Shears
Smash Master
I dont think the problem lies within M2K or hyrule. I think its peoples misinterpretation of patience as stalling. Stalling is actively wasting time in a match with suggestions of cowardice and avoiding the inherit conflict in smash. M2K did none of that, his patience was perceived as stalling because he wasnt aggressive, but he wasnt a coward either. M2K would pursue his opponent off stage, if he was stalling he would just run to the other side of the map and let them waste time recovering and chasing. He played safe combos (utilt to nair/bair/fair which is really all kirby has) not because he was stalling but because he doesnt have the knowledge of the game that most 64 players have, so in order to not jeopardize his chance to win he did what he knew he wouldnt mess up. His move selection and method of approach were what he determined to be the highest reward with the lowest risk. None of this is stalling. His matches took long because he took his time to execute and exploit mistakes in his opponents game not because he hoped the clock would run out and he would be determined the winner based off remaining stock and damage percent, he didnt know the game very well so he didnt want to give into someone elses bait and get pummeled. If there was any stalling in a M2K match that i watched, it wouldve been Stranded in his 2nd game against M2K on hyrule, where in the beginning he dealt damage to M2K and ran away hoping the timer would run out, in which M2K chased him. I played M2K (or at least tried too, he kept rage quitting) in friendlies before the tournament started and later in doubles. He never once appeared to be stalling. He admitted before the tournament that he wasnt familiar with the game and thats what his strategy was, him not attempting something he didnt know to do and making a fool of himself, which was misinterpreted as stalling.
In regards to him pausing matches, he paused in the beginning of a match against me and my teammate during doubles, i believe he was about to die and paused because his hand slipped and hit the start button, we didnt complain because we didnt know the rules and frankly it probably wouldnt have changed the outcome too much (id have to watch the match again to confirm). But on to his match with han solo, i didnt watch the match so i didnt see what happened, i know solo was recording so maybe it can be reviewed later, however; if the rule states a stock should be taken for pausing a match and two stocks taken if the opponent dies from an event that occurs around the moment of the pause, then M2K should have lost two stocks. Whether or not han solo wouldve died with or without the pause, a pause happened and han solo died. Its like defensive holding in football, whether or not the player held would have been involved in the play, or the outcome could have been different, if a defensive player holds an offensive player, its defensive holding and the penalty is served. If a tight end is held at the line of scrimmage on a hail mary pass to the end zone its defensive holding even if the tight ends assignment was to stand at the line of scrimmage. Even if the pass sails way out of bounds and is uncatchable, its defensive holding and the penalty is served. When it comes to rules there cant be a gray area, if it happens its enforced whether or not the infraction was intentional or not, or a difference maker or not. The point of rules is to enforce them, and so M2K shouldve lost two stocks.
In regards to him pausing matches, he paused in the beginning of a match against me and my teammate during doubles, i believe he was about to die and paused because his hand slipped and hit the start button, we didnt complain because we didnt know the rules and frankly it probably wouldnt have changed the outcome too much (id have to watch the match again to confirm). But on to his match with han solo, i didnt watch the match so i didnt see what happened, i know solo was recording so maybe it can be reviewed later, however; if the rule states a stock should be taken for pausing a match and two stocks taken if the opponent dies from an event that occurs around the moment of the pause, then M2K should have lost two stocks. Whether or not han solo wouldve died with or without the pause, a pause happened and han solo died. Its like defensive holding in football, whether or not the player held would have been involved in the play, or the outcome could have been different, if a defensive player holds an offensive player, its defensive holding and the penalty is served. If a tight end is held at the line of scrimmage on a hail mary pass to the end zone its defensive holding even if the tight ends assignment was to stand at the line of scrimmage. Even if the pass sails way out of bounds and is uncatchable, its defensive holding and the penalty is served. When it comes to rules there cant be a gray area, if it happens its enforced whether or not the infraction was intentional or not, or a difference maker or not. The point of rules is to enforce them, and so M2K shouldve lost two stocks.
, Ceaser 
