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HonestTea
5007 Posts
What do it mean when you dream that you fallin'
What do it mean when you dream that you ballin'
What do it mean when you never dream at all then
And you don't really know cause you can't recall them
It's sorta fly you get a chance to say hi to
People you never got a chance to say bye to
Maybe you could pull em up outta your dreams
Into real life, if you try to
So close, but so far
And so far, no cigar
We can't dwell on the past all we got is today
— Kanye West
Only Until Midnight
by HonestTea
TeamLiquid: Final Edits
If you haven't noticed, the following events happened in the last month.
Warning: If you are pregnant or elderly, it is highly recommended that you do not continue reading.
— July was eliminated from MSL by a Terran who, three months ago, I did not know existed.
— GoRush was taken out by the same motherfucking Terran who took out July.
— Nada's OSL/MSL losing streak has now entered double digits.
— Oov, once unbeatable at TvT, can't beat any non-Nada Terran.
— Garimto was rustier than Chernobyl in his comeback loss.
— Yellow has become a glorified cheerleader, which led to a thread aptly (yet sadly) titled "What does Yellow do?" in the Forum. (What does he do? He's just a fan with the best seat in the house.)
— Boxer lost against Magma, a second tier Zerg on a third tier team. Not only did he lose, but he lost while attempting proxy rax to bunker rush. Of all people, Boxer should be able to do that one-handed, right? NOPE! It was the most pathetic bunker rush ever. Magma (who?) just ran his speedlings past the poorly built contain, straight to Boxer's main for the GG. (At that moment, Yellow, who is watching the match at home while listening to Avril Lavigne's new CD, turns off the TV. He flings a bottle of cognac to the wall, where it shatters. He then crawls into bed, hides under the blankets, draws his knees close to his chest, and weeps).
— Reach showed us vintage 2003-style PvZ as he put up an uninspiring display en route to crashing down to offline qualifiers.
You guys still there? Everyone ok? Ok.
You know what the real crazy thing is though? I wasn't hurt much by any of those events. No, I'm too numb now. I have wrapped myself in so much cynicism and doubt that it doesn't hurt me that my old heroes, these iconic towers of progaming, are now losing left and right. I don't wish upon any stars no more, I don't talk to my imaginary friends no more, and I don't believe in the old StarCraft heroes no more. I can't afford to.
This league now has many wonderful players like Bisu, Savior, and Hwasin. Anytime, Stork, Free, Iris... hell - all you need to do is check out the Power Rank to see that there is a great amount of talent and character in the League. With so many exciting players giving their all, serving us spectacular matches every week, I just can't afford to hitch my hopes on the older generation. I'm not going to teach my grandmother how to send a text message, and I'm not going to wait for Kingdom to return to the starleagues.
Blame the influx of young 'uns. Blame Kespa and the ridiculous five-days-a-week Proleague. Blame growing up. Blame the military. Blame Rekrul. Blame whatever you want. But the reality is that the old guard are simply not competitive any more. And that's the truth, Ruth.
But the real, hidden, so-deep-within-my-heart-I-don't-want-to-face-it-truth is that... even though I joke about it, even though I laugh at his pathetic PvZ... under all the snark, under the sarcasm, beneath the doubt and the sneering and the low expectations is a tiny bit of HOPE that I'm trying to ignore and when Reach starts to win again it will slowly melt all my cynicism until he makes the quarterfinals, then the semis, and I will drop all pretensions and allow myself to wholeheartedly cheer for Reach
But for now?
No. My Protoss hopes are with Bisu and Fall!Anytime. Instead of Yellow, Savior. Instead of Boxer, Sea.
Once upon a time, it wasn't like that. I used to believe in Yellow and Reach, just like I used to believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I used to believe, no, I knew that Yellow, Reach and Boxer were the Justice League, and whoever they were playing that week were evil enslaving zombies from outer space. When Boxer showed me quantum physics, when Yellow went for the neck and didn't let go, when Reach ran straight into a containment and warriored his way through, I would feel blessed: my faith justified, my fandom re-affirmed. But as I watched more games, I learned to see in terms of strategies and angles, to watch each match as a fine-tuned exercise of unit supply and APM. I began to see the flow of the game in terms of management and threat.
I'm glad that I know the game better now. I'm a better fan now that I can objectively judge each players' strengths and weaknesses.
And it saves me a lot of grief. Why? Because those motherfuckers broke my heart. Not in the way that Yukie Chang broke my heart in 10th grade, but more like the way my mom broke my heart when she told me, "No HonestTea, you can't walk through that wardrobe because there is no Narnia." (YOU MAY HAVE GAVE BIRTH TO ME BUT I KNOW YOU ARE LYING! LYING!) When I saw Boxer screw up that bunker rush, I had to stand up, leave my desk, and go outside to look up at the sky. That was just because the general principle of it was so damn sad. Imagine how broken I would have been if I actually was rooting for Boxer.
Because when I see Yellow it reminds me that July might never win that Golden Mouse, that I may never see IntoTheRainbow again. It reminds me that someday, even Savior and Bisu will stop being bulletproof. Yellow's dumb presence at the KTF bench every game only serves to haunt me, an all-too-obvious example of mortality. He is a breathing, walking, memento mori.
I mean, this is fucking Yellow we're talking about here! We need to step outside for a moment, because we should remember that once upon a time, Yellow was straight unstoppable. It's amazing how easy it is to forget, especially these days, but dude once ripped everyone else to shreds like Wolverine+War Machine. He was the only hope for Zerg when it once seemed impossible, the last defender of an entire race before the likes of July and Savior. Now I have to watch him smile like an idiot on the KTF bench?
What really makes me sad is when I think back to their recent last hurrahs. Boxer, Yellow, Reach... I find that I don't look back at the glorious moments, moments like Yellow winning King of Kings. No, I think back to Shinhan Season 1, when Yellow came back from nowhere, tore through the group stages and climbed to the semis only to lose to Casy in five close games. I didn't realize it then, but I may have been watching Yellow's last combustion. He was burning up all he had left, and I didn't know.
Which brings my attention to Nal_Ra. As we all know, Nal_Ra is in the MSL quarterfinals, and he will face Xellos to move to the next stage. This may be his last stand, his Battle of Thermopylae. He's going to break my heart too. And it's going to be worse than ever before, because of all the old heads, Nal_Ra was the one who could last forever. He just understood the game better than any other pro.
Boxer was innovative, but his genius was exclusive for himself. Everyone else had no hope of emulating him. Yellow's trademark Storm Zerg style was more of an attitude than a strategy. Reach was man of courage, not a thinker. But Nal_Ra... If Boxer's the Einstein kind of genius, then Nal_Ra is Thomas Alva Edison. His accomplishments include:
—standardizing forge-first FE PvZ
—standardizing the basic PvT pattern during 2004-2005 (with assist from ForU)
—teaching other Protoss how to optimize cannon rushes.
—and so many more little things.
Nal_Ra gave the rest of his race brain-bursting yet learnable build orders. He is a teacher who demonstrated his genius in simple steps.
With that same genius, he has lasted longer than his peers. He is still fighting in the MSL, still fighting for relevancy. He is forcing me to cheer for him. And despite my best instincts, despite all the defense mechanisms I have built to this point, I find myself rooting for him once again.
If Bisu beats Savior, I will jump up and cheer, I might do a fist pump, and I'll say things like "Ha! You still cannot solve Bisu's amazing multitask skills! Yeah! Corsair sucka!!" I will be happy. My happiness will be greater than if I had watched a good movie, but it will be less than if I had bought a new pair of fresh sneakers. Bisu winning in the finals will make me content.
But the undeniable truth is, if Nal_Ra somehow beats Xellos, then beats Bisu, then beats Savior, I will be screaming NINTENDO SIXTY FOOUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR~! at the top of my lungs, once again a child on Christmas morning. A child who is simply happy to be at that exact moment when everything makes sense, and all is right with the world.
But it's not going to happen. I have to convince myself that it's not going to happen.
I don't know if progaming is sport. Honestly, I don't give a shit. What I do know is that basic concept of spectator sports is the same concept behind any high-level competition of skill, whether it be gymnastics, chess, or making love. Which is to give everybody a level playing field, so that the player or team with the most skill prevails. Thus, sports is too communist and too capitalist for me to believe in miracles any more.
Sports have taught me that in the end, the higher skill will prevail. Sure, there will be a few upsets, but in the long run the better guys are gonna win. The underdog might catch the favorite on a bad day, or he might pull his shit together for the game of his life, or maybe he sees that 99% perfect girl in the stands which awakes something higher within him and takes him to the astral plane. But in the long run? In a tournament? Clock will always strike 12, the luxurious limo turns back into a pumpkin, the chauffeur turns back into Master Splinter, and your Vera Wang turns back into the dirty rags you were using to scrub the floor.
I'd rather that Nal_Ra float away after achieving his personal brilliance, like Johnny Livingston the Seagull. Instead, he will break my heart, joining his other old school brethren, and linger to haunt me.
Sports has taught me that miracles don't really happen. If your skill is worse, your ass will get beat. And if you stick around, hoping for that last flash of glory, you'll just get beat worse. Rocky Balboa is fiction. Deuk-Ku Kim is non-fiction.
.
.
.
...but sports has also taught me that perhaps, just perhaps, an aging vet can keep it together and elevate his play, sustain it for just a long enough stretch of time, and...
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
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Braavos36374 Posts
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is awesome32274 Posts
I just watched the dudes awaiting something and then reach appears LOL
Ill read it all now. Im sure it will be awesome, like all your articles.
brb! i need a hot cup of tea while reading this.
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seems like these guys need to learn when to retire... Ray Bourque after winning the Stanely Cup?
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There's still hope! I have faith in the Dreamer and all the others to somehow come back... somehow... no, seriously...
Devil Toss, where are you? =(
(and WTF happened, Reach/Yellow? If you guys can't make leagues, then at least kick that Zergbong guy out and bring back the old school 2v2 team for Proleague plz <_< )
Wonderful article, full of nostalgia and just brilliantly written. All I can really say is:
Veterans fighting~! v -.- v
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United States20661 Posts
Damn you, old school. Damn you, Path of Night. Damn you, pokerstars.
Yet, as long as I watch progaming, I will maintain my pride and faith in the old boys.
Yes, it will break my heart, but I just can't love these new gamers.
Jaedong excites me, vaguely. That's about it. When the last of the old guard retires, I'll probably out with him.
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Very nice article, this is why I love TL.net. Thank you.
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United States7166 Posts
holy amazing article, I enjoyed every word.
also,
the chauffeur turns back into Master Splinter
hahahahaha
I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU PHOTOSYNTHETIC TOSS
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Reminded me of:+ Show Spoiler +Do not go gentle into that good night - Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
I love your writing HonestTea. KANG MIN FIGHTING!~
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What a well written piece. This issue goes unspoken so often, and for once it's been brought up in such a well-presented way. Kudos, man, you really touched on this subject so brilliantly.
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United States20661 Posts
On November 02 2007 16:47 mahnini wrote:Reminded me of: + Show Spoiler +Do not go gentle into that good night - Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. I love your writing HonestTea. KANG MIN FIGHTING!~
Aside from the Thomas poem, it also reminded me of the early speech Satan gives in Paradise Lost.
Really well-written article ^^; conveys many of my emotions as well.
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hey honesttea, awesome article. i was cracking up so hard. but oh yeah, i was curious. what did you feel when you saw yellow lose to that dt rush against anytime in so1??
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great article
i agree with what u say about nal_ra
he is one of the smartest progamers
whenever he loses a match, no matter how good the match is supposed to be, I can't bring myself to watch it
i hope that he can beat xellos
and altho ur article states that he prob won't, I BELIEVE
EVERYONE BELIEVE IN KANG MIN
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HonestTea
5007 Posts
On November 02 2007 17:11 koryano321 wrote:
hey honesttea, awesome article. i was cracking up so hard. but oh yeah, i was curious. what did you feel when you saw yellow lose to that dt rush against anytime in so1??
I was totally enthralled by the strategic brilliance and Anytime's daring. The way he executed that, even using a goon to lure away Yellow's zerglings, was inspired.
That was a big moment in me becoming an Anytime fan.
Because as I said, I'm a fan on a higher level now. If Anytime does something great, I'll become his fan -- even if he does it to Yellow.
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goood shit honesttea. i miss that OSL... it was filled with old school players and new players... fucking amazing watching anytime climb over everyone to get to the top. i just pray that anytime doesnt reach this point where he becomes a non entity like yellow T-T
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very nice article
i just love having "superpowers" like savior was for a while, now bisu. looking foward to see who will dominate the next age, who will dethrone bisu, or will he dethrone himself and there will be no superpower for a while? and if it will be a terran superpower i hope he will not be just a gay macro whore and will actually reinvent the terran style 
p.s. seeing as people are making poem comparisons, this articles theme reminded me most of "nothing gold can stay"
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Man I rootted for rA since forever, hope he can make it. Yes he's the smartest one, he always smiles when he loses, ever so calm...
PRESIDENT GUANG!!
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Nice article Honesttea, couldn't stop reading till the end.
I'll never stop believing in rA.
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This article sums up a lot of how I feel about progaming lately. Its sad to see all these old players failing.. The Garimto thing really just, I dont know what to say.There was a flash of brilliance followed by the cold reality. But I still hope to see more of him I guess.
I hope to see more Yellow. Without these old players, these heavyweight names I honestly dont care about pro SC nearly as much.
I was noting the other day on TLPD; yesterday actually, that so many of the current top competitors(Not the champs, just who just the ones on fire at the moment) are ALL roughly 17 years old.
I remember learning to play SC in 01 when I was 18 and when I finally saw some pro matches on broodwar.com I noticed most of the pros were a year or two older than me. Its weird how time has actually reversed and the players got younger now despite the game aging so much. But for me there is little spirit in most of them, no.. Defining characteristics. Sure some have character, I love Savior, his game style says "abusive" to me. Guy just does what it takes to win. And I think quite a few of the rookies are technically amazing to watch play. But there is just nothing to them, everyone plays the same.
I remember back when I was watching I believe the first OSL I actually watched as it happened.. I dont even remember which one it was, the one after Coca-Cola OSL. People were calling Sinji_NT the magic zerg. He was known for using defilers and queens vsP and T when no one really used those units except for very specific strategies or end-game cuteness.
He played a couple games in that OSL, but one I can remember right now was vs Garimto on Neo Vertigo. Dude was playing main+nat+min only and made just this mixed force. He had queens and shit, it was interesting. The whole time he was defending as they spawned at very close positions. He lost that game, Garimto harassed him a lot with storm drops if I remember right and eventually overpowered him. But fuck its been 5 maybe near 6 years and I still fuckin remember it. I remember many of those games from that Starleague vividly, its like some players just had a style. Hell at the time even the players who played boringly like theMarine were interesting because they were the few that played boringly. Now everyone plays boringly, ive played for years and can pretty much play boringly too at a moderately high level.
But despite playing and viewing thousands and thousands of games of Starcraft.. I still hope for that magic that got me into it way back. Hope for someone to show me something i havent seen before and be amazed all over again.
Thanks for your cool write up on the subject
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
GrEAT ARTICLE HONESTEA 
so sad to read >_<
but i really do agree about ra
he's the only old that keeps appearing and making it past ro16 and shit, just doesnt have enough to win a starleague. i mean last few seasons he's been battling it out witht savior at least twice in bo3s or bo5s
GOGO 강민!!!! <3<3<3
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You perfectly expressed the feelings most of us have now for old school players especially Ra and NaDa . I have been Kang Min fan since forever. And as someone pointed out it is so painful to watch players like Nada and Ra failing. Simply I have no words to explain, their loses hurt so much Ra doesn`t have much more time left before he joins army. Maybe one more year. It would be so great if Ra could reach one more final and give his best shoot at it.
Old school FTW!
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well written
A+ FE
Everything you said is true and that's the worst part.
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Nice reference to two of the better characters in MvC, tier-wise ^_^ Great read. Somewhat sad, but still great
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very nice read.. I just have to agree with you on this one.
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very well written
the langston hughes poem is a favorite
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this is excellently written. very enjoyable. thank you.
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Calgary25977 Posts
Incredibly well written. Thanks.
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Another quality article HonesTea!
I especially agree on the part about Yellow - he's the superfan with the best seat in the house.
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From now on: every once in a few months on Team Liquid, when a gorgeous article pops up, an article that contains almost everything, passion, knowledge, beauty, personality and intelligence combined with a flawless logic, TLnet's mods should ponder: Is it worthy enough to be compared to any of HonestTea's articles?
As for the writer, you're a freaking ideal every TL writer should aspire to.
Congratulations, this was much more than just a pleasant read, and THANK YOU on behalf of the whole community.
Please continue to blow our minds in the future
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(At that moment, Yellow, who is watching the match at home while listening to Avril Lavigne's new CD, turns off the TV. He flings a bottle of cognac to the wall, where it shatters. He then crawls into bed, hides under the blankets, draws his knees close to his chest, and weeps).
hahaha yess i like you
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is awesome32274 Posts
Haha Yeah i loved that part too.
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You gave me that feeling...the kind you have when you realize you've been taking your blessings for granted before it dissipates right before your eyes into thin air.
Brb, listening to Avril Lavigne's "When You're Gone".
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this was just great, congratulations for a wonderfull article
But.. i rather belive in something, is nice to have faith and dreams somethimes, it doesnt matter if they don't come true, at least u had a dream ^^, i will ALWAYS be watching boxer games hoping that he pulls out some crazy shit and scream "HURRAAAAAAAAAY!"... always
BOXER FIGHTING!
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BoxeR's roll over MinGu counts for nothing? THE FANS ARE SO FICKLE. A loss here and there, and you've already given your heart to someone else, sluts.
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Sweden33719 Posts
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IGN guys at Reach is such a perfect shot :D
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United States5262 Posts
OMG HonestTea, that is EXACTLY how I feel about the old school players. I have wept and wept over the old schools, but I have becoming more and more numb. When I see the likes of Nal_rA and XellOs in the quarterfinals of the MSL. You know how much it builds me up? I have a feeling that this buttercup is going to be let down. =[. However, I think it better to keep my hopes down so when they do actually overcome their age gap with the young guns I will be there screaming, "NINTENDO SIXTY FOURAAAAA BIOTCH!" alongside you. =]
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Very good read HonestTea. One question, is that boxing manga from Ashita No Joe?
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D:
of all the pros, i always believed that ra would never age, join airforce, or become completely obsolete
YOU CAN DO IT RA
RA FOR MSL SEASON 3!
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really interesting read, i can relate to it on all levels.
Kang Min Fighting!!!!
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Great article, almost made me shed some tears for rA.
I have to say I share your pain. Ra was so close to win in the lasts MSL's, but always lost when I had the feeling he'll win. It would be really if he'd beat sAviOr in the final and finish the Holy War once and for all. But it's only a dream, to good to be real...
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Someone should forward this to Ra, maybe gave him that extra little boost.
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Nice read.
poor ra
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Great article. I really like how you pointed out that rA had what it took from the beginning to stay at the top of the game for a long time.
However, I think that BoxeR was also in a position to stay at the top of the game. He didn't do much in starleagues in his last year before the army, but seriously, he has been constantly in the highlight reel. He just had (and probably still has) a competitive drive that no other progamer has ever possessed. If he didn't join the army, I think he would be in a similar position as Nal_rA. He's the oldest player in the Proleague, and I think he has every intention of coming back after his duty and regaining his former position. He won't become as dominant as he once was, but I think he will continue to make an impact.
I really hope rA wins his Bo5 and makes it to the semis; while I do want to see a bisu v savior rematch in the finals, I also want to see the last standing vet make some noise.
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beautiful read, the Nal_Ra piece got me believing
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I was reading this article, and I was thinking "man, i love how this is written" and scrolled back up to make sure its HT
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Thanks, that was real. Is that a picture of England beating Korea btw? I can't see the names.
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wow!!! amazing writing style.
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Don't worry HonestTea, you'll find that portal to Narnia any day now.
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Beautiful <3 Summary of many of our feelings, I think. Mine for sure.
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Very nice article, thank you!
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Awesome article!
Though I'm sad, now...
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amazing read, you've got some writing skills for sure.
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Dude great article, omg I could relate to his article so much. I was talking about this with sohee_pink on msn while watching Nada lose 2 games in a row. I seriously felt a lilttle discomfort inside of me and like you said you had to walk outside and look at the sky. I went outside and smoked a cigarrete to relax my body because I couldnt understand how the fuck Boxer lost to magma, Nada keeps losing and lost to magma today also, and Reach and yellow and Iloveoov and just omg I cant keep on going. All those names represent SC for me seriously... wtf is going on ? Dude I was watching Boxer's game vs Piano there was a part of a FPVOD from boxer ... dude seriously he was playing slower and sloppier than me and I thought What the fucking crap? Is this really happening?
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/225.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/5.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/147.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/326.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/38.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/117.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/37.jpg)
Guys please come back and show these motherfuckers how is done....
As I write this Nal_ra is playing Xellos on blue storm and failed to cheese... come back Nal_ra pls!
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Belgium6768 Posts
Oh god realitycheck
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HonestTea
5007 Posts
+ Show Spoiler +
And thus my heart is broken.......
It should not be forgotten though, that Xellos is an old school player in his own right....
Those tank drops in game 4 was vintage old-style play. Despite signaling midnight for Nal_Ra, I couldn't help it. Xellos is an old head too, and it brought a smile to my face.
clazziquai: Yes, that is Ashita no Joe
TitusMaster: That is Korea losing to Germany in the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup
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Wow, this was incredible, keep up the good work.
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Very good read, i really enjoy reading your articles
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Good article.
But I fucking hate Thomas Alva Edison
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On November 04 2007 01:08 GunsofthePatriots wrote:
Good article.
But I fucking hate Thomas Alva Edison
Tesla FTW?
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Yeah, Ra is more like a Tesla anyways.
I heard from people that he's been partying hard a lot.
But Ra doesn't have to prove himself to me.
I still think he is without a doubt the Greatest Protoss to have ever graced Starcraft.
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United States20661 Posts
Everyone hates Edison 
go Tesla ftw. I think it's a more apt comparison.
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Edison was a jerkass, Tesla really should have popped a cap in his ass.
Edit: Glad to see an old-school (sorta) Terran winning. ^.^
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I loved the read - your words really weighed heavily with nostaliga on my heart.
As much as I admire Bisu and admit his current dominance, there's a part of me who'd just love to see the old reign of rA reborn.
Once again, beautiful article, thank you ever so much for writing it!
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United States5262 Posts
You mean XellOs was always perfect he just had to find himself some old school builds to own an old school toss with.
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4492 Posts
Absolutely awesome article HT, so much feeling in it, and so much passion - perfect!
On a related note, I voted Xellos and am happy as a puppy!
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and having just seen the xellos v ra results im guessing that honestTea is slitting his wrists right about.............wait for it..... now
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United States33287 Posts
that was truly touching and heartbreaking
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give credit when its due, the poem is by robert frost?
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extremely well written HonestTea, it just captured the situation the way it is. the new blood is making its way though and we all feel the pain of our idols losing to some no-namers...
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my heart. it hurts. so much. so much...
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Nice article, each time I watched Yellow play, I always see him getting his butt kicked
But everybody fades away sooner or later, but today's new school players will then be the old school and the cycle will start again.
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Very nice article. I stopped studying stupid Stress Management test to read this.
Nal_ra shouldnt have died, god know that he didnt try.
Do we get to see what hottie is Yukie Chang or we have to flip thru the Facebook?? (sounds like a hybrid Taiwanese and Japanese girl)
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one of the best FE articles written so far IMO. I weeped after finally facing the truth in this article that REACH may never ever come back and dominate with his manliness
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On November 07 2007 18:27 nujabes wrote:
one of the best FE articles written so far IMO. I weeped after finally facing the truth in this article that REACH may never ever come back and dominate with his manliness
reach experience is more than enough for another come back.
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the last time I had legit hope for Reach was when he demolished shark and was up 1-0 against Stork in MSL season 2... not to mention he couldn't make offline qualifiers due to cheese
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I am impressed. Some of you guys, here at TL really know how to write stuff.
You are one of them.
Thank you for this article.
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Very good writing.
I loved the following part,
"At that moment, Yellow, who is watching the match at home while listening to Avril Lavigne's new CD, turns off the TV. He flings a bottle of cognac to the wall, where it shatters. He then crawls into bed, hides under the blankets, draws his knees close to his chest, and weeps"
epic, instantly reminded me of Neil Gaimans style of writing in the Sandman graphic novels
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god i have read this article like 5 times, and eveyrtime it's even better, amazing HonestTea, simply amazing.
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every aspect - Pure brilliance, ending, pictuures, yellows bitch bench, and the cognac thing.
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Aotearoa39261 Posts
This just has to be bumped considering a few things
- July back in OSL
- Xellos, Savior out of OSL
- Both sets of Protoss kings having questionable form
- Where is Nal_ra?
- A plethora of retirements
- Yellow finally seeing game time
And heaps more, and on top of that.. this is one of the best articles in the FE section
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*tear*
I remember the osl between Reach and BoxeR, I was hoping boxer would get the first golden mouse (which he could have won in the other 3 osl finals). When I saw the storms wreak havoc, I just fell in love with the art that reach was doing.
Yellow too, it's too sad to see him get owned now, it's not like him. The last reach/yellow 2v2 match was just depressing.
boxer, he's in his late 20's, I admire his fighting spirit, never giving up and fight.
and Nal-rA, Kang Min, the Dreaming Protoss, one of the other progamers that really put up a show when he's up against the Terran Emperor. I hope he wins the MSL, maybe the last time we ever see the Dreaming Protoss's creativity.
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I almost cried ;_;
BoxeR, Nal_rA, sAviOr, NaDa.. Nooooo ;_;
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HonestTea
5007 Posts
Sports has taught me that miracles don't really happen. If your skill is worse, your ass will get beat. And if you stick around, hoping for that last flash of glory, you'll just get beat worse. Rocky Balboa is fiction. Deuk-Ku Kim is non-fiction.
It feels weird to quote myself, but never have I felt this to be more true in progaming that the past three months.
Pinning my hopes these days on... Casy?
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While it may be true, it makes the rare times that a miracle does happen that much more magical.
Here's to Nada making one more run for the trophy, for of all the old legends, I feel that he is the most capable of capturing glory once again. 
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On May 03 2008 18:20 MuShu wrote:While it may be true, it makes the rare times that a miracle does happen that much more magical. Here's to Nada making one more run for the trophy, for of all the old legends, I feel that he is the most capable of capturing glory once again.
word
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On May 03 2008 18:20 MuShu wrote:While it may be true, it makes the rare times that a miracle does happen that much more magical. Here's to Nada making one more run for the trophy, for of all the old legends, I feel that he is the most capable of capturing glory once again.
I refuse to believe NaDa has given up. I live in hope that the day will come where he once again takes out a Starleague.
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I have read this article so many times, its just so well written. I can't exactly relate to it, being relatively new to the scene, but i must say, i had that feeling about Nada as he climbed his way to the Ro16 in both the OSL and the MSL this season.
And then just like that it was over. I guess everyone can still put their old school hopes in july.
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United States24 Posts
Wow, HonestTea, this has to be the best post ive read since I joined TL. You say what everyone has been thinking for the past couple years.
Some flames can be rekindled tho, always remember. Look at JulyZerg yesterday for a great example. I think its just like any sport tho imo. As players get older they get owned by the new kids on the block. I use to love Reach too, hes still my #1 favortie gamer, but as he faded out, i grew onto Bisu. Look at him now, doing nothing except helping SKT stay on top of proleague. His solo tournament play has been awful. But alas, there was light at the end of the tunnel, my new favorite protoss and i say new favorite bcuz Reach#1 , Bisu #2 always. STX Soul's Shuttle is owning it up in the Avertec Intel tour. And he is who i rooting for now. Now if Shuttle plays Bisu or Bisu plays Reach, who do i want to win? Reach ofc!! Who doesnt always cheer on their old school favorite? But in games like that, no matter who comes out victorious, im the winner. This is because i get to watch these starcraft greats duel it out for my heart and the hearts of fans all over the world.
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United States33287 Posts
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A truly timeless article. As true and relevant as it was when it was written.
I'd go gay for Kang Min.
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Truly worth reading again.
But I'm pretty sure Waxangel "remembered" this just because he searched tl for "Kanye West". No, seriously, it's his lyrics on this thing.
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im glad this got bumped i must have missed it years ago, great read!
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
On September 16 2009 00:43 TryThis wrote:
im glad this got bumped i must have missed it years ago, great read!
all u new people must read every FE (no not fast expand.)
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funny how his prediction about nalra sticking around forever turned out to prove wrong with him retiring and becoming caster instead of just sitting on the bench all day.
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nice to find this again after all this years.
Great read, just as last time
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United States33287 Posts
On September 15 2009 23:58 Musoeun wrote:
Truly worth reading again.
But I'm pretty sure Waxangel "remembered" this just because he searched tl for "Kanye West". No, seriously, it's his lyrics on this thing.
actually I remembered it because someone asked me what my favorite FE was
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BoxeR just beat Fake YellOw!
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I was reading it and when he talked about the newer and more exciting players I was like "where is jaedong!" and then I read "July might never win his golden mouse", I just went WTF and finally looked at the date.
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 ) Teary-eyed nostalgia ftw.
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i wish i followed the pro scene 2-3 years earlier, now ive missed all these classic moments =(
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great article
Nada's OSL/MSL losing streak has now entered double digits.
so sad
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well atleast july got his golden mouse
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Baa?21242 Posts
In light of Nal Ra's ongoing attempt to return, I think this amazing article deserves a bump.
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I'd second that. In all honesty part of me still prays that Savior comes outta nowhere to pwn it up again. Wish our oldschool heroes would come back
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FREEAGLELAND26781 Posts
Agreed. Going to use this next period of time to read again instead of studying for the impending doom that is multi.
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Thank you for the considerate bump; what a good read I would never have seen otherwise. If by chance someone knows, or honestTea lurks, can I be enlightened as to the identity of the first picture used? The one called OUM_absinthe.jpg? It's magical.
edit: thanks google. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oliva.jpg
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"It reminds me that someday, even Savior and Bisu will stop being bulletproof."
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you forgot the fact that baby beat jaedong
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Great call on savior and bisu... and nal_ra... maybe, just maybe
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That article makes me realize something. In addition to the decline of players like Reach, Yellow, Savior, Nal_rA, oov, Boxer, Nada, GoRush, and July (although he came back), 2007 was also the year of Flash's amazing debut, and the rise of Bisu, Stork, and Jaedong from good players to S-class players. It was a "turnover year". After the same 4 players dominating in 2008 and 2009, it looks like 2010 might be another turnover year. While Flash, Stork, and to a lesser extent Jaedong are still dominating, who knows how things might be at the end of the year (and SC2 will obviously cause heavy turnover of the players at the top)
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I remember this article, reading it again and seeing how it talks about savior as one of the top players, rather than one of the washed-ups, is quite bizarre :D
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*sigh* not only is the old generation burned out, but so is most of the generation that followed after =\
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I always come back to this article. More people should read it.
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This is one of the best written things on all of TL. The only thing I find more touching than this is Day[9]'s Daily #100, but both are amazingly composed.
EDIT: I just read this:
It reminds me that someday, even Savior and Bisu will stop being bulletproof.
Looking back that's probably both the most ironic and saddest parts of this whole article.
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Baa?21242 Posts
[01:14] <@CSheep> only until midnight remains, to this day, the best piece of writing
[01:14] <@CSheep> on TL
[01:14] <@CSheep> at least in terms of emotional impact for me
[01:14] <@CSheep> i still go back and read it and tear up from time to time
[01:14] <@CSheep> Q_Q
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Baa?21242 Posts
11 years later. Still good.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_Title.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_absinthe.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_REACH.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_superman.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_burnwhite.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_bobross.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_KoreaGermany.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_goran.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/OUM_glass_slipper.jpg)
