EPTThe Backstory
When I first started watching CatZ's stream, I thought he was a bm douche and didn't like him at all. He was the second stream I started to watch (HuK was the first). I continued to watch him because I played zerg too, but in all honesty, I was drawn to something. One day I was watching his stream, and saw this (first part has sound removed T_T). After that, all my dislike went away.
So I continued to watch his stream. I became addicted. I became his biggest fanboy, without a doubt (sorry Fragraptor, but it's true). One fine Sunday, he streamed literally all day. After a sick day of him going like 34-2, he asked, "What replays should I upload?" to which I replied, "That game vs. Optikzero was pretty sick, do that one."
"Holy shit, that was forever ago," said my idol, and he freaking modded me. I texted my friends, telling them all that I, Dalguno, was now a mod on CatZ's stream. A freaking pro-gamer's stream mod! CatZ's stream! I was pumped, to say the least.
I did my best to get his attention in any way I could. Saying the Spanish version of we win, ganamos, trying to get a laugh from him. Trying to update him on sound volumes and giving him input whether it was balanced or not, anything I could. Every time he replied, I cried a tears of joy inside.
Basically what I'm saying is, I venerated this guy.
Fast forward 5 months. I'm at MLG with my cousins. The highlight of the whole trip, of course, would be meeting CatZ. I was even thinking about making a shirt for him that said something like "coLCatZ, We Win, Standard", something like that.
So I catch him at the Red Booth, asked him when he played next. Then all awkwardly I say "Oh yeah I'm your mod Dalguno."
"No shit!" he said, "What's up buddy?" Holy crap, he actually is talking to me. I was going to ask him for his autograph, but I wanted to save that so I could talk to him another time. So eventually I see him on a cigarette break, and go ask him for his autograph on my newly purchased MLG poster. He signs it and everything, and doesn't just walk away, but starts actually talking to me. We talk about snowboarding and how he wants to make a trip to where I live for a trip, how we should hang there, about mod olympics (which still hasn't happened yet dood). He says he has to go, but then asks me for my number. At this point, I almost squeak awkwardly. Holy junk, he's actually asking me for my number. Balls, man. I give it to him, and we go our ways.
Later I start thinking, He got my number, but I didn't get his. That'll probably be the last time I get to talk to him. Then that night at a Denny's, I get a call. "Is this Dalguno?"
"Yeah, is this CatZ?"
"Yeah, just wanted to make sure it was you, talk to you later buddy."
Holy junk biscuits, I now have Catz's cell number in my freaking phone.
Where the week begins
Fast forward again. We talk a bit when we both get home, add each other on Skype. Talk and that business, etc. One night he says he's going back to Irvine for the Blizzard Latin American Invitational, and says he's allowed to invite one person to go with, but there's no one he can take. He then invites me to go with him. I'm thinking, yeah right, that's in two days, no way I can do that. But then I got thinking of how freaking huge of an opportunity this is, to spend a week with my idol. So I look at flights. Super expensive, too much for me. My parents are all for it, luckily enough. My dad asks why I don't just drive.
So I did. 700 miles to Cali, no biggie.
This is where the story actually starts.
Get to the hotel, and meet Catz there. The surrealism of everything is now hitting. I'm with freaking Paulo Vizcarra. Freaking Catz, man. Two weeks ago, I was thinking of making him a shirt, now I'm going to be chilling with him for a week.
We take care of initial business, settle in. Then we need to head to Blizz Campus. He calls David Kim, because they're buddies, trying to figure out where it is. Eventually we get there, and David Kim walks out to meet us. I'm meeting David Kim now, I must be dreaming. He takes us on a tour through SC2 campus, where we see tons of cool junk, and eventually introduces us to Dustin Browder. Nerd's dream come true, and I've only been in Cali for a few hours.
We meet the lady in charge of the whole LA scene, and she's with Juan (Major). Cool, I don't really like him. She asks Paulo who I am, he tells her, and she basically says I'm not supposed to be here. Oh balls, I'm thinking, I'm going to have to go home. Ends up not being a big deal.
That night is dinner. We meet up with all the guys from LA, the casters, dKiller, Capoch, Reason, etc. Sick, I'm meeting tons of progamers. I don't understand a single thing they're saying, but it's whatever. Catz and one of the casters (forgot his name, I'm a terrible person) go for a smoke break, and I go with. We talk for a while out there, share some laughs, and head back in. I'm leading us, and the caster says, "It was nice to meet you, man." I'm assuming that he and Paulo had already met, so I turn around and say, "Hey man, you too!" and instantly realize he was talking to Catz. Hahahahaha. Most epic fail and embarrassing thing of my life. We laugh it off though, he's a super chill guy.
Next day, games begin. Few games pass, time for lunch, provided in the cafeteria/stream watching room. Catz and I grab our food and sit down. We're eating for a bit, and what do you know, Day9 and JP sit down at the same table. I'm starting to get used to this stuff, believe it or not. I don't have the balls to talk to either, so I just listen to Catz talk to them. Day is as cool and the exact same as you'd think. JP is chill as well.
Next day, another cool story bro. I'm sitting in the stream room, watching the game, when I hear a voice talking. "That sounds a lot like IdrA, but it's not. This is the LA invitational." I hear the voice again. "That's freaking Idra!" I turn around, lo and behold, it is. I awkwardly spurt out, "Did you see what they had the maps as initially?" Oh crap, I just said something to Idra. Prepare for death. "Yeah, those were ridiculous" he says, laughing. Holy crap, I just talked to Idra! Turns out the NA Invitational started the next day, thus his being there. He turned out to be super manner in person, a pretty cool guy.
Anyway, Catz ended up losing to Killer in one of the most epic ZvZ's of all time, and the next day it was time to go. He and I talked a lot, and I want to tell you my opinion of him. He's the coolest guy I've ever met. I don't mean to get cheesy, but I consider him a brother. He's so super chill, so easy to talk to, I was super nervous about everything but he made me feel so welcome and comfortable that those feelings went away instantly. He's funny, entertaining, chill, a total bro. The week ended, and I was sad to go home.
The best week of my life to date, love you bro, and thanks.
Edit: No homo
