EPT![[image loading]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/7367861648_a4de0494f7_z.jpg)
Photo by thedz [1].
I sometimes wonder if DongRaeGu acts the way he does because of who he is....
or is it because he's some sort of public image mastermind.
If you look around at all the professional StarCraft II players, there are simply few who could compare to the public image beast that is DongRaeGu.
In his victory speech at MLG Anaheim after winning the 2012 Spring Championship, DRG was asked how he felt as the trophy was handed to him. His reply:
"GOOD SHIT!"
The crowd literally ERUPTED into laughter and applause!!
Recorded by me! Starts at 2:40
Thinking back,"good shit" was probably the most ingenious thing he could have said on that stage. It was short, concise, pragmatic,and it resonates well with the eSports crowd of our generation. Nobody at Anaheim wanted to hear another good-mannered award acceptance speech, i.e. "I did my best, I will try harder for my fans."
Nope!! Those days of stoicism are over.
And DongRaeGu knew that all too well.
I'm going to tell you guys a few stories of why DongRaeGu is an absolute artist when it comes to his public image.
It is something I hope other professional players can learn from.
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DRG is an Ass!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/4QvNL.jpg)
Especially to Genius.
DongRaeGu is not afraid to bribe you for affection.
Recently, during "Off the Record," former teammate Genius explained why DRG is so well liked in the team: He's been using his hard-earned tournament cash to buy "nice things" for his teammates[2]. That's right, Team MVP is completely spoiled by DRG, to the point that nobody is on Genius's side of their internal rivalry anymore...
...because DRG bought everyone off !!
Oh and after winning his first GSL championship, it was reported that DRG bought a giant screen television and video game console for the MVP team house[3]. He then used some more of his GSL money to buy everyone at MokDong Studio some pizza[4]. There has never been a case where a GSL Champion (besides DRG) willingly spent his tournament earnings on the fans, let alone the entire Gomtv Studio!
Even last night, DRG can be seen trying to bribe his teammate, Keen, with dinner in exchange for a favorable code S group[5]. And didn't he try to bribe MC during the Blizzard Cup as well?!
What a butt!
If you contrast DongRaeGu's likability with one of his most successful rivals, MMA...
...well, there is an ongoing joke perpetuated by Ryung and Ganzi that everyone hates MMA on Slayers[6][7] When MMA left for Europe to attend the IEM Championship, some Slayers member even said they were so happy he was gone!!
Stop making everyone look bad, DongRaeGu!
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DRG is Mr. Nice!
After defeating his final opponent at the 2012 MLG Spring Championship,
DongRaeGu proceeded by doing something no one had expected that weekend.
In what is possibly the most classy act anyone has ever seen from a tournament champion to date:
DongRaeGu went over to his defeated opponent, Alicia, pulled him out from the booth
then held Alicia's hand in the air to the roaring cheers of the crowd.
![[image loading]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7182636249_bc5d162be6_z.jpg)
It was an incredible spectacle...
Such a simple act, but such a grand gesture.
Completely unnecessary, but unbelievably kind
...to a member of a rival clan no less...
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DRG is IMBA
Nobody complains more about the imbalances of his own race than DongRaeGu.
In the last few weeks, DRG mentioned how it was completely impossible to stop him these days
at least a few dozen times?
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/p05wT.jpg)
DRG: LOL Zerg IMBA now, so MKP is piece of cake!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/bAjiG.jpg)
http://leveltory.com/10784-translated by SeeKeR
▼ How is this season so far?
DRG: I believe I should win the whole thing. After all, I am a Zerg user.
▼ Is it all looking too easy?
DRG: I think everyone is pretty so so.
▼ Who seems to be the most pretty so so?
DRG: The person I'm about to pick
▼ You seem to say that Zerg is the strongest race. Have you always said this?
DRG: Before the patch, Zerg was pretty durable. But now that Blizzard went this far and patched things for us I've been able to practice so calmly that I rarely ever lose.
▼ If there is a race that you really love to play against?
DRG: Of course it is Terran.
▼ Is it because Terrans have no answer for Zerg players these days?
DRG: I don't think a simple solution is going to appear any time soon.
▼ How is this season so far?
DRG: I believe I should win the whole thing. After all, I am a Zerg user.
▼ Is it all looking too easy?
DRG: I think everyone is pretty so so.
▼ Who seems to be the most pretty so so?
DRG: The person I'm about to pick
▼ You seem to say that Zerg is the strongest race. Have you always said this?
DRG: Before the patch, Zerg was pretty durable. But now that Blizzard went this far and patched things for us I've been able to practice so calmly that I rarely ever lose.
▼ If there is a race that you really love to play against?
DRG: Of course it is Terran.
▼ Is it because Terrans have no answer for Zerg players these days?
DRG: I don't think a simple solution is going to appear any time soon.
What the hell are you doing, DRG?!
Is DongRaeGu saying all this crap to scare his opponents or is it to hype himself up?
Maybe it's a little bit of both.
The same way that DRG is likely to be both a genuinely awesome guy and a mastermind at PR.
+ Show Spoiler +
CatZ seems to think DRG is the real deal, though.
Whatever the case, DongRaeGu is constantly drawing attention to himself...
...and that's some good shit.
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Bonus STORY!
DRG loves TeamLiquid.
I had to pry this one out of our dear SeeKeR.
The following conversation took place via PM.
Original Message From neoghaleon55:
Seekie,
Tell me the story of how you met DRG in person.
Did you talk to him?
Was he nice?
*swoons
:D
Seekie,
Tell me the story of how you met DRG in person.
Did you talk to him?
Was he nice?
*swoons
:D
Original Message From SeeKeR:
Well this is out of the blue....
I was at the Up & Downs matches. During one of the matches, I noticed there was someone at the player bench talking with one of the players. I noticed after he turned around that it was DRG. I carefully watched him to see when he would start leaving the studio.
When he got up from the bench and started walking out, I ran ahead of him and stopped him before he could enter the GSL staff only zone. I introduced myself, then asked for some pictures. Then I asked him if he knew about TL.net. He says he did, and that he appreciates his fan club and that TL.net is the site he visits the most when he checks out websites related to SC2. I asked him to say a short statement for his TL fans, and I recorded it on my iPhone.
And that..... was the day I personally met and talked to DRG
Well this is out of the blue....
I was at the Up & Downs matches. During one of the matches, I noticed there was someone at the player bench talking with one of the players. I noticed after he turned around that it was DRG. I carefully watched him to see when he would start leaving the studio.
When he got up from the bench and started walking out, I ran ahead of him and stopped him before he could enter the GSL staff only zone. I introduced myself, then asked for some pictures. Then I asked him if he knew about TL.net. He says he did, and that he appreciates his fan club and that TL.net is the site he visits the most when he checks out websites related to SC2. I asked him to say a short statement for his TL fans, and I recorded it on my iPhone.
And that..... was the day I personally met and talked to DRG
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cXQEY.jpg)
DRG says hi! Courtesy of SeeKeR
Original Message From neoghaleon55:
Did you post that recorded statement?
What did he say?
*suspensed**
Did you post that recorded statement?
What did he say?
*suspensed**
Original Message From SeeKeR:
I have no idea how to upload videos on TL..... otherwise I would have done so by now :/
I have no idea how to upload videos on TL..... otherwise I would have done so by now :/
Original Message From neoghaleon55:
Well then what did DRG say?!
You're killing me seeker!
I'm getting blueballs!
Well then what did DRG say?!
You're killing me seeker!
I'm getting blueballs!
Original Message From SeeKeR:
lol. fine let me watch the vid and translate for u.
"Hello, my name is MVP_DongRaeGu. I would like to thank all my fans for always supporting me. I will continue to keep playing hard and promise to keep on winning. Thank you."
It was a pretty short statement. I didn't want to ask for anything long from the players since I came out of the blue
lol. fine let me watch the vid and translate for u.
"Hello, my name is MVP_DongRaeGu. I would like to thank all my fans for always supporting me. I will continue to keep playing hard and promise to keep on winning. Thank you."
It was a pretty short statement. I didn't want to ask for anything long from the players since I came out of the blue
Original Message From neoghaleon55:
Thanks Seekie.
I read your whole blog and couldn't find anything on DRG.
I knew you were holding out on me, you bastard!!
I'm going to go make a blog on this later, credits to you of course.
Thanks a lot.
By the way, you can upload videos on...youtube....-_-
Thanks Seekie.
I read your whole blog and couldn't find anything on DRG.
I knew you were holding out on me, you bastard!!
I'm going to go make a blog on this later, credits to you of course.
Thanks a lot.
By the way, you can upload videos on...youtube....-_-
Original Message From SeeKeR:
Nope. Never done that before
Nope. Never done that before
Original Message From neoghaleon55:
......
Seeker Imma slap you.
......
Seeker Imma slap you.
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Work Cited.
[1] thez Blog. Photos from MLG Anaheim. Published June 13th, 2012.
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=344622
[2] BlizzardCup Interview. by Teamliquid Waxangel. December 16, 2011.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=295584
[3]GSL Finalists Interviewhttp://leveltory.com/5292
[4] DRG buys everyone Pizza.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=319160
[5]GSL S3 Code S R016 Nominations
http://www.gomtv.net/2012gsls3/vod/67562
[6]Ryung hates MMA
+ Show Spoiler +
[7]TeamSlayers Interview.
+ Show Spoiler +
