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Why I won't go pro and neither should you

Blogs > Clbull
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Clbull
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United Kingdom1439 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-08 01:27:47
March 08 2012 01:18 GMT
#1
DISCLAIMER: I'm not provoking anybody with legitimate skill, almost hitting GM league to give up their hopes and dreams, especially if it seems like they're getting somewhere (namely top 200 in Europe/America/Korea/Southeast Asia/China) his is directed at all you nubs aspiring to go pro one day. Basically, it's based around the message these two songs imply, that all these newbies are trying their hand at becoming the next big SC2 pro.





Here are six reasons why I will never join the ranks of professional gamers like (T)Flash, (Z)Jaedong, (P)Bisu, (T)DeMusliM, WinDy, (P)NaNiwa..... hell, even (Z)Destiny and (P)iNcontroL

#1 - I Rage and BM. A lot.
Allow me to share a truth with you. I actually got a three day suspension for offensive language in chat which just sprang out of me when I lost a game. Hell, some of the shit I've said on SC2 has been quite tame compared to the racist/homophobic crap you'd hear on say.... Xbox Live.

If I can't take a ladder loss lightly, imagine the shit I would spew out if I were to say.... lose potential winnings from losing a game.

I am shocked that people like Sheth and WhiteRa can be so fucking mannered especially when money is on the line. Look at WhiteRa in the Dreamhack Stockholm Invitational last year. Cheesed out of a 2-2 tie in the space of about three minutes by a cheesy oGsMC, proxy 2-gating his way to first place.

If I were in WhiteRa's shoes, I wouldn't have gg'd, I probably would have ended the game with "fuck you faggot" and stormed out in rage. Or would have done worse.

Hell, even bad mannered IdrA isn't THAT BM. Yes, he does ragequit and he does trashtalk but he's not taken it too far, like to the point where most leagues would actually ban the fuck out of you.

Plus the bad thing about being bad mannered? If you say the wrong thing, you end up witch hunted by SCReddit. Remember what happened to MaximusBlack once? Or what's happening to Orb at the moment on Reddit?

Yes, BM "pros" (if you can call them that) like CombatEX exist but is he really a pro? Banned from TL for understandable reasons, no team would realistically touch him with a metal pole, especially with his current attitude. I mean even CSL (the only league he's played in) banned him permanently for "excessive bad manner"

#2 - I am lowly ranked.
Why do players get on teams? Because they got potential. Hell, female pros have been criticised for getting on teams using just their good looks and charm. Yet, I think realistically, SlayerSEve, StartaleAphrodite, StartaleMisS, KellyMILKIES or QuanticFlo could probably kick your ass in SC2 if you're not top 2% of your region.

There's a reason they're not gonna sign JamesonStarcraft who's mid Silver League or HeartStarcraft, the pseudonym for a stunning babe that is Rank 62 Diamond and slipping in terms of MMR, struggling to stay within her league.

Guess what? Teams are after decent players.

#3 - I have nothing entertaining to bring to the community.

More a case for the Destiny/iNcontroL/Chad Motherfucking Jones/Dragon fans. I won't lie, they are decent but they are hardly top tier.

Rather, they get by on entertainment value. Sorry, but you cannot exactly convince people to watch you especially if you offer no niche and any possible niches are already filled.

#4 - My APM is fucking tiny.

This guitar riff represents my APM (I'm not hating on Paramore in any way)


This guitar solo represents the top tier pro-gamer's APM


That's right, I do not play at 250 - 300 actions per minute and therefore cannot process let alone act upon the complex strategies that such multitasking skill would allow me to do.

Yes, there are pros with low-ish APM and realistically my APM is not that tiny (Around 133 average match APM according to any replay I upload on drop.sc)

But my multitasking is realistically shit. Compare that to the likes of say.... your average Korean progamer.

#5 - It's too big a gamble.
I don't know how people like Day[9] or Qxc could do it. I mean get involved in the StarCraft scene and study at the same time. But realistically, Qxc performs greatly when he's got time off. Just look at when he all-killed Incredible Miracle, even including Mv-fucking-p.

I study, I am working to get a future career. What if I were to say focus my time into getting good at a game, playing the amount a pro-gamer would, but then it turns out that I'm just not that good.

Good food for thought isn't it

#6 - Not from Korea
Okay, this one was worded badly. I don't mean that you have to be of a Korean ethnic background or born in Korea to be good at StarCraft. Look at players like (T)Jinro, (P)HuK and (P)NaNiwa whom practice] in Korea.

Point is, send me to the oGsTL house for a month and give me a Code A seed and you know what I'll do? What many foreigners have already done in the GSL time and time again. Lose 0 - 2 in the Ro48.

CONCLUSION: I admit it, I am not skilled at SC2. So why should you suddenly think that you can go from say.... Silver/Gold/Plat to GM in about 3 weeks then be showered by prize money. There's a reason why these players are decent, it's because they have talent. Yes, you can throw stuff such as "talent is overrated" at me but somebody can just be good at something without necessarily applying the "deliberate practice" suggested by this psychologist who introduced the theory.

*
Severus_
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
759 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-08 01:23:43
March 08 2012 01:23 GMT
#2
those are all excuses. If you want something do it not even God can stop you.
Clbull
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United Kingdom1439 Posts
March 08 2012 01:28 GMT
#3
On March 08 2012 10:23 Severus_ wrote:
those are all excuses. If you want something do it not even God can stop you.

It's not a rant about myself. It's a rant about people who are constantly trying to be the next progamer and failing miserably at it.
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36374 Posts
March 08 2012 01:33 GMT
#4
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
Megaliskuu
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5123 Posts
March 08 2012 01:36 GMT
#5
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.


Quick make a blog about it! Make sure to include how your parents disagree with the choice but its your passion so you will succeed!
|BW>Everything|Add me on star2 KR server TheMuTaL.675 for practice games :)|NEX clan| https://www.dotabuff.com/players/183104694
Scarecrow
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Korea (South)9172 Posts
March 08 2012 01:40 GMT
#6
On March 08 2012 10:23 Severus_ wrote:
those are all excuses. If you want something do it not even God can stop you.

at some point you've gotta be realistic, you can't be whatever you wanna be, despite what the movies say
Yhamm is the god of predictions
DreamChaser
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
1649 Posts
March 08 2012 01:41 GMT
#7
But, but, but....If i start playing 12 hours a day and quit my job wont i go pro?
Plays against every MU with nexus first.
Thienan567
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States670 Posts
March 08 2012 01:42 GMT
#8
On March 08 2012 10:23 Severus_ wrote:
those are all excuses. If you want something do it not even God can stop you.


Yeah, but do all the people who say they want to go pro, that it's their dream, nothing would be better, etc etc really mean it? If everyone who said here that they were gonna go pro actually went pro we'd have like 5 new teams of pros already. But, as we all see, there's not. So really, people say they want to go pro or are aspiring to go pro but I think the OP doubts they'd make the cut.

Being pro in any sport is hard, hard work. A lot of these kids really can't make the cut. The reasons listed in the OP are why.

@ HotBid, good for you, I hope you do something you enjoy doing with your newfound time.
darkscream
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada2310 Posts
March 08 2012 01:53 GMT
#9
This post is very inspiring. Thank you for helping ESPORTS grow.
Galaxy77
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Hong Kong256 Posts
March 08 2012 01:57 GMT
#10
Is this a troll post or what? I think those who can't get to grandmaster league with minimum practice / effort don't have what it takes. Thats just common sense. You need to have the base skill to refine it to become the best. You can't start from bronze and end up a pro gamer given a few months... Everyone knows that..
KhAmun
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States1005 Posts
March 08 2012 02:06 GMT
#11
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.


That's exactly what I was thinking, this is the equivalent of a mediocre little league baseball player declaring he won't be pursuing an MLB career.
GlintFox
Profile Blog Joined February 2012
United States275 Posts
March 08 2012 02:09 GMT
#12
I believe going pro is just something you need to put a lot of practice and have passion in. Personally, I also think its silly to try and "bring people to reality" for the mindset of keep trying and being pro one day dramatically helps e-sports and helps starcraft as a whole. Tons of people play every day aspiring to get better to maybe one day go to tournaments and do well, I for one do this. Some people take that one more step, they want to not only do well in a small tournament, but do well in a huge one and be noticed and picked up by a team. Its a good thing. Now, being realistic in the sense this could fail and this shouldn't be an "all-in" (haha yep I went there!) and study "just in case" is an incredibly smart idea and should be followed by everyone. Think of it as a "safe build". QXC and Day9 both studied and kept starcraft a passion. If it does fail or if they diddnt make it then they have a career to fall back on. I, myself, am doing that. I am persuing my career but still trying to keep that little dream alive and practice starcraft every day to one day make it from the silver league to GM and off to a tournament to play with some of the people I admire the most such as White-Ra and ViOLet. If I somehow in the crazy world made it, that would be awesome. If not, then oh well its still a passion. I suppose in short, starcraft depends on the mindset sometimes and its not stupid to dream.
"Fear. Fear attracts the fearful… the strong… the weak… the innocent… the corrupt. Fear. Fear is my ally." -Darth Maul
Doomblaze
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States1292 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-08 02:12:10
March 08 2012 02:11 GMT
#13
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.


But hotbid, thats been your dream for the last 20 years!


These aren't very good reasons to go pro. The best reason is that its almost impossible to have a steady income and support yourself on just sc2. Look at the earnings of the top players.


1. Mvp: 183.841€
2. MC: 171.121€
3. NesTea: 163.053€
4. MMA: 102.635€
5. Polt : 89.033€
6. DongRaeGu : 87.432€
7. PuMa : 86.108€
8. MarineKing :85.490€
9. Stephano: 73.360€
10. FruitDealer : 70.965€
11. Leenock :61.797€
12. Naniwa: 49.016€
13. HuK: 44.703€
14. Genius :43.193€
15. HerO :42.566€
16. Sen : 38.355€
17. IdrA: 37.933€
18. Jjakji :36.021€
19. White-Ra: 35.571€
20. SjoW: 34.600€


Mvp, MC and NesTea all have absurd amouts of money, but after that it drops off considerably, and keeps on dropping, until you get to Sjow, who hasn't done anything forever. After that, its not self-sustaining income. Salary helps a lot, but chances are you won't get a salary, or any of this, if you try to go pro.
In Mushi we trust
UmbraaeternuS
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Chile476 Posts
March 08 2012 02:18 GMT
#14
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.

HAHAHAHA oh man, HotBid, you never cease to amaze me, sir.
Well played, well played.
therealwinters - Skype / @DrUmbra - Twitter // "There is nothing more cool than being proud of the things that you love" - Sean "Day[9]" Plott <3
hp.Shell
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2527 Posts
March 08 2012 03:06 GMT
#15


Follow your dreams!
Please PM me with any songs you like that you think I haven't heard before!
cmen15
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States1519 Posts
March 08 2012 03:16 GMT
#16
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.

LOL love you hotbid but yea honstly if someone wants to go for it let them... Who are you to tell them else?
Greed leads to just about all losses.
aMEkaRmy
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada633 Posts
March 08 2012 03:21 GMT
#17
On March 08 2012 11:11 13_Doomblaze_37 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.


But hotbid, thats been your dream for the last 20 years!


These aren't very good reasons to go pro. The best reason is that its almost impossible to have a steady income and support yourself on just sc2. Look at the earnings of the top players.


1. Mvp: 183.841€
2. MC: 171.121€
3. NesTea: 163.053€
4. MMA: 102.635€
5. Polt : 89.033€
6. DongRaeGu : 87.432€
7. PuMa : 86.108€
8. MarineKing :85.490€
9. Stephano: 73.360€
10. FruitDealer : 70.965€
11. Leenock :61.797€
12. Naniwa: 49.016€
13. HuK: 44.703€
14. Genius :43.193€
15. HerO :42.566€
16. Sen : 38.355€
17. IdrA: 37.933€
18. Jjakji :36.021€
19. White-Ra: 35.571€
20. SjoW: 34.600€


Mvp, MC and NesTea all have absurd amouts of money, but after that it drops off considerably, and keeps on dropping, until you get to Sjow, who hasn't done anything forever. After that, its not self-sustaining income. Salary helps a lot, but chances are you won't get a salary, or any of this, if you try to go pro.


But lets take a step back, People don't get into Starcraft for the money, They do it because they love it. If you can make just enough to get by I bet 99% of people would go after a dream like this because it's their passion. I do agree, don't drop out of school, or quit your job, or break up with your girlfriend, or stop taking your dog for walks because you want to practice. Continue to play the game as a hobby and get better on your off time. If you have the dedication and the passion you'll get there, But don't try and rush something that really can't be rushed.
Team Captain for FXO.NA Follow me on twitter @FXOkarmy
Nibbler89
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
884 Posts
March 08 2012 03:30 GMT
#18
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.

I was looking forward to Bidsanity
Fishgle
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
United States2174 Posts
March 08 2012 03:38 GMT
#19
It's about how well you play, not how quickly!

aka ChillyGonzalo / GnozL
SleepSavvy
Profile Joined August 2011
Finland4 Posts
March 08 2012 03:58 GMT
#20
On March 08 2012 11:18 UmbraaeternuS wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 08 2012 10:33 Hot_Bid wrote:
In related news, I have decided not to declare for the 2013 NBA draft.

HAHAHAHA oh man, HotBid, you never cease to amaze me, sir.
Well played, well played.


Now kiss.
Dead have the time to sleep!
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