Here it is, players. The recap.
Ranbat 1.3…or Rocky 4.1?
You could see a few more Hondas and Mazdas parallel-parked on the street. Nothing too out of the ordinary. A few more twenty-somethings in jeans and t-shirts milled around outside the house, talking about this and that. It’s near a the U. Whatever. But if you had been passing by outside Andy’s house on Saturday night, May 9, you would have heard just what the Utah Street Fighter scene is cookin’!
Ranbat 1.3 produced more cheers and celebrations than any other before. 27 people competed but well over 30 showed to watch old and new alike fight it out for first place and over $100 in winnings in Utah’s third Ranking Battle, where in a surprising twist on Rocky IV, Drago (Brian) couldn’t claw out of the to-him unfamiliar losers bracket to overtake Rocky (Andrew), who has now claimed his first gold medal finish. Andrew stayed undefeated up to the very end, using more aggressive Sagat play to overcome the solid and experienced zoning always exhibited by Brian’s Guile. Kelly and the Bronze Boxer nearly fought his way into the title match, exhibiting the in-your-face results of some serious time in the training room in keeping solid pressure on Brian, but fell just short of the Big Dance. Well, at least in this movie, Apollo doesn’t really die; he just comes back in two weeks to try again. Rounding out the top 5 and back from hiatus was the return of Jacob “Bake a Pretty Cake” Bleyl and his monstrous Gief, and an oldie but a goodie, Andy “The Dokta” dispensed overdoses of Chun and Honda to his opponents, securing 5th place.
Every tournament offers something different, and Ranbat 1.3 did not disappoint. 8 people new to the Ranbats competed on Saturday: Eddy, Elvis, Greg, Pancho, Nico, Cesar, Gustavo, and our first female competitor, Katie. Brian, Wade, Thomas, and the Triplets even had extra family and friends on hand to get in on the action. Talk about bang for the buck; the fights lasted longer than Hatton vs. Pacquiao and without the pay-per-view fee! The big disappointment would have to be not being able to see Thomas’ Gen-stravaganza ever again, but that’s why it’s better to be live than LIVE. There’s definitely more to post, but in the end, you just had to be there.
To everyone that made it, make it back. Bring more of everything: people, game, good times. To everyone that didn’t, what the hell is wrong with you. STEP YO GAME UP.
Here are my own personal shout-outs.
–Gustavo…good to both meet and play you. You’ve got Abel game; get a stick! Compralo ya!
–Spencer…I’m glad you could finally come out of “wife-tirement” and play; too bad you had to take it all out on me! 
–Andrew…good top-of-the-podium finish, we all knew that you had it in you. Keep it up. Utah Valley represent! Thanks for the post-fight grub.
–Brian…man, you’re dominant. Not that you did or anything, but we hope that you don’t take it the wrong way if people are rooting for the other guy. It’s almost the American way to see the top seeds fall to make room for someone else. The Lakers, the Patriots, the Yankees…and yet, they still own, and people still respect the hell out of them and what they do for the sport. We’re all glad that you’re with us. BTW, you’re the Family Man, now. I still have yet to bring any of my family there; I fully expect your aunts and uncles at the next ranbat.
–Nico and Katie…you’re just a happy couple of kids and it was awesome to have you there.
–Elvis…nice stick, man. Very sharp; I can’t wait to see it with the vinyl dye. Glad you came, please keep coming out; we need more Bison, anyway.
–Wallace…dude, finally glad to spend some time with you. Hopefully you can get that stick fixed.
–Phil…I’ll post that soldering info soon. I’ll see about figuring out what exactly to do with the cord. Thanks for cheering mah Rose.
–Mike…become the Bison you were born to be. Or double specialize, like me…go Blanka/Bison.
–Renzo…it was fun breaking down the final matches with you in the back.
–Thomas…Gen? Gen. GEN. Good times. Old dogs still have tricks, and Super into Ultra is a good one. If you can get all the hits on his AA kick, then you can do the mk XX hands combo. Channel your inner Brian.
–John…thanks for the ride. You and I are taking 1st and 2nd respectively next time, fo sho.
–Jacob…Ah-rugula.
–Andy…take a month off before EVO for practice and you’ll place top 8 definitely. Nothing like a lot of practice to step the game up. If the host wins, do we get our money back?
–Kelly…You’ve got a pair of balls…BRONZE BALLS. Your Boxer took some leaps forward since the last Ranbat. Maybe you can be my corner and train my Rose. Good, good showing.
–Matty…Good Rufus, better Dhalsim, and getting hit by Blanka’s Ultra and still advancing was both funny and awesome.
–Greg…Good to meet you, and keep beating up on girls. 
–CHASE!!! Ken, Akuma…doesn’t matter. Just do what it takes. Good times.
Here’s hoping that covered everyone, and if not, tell me about it at 1.4.
NINJA EDIT: I’ll get on updating the UTSF Players list. Too many new people to not include them, right? Right.