EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/odNuh.jpg)
TL nerds are happy nerds
Perfunctory Backstory
+ Show Spoiler +
Looking back on my history with (E-)sports it is no surprise that I fell in love with StarCraft. As I write this I'm picturing myself as the pre-pubescent angsty white boy arguing with my dad about sharing TV time during Sunday night football so I could play on my ps2. I remember playing GTA: San Andreas in picture in picture mode while my dad watched the 49ers. Sure, sports were alright... but WHAT ABOUT TEH VIDEO GAMES?
Even still, I spent plenty of time watching sports growing up, but once I left for college my interest waned. Then, early in 2009, I rediscovered Brood War. Sure, like every other nerd I know, I would pick up and reinstall StarCraft every few years. Who wouldn't? But this time around, I started playing with my friends on Bnet competitively. A few weeks in, my friend told me he found some videos on you tube from this site called Team Liquid about how to play better. After perusing TL we found out that people actual played this game professionally. It was just a few days later I started watching Korean VODs like like they were crack and I was an addict.
It was then that I realized something profound. I finally understood sports. The competition, the teams, the players, the fans, the cheering, the glory, the money... all of it. It finally made sense. I had found my sport.
Even still, I spent plenty of time watching sports growing up, but once I left for college my interest waned. Then, early in 2009, I rediscovered Brood War. Sure, like every other nerd I know, I would pick up and reinstall StarCraft every few years. Who wouldn't? But this time around, I started playing with my friends on Bnet competitively. A few weeks in, my friend told me he found some videos on you tube from this site called Team Liquid about how to play better. After perusing TL we found out that people actual played this game professionally. It was just a few days later I started watching Korean VODs like like they were crack and I was an addict.
It was then that I realized something profound. I finally understood sports. The competition, the teams, the players, the fans, the cheering, the glory, the money... all of it. It finally made sense. I had found my sport.
MLG Anaheim
+ Show Spoiler +
I decided to open my review of MLG Anaheim 2011 in this way so I could convey what this event meant to me. This was my first (E-)sports "game". I felt the way maybe I should have felt the first time my dad took my to a Giants game at Candlestick Park. I was surrounded by people who were as passionate as me about video game spectatorship. I saw literally every E-Sports crush I've ever had (save Jaedong, obvi). If you had the opportunity to come to MLG Anaheim, but didn't, I beg you to reconsider next time. It's one thing to feel bad for TLO when he drops a game while sitting on your couch, it's another thing entirely to see the pain etched on his face when his head comes back up from being rested in his hands.
In a word, MLG Anaheim was ridiculous. The fan energy, the talent, the games, the casting, (the seating :[ )... (almost) all of it met and exceeded my every expectation. To get a sense for how full the event was, take a look at a video from Friday night:
When Black Ops and Halo had finished for the night, StarCraft took over their seating and screens. Even with the added space of EVERY SEAT IN THE VENUE, StarCraft fans filled it up, and still had spectators standing in the back. E-Sports epic IMO.
Over the course of the weekend I met/saw/got autographs from/took pictures with/hung out with/crushed on, the following E-Sports celebrities:
Tyler
TLO
RetShethHuKJinroHayprOGretorpqxcLZMachineWhite-RaDestinyddeIdrAMVPBoxeRMMAAliciaGanZiDongRaeGuNaNiwaSocke KiWiKaKiDay[9]DJ Wheat
Husky
MrBitteriNcontroLHot_Bid
Kennigit
Atrioc (and Arianna)
Moletrap
SeleCTand many, many more...
I was too busy freaking out most of the time to take pictures, but here are a few of the pictures I remembered to take:
+ Show Spoiler +
New fb pic, standard:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/DId0W.jpg)
Day[9], Wheat, and JP
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/CVhoU.jpg)
MVP win
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/DYqiT.jpg)
Sweet license plate
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2wUw0.jpg)
Hot_Bid gave my friend his last TL pin... this is what jealousy looks like:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hDQSS.jpg)
LZGamer is awesome, in case you didn't know
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/JHIx7.jpg)
Another Wheat
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/9Omoy.jpg)
Huk is made of sugar and spice
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/jv6UN.jpg)
TLO and Select
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/QRa2C.jpg)
Haypro
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0ZIkn.jpg)
TLO again x3
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IH8EQ.jpg)
The Emperor
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Fyh06.jpg)
Day[9], Wheat, and JP
MVP win
Sweet license plate
Hot_Bid gave my friend his last TL pin... this is what jealousy looks like:
LZGamer is awesome, in case you didn't know
Another Wheat
Huk is made of sugar and spice
TLO and Select
Haypro
TLO again x3
The Emperor
All in all, I could not have asked for any more than what I got. This weekend tasted of delicious decadence. One more day and I would have changed my name to Dorian Gray. But I suppose there's always next time; perhaps Oscar Wilde and I can wait until the next California MLG for unbelievable-over-the-top-nerd-chill-fun. Until then.
I love all the threads showing things from a fans point of view, makes me sad though that I missed out on all the fun! 
