June 13, 2016 Most Important People Best Man, Dorian Weinzimmer, Geoff Shell, Juzam Djinn, Magic The Gathering

Geoff Shell is a man who once slapped me, in the middle of a store, after a heated dispute over a game of Magic: The Gathering that did not end in his favor.

I slapped him back.

After experiencing such a devastatingly embarrassing and childish – even for two 13 year-old boys – mutual low point in our lives, we came to an immediate understanding that there were now no barriers between us, and we have been the greatest of friends ever since.

I would not trade that awful moment for anything in the world, for it is directly responsible for solidifying the longest-lasting, most profound friendship I have ever experienced – one which I look forward to continuing to experience for the rest of our days.

And even though it has been two decades since that day, I still maintain that my use of the Juzam Djinn in that game was entirely within tournament regulations, and thus, perfectly acceptable for a pick-up game in Palatine in the mid-90’s.

–Dorian Weinzimmer