EPT
When I first started covering SOSPA and SSL, I honestly had no idea what the hell I was doing. I had very little experience translating and organizing, I was as dumb as a rock in regards to anything technical like streaming and recording, and I didn't even know very many details about the thing I was covering ..... All I had was this desire to contribute to the BW community, and to do the best possible job I could at it.
It has been a lot of work and learning .. much, much more than I had anticipated. But, it's been a truly gratifying experience for me.. During the early stages of SSL coverage, I had taken the mentality to manage my expectations. BW was "dead" after all, according to many, so it was realistic to not expect too much. But, whether it be just fate or luck, members of our wonderful community rose up to help contribute, filling in for my many inadequacies and growing this into something much bigger than I had initially hoped for.
And now, we just had the Grand Finals at an auditorium, with full attendance, with K-Pop singers, and with Kim Carry himself ... something that wasn't even planned to begin with! Though the finals was a particularly one-sided ZvZ, it had still exceeded my wildest expectations. What an ending.....
And yet, it isn't over. It's just a new beginning.
"Star1 is coming back to life" is what's been circulating amongst Korean Netizens recently ... something that I hope we can all make good on. I don't know what Sonic has exactly planned to continue his momentum, but I have faith in him that he'll figure out how to continue the resurgence of BW.
He can't do it alone though. And that's the most important thing I learned from all of this... For those of us still passionate for BW, we all need to keep doing what we can to keep our scene going ... whether it be something big like organizing or sponsoring, or simply playing the game and getting your friends to play with you, or just watching the games and leaving a comment of support in the threads. Every little bit counts.
So, thank you everyone. Along every step of the way, there was always someone from the TL community to help this idiot (me) here.
Thank you to one of my best friends, JohnChoi. You introduced me to SOSPA to begin with, and have helped me out every step of the way. This couldn't have even started without you.
Thank you snipealot. With my internet so shitty, and others unable to provide a consistent stream at that godawful time SSL broadcasted, your services came as a godsend for all of us.
Thank you kjwcj. You provided me with so much on information about players I didn't know about, helped me out when I had trouble w/ Afreeca, and have been a wizard writer with the amazing writeups.
Thank you Harem. You gave me a method to access Afreeca when it was still restricted to Korean IPs, and have helped me out with all sorts of information I didn't know about.
Thank you 2pacalypse-. Getting the SSL write-ups to the front page was something I had only fantasized about, and you made it a reality. I'm so thankful we have a mod with such passion for BW like you.
To the rest of the SSL writeup staff, Simplistik, HawaiianPig Chef, Plexa, SirJolt. Thank you! You guys have all done an amazing job contributing to the writeup, making it a great read for us all.
Thank you Hyde. Your awesome graphics skills gave the SSL LR threads a fuckin amazing and sexy look. Sorry I couldn't get you a good picture of Larva tho ><
Thank you Epoxide, for maintaining the Liquipedia thread, updating results and such faster than me! Liquipedia is too confusing for me so I'm so glad you rose to the occasion :D
Thank you Stratos, for creating the amazing hype videos. I really can't wait to see your final product of The Afterlife
Thank you BlinD-RawR, for making the first SSL LR thread, when I thought it wasn't worth making to begin with. And thank you to both Golondrin and Sawamura, who both made and maintained LR threads for me. You guys helped keep the spirit going!
Thank you Sayle, for providing english commentary. Though I'm sorry that the first time you had to commentate, it happened to be the longest group that was like 7+ hours long .. I thought you were traumatized from casting SSL after that lol
Thank you, rotinegg. For being able to get into contact with Sonic, SOMEHOW ... when I had tried numerous times before and failed miserably lol
Thank you WaxAngel and Mike Morhaime. When the situation looked the bleakest, you guys helped clear up the licensing situation and saved the Finals. We all can't thank you guys enough
Thank you, reps)Largo. And to whoever else had posted SSL news in foreign websites. It is truly appreciated
And to the rest of the community, who have all watched the games, read the write-ups, and participated in the LR threads .. thank you!! You guys are awesome, and have made this a worthwhile effort. It really makes me happy to be a part of this amazing community.
If I have missed anyone else that was significant, I'm truly sorry .. I always make mistakes like that, or worse. I've always consider myself to be an inadequate guy for the job, but at least I know the TL community can help me out whenever needed
Thank you all, so much!!!!BW fighting!!
