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[Edit]after thoughts at the bottom[/edit]
When watching Starcraft, my two favorite players, based on play style alone, are SlayerS_BoxeR and TLO. Not very unique or creative, I know, but I don’t follow play styles well enough to really get to know anybody. When I see TLO steal an add-on and start making reapers in his opponent’s base, it’s amazing. When Boxer is down by 3 against IdrA, and then pulls a crazy series of all-ins that look like they’re going to fail, but somehow he ties it up, I lose my mind.
But they’re not my favorite players. iNcontroL is.
I don’t need to talk about iNcontroL’s current tournament showings – we all know what they are. What’s important about them is that whenever he talks about his results, he shows a desire to do better. I mean, of course everybody wants to better, but when talking to players, few of them express the determination, the passion, and the need to improve that iNcontroL does. His talks about his results, his training and his burning to be the best resonate within me. That long look and subtle dejection on his face is heart breaking. I know what that’s like, to be disappointing yourself, and it just hits me when I see a player with such passion in that state.
But that’s not why he’s my favorite player.
I’ve met iNcontroL four or five times, we’ve had a few conversations, and once I did an interview with him. One of the things that really stands out when you talk to him is how different he acts and talks than other SC2 players. Maybe I should have started this paragraph by saying, “I’ve done dozens of interviews, and chatted with countless players,” but the point is, this guy isn’t your every day Starcraft2 Pro.
The way he talks is so direct and straightforward, it’s impressive. If you are having a conversation with him, it’s a real conversation, whatever the topic. Are you guys talking about whether banana or strawberry smoothies are better? It’s going to be an interesting conversation, with well laid arguments and you’re going to walk away thinking, “Damn, now I know for sure strawberry smoothies are better”. I’m not saying that he’s going to convince you of that, maybe he was siding with banana smoothies, but the nature of the conversation is such that it won’t be settled without a clear victor, or a muddled tie (mech in TvP anybody?).
But that’s not why he’s my favorite player.
Yes, I can empathize with iNcontroL, and yes, he gives a great interview, and yes, he is fun to talk to, but that’s not why I secretly pin my hopes on him in every tournament. I want you to think about a world in which iNcontroL wins a MLG, or a NASL, or even a GSL. When other players win these tournaments, they stand on stage, accept their trophy, and while can be expressive at times, most often they are fairly reserved. I’m not saying I think, nor would want, iNcontroL to tear it up and go all FirebatHero on us, but he has this imposing presence, this self assured nature and this aura of confidence that we need to see in our champions. Starcraft is filled with nerds, which is awesome, but nerds are famously reserved and quiet. We have people who win major tournaments, and we cheer for them for 10 minutes, but that’s it. The next day, we might say to one another, “yeah, HerO’s really good. He totally kicked ass at DreamHack,” and we’ll say it with excitement, but not with pride.
We all have our favorite players, but I’ve yet to talk to a SC fan that glows with pride when his favorite player wins. You see traditional sports fans go nuts over their teams, and we do it too sometimes, but what we’re missing is that lasting pride, that sense of honor, and that reinforcement of our convictions. What I’m saying is that if iNcontroL won an MLG, I would be proud to be an iNcontroL fan, and I think most people would as well.
But maybe that’s just me. Maybe everybody else is happy with the winners we’ve been given. Maybe I’m alone in this. I don’t think I am, but even if I was, even if I was the only guy walking around with a iNcontroL badge on my heart, I wouldn’t care. He has the potential to be the Starcraft champion we have been waiting for.
That is why iNcontroL is my favorite Starcraft player.
[Edit]After Thoughts:
It seems that other fans already feel this way about other players. That is awesome. It really really is. It just that I've been to a lot of events, chatted with a lot of people, and haven't met anyone, or chatted with anyone, that feels that way, so please don't take this as me putting down other fans and other players. It's not. Good for you guys <3. :D
[/Edit]
 
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nice. Its nice to see these positive blogs about players!
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I misunderstood your point and I get your view, your just being a fan and thats cool. Sorry to be harsh, I just read it as if your not cheering for Geoff then your not as happy as I am with the winners of MLG
EDIT: edited to adjust my misunderstanding
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On December 10 2011 12:10 Synwave wrote:
"your asking me stuff all the time and making judgement calls as am I, to say otherwise is disingenuous"
I didn't say that.
On December 10 2011 12:10 Synwave wrote:
Im all for fandom but this blog sort of smacks of Your not a true fan because I assume your not really happy with your winner like I would be if iNcontrol were to win!
If that's what you took away, I am truly sorry. I didn't mean this as a slight to others. I really have enjoyed starcraft so much, but it's never made me feel the same way that I used to feel when my favorite team would win the Superbowl.
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Kolibu0 good write up man, don't listen to that guy...
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I would love to see an underdog with personality like Nony/Incontrol take a major title. Great blog!
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I really hope incontrol wins it big one day too. He's just such a likable fellow!
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Awesome post 
He was one of the first pros I met at MLG Columbus, and it was so easy to tell how serious of a player he is, and how real of a guy he is. There's nothing fake about him.
He's definitely one of the players I root for the most. I'd love for him to make a breakthrough soon.
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Incontrol makes a serious effort. He seems like such a hard worker and stays as close to the community at all times. If there's a show he can do, he'll do it; a major tournament he can play in, he'll do it; a cast, he'll do it. He was also nice to me in person and let me take pictures. So yeah...Incontrol is good with me.
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United States24708 Posts
So, if I understand this correctly, the reason why Incontrol is your favorite player is because of his imposing, confident aura? And, this means when he wins it will have a more lasting effect than other players?
I'm cool with the blog, and with you being a fan of inc, but I admit I'm a bit confused on that.
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On December 10 2011 13:04 micronesia wrote:
So, if I understand this correctly, the reason why Incontrol is your favorite player is because of his imposing, confident aura? And, this means when he wins it will have a more lasting effect than other players?
I'm cool with the blog, and with you being a fan of inc, but I admit I'm a bit confused on that.
Not on other players. On the fan base.
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United States24708 Posts
On December 10 2011 13:06 Koibu0 wrote:Show nested quote +On December 10 2011 13:04 micronesia wrote:
So, if I understand this correctly, the reason why Incontrol is your favorite player is because of his imposing, confident aura? And, this means when he wins it will have a more lasting effect than other players?
I'm cool with the blog, and with you being a fan of inc, but I admit I'm a bit confused on that. Not on other players. On the fan base.
I don't see how your post is related to mine. I didn't say he would have an effect on other players.
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Nice blog. I can't say iNcontroL is always agreeable to my philosophies, at least my impression of him isn't. But maybe that's why he's slightly more likable, and not slightly more easily dismissed. It seems like he's a pretty cool guy in person. Actually now that I think of it, I've completely forgotten about that TV show he was on a couple years back. The Ultimate Gamer, was it? Why have I been barricading my fanship for this guy? He deserves it more than most. Thanks for this, Koibu0.
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That is an intensely cool blog post. iNcontroL has been my favorite player since god knows when... He was THE American I rooted for as a wee lad... And that pride you got from seeing him win? I got that in WCG 2007. It is glorious.
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On December 10 2011 13:08 micronesia wrote:
I don't see how your post is related to mine. I didn't say he would have an effect on other players.
Whoops. Misread. Yes. a player with greater strength in presentation and personality will have create a stronger longer effect when he wins.
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iNcontroL
USA29055 Posts
wow this is a really pleasant surprise and a nice read... ty man. And please believe me you... I want to win more than anything else.. I am working on it 
hope to make you all proud some day my friends <3
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iNcontroL took to himself as more than a player, but also a community member. A lot of shit he gets was because of that propensity to interact and to action. He could had restrained from his regular TL postings like everyone else, to maintain a public persona, but he doesn't. He could had, like everyone else, avoid any unproven ideas until it get tested, but he didn't. He burned a lot of community good will pushing NASL, and people gave him shit for it. But without him, Puma won't be 90k richer. Sure, he got burned often as the most high profile personality on new projects, but that has yet to stop him. That didn't stop him from giving BarCraft a strong endorsement - back when BarCraft was two bars, a restaurant, and Muffin's apartment - and kickstarted the movement that BarCraft is now.
His willingness to take a personal/career risk, as long as it may lead to a better eSports future, took guts. This is why he's my favorite eSports personality.
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incontrol ftw! Geoff fighting!
i don't know what it is that holds u back from dominating but i hope you get ur shit together because ur awesomE
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I like him not for his play, but for his buffness and willingness to argument his view.
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Geoff is a really nice guy in person and a really good debater but I wouldn't call him my favorite player lmao.
I don't see eye to eye with him often, but he has a lot more going for him than being a pro.
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EPT
