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| storywriter Australia. July 19 2012 13:58. Posts 518 | Profile # |
[Thistalk] Coach Lee: "the future of TSL is bright"
How TSL rebuilt itself to become the Zerg powerhouse that it is today
One of the hottest teams at the moment is TSL (Team SCV Life). TSL started out in a stable manner sponsored by numerous hardware firms and raised the first ever champion of GSL, Fruitdealer.
However, TSL’s road was full of obstacles. It was well known for being a small yet powerful team but soon, there was trouble between the team and its original members Trickster and Fruitdealer which led to its stagnation. Not long after, Clide, Killer, aLive, RevivaL and JYP reformed the team but every one of the aforementioned players except RevivaL left the team leaving it in a hard spot to say the least.
That TSL is currently once again becoming the centre of attention. Once named the tiny team of elites, TSL has now been dubbed the Zerg powerhouse. With players such as the “Nephalem Zerg’ Symbol and the “Goberman” Hyun (T/N: play on the word Doberman, a breed of dog known for its tenacity as far as I can tell. Hyun’s last name is Go.) as well as RevivaL, Shine and RagnoraK, their Zerg line up is rated as the best in the scene. Adding to this is the might of Polt the “Seoul University” Terran who won the Super Tournament of GSL.
Lately, Coach Lee is looking much happier. He went through his share of trouble with the negative rumours about his team and himself but now he has a Can do attitude and is filled with strong faith for his players. Meeting with TiG, Coach Lee told us that the future of TSL was bright and showed great confidence that it could grow to become a much better progaming team.
How did TSL cope during the time it was alienated from the fans? Let’s hear from Coach Lee’s own mouth what the rebuilding process of TSL was really like. From ThisisGame reporter Kim, Kyung Hyun
Lately, TSL is on fire and its members are doing well in GSL. How do you feel about that?
When I started to rebuild the team, I even considered changing the name. However, I couldn't give up my attachment to it so decided to keep it. We changed everything except the name. Not long ago, there wasn't a single player in the GSL. However, now we're seeing good results and exposure in the GSL. GSL and GSTL are a great source of motivation for our players and is helping up improve once more.
No team has gone through as much as TSL. It's all in the past but please tell us what your thoughts were at the time
It wasn't just me that was affected but also my family. However, the players who remained believed in me and listened to what I had to say. I am extremely grateful to them. TSL had lost many of its main players so it's understandable that people started talking about the team the way they did. We were also criticised for the mishaps with foreign teams.
Personally, I feel that you may have been somewhat indecisive so would you say that a more decisive action could have helped?
Honestly, when the players left the team, I wished them well. Mostly anyway. I'd be lying if I said that there weren't cases when I wasn't (laugh). However, I didn't want to disadvantage the players at all. I learned many things from these experiences. You have to be decisive when the situation calls for it. However, at the time, I feel that I was being cautious with my words rather than being indecisive.
Even when people were talking badly of me, as long as the team was rebuilt properly, I knew that those remarks would disappear. The forums nowadays seem think of me as a man of great mental fortitude but that's not the case at all. I'm not mentally strong at all and it was a really difficult time for me. Relying on trust alone instead of formal contracts was a huge mistake in the end.
How do you get along with players who left TSL? you seem to be on fine terms with most of them.
There are some who I have cleared up misunderstandings with and others who I have yet to get to. I get along fine with most. Even now, there are more players that I am on good terms with than not. I'm not bitter or anything. I really hope anyone who was on TSL at any time does well. I was cheering for them without realising it (laugh). When I see former TSL players do badly, it makes my heart ache.
There was a time when no one on TSL was performing and sponsors were leaving the team. It must have wanted you to just quit and drop it all
The biggest reason I continued was the players who decided to remain with the team and Polt who joined us soon afterwards. The staff who helped out with the team were a big factor too. I couldn't just give up all the work we had put in already. It was a good learning experience and I thought that I could avoid the same mistakes in the future. Financially, it was brutal. The expenses were getting out of control. I think TSL has spent the most money out of all the Korean teams. The players weren't participating in any tournaments in Korea so they had to go overseas and the team paid for all expenses. Looking back, that was a great investment. At the time, we had no seeds or invites so we had to pay for all the travel expenses and lodgings and we were extremely jealous of other teams and its players that were provided everything by the organisers.
TSL started out with so many things going right for it. What were your thoughts when you lost all you had?
I never thought the team had lost everything. In the recruitment tournament, we picked out Symbol and RagnaroK and I saw great potential in those two. When Shine and HyuN joined, I got the same feeling. It's true we had little but I went around telling everyone to watch out for our Zerg players and after just six months of rebuilding the team, we're getting great results. I had faith that our players would pull through.
Did you try to recruit players from other teams in your efforts to rebuild the team?
I tried and I did make proposals to other teams. However, most refused. I think it's because our team wasn't doing so well. So I changed my approach. When the rebuilding process first started, TSL only had five Zergs so the racial balance was off. That's why I tried to buy more Protosses and Terrans but it wasn't easy.
I changed my approach after much consideration. I no longer saw having many Zergs as a problem. I just saw it as "we have many good players" and went about my business. I told the Zerg players that they were part of a team, not part of a race. They really listened to what I had to say. I still think the structure of our team is a work of art.
Did HyuN play a crucial role in the rebuilding process? If we're honest here, he must have been terrible at Starcraft 2 when he joined the team
He improved extremely quickly. HyuN is such a great player that he showed off his potential as soon as he joined. He wasn't able to give a good showing in the GSL for a while but he made us a lot of income by participating in numerous online tournaments. It's true I had high expectations for HyuN when we started to rebuild. He's a hard working player so I knew that other players would learn this aspect from him. I was closely involved with him in MBCGames so I knew what his strengths and weaknesses were. I was over the moon when HyuN told us he wanted join our team.
Soon after Polt joined, the team started going downhill so what was his reaction?
Polt told me that he would place his trust in me. I tried to keep all my promises to Polt that I made when he joined. It was Polt who made things better for us in our darker days by performing well. He went to many foreign tournaments and promoted the team greatly. It's all thanks to Polt that our team is well known in the foreign scene. In online tournaments, it was Symbol, Shine, HyuN and RevivaL who promoted our team.
Lately, Symbol is unstoppable. What do you think when you see this?
Even as a recruit, there was something special about him. Everyone on the team agreed on accepting and was very satisfied. The same thing happened for Shine. Symbol is an incredibly hard-working person and the way our Zerg players share strategies among themselves meant that he was in a great environment to improve.
Where do you think Symbol's skill level lies at the moment
He's been set back a little bit recently but he could take a tournament at any time. He's the best I've seen. Even in practice, he shows amazing games. Especially, the way he handles engagements is out of this world. Also, he doesn't get nervous in broadcasts. It's a great ability to have. I know our players harp on about how they do well in practice but really, at the end of the day, it's your performance in practice that matters at the basic level. That's why I want to emphasise that Symbol is great in practice.
Symbol achieved a reverse all kill against LG-IM in GSTL Season 2 Round 1
Since last season of Code A, I knew he was going to do something big. Then, when he finally got that reverse all kill, I was ecstatic. As he got past the 2 kill point, I knew that an all kill could be coming. I believed it came down to whether he could take out MVP and others agreed.
Your faith in Symbol must have grown much stronger because of the reverse all kill
Not necessarily. I don't judge a player on their results alone. My faith in Symbol was already through the roof before the reverse all kill. It was more of a case of "ah, he's finally showing what he's got". I felt the same way when HyuN scored three kills against NSHS in Round 2 of Group B.
Lately, TSL Zergs are absolutely smashing their way through everything. Thinking back, didn't you do the same for MBCGame Zergs back in the day?
There were many more players in MBCGame and it was much harder. Now, we have a line-up of around 10 players and my practice regimen is specifically designed for the TSL team. We're not racially balanced but I don't worry about that any more.
Back in MBCGame, you put a lot of emphasis on communication between players. We have seen many discussions and meetings in your teams
There are several wins Symbol needs to give HyuN credit for. I got the two to sit next to each other in practice and this had a great effect. The only problem is that they're a bit rowdy (laugh). At first, the players were reluctant about sharing their strategies and ideas. However, I convinced them if they're sincere towards their teammates then they would be rewarded in the same way. This encouraged the players to actively share strategies and become more involved in each other's training. Now, I have to focus on getting sponsorship so that players can play the game in a more accommodating environment. There's absolutely no problem with practice and everyone will start to post great results in tournaments.
There's a coach who has been helping you manage the players. We don't know much about this person though
Kim, Ga Ram coach is someone I've known for 10 years. He's a junior I've known since Starcraft 1 days and he manages the TSL B team. When I'm away, he manages all the players and is more like a big brother to them than a coach. He wasn't always in the e-Sports scene. He went through a lot because he joined our team so I was thinking about getting him a job as a coach on another team but he himself decided to stay.
Our players love Coach Kim and follow him well. He played a great part in the rebuilding process and was crucial in raising the skill level of our B team. Whenever I was away at a meeting or taking care of external stuff, he was there to help out. Also, I'm married so I go home at night but Coach Kim stays on site at the training site which lets me puts my mind at ease.
TSL once had plenty of sponsors. However, the number has greatly decreased. Is the search for more sponsorship going well?
Lately, finding sponsorship has become harder. However, I look at all the expenses as investments. Also, the players are performing so well that I have a lot of cards to play now. With this in mind, I'm trying my hardest. I'm trying to achieve something soon. I ask that the players be patient for just a little longer. I have experience getting sponsorship so I'm confident and with a little more results, I think I can exponentially increase our team's marketability.
What kind of plan do you have for sponsorships. Back then, you seemed to focus on smaller sponsors but more of them
That's true but now I am looking for a somewhat larger company to sponsor us. However, we're not yet at a stage where we can find one. However, I am certain the day will come soon. Even if we don't win the whole season of GSTL, making ro4 is a great accomplishment and Symbol is doing well.
I haven't had much to show for all our work but all that effort is finally bearing fruit. That's why I was never jealous when I heard about LG-IM or Startale's Red Bull. I know we can do the same. However, it's important we keep posting great results for this to happen. Our players must keep this in mind at all times. The only way for a team and its players to prosper is for the players to do well and gain fame.
What kind of team do you want TSL to be in the future?
I want to find a major sponsor and make the players' lives more stable. I'm even considering representing a sponsor if they are big enough. I welcome any sponsor who is able to guarantee a comfortable lifestyle for our players. These are the kinds of major things I worry about nowadays. I just want my players to not worry financially. Rather than making money myself, I try to think of ways on how to provide better conditions to my players. There is no TSL without its players.
Do you get proposals from foreign organisations? SC2Con is being recognised overseas
I am looking and also preparing an English proposal as well. I have a marketing manager buddy in the US and we're both working hard. She's the one who facilitated the partnership with Millenium. I have several meetings with firms both in Korea and overseas and plan to work even harder. Our team has the results to back itself up so fortunately, the firms are starting to look on us favourably.
Any words to the TSL players?
It puts my mind at ease to think that our future is looking so good. I am desperate to make something happen for the players. I think I can achieve this within two months. We'll have to see but I think if the players play as they are, we'll get what we want. Then again, I don't doubt our players' skill. They will of course do well. So, now, it's all up to me.
There must be something you want to say to the fans
I think a lot of the fans left because of misunderstandings. I was very hurt by this. I hope they understand this side of the story. I like to think of myself as the coach who thinks of their players first and foremost. I like to stick to these principles in my running of TSL. Even when we had very few sponsors and we were in the red, I tried my best to care for my players.
TSL players are working harder than ever and helping each other improve quickly. I hope you look favourably on this and cheer for them in the future. I feel like we're gaining fans lately which makes me so happy. We won't stop at this and return the favour with even better results. I want to finish by once again asking the fans to support us.
Source: ThisisGameLast edit: 2012-07-20 07:57:41 |
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| storywriter Australia. July 19 2012 14:00. Posts 518 | Profile # |
| i'll admit i didn't proof read this yet so point out any errors please |
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| skatblast United States. July 19 2012 14:00. Posts 432 | Profile # | |
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| storywriter Australia. July 19 2012 14:04. Posts 518 | Profile # |
On July 19 2012 14:00 skatblast wrote:
very nice how much
how much? wrong thread? |
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| Bagration United States. July 19 2012 14:05. Posts 11502 | Profile Blog # |
Wow, it's been so long since we've had a thorough interview from a major team coach. Thanks
I'll admit after the fiasco that TSL had earlier this year, where they simply weren't able to retain players after just losing aLive, I had written them off to become a minor team. Great that they have rebuilt themselves up though, and I'm glad to see that I was proven wrong. |
| | Team Slayers, Axiom and Vile forever |  |
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| Torte de Lini Canada. July 19 2012 14:07. Posts 27331 | Profile Blog # |
| This is incredibly detailed and well-translated. I'm giving it another read now, but good job + the original interviewer. |
| | https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini) |  |
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| Dodgin Canada. July 19 2012 14:07. Posts 26914 | Profile # |
On July 19 2012 14:00 storywriter wrote:
i'll admit i didn't proof read this yet so point out any errors please
I think a lot of the fans left because of misunderstandings. I was very hurt by this. I hope they understand this side of the story. I like to think of myself as the coach who thinks of their players first and foremost. I like to stick to these principles in my running of TSL. Even when we had very few sponsors and we were in the black, I tried my best to care for my players.
In the black or in the red?
Thanks for the translation. |
| | Self Proclaimed Supreme Overlord of Starcraft ll Live Report Threads. ㅇㅅㅌㅅ |  |
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 Fionn United States. July 19 2012 14:08. Posts 17232 | Profile Blog # |
Wow, amazing article.
Really hope TSL can find a big name sponsor like LG or Red Bull. |
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| storywriter Australia. July 19 2012 14:09. Posts 518 | Profile # |
On July 19 2012 14:07 Dodgin wrote:
Show nested quote +On July 19 2012 14:00 storywriter wrote:
i'll admit i didn't proof read this yet so point out any errors please
Show nested quote +I think a lot of the fans left because of misunderstandings. I was very hurt by this. I hope they understand this side of the story. I like to think of myself as the coach who thinks of their players first and foremost. I like to stick to these principles in my running of TSL. Even when we had very few sponsors and we were in the black, I tried my best to care for my players.
In the black or in the red? Thanks for the translation.
ooops |
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 whatevername July 19 2012 14:10. Posts 470 | Profile # |
| Really surprised this guy still has any credibility left in the community. |
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opterown  Australia. July 19 2012 14:12. Posts 28573 | Profile Blog # |
| wow long interview thanks storywriter :D |
| | live report calendar: http://goo.gl/qc4eD |  |
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| Bagration United States. July 19 2012 14:14. Posts 11502 | Profile Blog # |
On July 19 2012 14:10 whatevername wrote:
Really surprised this guy still has any credibility left in the community.
Credibility or none, you have to admit he turned a team that once looked like it was on the verge of collapse, into a team that just might win the GSTL and a true powerhouse. |
| | Team Slayers, Axiom and Vile forever | |
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| mierin United States. July 19 2012 14:15. Posts 3336 | Profile # |
Thanks so much for this interview, hope there might be a time where I can be as skilled and translate something important 
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| | JD, Stork, Calm, Hyuk Fighting! |  |
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| Xeris Iran. July 19 2012 14:16. Posts 16896 | Profile Blog # | |
| | twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~ |  |
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| Kieofire United States. July 19 2012 14:17. Posts 1786 | Profile # |
| Very nice interview, made me tear up a little. |
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| -RusH United States. July 19 2012 14:21. Posts 57 | Profile # |
| Nice interview, thanks for the translation. |
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| Lysanias Netherlands. July 19 2012 14:25. Posts 5933 | Profile # |
| I would suggest a fast food company like McDonalds as there main sponsor, Coach Lee looks to be weighing 50 pounds or less, please dude look after yourself this brings back pictures of Africa. |
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| fenrysk United States. July 19 2012 14:27. Posts 268 | Profile # |
dat team swarm life
thanks for the translation |
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| whatevername July 19 2012 14:33. Posts 470 | Profile # |
On July 19 2012 14:14 Bagration wrote:
Show nested quote +On July 19 2012 14:10 whatevername wrote:
Really surprised this guy still has any credibility left in the community.
Credibility or none, you have to admit he turned a team that once looked like it was on the verge of collapse, into a team that just might win the GSTL and a true powerhouse.
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| Kieofire United States. July 19 2012 14:35. Posts 1786 | Profile # |
On July 19 2012 14:33 whatevername wrote:
Show nested quote +On July 19 2012 14:14 Bagration wrote:
On July 19 2012 14:10 whatevername wrote:
Really surprised this guy still has any credibility left in the community.
Credibility or none, you have to admit he turned a team that once looked like it was on the verge of collapse, into a team that just might win the GSTL and a true powerhouse.
He caused the collapse initially so oh well.
Where is your proof that he was the cause? Don't go saying stuff that isn't true or isn't 100% verified.
Edit: The only part that I will give you is the Trickster/Fruitdealer issues.Last edit: 2012-07-19 14:57:55 |
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