Preview: May the 4th Be With You - May 4th, 2016

It's such a bittersweet time of the year...the last Duel of the season!  And for some of our friends, their last Duel ever.  Believe it or not, May the 4th Be With You will be our 25th league match.  Here's to reaching the quarter-century mark!

HISTORY:
Last year's May the 4th game was perhaps the most topsy-turvy battle in league history.  A strong dark side alliance by Curtis/Grant/Ryan was snuffed out and destroyed.  Alex had nearly set up a perfect path for victory with Han, but was then thwarted by his alliance.  Rob, using little ol' Jango, knocked out his wife for the improbable victory.  *pew pew!*

LINEUP:
May the 4th takes place on the first day of finals this year (eek!), but these brave souls have managed their time well to embark on the path to victory.  It's the last chance of the year...what are each hoping to accomplish?

Alex - With graduation at hand this is likely Alex's last Duel ever, and as a founding father of the league, he's hoping to do something nobody else has:  win three in a row.

Chris - Riding a nice little three game streak of top five finishes, there is only one outcome which Chris seeks:  his first career victory.

Curtis - Perhaps nobody has been on a bigger roller coaster this season than Curtis, who has finished last with a Jedi and first with a shooter.  Curtis hopes to:  make it to the Duel, other departments keep trying to schedule meetings with him!

Daniel - A string of recent bad luck has Daniel ranked just outside of the top 12 professional Duelers, so he needs to:  finish better than 7th, which would likely move him past Tommy.

Elijah - A part-time Dueler over the past two years and a regular on the Martin Hall underground circuit, the graduating Elijah has one last chance to:  finish in the top seven of a Duel.

Grant - The only silver lining to Grant's ninth place finish last month was his sweeeeet whirlwind that knocked out five characters in one shot, but he has to:  wait for his revenge on Ian until next year...Ian isn't playing!

Heath - For years this veteran CL but 12-Way noob has teased us with his interest and Dueling skills, but now is his time to:  jump in and experience his first 12-Way Duel.

JD - Everyone watched in horror last month as JD's Yoda was Debris-ed and Lightninged to death by Vader and the Emperor, without a chance to defend.  JD must:  shake it off, it's a new day and a new Duel!

Nathan - Nathan tasted the top five last month for the first time since winning back to back Duels.  He wants to:  win one more before summer vacation.

Rob - The loss of Padme and being part of the weaker alliance at the Duel of the Fates continued his career long streak of winless Duels.  He's gunning for:  a repeat victory on May the 4th.

Stephen - Stephen was a regular Dueler during the front half of the season, but he's been MIA since then.  He needs to:  shake the rust off!

Stevie - His upward trajectory in career best finishes got derailed with a rough character selection (Luke) in the Carbon Freezing Chamber last month.  He wants to:  get back at it, victory could be next for this rising star.

OBI-WAN AND JAR JAR PREDICT THE WINNERS:

Alright you knuckleheads, this is it.  The last game of the year.  Who do you think will win?

Jar Jar:  "Oooh!  Look!  Da winner be getting Poe's X-Wing!
Meesa be thinkin' Poe-za gonna win!"

That makes no sense!!!  Poe isn't even in the game!!!  GRRRR...  Obi-Wan, lemme guess...

Obi-Wan:  "For once I think Jar Jar might be right.
Poe is a daring pilot and has a lot of moxie!
Who does he remind me of...?  Oh!  Me!
He reminds me of me!  I think Poe is going to win.
He'll find the high ground.  In his X-Wing."

That's it you two idiots.  That's the last time I'm letting you be the prognosticators!  I've got a new guy lined up for next season, but you'll just have to wait until August to see who it is.

In the meantime, I hope to see all of you at the North Village classroom at 1:30PM on May the 4th!