From the Editor
2005 was a hell of a year for pro staredown athletes and fans. After Patterson's fifth National Championship in '04, we all wondered what '05 would bring. And then Martinez came out of retirement, Greg Doyle emerged as a true contender, and Tony Patterson dominated nearly everyone he faced. Everyone that is-except Rockhammer.

Yes, the real story of '05 was the Patterson/Rockhammer rivalry, which rose to a head at the nationals in Flagstaff, AZ. It was the most epic duel since Alexander Hamilton faced Aaron Burr one July morning in 1804. I hope you were all there to witness the mayhem, but if not then mark your calendar for January 13, 2007, for next NASP National Championship. This is sure to be another amazing season, with agonizing defeats and glorious victories aplenty. Will Rockhammer repeat? Only time will tell, but I'm sure there will be many great battles down the road.

But in the meantime, the off-season begins now and staredown athletes and fans will take a short respite from the grueling season. But these athletes will no doubt continue their rigorous training and conditioning so as not to lose their edge. We look forward to seeing all the staredown athletes and fans together very soon.

All of us at NASP Quarterly wish you a Happy New Year. May pro staredown continue to grow and prosper in 2006.

See y'all at Faceoff Fresno in March!

Sincerely,
Mark Chipwood
Staredown Analyst/ NASP Quarterly Editor-In-Chief

Staredown Trivia (find the answer the next NASP Quarterly)
Tony Patterson holds the lead in NASP career points. Who is second?

*Answer to last issue's question: The Patterson Pack

New Referee
We'd like to welcome Carl Anderson, the newest NASP referee. Carl is a skilled and pragmatic judge, and we are proud to have him joining our ranks.

Upcoming Events
Face-off Fresno (Fresno, CA) - March 11, 2006
The Birmingham Classic (Birmingham, AL) - April 1, 2006
Stare-Till-You-Drop Austin (Austin, TX) - April 22, 2006

Staredown History 101
By Alex Everett, author of Staredown to Heaven

I'm sure you're familiar with the Greek philosopher Plato.

Plato's certainly influenced the way the modern world views government and democracy. But did you know Plato was also a skilled at the art of Staredown?

Long before today's stars such as Patterson were working wonders on the toe tine, Plato was challenging his students to long bouts of Staredown. Aristotle was a particularly worthy opponent, and the two were known to lock eyes in a daily match. Plato considered this a necessary exercise for the development of mind and body, fully recognizing the focus and endurance Staredown requires.

There is even some considerable evidence that Staredown was played at the ancient Olympic games. While the modern incarnation has yet to recognize this growing sport, young Greek athletes first competed in Staredown in roughly 700 BCE. Winners were awarded a laurel crown, and losers were sacrificed to Theia the goddess of sight.

Why did the ancient Greeks partake in Staredown bouts? Their fascination on the purity of the male physique and appreciation of the arts lead them to a riveting sport that's as fascinating as it is simple. Man to man, eyes to eyes, soul to soul, Staredown has a timeless appeal that traverses epochs.

The next time you watch or participate in a Pro Staredown match, remember that you're taking part in a ritual older than civilization itself.

Yours truly,
Alex Everett
Staredown Historian/ Author

Songs to Stare To
We asked some of the top staredown pros what songs pump them up before a match.

1. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (from Rocky) - Philip Rockhammer
2. “Round and Round” by Ratt - Tony Patterson
3. “Also Sprach Zarathustra” by Strauss (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) - Kensington Montgomery III
4. “All Eyez on Me” by 2Pac - Peter McAllister
5. “Down With The Sickness” by Disturbed - “The Bishop” Al Harris

2006 Schedule
Face-off Fresno (Fresno, CA) - March 11, 2006
The Birmingham Classic (Birmingham, AL) - April 2, 2005
Stare-Till-You-Drop Austin (Austin, TX) - April 22, 2006
The Portland Regional Classic (Hartford, CT) - May 20, 2006
The Greater Milwaukee Open (Milwaukee, WI) - May 27, 2006
The Rocky Top Rumble (Knoxville, TN) - June 10, 2006
Rockin' Reno Showdown (Reno, NV) - July 1, 2006
The Quad City Clash (Moline, IL) - July 22, 2006
Smackdown Dover (Dover, DE) - August 19, 2006
The Bee-hive State Open (Provo, UT) - September 2, 2006
The Toledo Challenge (Toledo, OH) - September 23, 2006
The Harvest Moon Jamboree (Ashville, NC) - October 7, 2006
The Sooner Stare (Tallahassee, FL) - October 28, 2006
The Sioux City Stare-a-thon (Sioux City, IA) - November 4, 2006
The Western Super-Regional (Bakersfield, CA) - November 18, 2006
The National Champion (Flagstaff, AZ) - January 13, 2006