EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Sigrun/FaceFutureCover.jpg)
Five years ago, there was a team named GO with a coach named Cho. Coach Cho knew how to find and raise young players. GO had Xellos, Midas, Nal_rA, and GoRush. Coach Cho taught them to play without fear. So, when Xellos played, he'd make the GO face. Always. It looked like this: (–_–). Win or lose, (–_–). GO face meant "no fear."
But GO was not a wealthy team. Coach Cho had to use his players' prize money to buy food. GO watched as its fearless sons left home for richer teams. Coach Cho was sad, but found hope in a young boy who was born with the GO face, but didn't know how to scout. Coach Cho pointed at him and said, "one day, this boy will learn how to scout, and he will become the best Zerg that ever played." That boy's name was Ma Jae Yoon. You know him as Savior.
Four years ago, Ma Jae Yoon learned how to scout. He also learned how to win the MSL. Savior made the GO face, and won the MSL again. And again. Savior was happy. But Coach Cho was still struggling to buy food for his hungry players.
Three years ago, there was a food company that wanted to be a sponsor. It was fitting that they picked the hungriest team: GO. The company told GO "no limits." That meant Coach Cho would never have to worry about buying food again. That company's name was CJ. GO face became CJ face. It still meant the same thing. No fear.
Two years ago, a very different team named Samsung KHAN placed second in the Proleague Finals. Samsung had three very good and passionate players. Samsung's ace was a dependable Protoss named Stork. Next came a rising Terran named Braq. You may know him better as FireBatHero. Third was a young Protoss who had just burst on the scene. His name was Jangbi. These three never made the CJ face. When Samsung won, they showed it (^_^). When Samsung lost, they showed it even more (T_T). That year, CJ Entus played Samsung KHAN four times and only won once.
Two years ago, Savior lost to Braq in the MSL. Braq did a dance, and Savior was never the same. When playing Braq, Savior made a face like this: (O_O). Savior played scared. Savior lost. But Savior's teammates made the CJ face for him. When they beat Braq, they drew a pylon heart. It didn't mean "I love you."
One year ago, CJ Entus had two young kids in the TG-Intel Classic. One was a Zerg who lost to Tossgirl on Blue Storm. His name was Effort. The other was a Terran who was destroyed by Jangbi. His name was Skyhigh. These two played for CJ in Proleague. They tried to make the CJ face, but it looked like this: (O_O). They played scared. And they lost. A lot. But Coach Cho kept sending them in.
One year ago, Samsung KHAN sent their three players every match. They swept the entire Shinhan Proleague. Stork won an OSL. Jangbi was the next big thing. Coach January was happy. Samsung was happy (^_^). That year, CJ Entus played Samsung KHAN four times and didn't win once. Braq danced two more times. CJ's players watched Braq dance. They watched like this: (–_–).
This year, Samsung KHAN played their big three every match, again. And this year started out like any other year -- Samsung won (^_^). A lot. So Coach January kept sending Stork and Jangbi and Braq. She sent them in again and again. But a few months later, something changed. A few months later, Samsung didn't win as much. Samsung began to lose (T_T). A lot. They still made the playoffs, but in the final round, Samsung finished second to last. In their last few matches, Coach January sent in their young players together for the first time. Their names were Juni and Miracle. Their faces looked like this: (O_O). They played scared. And they lost.
This year, Coach Cho kept sending in his young players. But this year, their faces changed. CJ's kids didn't play scared. Five months ago, CJ won Winner's League. Skyhigh won four straight games to win in the finals. He won like Xellos used to win, like this: (–_–).
One week ago, CJ played Hite in the Proleague Playoffs. Skyhigh won twice against Hite's best player. When the match came down to single game, Coach Cho didn't send Savior. He sent Effort. And Effort won. He won like Savior used to win, like this: (–_–).
This week, CJ Entus plays Samsung KHAN in the Shinhan Proleague Playoffs. Samsung will send out three passionate veteran players. But they will also send out Juni and Miracle, who will look like this: (O_O). They will play scared, and they will lose.
This week, CJ Entus will not send out Ma Jae Yoon. CJ will send Effort, Skyhigh, and four other players who are now better than Savior. All six will wear the face Coach Cho taught them. They will play without fear, and they will win.
There is a reason why CJ doesn't have the same lineup every day. That reason will be on full display this weekend, when you watch Juni, Miracle, and Odin play for Samsung and then watch Effort, Skyhigh, Kwanro, and Movie play for CJ. Yes, CJ has harsh practice schedules and brutal B-team demotions. But CJ's true story is about unbreakable trust and leaps of faith. It's about old coaches who believe in young players and old aces who can step aside. It's about the next generation and the growth of teammates.
This weekend, two very different teams play each other. One is rising, and the other is falling. One is complacent and scared, and the other is hungry and has no fear. One is the past, and the other is the future.
Five years later, Coach Cho's kids are still hungry.
But not for food.
Shinhan Bank Proleague 08-09 Playoffs Week 2
2009-07-25 13:00 KST
CJ Entus vs Samsung KHAN - Day 1
(–_–) <Andromeda> 
(O_O)(–_–) <Destination> (^_^)(–_–) <Neo Harmony> (T_T)(–_–) <Neo Medusa> (O_O)
(–_–) <Heartbreak Ridge> (T_T)(–_–) <Shades of Twilight> (T_T)(–_–) <Outsider> (T_T)CJ Entus vs Samsung KHAN - Day 2
(–_–) <Shades of Twilight> (T_T)(–_–) <Neo Medusa> (O_O)(–_–) <Heartbreak Ridge> (^_^)(–_–) <Destination> (T_T)(–_–) <Neo Harmony> (T_T)(–_–) <Andromeda> (O_O)(–_–) <Outsider> (T_T)CJ Entus vs Samsung KHAN - Super Ace
(–_–) <Outsider> (T_T)
