The good:
KirbyKaze: You are amazing! You are exactly like your Smash Boards account, for better or for worse. It was an honor cheering you on. I hoped it helped you out!
Your performance this tournament was one of the most impressive achievements in the history of the community. You traveled, alone, from another country, to the best region in the world, and came away with second place.
You served humble pie to a plethora of overrated, ego-driven, sandbagging nerds.
Your passion and love for the game is awe-inspiring. You may be frustrating to talk to but you're still da homie.
Kels: Much respect for making it out here. You came into enemy territory and held your own. That said, you john way too much. Your play style feels like it's trying to cut as many corners as possible and still win. Why so lazy?
SoCal:
Ryan/Jeremy/Ben: This trip was meant to be.
Matt: I criticize you too much. Only late in the tournament did I realize my mistake. The fact of the matter is you are one of the biggest driving forces of the scene, the engine that makes SoCal go. You are growing into yourself as a person and a player.
You beat Kels in a $10 money match! How legit is that? Three out of five! Coming back down 0-2! I will never doubt you again. Instead I will support you with nothing but fervor, the way fellow homies Sung and Baka4Moe do. This community is extended family. If we don't support each other, who will? And you beat SFAT! You are becoming a legitimate threat; it's only a matter of time before S2J, Wes and Lovage get upset in tournament.
Sung: Great timing on your words of encouragement. You are one of the happiest people I know! Your passion and consistency is inspiring. I hope to spend more time in your presence.
Joey L: You are on the cusp of getting scary good. Don't stop! Spar with players much better than you as often as possible.
Baka4Moe: You have your quirks but at the end of the day you are there for your community. That speaks volumes. Why does SoCal hate on you? I am sorry I let word of mouth impact my view and behavior towards you. You are a great guy and I value your support for the community.
Joey A: It's too bad I didn't get to cheer you on in your singles matches. I respect your attitude and persona towards the game more than anyone else. You look like you are simply having fun. The ultimate homie.
Norcal:
Binyan: Stoked we not only got to meet but got along. You were a perfect host, gracious and patient.
And you're a strong player, too? Couldn't of asked for more. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
As soon as you stop criticizing yourself so much and start giving yourself credit for the amazing person you are you will shoot to extraordinary heights.
Brandon: You've matured so much. It's not a NorCal tournament without Brandon, Phil and Alan.
Phil: You're a beacon of light in a community oft-tainted by obnoxious ego.
Alan: Good job beating Oscar in pools. It was fun cheering for you. :D You have one of the best demeanors. You have also matured.
Nima:
Joshua: Laughter is the best medicine. I am grateful to be a quality audience for your shenanigans.
Julian Zhu: Word around the grapevine is you're fond of johning, but that's never the Julian I experience. Maybe I selectively tune out. Regardless, you've always been one of my favorite people in the community. I always root for your success and I will always respect the hell out of you.
Daniel Lee: I apologize for my role in the online spat we've had the past few months. It was childish and miserly. I am also sorry I cheered against you. In hindsight it was a poor decision. The fact of the matter is that you are California. SoCal needs to support SoCal, and California needs to support California. I need to be there for my brothers, show and display my loyalty through unbending support. It will never happen again.
Bobby (Scar): I am glad I got a glimpse at the man behind the persona. I respect the hell out of you. I should have been a man, looked you in the eye, shook your hand, and apologized for any and all disrespect I have displayed towards you in the past. From our friendlies, though, I felt like you too have dropped any animosity. We displayed mutual respect towards each other. That was mature and I am grateful for the occasion.
That said, you may have a Fox problem.
Bobby ($): I view you as the Godfather of Norcal. Your positivity and maturity shines through all your actions. You are unbelievably skilled, knowledgeable and articulate, yet possess one of the most helpful personalities of any person I've met in the community. Any aspiring player need make it mandatory to pick your brain as often as possible, sparring at your every convenience. We make a great commentary duo!
Darrell: Like Scar, I wondered if you would hold a grudge from the past. I thought about giving you a pound and apologizing for any disrespectful behavior I aimed towards you. That would have been the manly thing to do. Unfortunately I talked myself out of it.
You are one of the few strong, black men in the community and for that I respect the hell out of you. It is unfortunate you felt it necessary to so blatantly disrespect me, but I trust I set you straight on the matter.
Brian (Gishnak): You are really solid. I appreciate your intensity; your passion is more than evident. Be careful not to overdo it; concentration is energy at rest.
Julian (tarheeljks): I would like to get to know you better, because you are the homie! So far everything about you just *****.
Washington:
Rio: You could be a model.
Teddy: I enjoyed your presence. You gained a new admirer. I admire your consistency and calm under fire. Remember that all of Washington's "ribbing" is rooted in jealousy and ego. Do your best not to become dragged down by it.
Otto: You are unintentionally hilarious!
The bad:
Toph: I find you completely and utterly obnoxious. You are a drama queen and an attention *****. Get off of Otto's ****.
To encapsulate you in one word: derivative.
The ugly:
SoCal:
This was the most eye-opening tournament of my life. I have a new perspective on our region and it is breaking my heart.
Mango: It starts at the top. Your insidious lack of respect for every one of your opponents fills me with loathing whenever I stop to ponder on it. You have one of the most incredible gifts I have ever been privy to, yet you waste it with no remorse. Worse, you have a legion of fanboys blowing smoke up your *** in an attempt to buddy-buddy with the implicit Alpha Male. You are absurdly charismatic and have a great life ahead of you, but you refuse to grow up. Your skills are decaying before our very eyes; you will never again beat Armada in tournament.
Tears creep to my eyes as I write these words because I truly love you like a brother and it hurts my soul to say these words.
Have you even seen what you've done? You are eliminating your SoCal brethren from tournaments! It's both funny and said that your biggest supporters in SoCal are the ones you keep screwing over with your shenanigans.
Short-term: Norcal's Gishnak and Tafokints beat you and Lucky in Winners Bracket. That led to you and Lucky being forced to eliminate S2J and Lovage.
Lucky said it was because you went Mario. You said Lucky was playing bad. I asked Johnny and he said it's because Lucky was playing bad. Why didn't you tell him you went Mario? You underestimated your opponents and paid the price. Take responsibility for your actions.
Long-term, the problem is malignant. Your non-stop johning has plagued the region.
Lovage loses to Baka4Moe months back. Does he grant Daniel any respect? No. He runs from his loss and continually rips him from the boards.
Lovage is now dropping games like candy; his skill has frayed and he's a shell of his former self.
Oscar,
that is why I cheered against you. Your skill with Fox makes me gush, but your condescending, egotistical attitude is ruining our lovely game. This game will
not be around forever, and its lifespan decreases with the best players in the community, the ones everyone else, implicitly or explicitly, look up to, continually **** on the integrity of the game and the community.
Weston Dennis is becoming the worst offender. How do you expect the region to improve when you so rarely see it fit to give your all to our aspirants? We all help each other get better. I had a major hand in training each and every one of you. Wes, you were the biggest brat in the scene. Yet I still traveled an hour to your home, gave you a ride to Oxnard tournament. I still and always will support your
best efforts. But I will not support a sandbagger. Where is your integrity?
Johnny, is there something going on in your life? Andrew Tai Vo was seriously bothered by your disgusting treatment towards him in the Tipped Off 8 stream last Sunday and I really hope you apologize to him. You have always been one of the kindest, most honorable warriors in the scene from the day you entered. I know the behavior you have been displaying the past month or so is not you. You have been johning like
crazy recently. When you came over last week you said if you are beaten, you will accept the loss like a man and not say anything. Is it true that when Bob$ 2-0ed you in pools you stood up and johned about the Marth matchup? You are better than that! Dajuan said it best: GET BETTER!
With great power comes great responsibility. The talent in SoCal burns brighter than anywhere else on the planet. I fear it has begun to burn too bright.
When I grew up in this community, the best players regulated the scene. That is how it must be. When Mr. PBody would whine on the boards, someone would quote his post and reply with no johns. No johns was the rule. Embody that philosophy or contribute to the death of the game you allege to love. SoCal, it's time to grow up.
I am glad I got the opportunity to travel up to NorCal and experience the warmth and, above all, maturity of almost everyone in the community. You are underrated no longer; a strong case can be made you are the best region in the world. Congratulations are in order: you earned it.