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Somehow I made some connections over the last few months in being involved in the SC community. I was invited to attend the 2007 Starleague Final Game in Ilsan, Korea. After a really really freakin long subway ride, me, my reporter friend connection guy and my brother arrived at the Kintex Sports Complex to see this:
These kids had been waiting since near 10am to get into this game. The game started at 6pm. From what we learned, there were nearly 7000 people at this event - only 6000 chairs available. Luckily, I had a press pass that not only allowed me to cut the lines, but to choose where ever I wanted to sit.
I had my brother save our seats as I went back stage to make my rounds in saying hello to some of the reporters that I had met before at the 3rd place game that occurred just a few days ago at I'Park. (This is where I got to meet Bisu and Sea.Up - only picture with Bisu tho)
Made a few more contacts, shook a few hands - and waited for the players to get there. Jaedong arrived first and so I grabbed a picture with him as fast as I could.
Waited around for Stork (I had actually talked to him on the phone to tell him I was coming) but he was running late and I had to go sit in my seat so I didn't get to talk to him before the game.
6pm rolled around and we got to watch some crappy ass band called Crying Nut perform 2 songs. Honestly, I think all the cheering that was done was because they were glad that the band was off stage, finally.
The players made their entrances to the middle stage where we were sitting. After interviews (at one point, one of the guys asked Jaedong if he was confident and he answers with something along the lines of "haven't you been watching me play?!" Hehe.. to which the audience is like OOOHHHHH!) they got up on stage and did their thangs.
After game 2, my brother and I decided to move up a bit into the press section - sitting 2 rows from the main stage. There, I motioned the camera guy over and told him that he needs to put me on - for the foreign fans! He smiled and just brought the camera on me for me 1.5 seconds of airtime.
Watched the rest of the games from the 2nd row and then got smothered in the mobs of people who "rushed" forward at the end when Jaedong won the whole thing. Lots of pictures, lots of announcements - and my brother and I somehow snuck out of the mob to head back stage again. There I got to see Stork and talked to him a bit, he was super pissed that he got 2nd place. Always a bridesmaid, never the bride? A few of the reporters were saying how Stork might be the new Yellow...
He and I exchanged a few words and I told him that I'd see him again and he left.
While that was going on - Jaedong was busy with his press conference. Had I had my laptop with me, I could have posted the fighter forum interview directly from the source! But alas, I didn't so I just sat and watched as the working crew started taking down the set from around us. Waited around for my reporter friend to finish up, made my rounds in saying hello and goodbye to people and we headed out around 10pm.
Overall, it was quite the experience. It was my 2nd progaming event but man, I sure as hell didn't expect it to be like this. ^_^ 7000 screaming and cheering fans. I was happy to be one of them.
For all of my pictures:
http://purdue.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2248041&l=aaec8&id=8826617
Oh, here's me on the big screen for 1.5 seconds!
Early into Game 3 at 3:38
I <3 TL