TCO: Mark, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us today. I really appriciate it. For those readers, who do not know you, or how you came to compete for this year`s world championship, tells us your story.
MLX: I went 12-0 with Steph at Origins. Not wussy 11-0 like some soon to be former World Champions, a very manly 12-0.
TCO: We are now just two weeks before the World Championships, do you know who you are going to use?
MLX: Working on that right now, but mostly drinking cause it`s St. Patricks day at Jim`s house. We did shovel the driveway to help prepare though.
TCO: What decks do you feel are your biggest threat?
MLX: I fear no deck.
PSYCHO: Hey... can I have $5?
MLX: If he buys my Mania ticket and mentions this ad, I`ll give him 5$ off, which is like giving him 5 dollars.
TCO: If you win the World Championship, you get to make your own card. Do you have plans already for what card you’re going to make? Are you willing to share it with us?
MLX: Not done with it yet, but be sure to look at it very closely. Very closely.
TCO: Having been to the world championships before, how is that impacting your preparation?
MLX: My plan is to not forget how to play Raw Deal when I face Jim in the cut.
TCO: Has the late announcement of the formats for the worlds impacted your preparation at all?
MLX: It helped me greatly as I had an AB deck designed.
TCO: Raw Deal seems to be becoming more political over the last year. Has this impacted you at all, do you see this impacting you at all?
MLX: It has not, Raw Deal for me has always and only been about the great friends I`ve made through playing. That`s what I will take with me if/when my involvment with this game ends.
TCO: What are your feelings on Revolution?
MLX: I don`t like the severity of the aggresion rule, I think 6 was too high. Other than that I don`t have any real problems with the format at this time, other than of course lack of superstars, but that will improve with time.
TCO: The Mark Laroche Xperience – a great party, or the greatest party?
MLX: I`m only starting in my drinking for the evening. I`ll come back to this question in a few hours with a follow up.
TCO: Besides yourself, is there someone that you’re cheering for this year at the World Championships?
MLX: If I can`t be victorious, I`d like to see either Jim or Will win it as they`re both close friends and good people.
TCO: What are your plans for the future?
MLX: I just applied for a new job, so hopefully I get it and can afford this condo I want and I`ll move into it. Then maybe I`ll meet a nice girl and settle down. Cutting back on the drinking would be a plus too, but I have no time for that right now as it`s St. Patty`s day. Then maybe I`ll have a kid, and raise him to be a shepard. You don`t see too many shepards these days. Then I`ll turn like 50, and decide that`s too old and kill myself after drinking a bottle of Wild Turkey 101. But only after a massive party.
TCO: Which is better, Cake or Pie?
MLX: Cake fools.
TCO: Will the Saints make it to the Superbowl next year?
MLX: I don`t know or care.
TCO: The soapbox is yours. Are there any parting comments you`d like to share?
MLX: If you`re at Worlds and don`t show up to the massive party afterwards, you`ve wasted an entire weekend of your life and you can`t have it back.
Oh, and thanks to all the great people I`ve met during my time playing this game.
TCO: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today.