I am very happy for you that you have such a supportive family. I myself am starting to realise the importance of the support from people around you.

I recently broke up with my girlfriend. This was mainly due to the lack of support for my two great passions: singing and gaming. I almost felt ashamed whenever I wanted to play some StarCraft or League of Legends or whatever.

Now that it's over I feel incredibly relieved. I will never again enter in a relationship with someone that does not fully support my passions. I am very happy that you have found your match

Char711

United States862 Posts

May 27 2011 19:43 GMT

#124

I applaud you for your candidness, Wheat. Thanks for the blog and being so open with everyone! We all love what you do for the community!

Edit: Gleve (just above my post) is totally right: your face should totally be on the GG button website. I bought it after you mentioned it in a cast and me and several of my friends love the thing (it's SO addicting).

Cashmere

Australia66 Posts

May 27 2011 19:43 GMT

#125

I've followed every bit of content you've put out for a long time now.

I almost feel guilty. I know watching your shows supports you; I just wish I could help further.

zoombini

United States67 Posts

May 27 2011 19:45 GMT

#126

Been following you since the TsN days. Thank you for all your great work!

Rylaji

Sweden580 Posts

May 27 2011 19:47 GMT

#127

I hereby want to take this opportunity to thank your wife for making it possible for me to enjoy your casting and having you in e-sport. Please do tell her how much we all appriciate her supporting you, even tho I am a complete stranger.

djWHEAT, JenJen and miniWHEAT HWAITING!

caelym

United States6430 Posts

May 27 2011 19:49 GMT

#128

I was going to ask about this on ITG or Lo3, but you've already read my mind. The dedication you put into esports (basically taking on 2 full time jobs) is very inspiring. I can't wait for the day the esports explodes and becomes main stream.

twoCube

United States32 Posts

May 27 2011 19:51 GMT

#129

As a worker/aspiring SC2 lover as well, I'd like to thank you for being so transparent with your viewers and audience. I know the internet seems like mostly trolls, but I have a feeling that you know your audience has a heart.

One day you'll be able to quit and go full time man. One day.

MoreFaSho

United States1427 Posts

May 27 2011 19:52 GMT

#130

I love this story djWheat, it reminds me (to a different extent) to the way I approach my passions. I hate when people say "i'm a full-time worker, I don't have time for X" or "I'm a full-time student, I don't have time for X". Guess what, if it's actually a big deal for you, you'll MAKE TIME for your passions.

While at Caltech, an incredibly difficult school, as an undergrad I got really into chess. This is the time a lot of chess players quit, but this is when I started playing, and I loved it and still love playing, studying, and competing in chess. The obvious problem is that doing these things takes a lot of time. So sleep suffered a little, my grades maybe weren't as high as they could be, and I'd miss some events because I was gone at a chess tournament.

Some people see these "sacrifices" as big, but if you're doing something you truly enjoy, doing it the other way around is what is actually the big sacrifice. Giving up on being as exciting about how you spend your time is a sacrifice that I don't like to make. I managed to go from a weak 1000 chess rating to over 2100 in 4 years while being at one of the toughest universities in the US and it's not because I was smarter than my peers (I wasn't), but because I made time for things I enjoyed doing.

This is why it pisses me off when people say "I only have 1-2 hours per day to practice starcraft, but I really want to be a pro-gamer". That's fucking bullshit. If you can only find 1-2 hours per day to do something to achieve what you want to do, you don't really want to do that thing, you like the idea of doing it. If you really wanted to do it, you'd be willing to put in the work and make sacrifices where you can.

I'm not saying quit your job, but even if you're like me and you work 60+ hour weeks, even with sleep, that's still a lot of time left over. Oh, you really want to be a pro-gamer but you can't give up American Idol for 4 hours a week? Or some other TV show? Well, then maybe you don't really want to be a pro-gamer, you just like the idea of being a pro-gamer and you really want to be some dude on the couch watching American Idol. That's totally fine, but 95% of the time, if you really want to do something that you can train for from your own home, the only thing getting in the way is you.

djWheat, you're a fucking inspiration. I hope to get a chance to meet you at MLG Columbus and/or MLG Anaheim. Keep up the awesome work.

Greem

730 Posts

May 27 2011 19:56 GMT

#131

Never knew your Story, its very nice of you to share this info , i definitely think becoming a caster at any game is very hard, know this, without guys like you, eSports wouldn't be anywhere, its moved by community for community. I work myself as IT assistant in a hotel, been working here for almost a year now, and man, i'm 23 got no family like you, and feel like its hard to keep up with all this events and be able to play at the same time. I hope things will get more stabble for all those who got passion to keep eSport as they second job, aka hobby.

Kind words are pretty hard to collect when your heart belongs to eSport, almost no one around you even know what is it, but know that there're plenty nerds on teamliquid alone to support you whenever you'll need it!

KristianJS

2107 Posts

May 27 2011 19:59 GMT

#132

djWHEAT, you're the man. So much respect to you for pursuing your passions and sticking in there. The work you put into the community is something to be truly grateful for. I hope one day you'll be able to fully support yourself from e-sports alone!

ethorn

Sweden22 Posts

May 27 2011 20:01 GMT

#133

It sounds like you have some skills in your line of work. Have you thought about using those skills to do freelancing/consulting instead of being an employee?

Love it when you cast and would love to hear you more often!

FishStix

United States425 Posts

May 27 2011 20:05 GMT

#134

Fun read, Wheatsicles. U da best

guffe333

Denmark16 Posts

May 27 2011 20:15 GMT

#135

Wheat man, I like you more and more each time I see your casts or read your thoughts.

Hope you do well in the future and will get a full time job covering e-sports!

-Loki

Eruaphadion

Canada78 Posts

May 27 2011 20:18 GMT

#136

On May 28 2011 02:17 Chill wrote:
This is why people call me a dick. Because whenever someone writes "I want to be a professional Starcraft player" or "I want to commentate full time" I'm always the first one in there telling him hobbies should stay hobbies. Starcraft rarely pays, and when it does, it often pays poorly. If one of the top guys can't support himself through commentary, what does that say about the rest of us?

That said, I hope one day someone with a golden voice and incredible marketing and business development skills comes in and shows us how to scoop up a ton of money through sponsored commentary. Until that day I'll remain a hobbyist because I'm certainly not that man.

God you are so awesome Chill.

Oh, and you too Wheat!

Cynic04

United States1 Post

May 27 2011 20:21 GMT

#137

Didn't see bathroom breaks on there, or is that just for the weekend? Seriously, sounds tough, especially for someone as lazy as me. I appreciate the shows and casting tho, keep it up (unless you don't have time).

rculb

United States15 Posts

May 27 2011 20:30 GMT

#138

Hi Wheat. Just wanted to say thanks for all your hard work. The community loves you and values your involvement. I hope that someday soon you will find a way to dedicate yourself to gaming and support your family by doing what you love. Thanks for posting this.

CryingCow

Canada149 Posts

May 27 2011 20:33 GMT

#139

I just wish i could find a girl as understanding as your wife. ^_^ You are a true inspiration.