The Origins of Segathon
The Founding Four Circa 1992
It all started back in the early 1990’s, about the same time as our conflict with the Iraqi’s in the Middle East. Sometimes there’s a game, and I’m not just talking about any game, but sometimes there is a game that far supersedes any other. I’m talking about NHL Hockey for Sega Genesis. NHL 95 to be precise.
If you ask any of them they will tell you it all started by mistake. Four young lads from south of the river could never have been believed to have started something as big as Segathon. But 5 states and a decade later and Segathon is a juggernaut on a one way street towards world domination. As the song goes, “There ain’t no stopping us now!”
When the first edition of NHL came out in the fall of 1991, Andy, Pat, Blair, and Jud were captivated by the intense competition that it brought to the table. At first the games were innocent, then the innocence turned to insult, and then it got down right nasty! The founding four started to play the game religiously, and on more than one occasion it was the C1inton’s basement that was their Sunday morning cathedral. As the new editions of the game came out year after year there was some progress, and also some digression. But in 1995 the makers of NHL released their 95 version of the game and a nation of fans united. It was this version of the game that prompted an unofficial ‘Belt’ to be awarded to the victor of any video game session. The rules of competition were vague at best and there were numerous video games, and video game systems present at these competitions. One thing was for certain however…..the ‘Belt’ went to whoever won the NHL95 championship, because NHL95 is the crème de la crème of video game sports.
The belt has transferred hands from one contender to another over the years, and sometimes individuals have taken great risks just for a shot at the title. During the high school era, dances were bypassed in order play Sega. As the college years rolled along many a final was skipped to pursue that one dream….to hold the belt. Onlookers began to marvel at the prestige that followed whoever held the belt as well as their trash talking privileges. Something had to be done. It was at that time that a tournament of champions was created to determine once and for all who truly is the King of Kings. The stage was set. The tournament was given the name most suitable, the same name in fact that the previous competitions were known as, Segathon! The holiday season was chosen because competitors representing Minnesota, California, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan would all be present.
/a>It was in the month of December in the year of our lord Two Thousand and Three. More than a dozen competitors packed the walls of the Burnsville Palace with the winner to be deemed the NHL95 Champion for the upcoming year. When all the battles were done it was the original four founders left at the top. The championship went to Pat Lewis who took the belt back from Judson with two 1 goal victories. The following year it was back in Judson’s hands as he won the 2005 Segathon in dominating fashion over Pat.
The year 2005 was a major year for SEGATHON INC. as it was witness to the forming of a mid-season tournament. Coinciding with the City of Lakeville’s Panorama of Progress, the Pan-O-Prog Championship was created to determine the number 1 contender for the Belt. For the first time ever a tournament was won by someone other than an original four member. Brandon laid claim to the Mid Summer Classic (as it has become known as) with another newcomer Nicholas taking the silver. Clearly the world of Segathon is growing by leaps and bounds. After a large showing for the 2006 Segathon, and the mayhem that transpired, SEGATHON.Com was created to not only govern but to be a source for NHL95 players around the world to come together.
In the Fall of 2006 two more sanctioned events were created. First the Ryder Cup, which resembles Golf’s Team even where the Top 4 97ers take on the Top 4 98ers. The Rules differ somewhat, and the losing class has to buy the Keg for Segathon. Also in 2007 of the Busch League games was played, where weird rules run wild.
Segathon peaked with the Group around 2010 and has been in a decline with Wifes, Kids, Jobs, people with PHD’s telling us to go easy on our Livers. But we press on. The Midsummer Classic and Busche League Games have not been held for a couple years, but the Ryder Cup and Segathon keep pushing on.
A picture of the historic Segathon Summit, in which the official charter was composed.
Now in 2014 Segathon is getting a face lift. The old MS Frontpage Version is dying and we are trying this fancy WordPress. We will see how it goes. Hope to get all the pages on the new site.
Regardless of who the player is, or where he is from, everyone is welcome to test their skills at any sanctioned Segathon competition. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us at the e-mail addresses below.