As one of the founders of the Halloween Foosball Tournament, James Ostis’s biggest role has been that of host and organizer.  But it would be wrong to overlook his performance on the foosball table.  Over the course of 11 tournaments, Jim has played in more games than anyone else, winning 24.  He is the only person to advance to at least the semi-finals of every single Halloween Foosball Tournament.  He has played in the past two finals (three overall) and when Corey Pinkham became the first champion to not return to defend his title, it was Jim who entered the 2006 tournament as the #1 seed.

 But there is one thing that he has never accomplished.  A Halloween Foosball Tournament Championship.  The guy who built the tournament has never been able to achieve its greatest success.

 And unlike the Boston Red Sox, who exorcised their championship demons in 2004, Jim’s “curse” is still intact.

 It all goes back to the very first Halloween Foosball Tournament.  While nowhere near the same status as it has today, the first HFT was a fiercely competed affair.  After two rounds of elimination play, Jim was set to face Greg in the finals of the first ever tournament.  But in a decision that he would regret for years to come, Jim gave his spot in the finals to Patrick Casserly, Greg’s arch-nemesis, who lost a spirited game to Greg in the semi’s.  The reasons for it were varied, partly to piss Greg off, and partly to watch the World Series (where of all teams, the New York Yankees, were about to win their first World Series championship of Jim’s lifetime.  See…there might be something to this curse thing).

 Hindsight is 20/20, but Jim’s foosball career suffered over the years following the finals non-appearance.  He thought he’d have a chance to right the wrong in 1997, but instead lost a shocker to his younger brother, Steve in the semi-finals.  He was upset again in 1998 by his even younger brother, Nick.  And by 1999, Jim was locked into a position where he always “played Corey the toughest” before losing. 

 That changed in 2001, and Jim finally advanced to the finals, fittingly against Greg, in the last game to be played on the legendary original foosball table.  The game was one of the best finals in HFT history, and Jim held a late lead and appeared to be on the verge of finally capturing the championship, before losing 10-8.

 The following years saw a revival in Jim’s play, although he was still stuck in semi-finals mode.  Meanwhile Corey beat Greg in the finals three years in a row.

 In 2005, Charley’s restaurant earned permanent scorn from the Halloween Foosball community by denying Greg his ability to attend the tournament.  Jim stepped up in his fallen comrade’s absence and met his longtime nemesis, Corey.  But Corey would not lose in his final HFT appearance before moving to Florida.  So once again, the host had to settle for 2^nd place.

But with Corey gone, 2006 was considered a very open field.  Jim was the surprising #1 seed, but in no way the favorite as he marched towards a second straight finals appearance.  But it was in that finals that Jim suffered probably the most embarrassing defeat of his career against Alex Figueroa.

So was it a curse? A simple inability to win the big game?  Bad luck?  Whatever the reason, Jim is wearing his lack of championships as a badge of honor, while hoping that this year will be the year.  Afterall, if you extend it to the doubles tournament, which Jim has never been able to win either, there are many people have at least shared a title, including Nicky, Keith, and Kyle(!).

Sharing.  Perhaps that will be the key to lifting the curse.  Going back to the incident that set all this in motion and fixing it as best it can be fixed now.  Sharing.  Officially make it so: the 1996 Co-champions, Greg Ouellette and James Ostis.

On second thought, Jim will just have to keep trying.

2005, Corey's last match ever was a victory over Jim.

Alex Figueroa won his first Halloween Foosball Tournament, also at the expense of its organizer.