JRank
Jonny
From left to right: JRank, lucariojr, mattj, hanging out at the Crestwood, MO Regional
Preface: Introductions
What if I told you that a boy would be nearly destroyed by arrogance, and be forced to turn himself around in a few months to face his greatest challenge yet?
My name's Jonathan Rankin, but if you're reading this, you probably know me as JRank. I hope to make this a more complete story of what has happened since I found out about the Senior division and the controversy I've created since then. I'll try to be as fair to myself as possible, because I while I'm very pleased with my success this past Sunday, I also recognize that I screwed up in a big way this past year, and I want to apologize for my actions. If you've come here looking for a more traditional warstory, you'll probably be disappointed, because (barring me getting lazy, a very good possibility) the battling at each of the three events I attended this year will be but a small part of the story. I am JRank, this is my story.
Prologue: The Road to Failure
Pride comes before the fall
Pride comes before the fall
January 27th, 2011: This thread was made. I read it, saw that we would have a new division made of people from the age of 12 to 15 (which I fell into). My eyes went to $$$. I thought no one would stop me. My small successes in my rookie year (Top 16 at Dallas 2010, 22nd (4-3 record) at Nationals 2010) gave me the impression that I would do even better if I didn't have to face older competitors. Right? I posted saying as much, and angered many who saw that I not only wrote off the other Seniors (Cybertron, David and Ryan Arnold, Mosquitox216, and others), but made myself out to be some sort of amazing Pokemon players. As you can see in Huy's quoted responses (I've since deleted the posts), I look like the fool I was. That arrogance would soon spill over into Regionals, in May.
Dallas Regionals
"He was an arrogant douchebag who prompted me to write a fucking essay on modesty"-Aaron "Unreality" Traylor
"He was an arrogant douchebag who prompted me to write a fucking essay on modesty"-Aaron "Unreality" Traylor
I came in thinking I'd run the tables. I didn't. The first time I ran into a halfway-competent (by which I mean had EV'd Pokemon) opponent, I lost. Bam. All my words felt very hollow. I'd have to try again at the Nationals Last Chance Qualifier.
Nationals LCQ
I was somewhat less arrogant then, and beginning to regret my actions, but it was too late to get rid of the first impressions"-Jonathan "JRank" Rankin
I was somewhat less arrogant then, and beginning to regret my actions, but it was too late to get rid of the first impressions"-Jonathan "JRank" Rankin
One game, one loss. I wasn't anywhere near a competitive state of mind, and I blew the first match on two separate occasions, putting myself in a position to lose to a Rock Slide flinch. Easy enough to blame on hax at the time and outwardly, but on the inside I knew it was my fault. I had to watch nearly all of my friends do exceedingly well at Nats, and thought the whole time that that could've been me winning and having a great time (this was partly the reason I was so angry I was "ditched" by the other seniors, I'm sorry I got mad at all of you). Once again I'd have to wait, this time even longer.
Reconciliation and Road to Recovery
"It was time to stop wallowing in self-pity and man up, realize what I'd done wrong, and try and correct it. This would be the hardest part of my journey"-Jonathan "JRank" Rankin
"It was time to stop wallowing in self-pity and man up, realize what I'd done wrong, and try and correct it. This would be the hardest part of my journey"-Jonathan "JRank" Rankin
I knew I'd done wrong, I would admit so to myself. What I hadn't done yet, however, was admit it to Smogon and ask for forgiveness. It prevented me from moving up in Smogon. Why wasn't I allowed to be a ***** for ******** ***? (I don't want to point specific fingers) "First impressions," (my earlier words) is what I was told. (maybe I was being trolled, but even so, I know it had a factor in the decision). This and a myriad of other mess-ups had forced my Smogon career to an impasse. I had to do something. I made a somewhat apologetic statement whilst verbally sparring with someone in a thread, but that wasn't really enough. Now that I'm a fully badged Smogon Contributor, I need to set a good example. Here it is:
I'm sorry. I was an arrogant douche who thought he knew everything and was going to win it all. I brushed aside everyone else in my pursuit of glory. As a result, I alienated the other Seniors and now they all partnered up and became best friends, and I don't have one. Sure, I have friends, but no one who I can call best friend and that person calls me best friend, and it probably had to do with what I said. Please forgive me, and perhaps I won't be as much of a pariah as I have been.
Now that I have this written I want to get it off my chest, so I'm posting it now when the actual warstory is incomplete. I will include a traditional warstory below this when I have time, and for those of you wondering I'll put the team I used in St. Louis at the bottom of before I write the warstory.
I want to thank everyone who has made my time at Smogon the best in my life, most notably the occupants of #seniors and #moof, along with all the other friends I've made, too many for my lazy self to count. (so it could be very high, or quite low, ;P)
If you stuck through this to the end, thanks. I hope I'll get back some of the respect I lost through this. I can now respect myself, I hope you can respect me.
Sincerely,
JRank
T. Wilson (Politoed) @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Protect
J. Adams (Toxicroak) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Taunt
J. Wright (Ludicolo) @ Absorb Bulb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fake Out
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
ZAPDOS (Zapdos) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Rain Dance
- Detect
Scizor (Scizor) @ Occa Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Aerial Ace
- Protect
J Bequette (Togekiss) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Follow Me
- Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Protect