EPTAfter sleeping on it, I've decided that instead of this blog focusing on this particular event, I will begin archiving all the controversial decisions made by KeSPA, and if the title isn't an indicator, well... allow me to be even less subtle: by "controversial" I mean the awful decisions made by the Korean e-Sports Association.
+ Show Spoiler [Thoughts on the MSL 2010 finals] +
As I said, the main focus of this blog is not about the finals, but if you're welcome to read another opinion piece on these events.
First and foremost: I am neither a Jaedong or Flash fan. I'm sick of Jaedong winning and I am not fond of Flash's turtling-style of play that he uses too often for me to enjoy. + Show Spoiler + That being said, I was sort-of rooting for Flash because I'm even more tired of seeing Jaedong win. It's getting old, much like 2008 where we were seeing Protoss win.
Now, as for these finals: I vehemently disagree with KeSPA's decision to award the game to Jaedong. These so-called "experts" saying that Flash was on his last leg can all jump off a bridge together. I'm not going to get in to an argument here over everything that was going on, but that game was NOT over. What's more is that you could see in the aftermath of the power outage is the expression on both players faces: they both *knew* they could turn this game around. Jaedong had just established a double-gas to get his economy really going, Flash had just established his 3rd and was reforming his army, and just moments ago he was seconds away from killing that Jaedong's latest expo. Both of them were going to play that match out to the end.
And in case you haven't read DoctorHelvetica's Blog, I completely support his thoughts here on the matter:
Furthermore, and I'll end on this note as it's my biggest problem with the whole fiasco: did anyone consider the players? Did a KeSPA referee go up to Jaedong or Flash and ask "Hey, what do you want to do?" If both players thought a rematch was in order, why not fucking give it to them? I am truly disgusted by the snap-judgment decision made specifically by KeSPA. MBC had poor planning on their part, but mistakes happen. The Korean e-Sports Association knowingly, reflectively made the conscious decision to leave out the two players involved in this tournament, upset an entire team, bring a parent almost to violence, and effectively guillotining the fans' enthusiasm for this final.
First and foremost: I am neither a Jaedong or Flash fan. I'm sick of Jaedong winning and I am not fond of Flash's turtling-style of play that he uses too often for me to enjoy. + Show Spoiler +
Iris, Iloveoov, and Boxer forever!
Now, as for these finals: I vehemently disagree with KeSPA's decision to award the game to Jaedong. These so-called "experts" saying that Flash was on his last leg can all jump off a bridge together. I'm not going to get in to an argument here over everything that was going on, but that game was NOT over. What's more is that you could see in the aftermath of the power outage is the expression on both players faces: they both *knew* they could turn this game around. Jaedong had just established a double-gas to get his economy really going, Flash had just established his 3rd and was reforming his army, and just moments ago he was seconds away from killing that Jaedong's latest expo. Both of them were going to play that match out to the end.
And in case you haven't read DoctorHelvetica's Blog, I completely support his thoughts here on the matter:
KT's coach arguing with KESPA refs, threatening to forfeit the game, vowing to never participate in another mbc event, Flash's dad being escorted out by security, and the length of the whole absurd ordeal couldn't possibly have not affected Flash's mental state.
No human being is going to play the next game of StarCraft 100% when that happens. When your entire world crumbles around you in an instant and you're behind 1-2 in a StarLeague finals, no way is any human being going to bring 100% to the next game.
And he didn't.
Jaedong didn't beat Flash in Game 4, he beat the husk of a 17 year old boy who just lost his entire supportive network and was subject to a full hour of embarrassing and ridiculous decision making by both those on his side and the KESPA refs themselves.
No human being is going to play the next game of StarCraft 100% when that happens. When your entire world crumbles around you in an instant and you're behind 1-2 in a StarLeague finals, no way is any human being going to bring 100% to the next game.
And he didn't.
Jaedong didn't beat Flash in Game 4, he beat the husk of a 17 year old boy who just lost his entire supportive network and was subject to a full hour of embarrassing and ridiculous decision making by both those on his side and the KESPA refs themselves.
Furthermore, and I'll end on this note as it's my biggest problem with the whole fiasco: did anyone consider the players? Did a KeSPA referee go up to Jaedong or Flash and ask "Hey, what do you want to do?" If both players thought a rematch was in order, why not fucking give it to them? I am truly disgusted by the snap-judgment decision made specifically by KeSPA. MBC had poor planning on their part, but mistakes happen. The Korean e-Sports Association knowingly, reflectively made the conscious decision to leave out the two players involved in this tournament, upset an entire team, bring a parent almost to violence, and effectively guillotining the fans' enthusiasm for this final.
- April 28th, 2009: KeSPA disqualifies Leta for typing "pp" instead of "ppp" when his monitor switched off
- May 21st, 2009: KeSPA changes the rules on typing
- August 3rd, 2009: KeSPA changes rules again on typing, which add insult to injury to Leta's incident
- August 24th, 2009: Jaedong almost retired over free agency issues
- January 23rd, 2010: KeSPA awards Jaedong a win in the Nate MSL finals in a game too close to call
If you can provide links (with sources! Not just arguments in a thread) to other mishaps involving KeSPA, feel free to post them, and I will add them. I will add others, too, because I doubt yesterday's debacle is going to be their last.
