Reflecting on Nada's tears after 2:3 loss to Jangbi at Lost Saga MSL round 8
"I believe that his tears were not the tears of regret and discouragement but of another pressing on and from that pressing on, the tears of reaching the top again." - 쵱의왼손
I never thought I would write something like this about Nada. Maybe it's just me, but Oov's fan can take some comfort in watching Nada. After all, Oov was always someone that took down Nada's dominance. It was his 4th MSL appearance that I wanna say something about him. That MSL was the moment when throne was transferred from Nada to Oov. At that big moment, Nada shed tears after losing 2:3 to Oov.
Even back then Nada had an amazing history. The only grand slam (OSL, MSL, GomTV title at the same time). 15 consecutive wins. Saying about "Nada with the first expansion" that nobody can beat. I felt his presence, but I never had strong emotion to him. The only excuse was that I wasn't his fan.
I still clearly remember, at that MSL final, what Nada said while shedding tears.
"I will press on."
From someone with so much achievements already, the words were "press on." He was to be admired not only because of his genius but also his professionalism.
It was weird. Nada, the player who once dominated a period, still pressed on for the top even after his decline. He competed against Nal_Ra, went back and forth with Oov, defeated GoRush, and beat July. Even to the primes of Anytime and Savior, nobody could do anything without overcoming the genius of Nada. Only Nada competed for such a long time at the top. Back then I just thought it was because he was a genius. And his tears of "press on" became forgotten.
After grasping the Golden Mouse while talking about his deceased father, he only had tough times left. He competed against the ever-almighty Savior, but while people praised Nal_ra, Nada was somewhat dissed. The unwanted combination of Longius and Reverse Temple made God out of Savior and rendered criticism against Nada who couldn't win against maps good for Terran. Little by little, Nada collapsed. It was difficult even for a legend.
Only then Nada appeared as a human. In the way he got pushed aside by the newcomer Mind and in the way he didn't earn as much attention during individual leagues. Although at times he proved that his magic was alive, not many people talked about him. People talked about Bisu-Stork-Jaedong-Flash quarter, the six dominant Protosses (Bisu, Sork, Best, Jangbi, Kal, and Free), Boxer going to army and Oov's return, and Savior's comeback. Of all the numerous talks about these icons, one man was left out.
After he appeared as a guest star at a TV show, he got some attention. He looked better, carried a constant smile, prepared his dance, and executed it well. It was so appreciated. It was very human.
This hero of mine who walked his path lonely, this friend of mine, and this unspeakably fantastic man shed tears again. Only now I get filled with emotions about this progamer Nada. He probably wanted to cry, but he went by Jangbi and said "good job." When everyone was expecting 0:3 loss, he willed a legendary 3:2 game. The legend that left even the winner and his fans humbled.
One comfort is that he is seeded at MSL. The genius is still doing well. Good enough that he pushed the best Protoss into the corner.
When he couldn't reach the top, and when he reached the top very difficulty, he shed tears. But what were the tears after the game against Jangbi? Maybe sadness for reaching only the middle.
I believe in Nada. I believe in Nada the Genius. I believe that his tears were not the tears of regret and discouragement but of another pressing on and from that pressing on, the tears of reaching the top again. I wanted to cry but I held. If there was a microphone given to him at the waiting room, he would've said again:
"I will press on."