Potshots III – The Final Chapter
Db is a long-time Simulated Sports player whose biggest claim to fame is that he has been playing Simulated Sports for a very long time. He has sporadically regaled us with his…interesting (?) commentary through the years in the Black Type Bugler, on the Message Board, and in the Chat Room…often unsolicited and oblivious to the target audience, or lack thereof. True to form, he’s done it again, this time in ultimate fashion.
First name?
Donald. My friends call my Donny, as in “STFU, Donny!”… which is probably an appropriate tagline for this series, don’t you think?
Favorite food?
Tough call, but if you go by frequency, the answer would be “frijoles negros” in their various forms and incarnations. Mexican food would be a broader answer. I did develop a sort of tradition / superstition that whenever I had a ‘big score’ at the racetrack, I would purchase an order of nachos. “Big score” eventually devolved into “cashing a ticket that put me ahead for the day”. Otherwise I wouldn’t have eaten nachos quite as frequently. Even though I don’t attend the races much anymore, the ordering of nachos remains synonymous with a celebratory mood (at least in my little universe).
Dog or cat?
I have neither at the moment, but have had one or both in the past. City living kind of precludes me from housing large animals, and I despise
If you were to take a solo road trip which would you rather drive – a convertible or a motorhome?
Convertible, definitely. There’s always a hostel, dive motel, or sleeping bag with my name on it. Who needs a living room on wheels?
Hobby – other than horseracing?
Wow- I never really thought about myself that intently to see if I have a ‘hobby’. I suppose I keep abreast of American politics, international cinema, and human rights issues. I am becoming a bicyclist, and I like experimental theatre, although 2 years ago I would have told you I hate the theatre. I am evolving. This game used to be the biggest hobby of mine, but I suppose those things change, as well.
Favorite band or singer?
I am a huge fan of The Meat Puppets (Curt Kirkwood, Cris Kirkwood, and Derek Bostrom). Maybe one of the most underrated bands of the 80’s and 90’s. Maybe they will be come ‘cool’ again in the 2020’s. Hey, it happened to Johnny Cash, right?
Last book you read?
The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz. I think some of the SIM geek community would really get a kick out of this one, for the language and context, if not the characters and narrative. I am currently reading “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama, which is no great shakes, but gives you an idea of how this guy thinks and approaches problem solving, which is kind of nice. At least if a politician is going to lie to us, we can get an idea of WHY he or she has lied, and what the thought process was that led to that decision. So far, it appears no wars, occupations, disasters, or deaths have taken place based on Obama’s choice fibs. Which is more than we can say for past and current commanders-in-chief. But I suppose there is still time…
What’s playing in your cd player or Ipod right now?
Red Hot Chili Peppers, J. Mascis and the Fog, Meat Puppets, Radiohead, and Sumo(Argentinian band). Can you tell we’ve got a 5 CD disc changer with our stereo? Totally 1992!
If you were stuck in a hospital room for 6 months and could chose one person, past or present, to be in the bed next to you – who would it be?
This question would produce a different answer for each interval if it were 6 minutes, 6 days, or 6 weeks. But 6 months is a really long time, so most of my heros and I would probably run out of things to say well before that time elapsed. I would want to choose someone whom I would not regret a minute of the time spent together, since time is precious, and if I am stuck in the hospital that long, there’s a good chance that we’re not doing so well. I’d never wish that on anyone. I think the clear choice for me would be to spend the time with my lovely wife, Luciana. Yeah, she’s the only choice.
If you were to take a day trip in your area – where would you go? I recently took a day trip to
Do you like cheese?
I most certainly do.
Can you see yourself coming back to the SIM full-time in the future?
I think there is a little bit of latent frustration with how gameplay has evolved, not necessarily the programming or the structure itself, but what the measure of success has become (however subjective), and the relative means required to be effective in that pursuit. The elusive ‘re-write’, and its myriad adjustments and additions to gameplay, such as residency-controlled tracks, races run daily, and statebred competition, were a serious carrot being dangled before my watering eyes. As the fervor for those unrealized changes fades with time, so does the excitement for the game itself. I seriously could not have envisioned a time where I might step away from the entry-box, until this week. Like all things, I’ll reserve the right to change my mind, rethink my positions, and reclaim my rightful places in the echelon of SIM history for longevity and mediocrity. Winnett(Anna) might inherit a boatload of my runners if Squirrel’s Solar Song pulls off the unlikely Breeders Bowl Three-Peat, the payoff of an ill-advised wager I made in the chat room. I’m sure she will hunt me down with a court order and a SWAT team if necessary, despite