David Borne knows how to throw it down.
The local musician and University graduate placed second in the 2007 National Rock Paper Scissors Tournament sposored by Bud Light at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on May 12-13. The tournament will air July 7 on ESPN2.
Borne was defeated in the final round by Jamie Langridge, a male nurse from Odessa, Texas, who walked away with $50,000. Borné received $5,000.
“Before the tournament, my friends were envious of my lifestyle as a musician playing a few gigs a week and sleeping late,” Borné said. “Now they think I live
Borne’s journey to the tournament began March 28 at Mellow Mushroom on Burbank Drive where the local finals tournament was sponsored by Mockler Beverage Company.
Before entering the contest as a wild card, Borné called Will LeBlanc, “the RPS champion of his youth”, to ask him about strategy. The University graduate shared his tips.
“My belief is if David was going to do this professionally, he had to develop some sort of unique way of infiltrating [his opponent’s] decision-making process,” LeBlanc said. “If he could suggest a throw to them without them knowing it, he could make their choice seem independently formed.”
Borne used the psychological warfare on his opponents at Mellow Mushroom.
“If I wanted them to throw rock I would say, ‘Are you ready, you ready, let’s rock and roll,'” Borné said. “I’m not sure if it even worked, but it gave me confidence throughout the tournament.”
The tournament bracket consisted of 32 people. Borne swept the competition in five short rounds, winning an all-expense-paid trip to the national tournamen in Las Vegas.
ESPN began filming the tournament when only 16 players remained, one of which was Borné. The last matches were played in a boxer ring with Phil Gordon, professional poker player, as referee.
“Every match of the Sweet 16 came down to the last throw,” Borne said.
During the Elite Eight, Borné beat one of the pre-tournament favorites, Antony Maanum, of Overland Park, Kansas. Maanum, whose boxing robe read “Antoine ‘Shears’ Maanum” in white lettering on the back, was a life-long player who wore red oven mitts after each match telling the audience his hands were just too hot.
When it came down to the last throw, Borne’s rock was encased by Langridge’s paper.
“I had already exerted so much energy,” Borne said. “I had nothing left.”
At the beginning of the national tournament, Borne had unknowingly cultivated an Southern Conference entourage after wearing an LSU coach’s shirt on the first day. He was proud to say that this assemblage of Southerners chanted “LSU” during his final hours in the ring.
Less than a month later, Borne already regards himself as a one-hit wonder in the RPS universe. He’s given away his strategy to ESPN and believes it’s probably time to hang it up.
As of right now, I’m retired,” Borne said. “But if they invited me back…I may come out.”
Psychology senior Haley Ball and other Bud Girls from Mockler Beverage Company will be having a RPS viewing party at Plucker’s on Saturday July 7 at 6:30.
—Contact Morgan Ford at [email protected]