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| aNDRoM United States. August 07 2011 17:17. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # |
Not to crib Milkis, but I had also started to write this entry several times, only to scrap my previous attempts and start over. Of course as mo’ better posts about others’ MLG Anaheim experiences appeared, it became harder to write about mine, as I didn’t think I had as interesting stories to tell as others.
Although I received very positive comments on my photo posts (Day 1, Day 1.5, Day 2, Day 3), a lot of that was I think due to my pics being posted each night of the event. I am glad to have provided more of a “live” experience of the attendees throughout the weekend, since my photographs pale in comparison to some of the truly amazing ones in the blogs that came out after the weekend was over (from itsjustatank, thedz, and zemotion especially).
If I just craved praise, I’d just leave well enough alone, but I didn’t just want to make a few posts of pics w/funny captions to remember my MLG Anaheim experience by, and I didn't want to regurgitating other attendees’ experiences, even though I shared many of the same sentiments (Not enough seats!). So I decided to write more about how I felt about my experience as a whole. It may not have any cool stories (like MrBitter uniting Day[9] with his biggest fan), but I am hoping that people will respond to this less as a tournament report and more as an introspective post (I am heartened by the encouraging and constructive comments in the more personal of the blog entries from other people). If you're expecting a play-by-play account of the weekend, you'll likely be unhappy with this entry.
+ Show Spoiler [My Biggest Disappointment] +Just to get it out of the way, my biggest disappointment was missing the opportunity to meet BoxeR and MMA in person. And the worst part is that I could have had more of an opportunity than most. I had purchased a gold MLG membership and had arrived before 1 PM on Friday. I saw this huge line of people outside but recalled that gold members were supposed to be able to enter the venue early. I walked to the front of the line, where yellow-shirted security staff stood. I asked one if a separate line existed for gold members and he told me “just one line”.
So I went back to the end of the line and waited about a half hour before some actual MLG staff came out. The guy behind me told the MLG staffer that he was a player and asked if he had to wait in the line, and the MLG guy said no. I then asked if gold members had to wait, and he said no. I walk up to the venue, go in and find out that there was a separate line for gold members (and another for players) and I get my wristbands within minutes. Of course, it was at this exact same time that everyone else was finally being let in.
My plan was always to get an MLG Anaheim shirt for the players to sign. I walked in and saw the humongous line for meeting the Korean players, and the humongous line at the merchandise cage, and immediately lined up for a shirt. Unfortunately, once I got the shirt, the Korean player signings were over, and while I got to meet some of the other players and get their autographs over the weekend, I never again had a chance to meet BoxeR and MMA.
Lesson for MLG: More signage (and seats) please!
Lesson for me: Be more assertive in finding out if I can get in earlier instead of waiting in line for an extra half hour and missing out on one of the biggest benefits of being a gold member.
Some of you may be wondering why I thanked Gretorp, someone who didn’t even play at MLG Anaheim, in the subject line. The reason is because I’ve decided to “hang my hat” for this post on the feeling of belonging. If you check my profile, you’ll see that I am, not just a relative noob, but a real TL noob, with just over a year clocked in. I had actually known about TL for years, and occasionally I’d lurk, but I decided to wait and register on the official release date of SC2, something which in retrospect actually makes me seem even more noob than I am, though by using the word “noob” at least four times already in this paragraph pretty much cements my status as a noob, Amanda.
My point is that I am not an established member of the community. I try to keep my head down, make good comments (or at least not bad ones) and try not to ruin ESPORTS too much. I don’t know many members of the TL community on sight, and, even if I did, I am not very good at approaching people IRL. I often feel like even among a community of nerds, geeks, enthusiasts, there are still the “cool” outgoing ones (I couldn’t do what EdwardStarcraft does, for example), and I’m often still the shy outsider looking in.
I’m also at a different point in my life than many of the attendees. While I blend in with the hundreds of other twenty-something Asian guys in attendance, I’m actually in my mid-thirties, married, with two kids (futureTossGirl and miniZergGirl). My wife, who used to kick my ass at BW when we played in my college computer lab, isn’t as into SC2 as I am, but tries to support my interests. We’re a fairly modern family, splitting the housekeeping and parenting pretty evenly, so it was a big deal that I got to shirk all that grown-up stuff for a few days, so mad props to my wife for taking everything off my plate for an entire weekend. But even if I knew of the TL parties (I didn't) I probably couldn’t attend anyway, since I live within driving distance of Anaheim and tried to be home with my family at least a little bit each day, so I couldn’t hang around much and try to get to know people from the community.
(It was very cool to see some families, with little broodlings, at MLG.)
So it actually felt kind of lonely the first day and a half of MLG Anaheim, and probably the biggest factor was the fact that I didn’t go with anyone. You’re probably thinking “Duh!” Actually, some of you are probably thinking “Boo-hoo, I can’t even go to an MLG and this guy is complaining about being lonely at one.” To be clear, I had a great time meeting players and striking up small conversations with fans and TL members (CDRdude, I mentioned you in my pics posts, but I just have to thank you again for the TL pin; I know you gave the pins to many people, but it meant a lot to me to have gotten one), but I still mostly felt like just a spectator. Again, this is almost all due to my personality and the fact that I couldn’t spend a lot of time hanging out, as the TL members I met, and the other SC2 fans and players in general, were all very friendly.
Okay, I’m finally getting to the Gretorp part. On day two, Gretorp arrives in the late afternoon, or maybe early evening, and I go up to him to ask for an autograph, and the way he greeted me was like an old friend and immediately made me feel welcome (and it wasn’t just me, I saw him greet others the same way). Maybe he wasn’t as intense as the other players and personalities I met because he wasn’t playing or covering the event. Maybe that’s just how he is all the time. But much of my feeling of I’m-so-excited-about-being-here-but-I’m-too-shy-to-share-my-excitement-with-the-guy-next-to-me lightened after that.
Gretorp: Good for what ailes you!(tm)
So for the rest of day two, I felt better, and I actually sat down and took the time to just watch a bunch of games (Ret vs. Rain and White-Ra vs. Drewbie). That’s part of the reason I took less pics, if you look at my day two pics post. When the night was over, as I was walking out, Andre (see, I felt comfortable calling Gretorp by his real name, and I did) was as well, and since I wasn’t with anyone and he wasn’t either, he came up to me and put his hand out and just again greeted me like an old friend. We walked out of the venue together and I asked if he was working ESPORTS full-time because I remember when he was on Day[9] way back that he had a full-time job in addition to going pro, but he is indeed in the industry full-time.
I told him I was happy for him and to enjoy the hell out of these experiences. It’s definitely possible to be in ESPORTS and have a career outside of gaming and have a meaningful adult relationship and raise a family all at the same time (see: djWHEAT), but it’s damn hard. I’m lucky if I can play an hour a day, so my chances of making it out of Silver and into Masters are slim. So I told him that I’m trying to support the industry and the community how I can (I’m going to subscribe to NASL Season Two for sure) and wished him all the luck. Then he had to go to a party and I had to go home to my wife and kids and we parted ways.
And that was my MLG Anaheim 2011 experience.
Actually, astute readers will see that we’ve only gotten to the end of day two, but I didn’t know how I was going to wrap this up and I liked how the above section ended. Since I don’t have the burden of this being a tournament report, I don’t have to get into the specifics of day three. Suffice it to say, the energy of the crowd for the finals, really for all of the matches (BoxeR vs. Rain, anyone) were just cranked up to 11. I saw Gretorp again and again he greeted me as an old friend; he might have even used my name (I can’t remember).
And now, I will once again hastily wrap this up by saying “that was my MLG Anaheim 2011 experience”. It was, overall, excellent, and I came away from it feeling like I belonged to our community. And for that, I'd like to rephrase my subject line, and say “Thank you Andre!”
As a side, I just want to say thank you to TLO, HuK, and JP for taking the time to sign both my MLG Anaheim shirt and my SC2 game box. I tried not to ask people to sign multiple items, since there was always other people waiting. I just remember when meeting JP, I was using the box as a platform for the shirt, since we weren’t near a table. He asked what was under the shirt, and when I told him it was the game box, he asked if I’d like it signed after the shirt. I said I didn’t want to take up too much of his time, and he insisted on signing the box too. So thank you JP for taking your time and making me feel welcome to your home away from home!
Oh, before I forget, here are some more reminders of my experience at MLG Anaheim:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/W6B3Nl.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/iXFF9l.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/GMi0Hl.jpg)
[Edit: I realized this is more disjointed than I meant it to be. I'm too tired to revise it. Maybe tomorrow.]Last edit: 2011-08-08 06:15:15
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| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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| Primadog United States. August 07 2011 17:38. Posts 4395 | Profile Blog # |
Thanks for sharing. I am always of believe that the cons are never about the big stories, but all the little ones that fell through the crack. If only more people will share them in words and photos, rather than keeping them as private memories.
Gretorp is a great guy, aint he? Last edit: 2011-08-07 17:39:16 |
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| aNDRoM United States. August 07 2011 18:00. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # |
Thanks for commenting, Primadog. I know you've put so much into building the community, especially lately with your coverage of NASL and interviews with the SEn and White-Ra and other stuff, so it's cool to get a response from a figure in the community.
I can't remember if you're seen on any of the interviews you've conducted, and I'm going to bed so I can't check right now, but is there a pic of you anywhere? I've got to think I saw you at MLG Anaheim. Maybe you're even in one of my pics posts.
Yeah, I hope I don't sound like I'm gushing too much about Gretorp. While I meant everything I said, I was using this concept of feeling like not belonging (even if I may have belonged in a very very minor way just by being a member of TL before) that he dispelled to help me with my writer's block.
Last edit: 2011-08-07 18:24:51 |
| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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| Primadog United States. August 07 2011 18:08. Posts 4395 | Profile Blog # |
I am hardly a figure, just someone who luckily lives in Southern California, where ESPORTS now resides. Until a few months ago, I am just one of the masses. What made the difference for me was re-watching Day9's State of the Union address in the D9D preshow, and deciding to follow his advice, "stop asking for permission and go fucking do it."
There's a place in the community for everyone and anyone who wishes to contribute, whether it be time or money or skill, that's what makes TL and the larger E-sports community such a wonderful one to be part of.
Here's the only known existing esports picture of yours truly |
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| aNDRoM United States. August 07 2011 18:13. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # |
You're up-and-coming, then! :-)
Okay, I'm pretty sure I saw you, but us Asians all look alike.
Alright bed time. The kids wake up at the crack of dawn.Last edit: 2011-08-07 18:23:18 |
| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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| LuckyFool United States. August 07 2011 18:29. Posts 8328 | Profile Blog # |
| such a great blog, thanks for sharing these stories. <3 Andre ^^ |
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| lightrise United States. August 07 2011 18:55. Posts 1297 | Profile # |
This is awesome. I really appreciate the time you put into your post. Glad people really love this community and try and make it better.
Go to a TL party btw plz. It was the most fun I ever had getting to meet people here especially Charliemurphy. |
| | Awesome german interviewer: "What was your idea going into games against Idra" "I WANTED TO USE A CHEESE STRATEGY BECAUSE IDRA IS KNOWN TO TILT AFTER LOSING TO SOMETHING GAY" Demuslim |
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| katzby United States. August 07 2011 19:37. Posts 110 | Profile Blog # |
Need moar MLGs in California  |
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| Geordie United Kingdom. August 07 2011 21:03. Posts 652 | Profile Blog # |
| Actually that shirt with all of the signings on looks very very creased... Why dont you iron it? Is it because the signings will come off or something? |
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| nVusPip United Kingdom. August 07 2011 22:57. Posts 259 | Profile # |
On August 07 2011 21:03 Geordie wrote:
Actually that shirt with all of the signings on looks very very creased... Why dont you iron it? Is it because the signings will come off or something?
Aye, but I'd be scared too in case it got ruined 
Maybe he should try a small patch over one of the lesser players he likes but choosing one would be a tough task lol :D |
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| Marcus420 Canada. August 07 2011 23:11. Posts 1837 | Profile # |
A tyler autograph!
Those are rare nowadays! :D
(sarcasm) |
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| Alejandrisha United States. August 07 2011 23:31. Posts 5065 | Profile Blog # |
On August 07 2011 23:11 Marcus420 wrote:
A tyler autograph!
Those are rare nowadays! :D
(sarcasm)
hahaha |
| | probes get rich or die mining. | |
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| DarthThienAn United States. August 08 2011 00:03. Posts 2670 | Profile Blog # | |
| | www.cstarleague.com | Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart. |
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| aNDRoM United States. August 08 2011 00:52. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # |
On August 07 2011 18:55 lightrise wrote:
This is awesome. I really appreciate the time you put into your post. Glad people really love this community and try and make it better.
Go to a TL party btw plz. It was the most fun I ever had getting to meet people here especially Charliemurphy.
I'd love to, but I didn't see anything about one open to the public for MLG Anaheim. In her Day 2 post, katzby mentioned a TL party but I assume it was for the pros, friends and family, and those (like her) who was actually at MLG doing a bit of work for TL.
On August 07 2011 21:03 Geordie wrote:
Actually that shirt with all of the signings on looks very very creased... Why dont you iron it? Is it because the signings will come off or something?
I probably just didn't smooth it out for the picture. The shirt's brand new, never washed. I don't think it's permanently wrinkled. Haven't decided if I'm going to wear it or display/archive it.Last edit: 2011-08-08 00:53:49 |
| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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| aNDRoM United States. August 08 2011 00:56. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # |
On August 07 2011 23:11 Marcus420 wrote:
A tyler autograph!
Those are rare nowadays! :D
(sarcasm)
I felt kinda bad after I watched last week's SOTG, but when I asked him to sign, at least it was after he came off a win on the main stage, and I was one of many. One of the fans actually asked Tyler if he gets stuck signing things for people and how he handles it and his wife Lindsay says it happens and he'll sign some and then apologizes and has to leave. Since he had just won, hopefully he was on a high and didn't mind the signings at that moment too much. |
| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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| Primadog United States. August 08 2011 05:40. Posts 4395 | Profile Blog # |
| Thanks for your work aggregating the MLG Anaheim links, it actually helps one of my projects in a big way. |
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| CDRdude United States. August 08 2011 06:08. Posts 5421 | Profile Blog # |
| You took some cool pictures |
| | This is my signature. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. | |
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| aNDRoM United States. August 08 2011 06:10. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # | |
| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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| PassiveAce United States. August 08 2011 06:11. Posts 4678 | Profile Blog # |
| Nice shirt dude |
| | "I'm gonna wring your pants" || Official FireboltGamer (1 of around 9) |
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| aNDRoM United States. August 09 2011 03:23. Posts 636 | Profile Blog # |
On August 08 2011 06:08 CDRdude wrote:You took some cool pictures
You gave out some cool pins!
On August 08 2011 06:11 PassiveAce wrote:Nice shirt dude
Thanks! Trying to decide if I should keep the shirt as-is, or if I should take it to other events. I probably won't be able to go to another MLG any time soon, but I might be able to go to BlizzCon. I'll probably bring something else to BlizzCon, maybe the game box.
I went last year and didn't have anything with me, so I had Tastosis and Day[9] sign the BlizzCon program booklet. It's tucked away in my SC2 CE box.
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| | Hi. My name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify me. |
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