EPTSee how many of these you can remember!
If you remember them all you are truly a broodwar fan! I skipped the obvious ones, like flash's eye-twitch, or fbh's table jump after beating savior, or his rolling in the sea after winning a proleague on the beach, those everyone should know.
1. Flash's TearAround... 2009? Flash was in a brutal fight to gain entrance into a prestigious tournament, and he was faced against a protoss named Dr... Dr.. Something (Sorry I looked up the protoss but couldn't find him, but he was a "doctor," his name is lost to time, I guess), he was a decent protoss. Anyway, flash was down a game.
Anyway, I don't think it was emotion, but sheer exhaustion, and a big tear dripped down flash's face as the second game started, you could tell poor flash really wanted to advance. This was when flash was still very young. He didn't even wipe it away, just leaving the wetness staining his face until it dried naturally. Flash did end up coming back from the deficit winning 2-1. I think this "dr" character became a coach later.
2. Savior's Wall Bash This is one I'm sure most people know, but savior lost a big match against FBH, and as he stormed off the stage, he smacked the wall angrily, before going behind-curtain, and it was kind of a big deal at the time, akin to slamming a door. The youtube comments were sure fired up about him, then again, a lot of people never really liked savior, before his criminal activities were revealed, even.
Savior used to do lots of funny things, he used to sit with his hands clenched within his thick jacket, his arms one big line, covered by his black jacket, like he was in a straight-jacket, kind of cute, he would even kind of tap his arms like he couldn't escape the "straight-jacket"
Or, when all the CJ progamers were standing around, he would kind of flap his arms like a penguin, like he had black-belt taekwando skills that he had to suppress in order to look harmless. I'm sure that guy, as neat(or awful, depending on your opinion of him) as he was, had some sort of social/mental quandaries he had dealt with.
3. Bisu and Savior's Slow AscensionThere was some sort of award ceremony, and Bisu and Savior both received a reward, but when they had to walk up the stairs to get their trophy, they walked up the stairs like their boots were made of lead. Seriously, it was so dramatic how slowly they walked up the stairs, it took like 10x what it should have, rather odd, but it really only added to their enigmatic personas.
4. Best's Chest RevealBest won a big game and just ripped off his jersey, showing his well-muscled abs, to great applause, gosh, things used to be so much serious back in the glory days... ahh the nostalgia.
Another time, Best won a game and did an odd hand-sign (almost like a gang-sign) showing three closed-together fingers while he shook his hand, and coach Oov took him aside like "now now, let's not get crazy best" Anyone know what the meaning of this hand-sign meant?
5. Bisu in the ShadowsBack when they gave more glamour and glory to the progamers, they introduced bisu by taking the camera over to a young bisu, who was standing chicle in the shade, and walked out into the light, handsome and glowing, into the crowd and the match, looking opulent in his open-necked orange skt1 jersey, his iconic crucifix gold-chain visible, along with the old gold earrings he used to wear. Gosh I used to think he was so cool. Shame jewelry went out of style for progamers around 2011.
6. Jaedong's Coach's 118 Bows I remember some subtitles where Jaedong's coach said they used to go out to the Korean sea and bow 118 and times, for some reason, probably religious, although bowing is very good for your back! I tried it, but it takes a while to get up to 118. Good for the soul, though, wish I remembered the reasoning for it.
7. The Finger Cracks Savior used to lean back in his chair, his eyes dimmed, and carefully crack each joint in his hand before he played, God, the guy really defamed himself, but he was just so iconic, he had the best game face.
I also remember July prepping for a game by popping his thumbs inside his palms simultaneously.
Juni, remember him? Another gold crucifix wearer, would only pop one finger, his wedding-ring finger.
And I remember an osl or msl intro where they had a FPV of the "progamer" walking up to the match, smashing his fingers downwards all at once, hard to describe, but like pushing your four non-thumb fingers towards your palm, in a fish, then doing the same in the other hand. I only mention it cause I crack my knuckles all the time.
8. TheZerg's Classy Vintage ShotTheZerg used to be a pretty big name, and a darn good player, back in the day. Anyway, he won a match, and for some reason, they switched the camera filter to black-and-white, and did a long pan over TheZerg, sitting there, with his silver crucifix, it gave a very "cool" feel to the whole atmosphere surrounding progaming at the time. Like a James Dean movie. Like it would be remembered for all ages, watching black-and-white progamers is certainly odd.
9. Girl-Star-Fans Now when I watch big matches, it's a bit sad, because it's almost all males in the audience, but back around 2005, lots of girls thought it was very cool to go watch starcraft matches, some would wear charming outfits, I particularly remember one eating a lollipop like watching starcraft was the chicest thing in the world. I don't say that in a lewd, weird, way, I just never see girls eating lollipops here in the west.
I actually kind of miss the enthusiasm of the women, I guess women kind of decided video games weren't cool anymore post sc2, i really noticed the sc2 games had absolutely no women... but in 2005... Man, there were dozens of obsessed female fans... I remember a youtube comment where someone said progamers get lots of...lascivious attention... meaning sex. I guess.
But I think that was a myth, it seems they actually have kind of a hard time getting a girlfriend, which is odd, seeing as some of them are fairly rich, but maybe they just keep it low key... But yeah, I think that youtube poster who said "they get more ass than toilet-seats..." ...A disgusting, crude, remark... Was wrong...
Though they seem to do fine, I think they tend to keep their girls from their webcams when they actually have a sweetheart, I think you don't like to "show her off", hell they probably have better luck with women than this poor author does.
There were crazies back then, though,too, in the old days..too, like the girl who sent her menstrual blood to stork in a letter... Things have certainly calmed down since the golden age...
10. The Rock's Throat-SlitJaedong was an up and comer in 2006ish, but the rock ended up beating him in a BOX series, with a very special thumb across the throat to indicate that he wasn't about to beat by this rookie. Too bad rock kind of faded into obscurity after that.
11. Flash's odd mannerisms In his younger days, flash used to do some odd things on camera, like nodding his head in affirmation, then quickly shaking it in the negative, then affirmation again, (I think it was Calm vs Flash's BOX series) like he didn't want any clear indication of his thoughts to be given. Or after a game, he would tap his lips frantically, like he wanted his coach to give him a cigarette(Just a theory, I doubt Flash has ever smoked before.) And sometimes when he would walk to his booth he would walk like a "monster" with his arms and legs spread out wide with a wide hulk... kind of hard to describe if you never saw it.
And his most charming moment was when he lost, and he was so darned disappointed he simply wouldn't leave the booth, until KT's coach had to manually come and let him know it was okay and he could leave, Flash takes sc more seriously than anyone!
I also remember a cute video of him training a military exercise involving rafts, and flash was yelling out orders, in a very high-pitched voice, which might seem odd, but actually, yelling in a high-pitch is the best way to be heard during a real battle.
12. GoGo just being a jerkWe all know gogo was scumbag wintrader now, but it was so apparent his personality was very jerky on the Oldboy videos, he's just so damned disrespectful to poor Nalra for his segment, go back and watch it if you don't believe me.
13. Backho's broken backPoor backho broke his back, kind of ending his career, which was odd since his name was backho, but I always felt bad for the poor guy, I think he over-practiced, you could tell he was an obsessive practicer. Brilliant protoss.
14. Violet's DiagnosisThis was the saddest thing that I ever had to happen to me. I got the news in my horticulture class and I couldn't maintain myself. I had to drop out of grad school for awhile because of the news poor violet got leukemia, it was like losing a brother... I always loved his play, and liked to imagine we scrabbled on random bnet games cuz I used to be pretty decent vs protoss. Anyway, I knew that this form of cancer has a very low prognosis of survival, so it really got to me in a very painful way. I think he may have over-practiced, but that's just my guess. I wrote him a get well letter in the thread they had for that, really bullshit that we lost one of our brothers.
15. "Date" RO16 InterviewsThis was really sweet. Bisu dressed up in a really goofy outfit with a flower, backho dressed up as a cute girl, other progamers dressed up in funny outfits, it was really a lot of fun... I miss this kind of thing.
Now, on to actual starcraft games.
1. July vs Best finals This was by far the most memorable starleague of my life, in 2008. People used to actually draw out really cool, colorful brackets, for the RO8, and I think it was light, a LOT of protosses, and July. July was kind of considered a has-been, but he certainly knew his way around zvp. I just loved watching klazarts commentaries of him ripping apart backho(another player I miss very much), with a switch to mutas once backho went to the reaver tech...
But then the finals against best, who was considered god-like at the time.... WOW. A 5-pool, that was well managed, as Best basically survived it, but still got defeated by July pressing his advantage from the probe-kills, then game 2, with that legendary drone drill, into a ZERG RUSH! Then game three was brilliant, July used the zerg's ultimate weapon vs p, the RUNBY, and it did good damage, then he just kept best busy on andromeda for awhile somehow, and capped it off with GUARDIANS on his probe line. I wonder why we don't see more guardians on protoss probe lines more, they are a truly deadly weapon. In truth, even after 20 years, I believe there is much to be discovered strategy-wise in the game of broodwar.
I remember daydreaming about the tournament outside in the hot nebraska summers as it went on, and the whole thing was definitely the seminal moment for my love of this great game. It certainly was surprising July 3-0'd, considering best was considered... well the best... at the time... Very cool series. Bisu's jaw-drop said it all. I'd like to see more series like this, with perfectly timed moves, Larva vs Rain was a bit akin to this, but I just love brilliant rushes... And July is still doing good! Check out his stream! He's still gosu! Even old, 33, like me! Old people can still win, though I just lost my last game on iccup I played after a 6-month bw respite, gotta train! This game is the best game, don't let anyone say otherwise brothers!
2. Jaedong's OLD ZVZI watched the collection of Jaedong's first 50 games, and it was very interesting, Jaedong won, but this was even before shark's discovery of muta stacking, and it was quite a site to watch Jaedong over run zergs with un-tethered huge flocks of mutas.
3. [b]Jaedong's lurker misshap.[b] This was a sad moment, pretty sure it was against TY, back when he played BW. Jaedong went for a lurker rush, but he made his eggs next to a coral-sort-of-doodad, and one of the lurkers got trapped behind it when it morphed. The rush did well, despite this, but we'll never know if he would have won if he had had his proper force of lurkers. poor jaedong... Shame about his possible retirement, always one of my idols, despite being a good deal younger than myself.
4. Flash's actual tactical nukesFlash got involved with a very drawn-out game with best on match point, and flash actually made good use, not manner use, of nukes, to take out best's center bases from the safety of his main. The only time I ever saw nukes used in a non manner way. Flash won, of course.
5. Savior's "player eliminated" victorySavior played a match against anytime on requiem, and it turned into a bass race, and Savior killed the last pylon a split second before his base died itself, eliminating his opponent, so no gg, simply "Anytime has been eliminated," the commentators went CRAZY.
I think there were other similar situations, but I can't recall them at the moment, I do remember Notice being so pissed off he lost he simply left the game without saying gg when he lost, or Backho's famous "ZZyo" after beating gorush, which friendly gorush was kind enough not to demand a rematch for backho breaking the rules. God, I miss backho. Wonder what he's doing now.
6. Jaedong's missed rallyI'm sure everyone remembers this one, but Jaedong was so busy macroing one game he rallied about 30 hydras into a useless part of the map on the bottom of his ramp, clogging them all together and not making use of them, still holding on despite lacking the units. I'm pretty sure he ended up winning, despite this.
7. Hiya's clever rines vs Violet's carriersSelf-explanitory, but Hiya did a stand-up job of countering carriers with marines and medics, just starving violet's minerals when all his interceptors died.
8. Organ's mass dt vs zerg I'm sure no one knows this, cause I saw it on organ's stream, but he ended up beating some poor zerg with like 20-30 dts and some corsairs, a manner-game of course, but I love seeing strats like that.
9. [b]The only successful ensnare[b]Jaedong and Fantasy were playing in proleague, and Jaedong lured Fantasy's M&M and tank army into a little trap, with a brilliant ENSNARE, then pincering it from three sides, slaughtering it all.. Not sure if he actually won though, but it was definitely a nice play.
10. [B]Jaedong mass muta vs iris[b] In the all kill league (which skyhigh ended up reverse all-killing) Jaedong opened up an overpool, against Iris, and just kept expanding and making mutas mutas mutas! He had like two, maybe 3, groups, and his pressure was incredible, any aspiring zerg should watch the vod to see how mass muta works... Though I'm sure someone like flash would have little problem with it, the strat kind of revolved around six zergling going uncontested til the muta flock was up... But wow, that was some game.
BONUSback to random stuff
1. The one time flash wore a gold necklace... I swear he only wore a gold necklace once in his whole career, though for awhile he sported the fancy gold wristband, with his buddhist bracelet, and now seems to have settled on the purple buddhist prayer beads bracelet, sorry if I sound feminine, I just think jewelry is cool.
2. When Savior was at his prime he once wore a HEMP necklace with a mystical green-glass bead in its center... Kind of neat.
3. THE WEDDING RINGS How many times have I seen progamers wearing rings on their wedding fingers, such a thing would be unheard of in the west... I'm mainly thinking of stork, he would always wear a wedding ring. I think I've seen Last and Mong do it too, though I'm not sure on their marital-status. Oddly, when programers actually get married, they rarely seem to wear wedding rings, I take it back , pretty sure Mong IS married, but Larva is married too, and he doesn't wear a ring... An odd custom I suppose us westerners will never understand. Of course, everyone knows, it always feels so much better to wear a ring on your wedding finger even if it's not socially acceptable, it just feels so comfy there! lol
4. Savior's glasses. Savior doesn't wear glasses, but once he wore them once and there was a bit of a discussion about it at the time, I'm kind of the same way, I don't really need glasses, but they do help a little.
5. Seriously, what was with the thin gold chains, and how everyone used to wear earrings? Now no one wears them... I always thought the gold chains looked kinda gangster, though I could never imagine piercing my ears, though I always ask my girlfriends what earrings feel like, but it's like nothing to them... Only Mong wears one earring now, and that's about it, I think I saw Last wearing a regular ring... Time was 50% of progamers wore necklaces or earrings... I guess it's more for the younger folks... we are all getting older now... afterall...
Well, how did you do? Did you remember most of these fun things? I wanna hear more! I could list more, but this list is exhaustive enough, and a bit fanboyish... but hasn't some of the glamour faded from our beloved game? Oh well, Larva vs Rain was a real treat anyway, so I'll still keep tuning in. Less focus on gamers good? Bad? Maybe okay? Let me know. Cheers.
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