EPTNate News: http://news.nate.com/view/20100308n04990 3/8/2010
Translator’s note: I stumbled across this interview browsing through Korean websites. My intent is not to add fuel to a flame war that has pretty much already died out, but to let TL'ers know about Jaedong’s thoughts regarding the controversial MSL Finals. So please, no flaming, and I hope everyone can remain civil (although quite frankly, I feel like he hasn’t given much to flame about =p).
Also, this is the first time I’m translating, so if any other native speaker finds major mistakes I made or nuances that I might have missed, please let me know.
[Star Interview] Lee Jae Dong “MSL Finals Power Outage Shock, Expected a Regame”
3/8/2010
[About the MSL Finals] “I stayed silent because I felt that any type of response would trigger controversy”
After the [MSL Finals] game, Lee Young Ho (Flash) has shown discontent in the referees’ decision [to not grant a regame] through several interviews. On the contrary, you (Jaedong) have gone a long time without saying anything about that day. What are your thoughts on the tide of the game in set 3 [when the power outage occurred], and how did the power outage affect you psychologically?
My personal opinion is that I had a significant advantage, but it is certainly true that each gamer has his own knowledge / opinion of the situation at hand. Because of such differences in perspective, I thought that whatever I say would probably cause endless bickering and controversy. So I tried not to worry about it. I also thought, I might as well get to the finals again next season and win gold.
In that situation I felt… how do I put it, helpless(?) It was just that something like that had never happened before, and I was caught off guard. Mentally I was nervous, and I didn’t really know what to do, but when I came back to my senses, I started thinking realistically. While waiting for the referee’s call, I started coming up with builds to use in case the referees called a regame, and I kept trying to calm myself down.
Flash has clearly expressed his feelings about set 3 in a few interviews. How do you feel about the fact that he was openly expressing his discontent, and what has kept you from saying anything all this time?
I didn’t express it, but I was definitely frustrated, and it has been difficult for me as well. Anyway, given the situation, I feel like there’s nothing I could have said. I just accepted the fact that there would probably be people who would refuse to acknowledge my MSL gold, and I thought I should just do better. Then, if I get another gold next season and continue performing well, I believe even those who think my MSL gold is illegitimate will eventually begin to acknowledge my win.
When the power outage happened, we’re curious to know what you thought: did you expect to be given the win?
It was a situation I had never faced before, so I was caught off guard. I even wondered if I was in a dream. I felt disappointed the game had ended that way. As for the referee’s call, instead of predicting whether or not I’d be given the win, my mind was filled with thoughts about what I should do if a regame was called. [T.N. He doesn’t directly answer the question, but he words it in such a way that it seems likely that he thought a regame would be called.] I prepared a build for each set in the Bo5, but in this situation I was quickly thinking of an alternate build.
Have you met with Flash in private after the MSL Finals and talked about the game? If you did, what did you say?
No, we didn’t meet, so we didn’t have a chance to talk about it.
Together with Flash, you’re called ‘LeeSsang’, and you represent the two big forces in e-sports today. The fans are excited because the rivalry between you two reminds them of ‘LimJinRok’ between Boxer and Yellow. Especially, matches between the two of you, or ‘LeeSsangRok’, is a ticket to successful ratings for the broadcasting companies. What are Flash’s strengths, and what is there to learn from him?
He is currently the best player. Playing against him fires a special kind of competitive spirit in me that gets my blood boiling. He also overtook me as number 1 in the Kespa rankings so I feel like I should work harder so that I can catch up. Even as a young progamer, his mind as a progamer is really top-notch. I think he’ll continue to do well, and his career will continue to prosper. I also want to keep doing well so that the LeeSsangRok can surpass LimJinRok as the greatest rivalry in e-sports.
[Rivals / Friends] “Good friends with Jaehoon, Meet frequently with Flash”
Among TaekBangLeeSsang (Bisu/Stork/Flash/Jaedong), and other players, who is the most difficult opponent? You’re nicknamed the Tyrant because you have no weak matchups or any opponents that give you a particularly hard time. In spite of this, is there a player that you’d like to avoid in individual leagues?
Not really. So far I’ve never once thought ‘this is an opponent I want to avoid’. Of course, I’m human too, so I may at times feel weak, but I never express it, because I feel that a progamer’s confidence is more important than his skill. A gamer who’s completely skill-less but full of confidence is still a formidable opponent. I never have, and I never will try to avoid an opponent or think he’s too difficult for me to handle. I don’t need to, because I’m stronger. ^^
Who is the progamer you’re closest with minus your own teammates? Or players you’ve practiced with the most?
My closest friend is Jaehoon from MBCgame. He’s a friend to whom I reveal my deepest thoughts and feelings. Other than that, I’m pretty friendly with Flash. I’m friends with, and practice a lot with Samsung KHAN. Jangbi, Stork, and oDin have a sort of charm that makes it easy to be friends with them. A couple months ago I said I would treat them to dinner, so when all of us have time, I’d still like to do that ^^
Shortly after your debut, you didn’t post the most impressive results, and yet your skills skyrocketed around 2007 Proleague, setting ZvZ records on the way. What was the motivation for this rapid rise in skill? Which player influenced you the most as an SC player? Player you respect most?
When I debuted was the era when Savior held the title of Bonjwa and essentially didn’t lose. As a fellow Zerg player, I compared myself to him, and that was a big motivation. Thinking ‘why can’t I do that well?’ I set goals for myself and worked really hard. Even now, I tend to keep track of other Zerg players’ wins. That will keep motivating me to keep pushing forward instead of being satisfied with my current form.
A player I respect above all else? I don’t have one. I praise and respect myself. (lol?)
Your most memorable game? Game you were most disappointed in losing?
I remember all the finals. All the big stages such as the first Starleague final, the Proleague final or the playoffs. Since I put in so much into these finals, I feel like I can never forget them. Frankly, I am disappointed about every game I lost.
What do you think about Park Jun-Oh (Killer)’s ‘Ohglings’ (wtf? I supposed that comes from the ‘Oh’ in Park Jun-Oh) which are beginning to become as good as your zerglings?
Ah… Are they called ohglings now? He’s a good player who’s been able to show that off in televised games as well, so he seems to be a player of infinite potential. Since he’s so young, he kind of reminds me of myself when I was young… So I want to help him like an older brother.
There’s very few players who look as angry as you do when you lose. What are your thoughts on that?
Since I’m such a competitive person, I don’t like to lose to anyone, and I’m more sensitive about those kinds of things. But I’ve learned to control it through lots of practice.
[About his Team Hwaseung Oz] “Oz is a one man team? That’s only half correct.”
People say that Hwaseung OZ is a one man team. They seem to mean that your performance is responsible for over 80% of how well Oz does. Any rising stars within Oz?
To be honest, since my current form isn’t that great, I feel undeserving of such talk. Right now, I think the reason my teammates rely on me is because I’m the one that really needs to do well. If I’m fielded very frequently and have a really heavy contribution to my team’s wins, I suppose it’s good for my record and all, but looking at the team as a whole, I don’t think it’s good at all. I think what is really valuable is the single win that each individual team member brings in one by one. However many wins I may accrue, if other team members can’t win games, Oz won’t be able to remain near the top for long. That Oz is a one man team, nowadays it’s only half correct. I always want to see my team winning even when I’m not fielded. That way we can improve as a better team, and we’re ready to do so. The rising star of Oz at the moment is, like I already said, Killer.
Since the team relies so heavily on you, opponents tend to tailor builds just to snipe you. Do you think that this inherently puts you at a disadvantage?
Hmm… Instead of thinking that I’m at a disadvantage, I think of it as being natural. I believe a true number one player should be able to account for all this and still be able to win. That’s why they say it’s harder to stay at the top than to get there haha.
Even with Oz relying on you, your team is hovering near the bottom. Are you ever disappointed with, or feel isolated from, your teammates because your team so often underperforms despite your efforts?
I came all this way with my team, and I am where I am today because of my team. To be honest I’m more sad that I haven’t been doing my part in proleague recently. Thinking ‘If I did my part, the team would be in the upper half’ just makes me sad. So I’m going to work harder. Because I trust in my teammates, if I regain my form, we should definitely be able to get back near the top.
What did you think during the FA period? Honestly, I hoped and expected that you would move to a different team.
Back then I just wanted to a professional gamer, and I wanted to do it in this team; I felt that the environment here was well-suited for me. Maybe it was because I was younger, but I wasn’t confident that I could adjust well to a new environment. I think I was so adamant about staying in Oz because I wanted to be the best player in the team, and I wanted to retire in good standing with the team.
