Convicted murderer and Team Academy founder Vinnie Rivera was able to make a brief comeback to the game this past Friday, when he and seven other inmates participated in an 8-man booster draft.

Though guards and other prison staff cannot verify exactly how the 24 boosters (8, Torment, 8 Odyssey and 8 7th Edition) managed to find their way into the maximum security facility, it's a safe bet that it wasn't by FedEx.

"Some o' them boys is prolly glad foil don't chafe, " remarked Eric Sykes, a veteran correctional officer.

Sykes continued, "I seen some strange things get smuggled in the 'rear cargo hold' in my day, but this takes the cake."

When asked for comment, prison officials would only say that it was likely Rivera who arranged for the purchase and transportation of the illicit cargo.

"He has a history of similar incidents," said prison administrator Royce Hillbury. Hillbury paused before adding: "Rivera has contacts on the outside who often bring in forbidden materials. We're currently investigating numerous leads."

Though Hillbury declined to comment further, it's generally assumed by those in the know that the outside contact is noted Team Academy member Joe "Mouth" Kambourakis. To support this theory, experts point to an incident earlier in the year where Kambourakis was caught trying to visit Rivera with a 6-inch nail file concealed in his rectum.

Rivera's lawyer was able to deflect allegations of conspiracy by pointing out that a hard 6-inch object occupying Mouth's ass is pretty much the normal state of affairs.

Our prison insider was there as the boosters were opened, and was able to provide exclusive coverage of Rivera's draft:

"All 8 players cracked their 7th Edition boosters first. Rivera was pleased to take Aladdin's Ring, a fitting pick since he'd already taken Aladdin's Life a few years earlier. Synergy."

Though the full report won't be reproduced here, there were several exciting moments, especially when Rivera discovered that the fix was in on fellow lifer Cletus Monroe's deck two seats to his left.

Monroe, sentenced to a life term in Kentucky for having an open container of beer in his car but no extra one for the patrolman who pulled him over, had apparently colluded with several other participants before the match. The plan was to pool cards and snag the prize- two cartons of cigarretes and a conspicuously stained Gwen Stefani poster salvaged from the cell of convicted arsonist Wendel Gray, who'd taken a shank in the neck the week prior.

Angry words were exchanged and Rivera and Monroe came to blows before guards heard the commotion and came to break up the illegal game.

Rivera, who had been working on an excellent Black/Green deck with 2 Dark Banishings, Overrun and a Cabal Patriarch, was reportedly dismayed that the event had been halted without a round being played.

His brief return to the game now only a fond memory, Rivera will go back to stamping license plates and trying to keep guys named "Z-Smooth" off of him in the prison shower room.

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Convicted murderer and Team Academy founder Vinnie Rivera was able to make a brief comeback to the game this past Friday, when he and seven other inmates participated in an 8-man booster draft.

Though guards and other prison staff cannot verify exactly how the 24 boosters (8, Torment, 8 Odyssey and 8 7th Edition) managed to find their way into the maximum security facility, it's a safe bet that it wasn't by FedEx.

"Some o' them boys is prolly glad foil don't chafe, " remarked Eric Sykes, a veteran correctional officer.

Sykes continued, "I seen some strange things get smuggled in the 'rear cargo hold' in my day, but this takes the cake."

When asked for comment, prison officials would only say that it was likely Rivera who arranged for the purchase and transportation of the illicit cargo.

"He has a history of similar incidents," said prison administrator Royce Hillbury. Hillbury paused before adding: "Rivera has contacts on the outside who often bring in forbidden materials. We're currently investigating numerous leads."

Though Hillbury declined to comment further, it's generally assumed by those in the know that the outside contact is noted Team Academy member Joe "Mouth" Kambourakis. To support this theory, experts point to an incident earlier in the year where Kambourakis was caught trying to visit Rivera with a 6-inch nail file concealed in his rectum.

Rivera's lawyer was able to deflect allegations of conspiracy by pointing out that a hard 6-inch object occupying Mouth's ass is pretty much the normal state of affairs.

Our prison insider was there as the boosters were opened, and was able to provide exclusive coverage of Rivera's draft:

"All 8 players cracked their 7th Edition boosters first. Rivera was pleased to take Aladdin's Ring, a fitting pick since he'd already taken Aladdin's Life a few years earlier. Synergy."

Though the full report won't be reproduced here, there were several exciting moments, especially when Rivera discovered that the fix was in on fellow lifer Cletus Monroe's deck two seats to his left.

Monroe, sentenced to a life term in Kentucky for having an open container of beer in his car but no extra one for the patrolman who pulled him over, had apparently colluded with several other participants before the match. The plan was to pool cards and snag the prize- two cartons of cigarretes and a conspicuously stained Gwen Stefani poster salvaged from the cell of convicted arsonist Wendel Gray, who'd taken a shank in the neck the week prior.

Angry words were exchanged and Rivera and Monroe came to blows before guards heard the commotion and came to break up the illegal game.

Rivera, who had been working on an excellent Black/Green deck with 2 Dark Banishings, Overrun and a Cabal Patriarch, was reportedly dismayed that the event had been halted without a round being played.

His brief return to the game now only a fond memory, Rivera will go back to stamping license plates and trying to keep guys named "Z-Smooth" off of him in the prison shower room.

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!