[ASLML] Kibbitzing Story

[Bruce Bakken]

My first experience with kibbitzing occurred in 1986 or 1987.  I don't 
remember right off hand, but I do know that Yanks had just come out.

I had been playing ASL for some time, but so far had only played against one 
opponent, my brother Sean.  We saw a posting in the local hobby shop for a 
gathering of ASL players in Cleveland (we lived and I continue to like in 
the Detroit metro area).  I forget what they called it, but it was billed as 
a fun gathering and promised to be attended by a veritable who's-who of the 
ASL world at the time.  We decided to go.

We arrived at the hotel and followed the signs to a room which had been 
cleared out and which now contained several tables and over a dozen warm 
bodies.  Everybody was playing when we walked in, but eventually I was 
introduced to Bill "Fish" Connor, Darryl "Action" Burke, Mark Nixon, Rick 
Troha, Bill Sisler, Dave Sisler, Eric Baker... I was in awe.

Sean wound up playing "T1 Gavin Take" against Bill Connor (grognards will 
know him as Grofaz).  Sean played the Germans, Bill the U.S.  Around Turn 5 
I wandered by and surveyed the damage.  Bill was taking the worst of it, but 
had just enough in a position to push for his VC (two HS and one leader off 
Q10).  Sean was very strong, and in position to exit a few squads off Q10 
unopposed... i.e. easily deny the U.S. a victory.

So there I was, checking it out and being impressed that Sean appeared to be 
winning, and quite innocently (!) asked: "So, has Sean existed any squads 
yet?"  Or something to that effect.  At which time Sean started, "What?", 
and quickly read the Victory Conditions.  And of course, promptly exited a 
squad and crushed any chance that Bill had.  Clearly, Sean had overlooked 
that and had no intention of exiting any squads.  Until I spoke.

Bill was stunned (eyes wide in disbelief), the crowd was stunned (ooh, ahh), 
and I was playfully dogged the rest of the night about being a kibbitzer.  
It actually bothered me the rest of the night, that I had just blurted like 
that.  Imagine: enter two raw newcomers, out-of-staters no less, and 
immediately one of them is helping the other with kibbitz.  Ouch.  (Mark 
later assured me not to worry about it.)

On that day was born my moratorium on kibbitzing of any kind, by any one, 
during any playing.

'Nuff said.

Regards,
Bruce Bakken

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