Finally, the Winner

by Crazy Ivan

If you recall correctly, when I first announced the Myachigon Tribute contest I told everyone to use whatever medium they preferred.  At first I considered making it strictly a poetry contest, but eventually I decided to widen it.

I said in the introduction to the contest that your tribute "...could be a drawing, a poem, a photoshop, a true story, a fictional story, a collage, a sculpture... whatever you want".

Despite that, virtually all the entries were stories or poems, but one creative contestant decided to sum up the Myachigon in a photograph.  Two photographs, actually.  Given that the key to winning the contest was, as I stated in the original post, creativity, it seemed quite appropriate that this one would be the winner.

So a quick thanks to everyone who got involved.  It was really touching to read through everyone's entries and remind myself that the Myachigon meant as much to many of you as it did to me and the other Myachi Masters.  I really appreciate these entries, perhaps more than any other contest we've ever done on this blog.  Everyone deserved a prize but unfortunately I only had one to give away.  I'm sure you'll all agree that it is well deserved.

In the end, there was much debate at the House of Skills over the various entries, but the winner was eventually chosen unanimously.  It comes to us from our good friend and veteran Myachi Maniac, Kickstand (aka Coreyster):

I'm sure you've already figured it out, but that's the Myachigon, recreated with Myachis, tubes and a Bill Buckle.

And one more pic from the top:

One of the few times a Myachi Maniac ever said, "I wish
I had a few more long-boards..."

So thanks again for all the entries and congratulations to Kickstand!

We'll be announcing another new contest on Monday so if you didn't win (ie you're not Kickstand), don't worry, you're never too far away from the next contest.

Last One Before We Announce the Winner

Here's another touching memory of the Myachigon.  The next entry we announce will be at 6 O'clock and that will be our Grand Prize (Black Beard) winner.  Note that there are still some other entries that I did not publish today.  I'll keep those on file and likely post them over the next few days or weeks.

But before we announce the winner, here's another awesome runner-up:

One day I went with my Dad to FAO. I went to the Myachi section and took a huge long look at the beautiful treasured Gon! I heard there were Black Beards in the Gon in places nobody even looks!

I was jamming with Monk and Noodles until suddenly out popped Mantis, after that came Final Cut. We were making trades for Mantis’ black belt until he chose my offer! I was so happy! I jammed with it a little then took the tape off and realized there were no holes!

Then I took it to play Mantis in MYACH and all I can say was it was a pretty good game, even though I still got owned. I lost by 3 letters (I think). Then I started teaching people how to play Myachi and they ended up leaving pretty awesome! Then Noodles and Mantis played MYACH. I can only remember noodles getting 1 or 2 letters off Mantis. Then Final Cut and I played and the score was MYACH-0. I won.

Then I bought an FAO g’dundie from FAO and it turned out awesome! It is almost one of my favorite jammers and I love it so much! In 2 days it got SUMPOYIFIED! So that was my awesome day at The Myachigon that I will never forget!

-Gold

Myachigon Getting More Love

I will never forget the first time I went to Myachigon. To say it was amazing just wouldn't do it justice, so I figured it would be best just to tell the story.

It was the summer after my senior year. My last family vacation was approaching and it was my turn to choose where we would go. A year ago I had decided I wanted to learn to water ski. I wanted to ride the waves and ski my way through the summer, but my introduction to Myachi changed everything. After a year of learning tricks, jamming and collecting a total of 48 myachis, I knew where I would go, New York.

The trip to New York was slow. Tooooo slow. I felt like a little kid and wanted to ask, "Are we there yet?"... but I couldn't. My Mom sat beside me, and already slightly irritated that our vacation was determined by a "new version of a hackysack," it was best not to embarrass her. I sat in my seat like a good little boy and we finally landed.

Our first stop was the hotel, probably one of the nicest hotels I have been in, but I didn't notice. My mind was on one thing: myachi, myachi, myachi. As soon as I stepped out of the hotel, after throwing my bags on the floor, pushing my mom into the room, making her throw her bags down and sprinting to the elevator, I saw another kid jamming down the street and asked him where to find Myachigon. Little did I know, I was just 5 blocks away.

As I approached the VERY easy to find Myachigon, my heart raced with excitement. There were Maverick and Bones, both jamming. Maverick has been my idol since I first saw his jam in Washington Square, and meeting him was a dream come true. After he threw me a sack and I caught it, he said, "Not new to the game I see!" I laughed and replied, "Nah, I've been jamming for about a year now. It’s awesome to meet you." It was amazing to see how humble he was.

I looked at all the sacks they had, from the simple of simple to the rares of the rares. I offered to trade, but for not having a myachi shop around, I wasn't much to trade with. Little did that matter, I was so glad to be there. I bought 4 sacks on the spot and asked Maverick and Bones to sign my silver bullet. 

That day inspired me to train and train and train until I could become a Master. Myachigon not only changed my vacation, but inspired me to focus on Myachi. Myachigon was a place where I met tons of jammers, two masters and even got to show off a bit. Myachigon gave me pride, hope and a dream to cling to, and it was the place I spent the majority of my vacation at.

All good things must come to an end. And Myachigon is no exception to that statement. There is no doubt Myachigon was a good thing. It inspired thousands of people to join the best game in the world. It was a place to mingle, a place to trade and a place to learn. It will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

-Myachi Shogun

Yet Another Gon Tribute

Another poetic lamentation about the greatest toy display in human history.  This one comes to us from Myachi Maniac For Life, who regrets having never seen the Gon in person:

Like they say, only the good die young
At least those few years were filled with happiness and fun
You really don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone
Farewell, beloved Myachigon

I remember the day when news broke out
Filled with excitement, I wanted to shout
Pictures posted, stories shared
A Myachi mecca built with love and care

The JamCams, the TV’s, the shirts and the sacks
There was nothing that the Myachigon lacked
Standing in F.A.O. tall and proud
She was always home to a wonderful crowd

Sadly, all good things must come to an end
A bittersweet parting with a dear old friend
The pages will turn, ending this chapter of life
But the sorrow and pain hurt like a knife

Hopefully one day she’ll rise again
To be a home to a new group of friends
Standing tall and proud, just like before
Taking center stage in another store

Until that day, she will live on

In memories and stories of the beloved Myachigon

Always, with love, we'll remember the past

Hoping those good times won't be the last.

And here's another awesome tribute to our beloved Myachigon...

Myachigon Creative Story

I’ve only been ‘Myaching’ for a month or so now, and what can I say I’m more addicted to it then Oxygen. It’s just something that has become a part of me, like another hand, foot or eye and without it I feel like there’s something missing with me. Myachi and the people that play it have formed a close nit community and friendships from all over the globe from America to Australia. Where they can meet up, either in person or online and jam for hours on end.

Which leads me to my main point, the thing that hits hard is, because I live in Australia I will never, ever (unless you guys decide to rebuild it) be able to experience the Myachigon and the fun and memories you guys have built up over the last 3 years, the good, the bad, the occasional slip over the back of your head whilst pulling a mad combo which then lands behind an object causing you to find a small child to climb behind said object to grab it before his mother comes back... ok that last one might not of happened but you get the picture.

Anyways back to my point, many of you in the thousands will have many memories of Myachigon so cherish them heck even tell your grandkids one day because many other jammers, from Australia and other parts of the world won’t be able to see and know the ‘epicness’ of the Myachigon, but when I rock up to the Myachi store in Times Square in December tell me a couple of stories, I’d be glad to hear.

STWAKOJ

-Dave aka Gobet

Myachigon Tribute #1

The contest ended Wednesday Night and yesterday we all looked over the entries and chose the winner.  The winner will be announced at 6 pm, but between now and then I'll be sharing a number of the entries with you.  Many of them were too touching not to publish and I wish after reading them that I had a dozen Black Beards to give out.

I should note that I'm not presenting these in any order.  This isn't worst to best or best to worst.  I'm just going to publish several of them today in no particular order.  Hopefully the subject matter won't get too depressing today...

A Myachi Poem
by Gecko

This was the place maniacs where born,
And now that it’s gone many will mourn.

The gon was a symbol of what we are,
A place of joy for those near and far.

A place of acceptance for good or bad,
Nobody left feeling at all sad.

It was an icon for the game,
And the place where some grew to fame.

But now it is gone hidden away,
But at FAO Schwartz the movement will stay.

Tucked in a corner like an old toy,
But it will still bring many children joy.

The Myachi mobile was a similar story,
They both where icons filled with glory.

We should remember the 'gon' as it was,
As a place to hang out just because.

Not just as a big metal stage,
But a place to go and act without age.

Sure it will be missed as all loved things should,
Being fun, amusing and just flat out good.

Now I say good bye to the tangible space,
The thing that nothing will ever replace.

Good Bye Myachigon.

One Prize Down, One to Go

by Crazy Ivan

Alright, it's been a minute since the last update so I wanted to get everyone up to speed on the You Tube Trick Video Contest.  Today is something of a milestone in the contest so it seemed like the right time to bring everyone up to speed.

As of midnight tonight, Mantis will lock down one of the two prizes.  He took the lead on the 20th of last month, which means that by midnight, he will have led for a total of 13 days.  The only person who can still catch up is Myachi Max, who led for 7 days already.  But he would need to take the lead today, as there will only be 5 days left after that.

So even if someone else (other than Max) took the lead tonight, Mantis would still end up winning the wideboarded Oaxaca for leading for the most days during the contest.  If Max took the lead tonight, he would have to defend it all the way through the end of the contest as well.

But the uber-yummy Yellow Jacket is still up for grabs!  Mantis is still in the lead, sure, but all you need to do is toss up a video between now and then with more than 68 of the Trick of the Day moves in a row (unedited) and you'll be the new leader.

And in case nobody noticed, I've spent this week adding pretty easy tricks to the list, so all the elbow variations from this week might be enough to push you over the limit and get you back in a position to take the lead.

Good luck everyone!