Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ll try to make this short – On Thursday, March 11th, 1PXOFF’s final ball was thrown.

It’s no stretch to say that this was not how we wanted things to end – the tournament had just begun.  We were just getting warmed up, really.  Accustomed to the pre-game routine, the entire team boarded the elevator at the same time, an entire cab of white and red uniforms, an irrepressible energy permeating the air.  On the fourth floor we pushed through the narrow hallway to the basketball courts, started the practice throws, but this time something was different.

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I knew I probably wouldn’t make it.

It was a hard decision, one that I had not made until very late in the day.  But let’s face it, Dave Eggers doesn’t just set up a table in your local bookstore and start signing things every week.  I had formulated a strong argument, had presented it from an objective standpoint.

“The book signing is really close to the Athletic Club.” I explained.  “I’ll get there just as the second game is starting, all fresh and ready for battle!  It will work out great.”  Everyone had said the same thing – it’s cool, it’s alright, things come up.  They weren’t holding it against me.  I was hardly the first person to miss a game.

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