whom I will call Ratboy. This is some ranting here. He had a SORRY ass ken, he had SCRUB combos, and he stunk like shit. I knew I was in trouble in this match because when I tried my combos, a taunt would come out! And this was bad. I wound up losing two in a row when I shouldn't have. I have to look at some of that footage, so I'll know what I did wrong. Hmph. Since I was in the losers bracket now, I only had to wait a couple of mins before my next match. And by sheer dumb luck, I had to face that guy Charlie again who eliminated me in the a3 tournament. I picked Sean, he picked Elena. That, I admit, was a fucking good Elena that he had, and always caught me in the air, using standing short (I think) into Spinning Beat, HA! So he whooped me AGAIN, and said it was a good match. Altough it was not in my part. Hmph. I think I'll add that Charlie Wong character to my revenge for next year and kick ass list. Oh well. I got to watch the 2i quarters, semis, and finals. On those matches, they were really good. I was a little impressed with Eddie Lee's Ibuki, who admirably had to face an evil Akuma in the semis AND in the finals. We all know who won in the finals, so I don't need to say it here. Well, it was over, and I was waiting for my next match in a2. So I ate that Philly Cheese Steak and the no ice Soda at the counter, conversing with everyone. Then I made a discovery, Rob and MrWizard took off on everyone! I know they did kinda bad, especially Rob, but DAMN. They left early. We assumed that they went to NY and did their thang over there. So I was playing some other games for a while, then I still wasn't called for a2 yet. So I ask the Cannons what the deal is, and fuggers forgot to put me in the loser's bracket! So they put my name, and another guy comes up asking when he is up. Tom said that he was next, and looked at me. I was like, why are you looking at me? You're the guys who fucked up! But then I knew his intention. So I wound up facing that guy in 5 minutes, and I made VERY short work of him, with my Evil Ryu. 25 minutes pass, and my next opponent would be Eddie Lee. I picked my usual character, while he picked Rose. I only assumed that he watched the best players go at it, and me, well, NOT, because he was defeating me with that infernal low strong that was so common in the finals later. So he beat the crap outta me, and that was it in a2. I was becoming tired again, so I went to our van, since I had the keys, and took an hourlong nap in there. I was feeling good outta there, so I got a chance to catch the beginning of the a2 finals. David Sirlin and Thao were going at the for the championship. It was the MOST BORING finals match of the whole tourney, in my opinion, with Ryu only being played at the beginning. Mostly, it was a Chun vs. Rose match, in which I saw the same shit over and over and over and over and over and over again. Sirlin finally won that match. Of course, right when 2i had ended, it was time for MvC, and NO I did not see this one. I don't like watching insanity for that long! So Hyper Fighting was about to start, but I decided not to stick around for this one. So we got beer, food, and went back to the hotel. Everyone started to review footage, and eat and drink. Me, I was tired as fuck, and no other people were back as of yet (to my knowledge). So I decided to go sleep and call it a night. I woke up a few times, and saw different people coming in and out of the room. I remember Wizard, Rob, Thao (I think) at different times. Antoher time I woke up, only Jesse was awake, giggling at his Fei Long performance when he got that 90% comeback. He MADE me watch it, and was going, look at me, LOOK AT ME! Then I fell right back to sleep. From when I went to sleep, most of the Cali folk was gone, Mike Zavar was gone, and the others were fast aleep.
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May 31, 1999
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Time to go back home.... | |
Well, we woke up about 11am, so we got ready, and started to check out. I soon learned that there were over 30 BEERS from last night, and no one could get to it. Me, I was way too tired to drink, so if I were alright the night before, 8 of them would have gone easily. But, we had no choice BUT to leave them there, sort of a tip for the housekeepers. It also turns out that some of us rented another room, because of taking the Cali people to the airport, so that they can get some serious sleep. Some of us went to go eat at some STOOPID, ugly buffet. You know it was fucked up when you can only eat one plate at a BUFFET. Then we dropped off one person, and went to the break to kill some time, since our flight left at 8pm. So we played for 4 hours, with no one being there (big suprise), except for Zeruel. He played a little, then left, so we also decided it was time to go. We picked up everyone, and went to the airport, on our way home.
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May 28-31, 1999
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I have to do this too, ya know.... | |
Well, where do I start. Team Houston, for doing so well in this event, and paying me for the damn motel. Peter (Cloud) Ong, for going and making us Team Texas. Todd (zeruel), Gina (A-Sakura), and John Crespo for making this happen. Anthony and Tom Cannon (Inkblot and Ponder) for helping big time in the event. (And special to inkie, whom I beat in a2.) Toby (Tobias). You the man toby, for being the tour guide of NY, and being just plain cool. The staff at the Break. Sorry ass people, putting NO ice in the drinks, but good sandwiches. Derek (Omni), for being so....young. Kris G. (Maxstah) for being the BIG DADDY and being my smoking companion. To the rest of the VA guys, we need TX vs VA one day! To Wes Truelson, for being a BIG mofo and putting serveral things into perspective. To all of those people who beat me in the tourneys. I have no love lost, only a raging desire to come back stronger. All except for Henry Cen. I'm gonna get that Texas Road Rage on ya next time. Jamie (Ultima), damn, for being so HARDCORE. Elu, thanks for the beatdown I gave you, and that parry you did to me! To the Cali folk: Alex Valle (Calipower), you the man, thanks for the go around in LA, and staying up with me on Sat night. We gots to do dis again. Rob Ingrim (CaliSean), for being a dumbfuck, and also staying up with me. It's all about the fun. Joey (MrWizard), for talking MAJOR shit, and saying WAAAAAAY TOO GOOD too often. (oh yeah, I'm waiting on you guys to make it to Tejas) Jason Cole, for doing the robot dance one night and trying (that's right i said TRYING) to be mack daddy. Thao, for being the person who always had to check on one little thing. John Choi, for being SOOO horny during the Real Sex 27 on Saturday night. Apoc, for being the insane Star Wars fan. I know I'm missing other people, so whomever I missed, it was fun, and we gots to do it again.
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