This is the diary of my journey.


Week One
In order to have a sound mind, you need a sound body. I decide to train like Rocky - I go running for the first time in 12 years. I run five miles. It doesn't go well. I start the run on a Tuesday morning. I'm not sure what time I finish - Thursday afternoon, maybe? And instead of drinking raw eggs, I scramble them with cheese. They are delicious. I don't play any games, though. You have to work up to these things.


Week Two
A lot of gamers hone their skills online. Here's the problem: I can't figure out how to connect my next-generation console to the Internet. I've bought the necessary wires and such at a store, and I'm following the instructions, but it's not working. Is it a bad sign that as you're trying to launch a professional gaming career, you find you're not bright enough to use the hardware? Wait, don't answer that.


Week Three
For motivation, I tape a picture of Ayan Tariq to my TV. He won last year's Madden Challenge. His handle - the nickname he's called by other gamers - is Fool. Yes, he's a … I feel like I should be able to make a joke here, but nothing comes to mind. Too bad he doesn't have a name I could easily lampoon. If this were a battle of wits, he would have already bested me. Not good.