Chat-World » n less than stellar.Christopher Zuna Buec

Its the 2015 North American League Championship finals, and players on Team Solo Mid and Counter Logic Gaming sit anxiously in their seats, knees bouncing erratically from excess adrenaline. Sitting among an ocean of fans is Hawaiian native (and high ping survivor) Matt Matt Elento, support player for Team Liquid. At the time, Matt was playing for Team Liquid Academy, TLs challenger team, and arrived in New York with no money and nowhere to stay (he crashed at a friends place). Afterwards, Matt returned to the West Coast reinvigorated.I was amazed at how many people were there, he said. I was just amazed that all these guys that I played with almost every day in solo queue. It was pretty natural to think I wasnt that far off from them. That if I took the time and effort, I could be on the same stage that they were on. That was a real inspiration for me. So everyday, I would grind in solo queue.Part of the beauty of esports is that aspiring gamers arent handcuffed by the same restrictions as beginner athletes. Theres no need for a pitch, a referee, a net, or even daylight to practice. Theres something magical in its accessibility -- all an aspiring pro needs is their gaming device of choice -- and with a passable internet connection and indelible passion, it gives the impression that anyone can achieve that goal.Its not uncommon for talented gamers to be gifted at multiple different titles. Some common factors for success include wide champion pools and possessing lightning-fast reaction times. Still, in terms of entering the pro scene, experiences vary widely across game titles. Unlike traditional sports, a games boon or bust is partially in the hands of the game developer and how they decide its played, viewed, and monetized.While having an involved publisher can be problematic, it comes with benefits as well: a strong amateur scene, clear paths to success, more consistent compensation and an avid viewership. The opportunities for pros in different esports vary wildly. In a game that has an online ranking system like League and Dota 2, its easier to measure who is performing at a competitive level. For a console games like the Super Smash Bros installments, the route is far more treacherous; players jump from tournament to tournament in order to climb the standings. It costs money to travel to national events. Without proper sponsorship or sister teams to play on, it can be difficult for amateur players to get noticed. While tournaments certainly arent lacking in entrants, the monetary obstruction might still be diverting some of the fighting game communitys potential talent pool.Matt says League was one of the few games he had regular access to as a kid. I played Runescape, a browser-based MMO game, he said. I had an N64 growing up, but for the most part I wasnt into console games because we didnt have a console. The main reason I had to play Runescape was because I couldnt afford online memberships. It was just the game I was able to play.The fighting game communitys competitive scene (though blessed with a passionate fan base) has struggled to get the support its pros need. This is partially because of their publishers hands-off parenting style. At the Evolution Championship Series 2016, the largest game fighting tournament in the world, Nintendo only offered setups for gamers to use and not all of the custom options were unlocked on the systems provided.In League, teams have a strong structure in place: coaches, support staff, managers, some even have a team chef. Immortals, a professional League of Legends team, has a sports psychologist on staff, who is tasked with the immense job of making sure that players are not only successful, but healthy and happy. Famed Immortals top laner, Heo Huni Seung-hoon, credits his teams strong backbone for the success theyve found this split.First of all, we have a personal coach, and I think that helps a lot. Having a personal coach, being healthy and being happy. It helps you to be successful outside of your country, Huni said. Having a healthy mentality -- it makes you successful outside of the game.Coaching was banned at Evo 2016 from the quarterfinals onward. Organizers felt that it gave players an unfair edge. They arent wrong -- it is an advantage -- though not an untoward one. A few days before Evo started, Team Liquid hired their first-ever Super Smash Bros coach, Luis Crunch Rosias. Days later, his longtime friend Juan Hungrybox DeBeidma finally secured gold after years of just falling short.For the fighting scene to truly evolve, tournament organizers need to accept that players need structure to perform at their highest level, so they can continue to improve as games change.Michael Sherman, Competitive Programs Specialist at Riot Games, says that Leagues collegiate system is growing. As of this coming fall, there will be seven different schools offering League scholarships in North America, which could set esports players up for careers within the community post-pro play. And while uLoL has no current plans to attach itself to competitive, the collegiate space is expanding--all four teams in the campus series finals had coaches. According to Sherman, should the college community ask for it, Riot would be ready to explore the implementation of a more direct process from college to pro gaming.The way I like to think of it, is that you dont sign someone up for little league to go professional one day. Sherman said. So, we like to think of college as an opportunity to scratch that competitive itch while staying in school. I cant speak for the challenger scene, but we do think of them as parallel paths. Were doing everything we can to help accelerate its growth.By contrast, opportunities to play fighting games at a competitive collegiate level are essentially nonexistent. Undoubtedly, pros in the fighting game community have been dealt a short hand, but as the scene continues to grow, so does the opportunity for players.I kind of think about how my progression as a player. It looks like anyone could have done it. There were plenty of other players who were in the same position as I was, you know, playing the game for fun, Matt said. I definitely think people should be motivated in whatever situation theyre in. Like, skys the limit. Carmelo Anthony Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Allen Iverson Nuggets Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Jarred-Vanderbilt-Nuggets-Jersey/ .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Tyler Lydon Jersey . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Dikembe Mutombo Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. On Aug. 9, ESPN reported that former NFL Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow was set to hold a workout for Major League Baseball teams later this month, aiming to pursue a career in professional baseball. Few athletes have been able to transcend a career in one sport to compete in another, but Tebow wants to join the list long after his prime in professional football, specifically his days as a Florida Gator.As Tebow prepares to hopefully revitalize his career with a stint in baseball, we couldnt help but wonder: What if he switched to esports instead? How would he compare to some of the esports athletes who are past their prime?We take a look at five esports athletes who have had similar paths to Tebow: they have been on top of it all at one point, but their recent results have been less than stellar.Christopher Zuna BuechterLooking at the field of esports, theres one athlete who has successfully switched games, though arguably not as well as expected. Team Naventic flex player Christopher Zuna Buechter was at the peak of North American League of Legends on Vulcun years ago, before switching to Heroes of the Storm after leaving the League scene. His transition has been OK, but its clear that hes beyond his prime as an esports athlete, most recently winning third/fourth at the 2016 ESL North America Fall Regional Championship.Tebows fast hands could make him a good Heroes of the Storm player, a game which is often considered easier than the other multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs). And with a little bit of luck, he could be better than Zuna at the game.Chae Piglet Gwang-jinOnce a World Champion, Team Liquid Academy AD carry Chae Piglet Gwang-jin is not only beyond his prime, hes tired out, too. Piglets career peaked at a 2013 World Championship win on SK Telecom T1 K, the team led by superstar young-gun mid laner Lee Faker Sang-hyeok. Like Tebow, who took home two college football national hampionships in 2007 and 2009, Piglet won it all when it mattered most in 2013.But unlike Tebow, Piglet didnt win MVP, or in Tebows case, a Heisman Trophy. And most recently, Piglet expressed that he was burned out on League of Legends, moving to Team Liquid Academy in the Challenger Series from the organizations main squad, Team Liquid.Could Tebow dominate League of Legends, a game that is one of the most popular esports? Probably nnot, but given Piglets current state of play, its certainly possible that he could challenge the former Korean stars skill set.ddddddddddddAdam friberg FribergAsk any long-term Counter-Strike fan what team they remember the most, and while some will say Fnatic, many take to the likes of their Swedish counterpart Ninjas in Pyjamas. At the helm of the team and most of its memorable moments in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is Adam friberg Friberg. But fribergs seen better days after his four years of play on the team.Tebow, a quarterback, could potentially excel at Counter-Strike: Global Offensive if he trained up. One of the most important traits of players is their muscle memory and how they control a guns spray, movement and accuracy. Put Tebows throwing arm to the test, and it could be a match made in heaven; Tebow could be the next Counter-Strike star.Henrik Froggen HansenThe former king of the European mid laners, Henrik Froggen Hansens last few seasons in League of Legends have ended in either seventh or relegation. Once a star on Counter Logic Gaming Europe, Evil Geniuses and Alliance, Froggens legacy and name still resonate with fans around the world, despite his skill dropping off heavily since his glory days.Froggen may just be the Tebow of the League of Legends scene. Once Tebow moved to the NFL, things fell off harshly, akin to Froggens move to North America at the end of last year. But like Tebow, Froggen has had his moments where he brings his team out of the mud. However, he has also had his bad moments.The real question, could Tebow play Anivia? And if the answer is yes, he could be the next star mid laner of Rick Foxs team Echo Fox.Mohamad m0E AssadThank god Mohamad m0E Assad finally stopped playing. A well-known Counter-Strike: Source and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player, streamer and now manager, m0Es best moments are certainly behind him.The Echo Fox Counter-Strike general manager matches Tebow in theatrics on his stream, although his polarizing persona is on the opposite end of the spectrum (Tebow is a loud and expressive man of faith, while m0E is a well-known rager). And, like replacing friberg, Tebow could probably play better than m0E did in his final days with Echo Fox as a player. ' ' '