"Commander Stage Mother Syndrome (AKA Coach Jawo Syndrome)...A lethal disease..."

"Ganito gawin mo ha...."

"Commander Stage Mother Syndrome (AKA Coach Jawo Syndrome)...A lethal disease..."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

St , one of my friends told me about the Commander phenomenon known as the Commander Stage Mother...

Stage mother. noun. Someone who keeps telling you what you should have done last turn, this turn, and the next. Ex. "Rakdos player ka ba talaga? Attack lang ng attack. O, bakit pinass mo lang ang turn. Patay na sana siya. Ako na lang nga maglalaro. Tabi dyan!"

I was rolling in laughter about this before I realized that this is really something serious. I was rolling while sitting down.I have seen this phenomenon a lot of times in both casual and tournament play. This is also known as the Coach Jawo Syndrome. Yes it is like a disease. Yes it is communicable and yes there is no known cure because Magic players by nature always have something  to say about decisions of another player regardless if it is the best move or not. Some players believe that there should be a real life Mind slaver so that they could control a pivotal turn...for some other player. 

Here are some of the things that you might have heard over the course of playing:

1) "Patay na ba?" "Di pa?" "Hina mo naman"... Classic Coach Jawo syndrome(CJS)...You should start naming all of your opponents Allan Caidic...

2)  "Kung ako yan..." - Classic Mindslaver moment...And yes like a gentleman you should let the CJS sufferer play in your place...otherwise ikamamatay niya...Help save a life...

"Hay Mindslaver...sana totoo ka na lang..."

3) "Wag ka na nga mag Blue/Black/Green/Red/White...di ka marunong gumamit..." He who has not misplayed in any game cast the first stone...Clue stone daw ba?

4) "May ganyan ka pala eh...Bakit di mo ginamit yan?" And the proper response would be? Kibit balikat aka Shoulder Shrug Maneuver.

5) "Dapat talaga ganito yun eh..." Yun naman pala eh...

As annoying as some of these players can be we just need to understand that they mean well and it is at some of these "Coaching" moments that we actually grow as players and learn to be more accepting and tolerant of others as they are of us when we are afflicted with the same incurable disease. Out of all the diseases that I have seen this is the only one with a really cool upside. It makes you better.

The disease will continue to spread because Magic is an ever growing game with a myriad of approaches to any given situation. Let us hope that no one develops a cure for the imagination and endless creativity that Magic players bring with them everywhere.