EPT
Sources:
http://www.dailyesports.com/news/view.daily?idx=14885&page=1
http://www.dailyesports.com/news/view.daily?idx=14884&page=1
Article written and edited by: Lee Sora
When I met Leta at the Sparkyz team house for his interview, he had a mixed expression on his face as he confessed “I haven’t been that good lately, and I don’t know if I’m worth an interview.” After a big sigh, Leta began by getting some things off his chest.
Leta: Playing so many games in one year has exposed my style, and that’s had a huge effect. Honestly, I've really been on edge. Playing as the team’s ace for a year was the source of a lot of pressure, without me even noticing it.
Living for an entire year with such an unbalanced focus on work was incredibly tiring. Even for people with desk jobs, wouldn’t it be tough on them if they had to work 24/7 without any sort of break? For a progamer, a game isn't a game anymore, it's work. It was inevitable that this past year of work without rest was going to be exhausting.
It was the first time I had faced this kind of situation, so I think I was bad at pacing myself. If I were a player with more experience, then I’d have been able to deal with it more ably, but I wasn’t that kind of player. I think I was still too young to handle everything that happened.
I didn’t have any time to get my head together when I had to play in WCG, the STX cup, and Starleague. I wasn’t able to play my game at all. Finally, now that there are no leagues, I’m finding some calm and relaxation.
It was as if I could feel some of the pain and suffering behind that ever-smiling face. He admitted that taking three straight losses during the Proleague post-season was particularly crushing. After Hite lost to CJ in their playoff match, Leta said he was unable to sleep for some time, as his rest was constantly interrupted by dreams of his Ace Match against CJ’s Movie.
Leta: I wished it was all just a bad dream. It gave me such a numb feeling. I had been very confident going into the playoffs. But I think that all the expectations people had ended up turning into pressure. Normally I love working under pressure, but I guess subconsciously it was wearing me down.
I was completely enveloped by the guilt of failing my responsibility as the team’s ace. When the coach asked me and Yellow[ArnC] who wanted to take charge of the Final Ace Match, I said “Myung-Soo Hyung” (Yarnc). After losing three straight matches, I had no confidence left. On the other hand, Yarnc had won his game that day. So I thought it would be better if he played the Ace Match, but in retrospect I think I was just being foolish.
Even though I didn’t have any momentum, it should have been my match. I was trying to forget I the fact that I was the team’s ace, and trying to hide. It’s something I deeply regret now. I didn’t have the strength of heart to face the pressure that comes from being the team’s ace. It was a hard time for me after we lost, because I was so disappointed in myself.
I saw a post on some internet message board that said “Hite didn’t really lose to CJ. Leta didn’t play in the Final Ace Match!” When I read that, it came as a shock that helped me get my head in the right place. Being a team’s ace is definitely a job with a lot of pressure, but I realized what a joy it is to be in that position. I’m not going to run from it anymore.
I had thought Leta was another young Progamer who was always laughing, but inside he had the depth of a true professional. Though he was always laughing on the outside, Leta suffered the hardships and pains of being his team’s lone ace. Perhaps those experiences made him stronger.
Through all his trials and tribulations, Leta never stopped driving himself on to further heights. As a way to help him through his difficulties, Leta said the Hapkido (a Korean martial art) he practiced as a child was very beneficial.
Leta: As an only son, my parents raised me with a great deal of love. What helped me through the difficulties I faced after becoming a progamer was the Hapkido I learned as a kid. It taught me patience and how to settle my mind, and how to learn from a teacher. So it wasn’t difficult to follow a coach after joining a progaming team, or deal with hard situations.
There’s actually a funny story from this time I placed third in an international tournament. In that tournament, people in the same Dan (skill level in martial arts) competed against each other. I was sam dan (third dan) at the time, and my opponent in the semi-finals was so much taller than me. I couldn’t see that well above me because of the protective gear, but since I was fighting a taller opponent, all his kicks were coming at me from above my head. All I remember is that I couldn’t block anything, and I got the crap kicked out of me (laughs).
For the third and fourth place match, I fought an opponent who was three weight classes above me. My parents told me the disparity was so bad that they cried. However, I had already gotten so beat up during the semi-final, the second I saw my opponent I thought ‘Man, if I get hit again, I’m gonna get killed.’ (laughs) So I used my speed to my advantage, and used hit and run guerrilla style tactics. Thanks to that, I was able to take third place. Maybe that helped solidify my harassing style in Starcraft, too? (laughs)
It was surprising to hear Leta being so honest, talking about such little-known things. He was not a gamer that spoke very often, and I had actually been worried about the interview beforehand. As we talked about things he had on his mind, the subject of his babyface came up.
Leta: I’ve heard that a lot since I was young (laughs). When I was entering high school, it was even worse. I was quite the rosy-cheeked youngster. I started to look a lot older after I went out into the world though.
I never really liked it though, people saying that I look young. Guys want to look manly, you know (laughs). Looking young is like you’re not fully an adult, in a way. Also amongst guys, if you look young, they tend to disrespect you. When I think that all of that’s because of how I look, being called a babyface isn’t such a good thing.
I’m losing some baby fat as I get older now, and I think I’m becoming more of a man (laughs). You don’t know how happy I was when Sung Seung Heon (an announcer for Ongamenet) said “Leta seems to be growing more manly”. (laughs) Finally, I’m turning into a real man! (laughs)
Alongside being a babyface, a big part of Leta’s image is being cute. Leta knows this well, and takes care to show this aspect to please his fans.
Leta: I’m in the process of engineering my image right now (laughs). I didn’t like it when people said I was a babyface, but I came to realize it was the only weapon I had. Also, I think a cute image fits me.
It’s fun to be on stage in front of people. It feels like somebody likes you. When people said I was cute, I was pretty happy about it (laughs).
In the future though, I want to go from Cute Leta to Manly Leta (this reporter could not stop laughing). Come on, you think it’s that funny? (After some thought) Well, maybe if you consider my current looks and height, it might be a little funny (laughs). I’m 173 cm tall right now, and still growing. You’ll be able to see a manly Leta soon! (laughs).
As an only child, perhaps Leta is cute to his parents as well? When asked, Leta denied it and said “I can’t do anything disgustingly cute.” (Note: The original Korean expression roughly translates to ‘so cringe-worthy, it makes your hands and feet shrivel up.’ You'd use this to describe someone who's being digustingly cute in a bad way, a horrendously bad cosplay, or anything that makes you wince.)
Leta: Before I was really a stoic Gyungsang-do (one of Korea’s provinces. Every gangster in a Korean movie is from Gyungsang-do) style guy. I changed a lot after becoming a progamer though. I talk to my parents a lot, and call them often to ask how they are, so I’m becoming a more respectful son. I think that’s kind of automatic, since we’re far apart now.
Still, I’d die and comeback from the dead (Korean expression) before I could say something like “Mom I wanna see you!” or “I love you” in a cutesy way that would make your hands and feet shrivel up. I’m really like my father in that way.
My dad says he was really a man of few words in the past. But now he’s become a regular chatterbox(laughs). After he started talking more, I think our family became a warmer place, and he would talk to me a lot. That’s how I came to respect my dad. And while he’s talkative, he never tries to be cute! (laughs)
Leta is in charge of the ‘cuteness’ in Hite at the time. Are there any challengers to the throne? I couldn’t stop laughing at some of the surprising answers to this question.
Leta: Well, first I’d like to pick out Lee Gyung Min (Horang2), like a lot of people might expect. He’s like a little sticky rice cake (laughs). He’s just so young and like a baby.
I really notice that time flies when I think about when I joined the team as a practice partner, and Casy and Cloud thought I was so cute. It’s kind of funny now that I’m in their position, thinking that Horang2 is so cute and all. (laughs).
I guess that in the future, it will be Horang2 doing the same thing? And then he can have an interview where he says “Back in the day, Leta….”
This might be a little surprising, but Yarnc is pretty cute too. I doubt you realize how cute the way he talks is. Also, he laughs in such a cute way. Sometimes I just want to forget he’s my hyung and pinch his cheeks (laughs).
Sometimes I just go crazy and try to annoy someone through talking to them. Seongjin(Type-B) and Jongseo (Justin) hyung hate responding to me, and since I’m being so annoying they’ll say “dude shut up!” and just ignore me. But Yarnc always replies and plays along. Then 성진 and 종서 will scold him saying “and will you stop playing along!”
This is just my theory, but I think maybe Yarnc is like my dad, and he has a burning desire to be a chatterbox that’s he’s suppressing inside of him (laughs).
The Hite team members were forced to play each other in the Bacchus Starleague. Leta in particular, shocked his fans by losing to Type-B in the quarter-finals. Many people thought Leta would have an advantage over the inexperienced Type-B.
Leta: We’re all very close at Hite, so nothing out of the ordinary happened after that. It wasn’t awkward back at the team house or anything.
A lot of people predicted I’d defeat Type-B easily, but anyone can win or lose a game. That’s just how it is. If everything followed the statistics precisely, it wouldn’t be any fun.
As we played, I thought Type-B had prepared very well for our games. Especially the for the third game on Holy World, he came out with a strategy I had never even imagined.
Because I knew him well, I tried to make strategies that would be two steps ahead of him, and also I thought of doing things I knew he hated. However, Type-B had the same kind of mind games planned, and he was even one step further ahead, and I think he was just prepared better than me.
Even though it was a team-kill match, I thought it was surprisingly entertaining. From the second I began practicing there was non-stop tension, and I thought the unique mind-games that you can’t play with gamers on other teams were particularly fun.
That’s why I really wanted to beat Type-B and go on to have a real duel with Yarnc (laughs). While I’m the true, official ace of the Hite team, Yarnc is ambitiously gunning for that position, so I thought there would be some fun games if we met in the Starleague to settle the matter (laughs).
So there’s nothing to fear from team-kill matches in the future. I think it’s even more fun. Maybe I’ll tell Yarnc to pick me in the Starleague group selection (laughs). I’m joking, of course (laughs).
Fan Questions
Q: On a TV show a while ago, you said you were in the “Gam-Line” (roughly translated, people who support the coach. I could be wrong, I didn’t watch program!) together with Go.go. Who else has joined that club? As a central member, what makes you the proudest and what’s the most difficult thing?
A: Well, originally it was me and Go.go, but now it’s just me alone. Go.go went off and betrayed the coach by declaring free agency (laughs). So now I’ve kicked him out (laughs). If he has a conscience, he won’t claim to have any part in it (laughs)!
As the central member of the Gam-line, there’s nothing tiring about it! I swear! (laughs)
Q: When I watch TV, it seems like you enjoy dancing. Do you dance a lot at the team house? LOL
A: I don’t actually like dancing that much, and I’m not that good at it either. Sometimes I just dance terribly at the team house though (laughs). I don’t think anyone dances on our team besides me. Oh wait, there’s actually a dance we practice together these days. It’s the dance from 'Abra kadabra' by Brown Eyed Girls (Korean pop girl band. Link here : here). The more we try it, the more amusing it gets (laughs).
Q: Any players you would like to become friends with? And even though you’re not a free agent (This question is dated August 19th), are there any teams you would like to go to? Or any thoughts on the FA policy itself, or what other players think about it? Also, which players at Hite are the funniest or laziest? Stuff like that!
A: I would like to become more friendly with Bisu from SKT. I asked him why? Oh, no reason (laughs). Hmmmm… I think we’d get along? The laziest player at the house is Go.go. He bathes regularly, but everything around him is so disorganized, and I get dizzy just looking at the mess that’s his bed. And the neatest player is me (laughs).
Q: You took 3rd place in an international Hapkido tournament once. How did you feel during that match? Also, what was the team vibe after the Starleague team-kill? What player is the best at karaoke? The player who’s the most passionate about having a good time?
A: Justin is the best singer. Britney is the best rapper. I think the ones who like having fun the most are Britney and Clay. I kind of just try to fit in. My best song is “Please” by the band Flower. I started singing it a long time ago, so I end up always singing it whenever I go now (laughs).
Q: There’s a rumor that you’re really into girls, is that true? (note: the intonation was that he’s lecherous).
A: I’d really like to find the source of this preposterous rumor. It is totally untrue! How could you say that about me, someone who aspires to purity and is so innocent he hasn’t even had his first kiss! The rumor is completely false, and I hope I cleared that up. I can say this with confidence, I am like a dandelion (Korean expression) in that I am true to whomever I love (laughs).
Q: You’re really cute, but how would you rate your looks on a scale of one to ten?
A: About an eight? I asked him why? Well, I’d feel a bit guilty giving myself a ten… (laughs). Honestly I’m pretty satisfied with my face. It’s not like I’m ugly, nor am I so good looking that people would have trouble approaching me. I’m very satisfied with my regular, cute looks (laughs).
Q: If you saw a fan that was your type of girl, would you go and try and get her number? Or would you just look lol~?
A: I’m an introvert, so I think I’d have to stop at just looking. I don’t have the courage to just tell someone I like them yet. But if there’s someone I really like, I think the courage will come. It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen between people. Nothing like that’s happened to me yet.
Q: The Stargirls are so pretty! Haven’t you felt your heart beat a little faster around them?
A: I swear not even once. One time in high school I had a crush on another student, but after I became a progamer I’ve never been interested in anyone just from seeing them. I think as you grow older it’s hard to find that kind of person (laughs).
Q: Is there anywhere you’d like to travel to during the off-season? And if you want to go with another progamer, who is it?
A: I’d like to go to Hawaii. But why would I want to go there with another gamer? It’s like you’re trying to make it out like I’m gay or something! I asked what gamer he’d like to take along as a friend. I think it would be fun if I went with Up.magic (laughs).
Q: You’ve said before that you like older women. So you don’t like younger women at all? My friend really likes you but she’s younger~
A: I said I liked older women, but I didn’t say I disliked younger girls (laughs)! I suppose I still want to lean on someone because I’m still young. That’s why I said I prefer older women. I think that’s gonna change as I grow older though.
Q: What is KeSPA to you?
A: (Leta laughs loudly, and then thinks quietly). Hmmm, what should I say (laughs)? Well, I’ll say that they’ve certainly given me some peculiar experiences, and I’ll leave it at that (laughs).
Finally we’re reaching the end of the interview. I asked Leta what Terran means to him, and what he thinks of his colleagues Flash and Fantasy.
Leta: Terran is known as the strongest race. I think that’s because the Terran players who came before me were able to be pioneers in their time, and display extremely strong play. Zerg and Protoss have only recently rediscovered mutalisks, defilers, arbiters, etc. and are developing, while Terran was on the forefront long before that. That’s why they were considered the strongest race, and I think now some people think we are the weakest race.
Zerg won both individual leagues last season, and Protoss is doing well, but Terran players just can’t catch a break. Some of it’s because of the maps, but I think it’s that Terran advanced too far, too fast, and is now in a state of stagnation. I think we have to keep trying to advance the race little by little.
Zerg rediscovered mutalisks and defilers, while Protoss started to use arbiters. I think similarly, Terran has to look into their high tech units. I think the key is ghosts. Next season, I plan to experiment with a variety of strategies using ghosts. Together with Flash and Fantasy, I hope we can recapture the glory of our predecessors. Terran fighting!
Failure and defeat aren’t painful
However
Realizing you’ve failed to give your all, is many times more painful. All I fear is failing to do my best.
Instead of being remembered as the strongest gamer, I’d rather be remembered as someone who touched hearts by always giving one-hundred percent.
A progamer who can touch the hearts of his fans, that’s who I want to become.
Hite, Shin Sang Mun.
