Sebastian

yeah so maybe there's some middle ground that can be found right where if they still wanted two leagues they have to be of a shorter periods of time how long how long was uh how long was there was the why is this name eluding me right now i'm gonna feel like an idiot when i figure it out um what was the name of the semi-pro we play that we play academy league how long did that season actually take do you do you know wasn't it like a was it like three weeks or a month or something like that

yeah so maybe there's some middle ground that can be found right where if they still wanted two leagues they have to be of a shorter periods of time how long how long was uh how long was there was the why is this name eluding me right now i'm gonna feel like an idiot when i figure it out um what was the name of the semi-pro we play that we play academy league how long did that season actually take do you do you know wasn't it like a was it like three weeks or a month or something like that

Yeah, we have a lake in town that freezes in the winter, obviously. So for like charity, they do like once a year, they do like an ice golf drive. They set up like nine holes on the ice and you go out on the lake and you play nine holes in like the frigid cold. Drink a beer, you know, hit some balls in the snow. Drink a beer. Yep, there we are. I stepped right into that one, didn't I?

Yeah, we have a lake in town that freezes in the winter, obviously. So for like charity, they do like once a year, they do like an ice golf drive. They set up like nine holes on the ice and you go out on the lake and you play nine holes in like the frigid cold. Drink a beer, you know, hit some balls in the snow. Drink a beer. Yep, there we are. I stepped right into that one, didn't I?

I didn't either, yeah. But that'd be an interesting thing to think about. Because I don't know, the way I think about it too is like, because you just said we have the perspective of the elite, like the top down. But even when like Pro League was multi-month long event, when it was like online and land, and even when we've seen like long-term season ideas tried to be executed, there's no...

I didn't either, yeah. But that'd be an interesting thing to think about. Because I don't know, the way I think about it too is like, because you just said we have the perspective of the elite, like the top down. But even when like Pro League was multi-month long event, when it was like online and land, and even when we've seen like long-term season ideas tried to be executed, there's no...

there's no continuity it's like the same issue with like blast old format where like you kind of had a season of three events but since they were so spread out you can't have continuity so it feels like there's just never any point um to doing those long longer term formats

there's no continuity it's like the same issue with like blast old format where like you kind of had a season of three events but since they were so spread out you can't have continuity so it feels like there's just never any point um to doing those long longer term formats

I mean, the showdown or the group stage was in January. The showdown was in like April. And it'd be like, remember back to three months ago when they played like this? And it was just like, yeah, but there's no point in even having this conversation anymore.

I mean, the showdown or the group stage was in January. The showdown was in like April. And it'd be like, remember back to three months ago when they played like this? And it was just like, yeah, but there's no point in even having this conversation anymore.

I did bring a flask of rakia and had a couple nippers, you know? Yeah, I needed that rakia blanket. You were not cold. It was fun though, man. They like, they like drill like little, like four inch holes into the ice as like the, uh, as like kind of, I guess the, the hole that you, that you have to put into, but it's hard. It's intense. I'll tell you this golf is fucking stupid.

I did bring a flask of rakia and had a couple nippers, you know? Yeah, I needed that rakia blanket. You were not cold. It was fun though, man. They like, they like drill like little, like four inch holes into the ice as like the, uh, as like kind of, I guess the, the hole that you, that you have to put into, but it's hard. It's intense. I'll tell you this golf is fucking stupid.

It doesn't care if you're the number three seed or the number five seed. It just cares that you're one of the best five teams in the world.

It doesn't care if you're the number three seed or the number five seed. It just cares that you're one of the best five teams in the world.

I was going to say after the break, probably.

I was going to say after the break, probably.

I've never, I've never played a sport that is more designed to make you feel like a complete idiot. Like I'm not obviously in the best shape of my life, but I consider myself a reasonably athletic person. Who's talented enough at most athletic endeavors. Golf is not one of them. Golf is not one of them. That will make you feel like a complete moron with no coordination.

I've never, I've never played a sport that is more designed to make you feel like a complete idiot. Like I'm not obviously in the best shape of my life, but I consider myself a reasonably athletic person. Who's talented enough at most athletic endeavors. Golf is not one of them. Golf is not one of them. That will make you feel like a complete moron with no coordination.

I think they did that one-year deal or something, didn't they? Yeah, that one-year deal.

I think they did that one-year deal or something, didn't they? Yeah, that one-year deal.

And I do not understand why people enjoy it.

And I do not understand why people enjoy it.

Don't label them bad guys. That's a terrible mentality to have.

Don't label them bad guys. That's a terrible mentality to have.

I'm not saying they don't cause problems or cause issues, but labeling the bad guys as... They're the bad guys. They're not the bad guys.

I'm not saying they don't cause problems or cause issues, but labeling the bad guys as... They're the bad guys. They're not the bad guys.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Stop! You can't make that leap.

Stop! You can't make that leap.

I agree. I think it's a bad decision. But you know what? It's going to bite them in the ass because they're going to go down this road and the first thing that's going to happen is the first team that misses out on a major because they didn't go to a couple PGL events and they lost the points and they didn't get the points from that tournament, teams are going to break off.

I agree. I think it's a bad decision. But you know what? It's going to bite them in the ass because they're going to go down this road and the first thing that's going to happen is the first team that misses out on a major because they didn't go to a couple PGL events and they lost the points and they didn't get the points from that tournament, teams are going to break off.

They've chosen their route. I still think there's positive that these organizations provide to players and can provide further to the scene in the future. I think at the moment their business model is struggling. And yeah, this is, in my opinion, not a great decision on their part. But as soon as they're punished by it, it's going to change.

They've chosen their route. I still think there's positive that these organizations provide to players and can provide further to the scene in the future. I think at the moment their business model is struggling. And yeah, this is, in my opinion, not a great decision on their part. But as soon as they're punished by it, it's going to change.

Yeah, I'm not looking for actual fucking detailed analysis. I'm just saying as a general concept, fuck golf.

Yeah, I'm not looking for actual fucking detailed analysis. I'm just saying as a general concept, fuck golf.

They're getting too big too fast, and they don't actually have a good foundation.

They're getting too big too fast, and they don't actually have a good foundation.

I shouldn't say all of them as a general concept, but yeah.

I shouldn't say all of them as a general concept, but yeah.

You found a new bad guy. Keep going.

You found a new bad guy. Keep going.

Yeah, they're all bad guys.

Yeah, they're all bad guys.

But the casters, the casters are good. The analysts are good. Yeah, we're fine.

But the casters, the casters are good. The analysts are good. Yeah, we're fine.

No, I just meant the beers. I just meant the beers. We don't have to get into the event. I just meant it looked like you had a good time.

No, I just meant the beers. I just meant the beers. We don't have to get into the event. I just meant it looked like you had a good time.

You can't get upset with them for leveraging the strength that they do have. Yeah, but here's the solution.

You can't get upset with them for leveraging the strength that they do have. Yeah, but here's the solution.

Tim likes golf. Rambo likes golf.

Tim likes golf. Rambo likes golf.

Option two is probably take less of a guaranteed salary and keep the higher share of prize money?

Option two is probably take less of a guaranteed salary and keep the higher share of prize money?

Rambo's brother is a professional golfer.

Rambo's brother is a professional golfer.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yep, they got their own personalized golf bags, which is funny because neither of them, I don't think either of them golf. They just have the bags now.

Yep, they got their own personalized golf bags, which is funny because neither of them, I don't think either of them golf. They just have the bags now.

I'll tell you something crazy, too. When we were in Katowice at some point, I talked to a team executive who was involved in the signing of players and the transferring. It was very similar to a GM role, let's say that. Um, and he actually told me that he thinks, cause we stumbled onto this kind of a conversation as well.

I'll tell you something crazy, too. When we were in Katowice at some point, I talked to a team executive who was involved in the signing of players and the transferring. It was very similar to a GM role, let's say that. Um, and he actually told me that he thinks, cause we stumbled onto this kind of a conversation as well.

And he told me, he actually thinks that most, the majority of Counter-Strike players are paid very accurately for their value. He doesn't necessarily think that there is actually like players or salaries are too high. Like they're overinflated. He thinks the problem, he actually says, if you look at Counter-Strike, the viewership's there, the numbers are there.

And he told me, he actually thinks that most, the majority of Counter-Strike players are paid very accurately for their value. He doesn't necessarily think that there is actually like players or salaries are too high. Like they're overinflated. He thinks the problem, he actually says, if you look at Counter-Strike, the viewership's there, the numbers are there.

We get, we get everything needed for these salaries to be justified. We just suck at, we suck at selling.

We get, we get everything needed for these salaries to be justified. We just suck at, we suck at selling.

And Sylvia's out there just saying, if I build it, they will come. If I provide the prize money, the teams are going to show up in the fucking cornfield and walk out onto my stage and play the goddamn game of Counter-Strike. And that's what he's praying for. And James Earl Jones is going to make goddamn sure that happens.

And Sylvia's out there just saying, if I build it, they will come. If I provide the prize money, the teams are going to show up in the fucking cornfield and walk out onto my stage and play the goddamn game of Counter-Strike. And that's what he's praying for. And James Earl Jones is going to make goddamn sure that happens.

Don't you? Okay. I got you. And then the frequent flyer program is the one where, depending on where you place, you get that money into a pot and then yes. And then if you turn an event down, it all goes away.

Don't you? Okay. I got you. And then the frequent flyer program is the one where, depending on where you place, you get that money into a pot and then yes. And then if you turn an event down, it all goes away.

You got those sleep rooms now, you know? hell connor had to use one of those yesterday he had a nine hour layover there you go before he was flying home yeah and you know connor was doing something yeah i i've had to use those i've had to use those as well they're nice actually

You got those sleep rooms now, you know? hell connor had to use one of those yesterday he had a nine hour layover there you go before he was flying home yeah and you know connor was doing something yeah i i've had to use those i've had to use those as well they're nice actually

I know, I know. We've already been over this a million times. It's just the words you use and when it gets paid out. But ESLs, I think Janko's point was ESLs counts towards your VRS because it's contributed with prize money. The freaking flyer doesn't go there at all.

I know, I know. We've already been over this a million times. It's just the words you use and when it gets paid out. But ESLs, I think Janko's point was ESLs counts towards your VRS because it's contributed with prize money. The freaking flyer doesn't go there at all.

Okay. All right, boys. Can we talk about Counter-Strike now?

Okay. All right, boys. Can we talk about Counter-Strike now?

Yeah, well, it was 52 rounds in.

Yeah, well, it was 52 rounds in.

I know. Can we talk about the game of Counter-Strike? Excuse me.

I know. Can we talk about the game of Counter-Strike? Excuse me.

And we just did a really long bit on it. We just did about 40-some minutes on that. Can we do the game of Counter-Strike?

And we just did a really long bit on it. We just did about 40-some minutes on that. Can we do the game of Counter-Strike?

I can tell. I like it. I'm with you. I think the PGL coming in, I think this kludge went so well that I think that's a big signal to the other TOs that they better step their shit up and figure out how to make all this work. Because if they're still struggling with their kind of shit, PGL just showed them if you can strip it down and go back to the basics, you're going to knock it out of the park.

I can tell. I like it. I'm with you. I think the PGL coming in, I think this kludge went so well that I think that's a big signal to the other TOs that they better step their shit up and figure out how to make all this work. Because if they're still struggling with their kind of shit, PGL just showed them if you can strip it down and go back to the basics, you're going to knock it out of the park.

So, yeah, we'll see what happens from it. But I'm with you. I agree with everything you said. Except for maybe the format. Swiss best of three, still not my favorite. But it's a great format for figuring out who's the best team. I'll say that.

So, yeah, we'll see what happens from it. But I'm with you. I agree with everything you said. Except for maybe the format. Swiss best of three, still not my favorite. But it's a great format for figuring out who's the best team. I'll say that.

Loved it. It was great.

Loved it. It was great.

That's also why the game delivers because teams actually try when there's the stakes, which is a crazy concept, I know. But when you have that actual issue of the third, fourth place decider, teams will put some focus into it rather than just show up and get it out of the way for an extra $2,000, whatever it used to be.

That's also why the game delivers because teams actually try when there's the stakes, which is a crazy concept, I know. But when you have that actual issue of the third, fourth place decider, teams will put some focus into it rather than just show up and get it out of the way for an extra $2,000, whatever it used to be.

sometimes can happen i mean i think i think there's going to be probably third fourth place matches that are going to be great and some of them would just be fine and some of them are going to be lackluster but i think there's going to be at some point a third fourth place decider that like pops up like right before the cutoff into into the the cutoff point for deciding the majors and there's going to be a lot riding on the line of the points in that matchup and i think

sometimes can happen i mean i think i think there's going to be probably third fourth place matches that are going to be great and some of them would just be fine and some of them are going to be lackluster but i think there's going to be at some point a third fourth place decider that like pops up like right before the cutoff into into the the cutoff point for deciding the majors and there's going to be a lot riding on the line of the points in that matchup and i think

that's going to turn that third, fourth place match into almost like an unofficial grand. There's going to be so much riding on it.

that's going to turn that third, fourth place match into almost like an unofficial grand. There's going to be so much riding on it.

Right, which is going to be, that might be actually the weirdest situation of all, but there is at some point going to be a third, fourth place decider that has a team's trip to the major on the line, and that's going to be fucking intense.

Right, which is going to be, that might be actually the weirdest situation of all, but there is at some point going to be a third, fourth place decider that has a team's trip to the major on the line, and that's going to be fucking intense.

Janko, I'm just saying this movie could solve a lot of geopolitical tensions in your region. If everyone got on board with the message of this movie, we could solve it.

Janko, I'm just saying this movie could solve a lot of geopolitical tensions in your region. If everyone got on board with the message of this movie, we could solve it.

Have you tried it yet? That's the checkmate.

Have you tried it yet? That's the checkmate.

No, I want to start with Astralis because leading into the playoffs was the day after they suffered that atrocious loss on line to Heroic and then showed up the next day and handled Mongols and then handled, well, that had a good battle against Maus, but won the third place decider against FaZe.

No, I want to start with Astralis because leading into the playoffs was the day after they suffered that atrocious loss on line to Heroic and then showed up the next day and handled Mongols and then handled, well, that had a good battle against Maus, but won the third place decider against FaZe.

So Astralis, I don't really know what to think of them at the moment because I still think they look disorganized, played a great game against FaZe in the third place decider, but still I'm not convinced. Have you seen the conspiracy theory?

So Astralis, I don't really know what to think of them at the moment because I still think they look disorganized, played a great game against FaZe in the third place decider, but still I'm not convinced. Have you seen the conspiracy theory?

Everybody except Liquid.

Everybody except Liquid.

Is it positive steps and signs that you could actually feel like you can consistently place them event to event? Or is this just like, this one event was good. Now let's see if you can replicate this.

Is it positive steps and signs that you could actually feel like you can consistently place them event to event? Or is this just like, this one event was good. Now let's see if you can replicate this.

It's also kind of just funny in a way because that was the conversation around the old heroic team that he used to have, which is I don't get a lot of information passed on to me by the team around, which is why I'm so controlling. Not enough of them take initiative. So I imagine he's feeling a little bit like deja vu right now to a certain extent.

It's also kind of just funny in a way because that was the conversation around the old heroic team that he used to have, which is I don't get a lot of information passed on to me by the team around, which is why I'm so controlling. Not enough of them take initiative. So I imagine he's feeling a little bit like deja vu right now to a certain extent.

We've always, we've always had teams that cycle through like the, the hatred scope, right? Like you just have to spend some time there, no matter who you are, no matter who you are. Australia has spent significantly more time there than, than most other organizations.

We've always, we've always had teams that cycle through like the, the hatred scope, right? Like you just have to spend some time there, no matter who you are, no matter who you are. Australia has spent significantly more time there than, than most other organizations.

I think my thought, my thoughts reflecting on Falcons this weekend is like, I have, I have this one idea with Nico. Like, I feel like, I feel like there's no other, there's no other player I can think of that I feel like could have, that could turn the sense and the feeling of this franchise around the way his Nico has done in just the first two months here.

I think my thought, my thoughts reflecting on Falcons this weekend is like, I have, I have this one idea with Nico. Like, I feel like, I feel like there's no other, there's no other player I can think of that I feel like could have, that could turn the sense and the feeling of this franchise around the way his Nico has done in just the first two months here.

like actually put this team together and made it feel like a complete team has been like a huge, a huge presence and rock in terms of inside the game. Um, in terms of, in terms of their approach to the game, I'm sure within, within how vocal he is, but like, I could never see simple stepping into this roster and feeling like it turned the complete fortunes around for the franchise.

like actually put this team together and made it feel like a complete team has been like a huge, a huge presence and rock in terms of inside the game. Um, in terms of, in terms of their approach to the game, I'm sure within, within how vocal he is, but like, I could never see simple stepping into this roster and feeling like it turned the complete fortunes around for the franchise.

I could never imagine device doing it. I could never, um, you know, I, I feel like Nico was like the perfect guy to come in and make this team actually feel like it can be competitive moving forward. Um, And then on top of that, my other thought is with Degster, because I love watching Degster play. He makes a lot of decisions that make me scratch my head and say, why did he do this?

I could never imagine device doing it. I could never, um, you know, I, I feel like Nico was like the perfect guy to come in and make this team actually feel like it can be competitive moving forward. Um, And then on top of that, my other thought is with Degster, because I love watching Degster play. He makes a lot of decisions that make me scratch my head and say, why did he do this?

But he had an incredibly impactful tournament. He's incredibly fun to watch. You're just going to live and die sometimes by his decision, like live and die by the Degster sword. He's going to make some bad decisions sometimes. But this event, he was fantastic.

But he had an incredibly impactful tournament. He's incredibly fun to watch. You're just going to live and die sometimes by his decision, like live and die by the Degster sword. He's going to make some bad decisions sometimes. But this event, he was fantastic.

A little over a year, right?

A little over a year, right?

I felt bad watching Ancient because I feel like I feel like we could go back and watch that VOD and I think Niko got killed like six or seven times through smokes or blind and middle like and he tweeted out that like Ancient he fucked up and had a bad game on Ancient I was like yeah you didn't really have any impact but you did get killed through the smoke like literally four or five times on your T side like what are you supposed to do I think they should swap Tessus and Niko on Ancient okay have Tessus be the mid player

I felt bad watching Ancient because I feel like I feel like we could go back and watch that VOD and I think Niko got killed like six or seven times through smokes or blind and middle like and he tweeted out that like Ancient he fucked up and had a bad game on Ancient I was like yeah you didn't really have any impact but you did get killed through the smoke like literally four or five times on your T side like what are you supposed to do I think they should swap Tessus and Niko on Ancient okay have Tessus be the mid player

To what, take away the sting of departure?

To what, take away the sting of departure?

No, not really.

No, not really.

Cool. Yeah. Cool? Yeah. I mean, look, you got to give him... All right, next team. You got to give him credit. Like, I don't know how this whole roster change thing has actually worked out to get him a trophy here right out of the gate. I'm not going to declare it like some major fucking incredible we found the new IGL of the future, but...

Cool. Yeah. Cool? Yeah. I mean, look, you got to give him... All right, next team. You got to give him credit. Like, I don't know how this whole roster change thing has actually worked out to get him a trophy here right out of the gate. I'm not going to declare it like some major fucking incredible we found the new IGL of the future, but...

At least for the moment, Spinks had a great event coming in. The extra firepower surely boosted them. I think it's probably a very loose style of calling where you're still operating on a bunch of the shit that Shuhei brought in and liked to call. And you're just being a little bit more freewheeling with it because you don't have that true experience IGL at the helm.

At least for the moment, Spinks had a great event coming in. The extra firepower surely boosted them. I think it's probably a very loose style of calling where you're still operating on a bunch of the shit that Shuhei brought in and liked to call. And you're just being a little bit more freewheeling with it because you don't have that true experience IGL at the helm.

So every player feels a lot of freedom and a lot of fun and a lot of creativity at the moment. And it combined to have a really, really cool run for them. but I still am not convinced this is going to last very long. It is one of those situations that I look at and I say, let's give it two months.

So every player feels a lot of freedom and a lot of fun and a lot of creativity at the moment. And it combined to have a really, really cool run for them. but I still am not convinced this is going to last very long. It is one of those situations that I look at and I say, let's give it two months.

Let's give it two months and see where this whole IGL, let's see when Brolin gets tested, what is the response? When they fall flat, when they feel like they're running out of ideas, when everyone knows what they're doing, what's the next step of Mal's going to look like with the new IGL switching into this position?

Let's give it two months and see where this whole IGL, let's see when Brolin gets tested, what is the response? When they fall flat, when they feel like they're running out of ideas, when everyone knows what they're doing, what's the next step of Mal's going to look like with the new IGL switching into this position?

Yeah, good for him.

Yeah, good for him.

He's made a really big step for all the gunners out there in the world who've been feeling like they're alone and isolated probably by their own selection with their, with their monitors.

He's made a really big step for all the gunners out there in the world who've been feeling like they're alone and isolated probably by their own selection with their, with their monitors.

Yeah. He's, he's chosen the path more traveled.

Yeah. He's, he's chosen the path more traveled.

I would say so, for a lot of reasons, really.

I would say so, for a lot of reasons, really.

I didn't see the tweet. What was it?

I didn't see the tweet. What was it?

I just heard about this. Is it still up there? Has he deleted it, or is he a real man?

I just heard about this. Is it still up there? Has he deleted it, or is he a real man?

Of an account he was ostensibly following.

Of an account he was ostensibly following.

I think for, I like towards you a lot. I think towards you is an awesome opera.

I think for, I like towards you a lot. I think towards you is an awesome opera.

She's paying for someone else's IVF though now. She styled it out. She styled it out really well. I think because the controversy kicked off that she faked it, she turned it into like a charitable thing of now that I'm getting so much more media attention, I'm going to take all the money I've earned from this and pay for someone else's IVF journey. Sounds like something Jake Lucky would do. Jesus.

She's paying for someone else's IVF though now. She styled it out. She styled it out really well. I think because the controversy kicked off that she faked it, she turned it into like a charitable thing of now that I'm getting so much more media attention, I'm going to take all the money I've earned from this and pay for someone else's IVF journey. Sounds like something Jake Lucky would do. Jesus.

Nothing. I just looked at the Twitter account.

Nothing. I just looked at the Twitter account.

Well, I feel like that's going to be like a really critical time period too, is what I just mentioned. Because in my head, it's like, how long do you think like the Shuhei stuff is going to stick around with that team as an IGL? Like if you have to keep refreshing things, right? Like if I say like... Every time they fail, it'll come up. No, no, no. I don't mean as a conversation.

Well, I feel like that's going to be like a really critical time period too, is what I just mentioned. Because in my head, it's like, how long do you think like the Shuhei stuff is going to stick around with that team as an IGL? Like if you have to keep refreshing things, right? Like if I say like... Every time they fail, it'll come up. No, no, no. I don't mean as a conversation.

I mean within the team with what Shuhei has already brought to this team over the past year and a half, whatever it's been. Yeah, the structure and the ideas. Like how long until that fades away? Because in my head, it's like two to three months.

I mean within the team with what Shuhei has already brought to this team over the past year and a half, whatever it's been. Yeah, the structure and the ideas. Like how long until that fades away? Because in my head, it's like two to three months.

And I think that's going to be about the point where we're starting to lead into the major and starting to assess where teams are and like final fixes going into Austin.

And I think that's going to be about the point where we're starting to lead into the major and starting to assess where teams are and like final fixes going into Austin.

And then it's going to be like, okay, if it looks like that has completely collapsed, like you're in a weird situation where your brand new in-game leader for the first time is going into a major and having to recreate all the ideas that you need to be able to run and execute. I don't know. I think it's just going to be a fun story to track. It could be really sketchy heading into the major.

And then it's going to be like, okay, if it looks like that has completely collapsed, like you're in a weird situation where your brand new in-game leader for the first time is going into a major and having to recreate all the ideas that you need to be able to run and execute. I don't know. I think it's just going to be a fun story to track. It could be really sketchy heading into the major.

Yeah, of course not. I definitely wouldn't do that. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know if it was like a premeditated thing cause fair play, but you know, I think she styled it out either way.

Yeah, of course not. I definitely wouldn't do that. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know if it was like a premeditated thing cause fair play, but you know, I think she styled it out either way.

It could be pretty clean.

It could be pretty clean.

That's what I'm saying. That's why, like, as an IGL, I don't know how long every time you refresh and I think the game is sped up now. I know teams start feeling like they've been figured out, you know, every couple of months. So I just know he's going to have to put in some work there. But, hey, two nice things. Well, one nice thing. Janko, you asked this question in the last episode.

That's what I'm saying. That's why, like, as an IGL, I don't know how long every time you refresh and I think the game is sped up now. I know teams start feeling like they've been figured out, you know, every couple of months. So I just know he's going to have to put in some work there. But, hey, two nice things. Well, one nice thing. Janko, you asked this question in the last episode.

You said, if Brolin has always wanted to be an IGL, why don't we have any interviews of him from back in the day? We found one. We got one. And did you see the Easter egg in the background? Yeah.

You said, if Brolin has always wanted to be an IGL, why don't we have any interviews of him from back in the day? We found one. We got one. And did you see the Easter egg in the background? Yeah.

Arvore Semmler is in there.

Arvore Semmler is in there.

I know that he was in... Actually, I don't actually know if he's in the background, but he was commentating and hosting that Swedish game show that this is from.

I know that he was in... Actually, I don't actually know if he's in the background, but he was commentating and hosting that Swedish game show that this is from.

Honestly, it's so funny looking at this interview of 14-year-old Swedish Brolin. It's hilarious, actually.

Honestly, it's so funny looking at this interview of 14-year-old Swedish Brolin. It's hilarious, actually.

Good for him, though.

Good for him, though.

It's bold to step up to the plate like that. It's bold.

It's bold to step up to the plate like that. It's bold.

Did exertion get robbed of the MVP?

Did exertion get robbed of the MVP?

Oh, not affiliated with Nico or HLTV. All right. My time to shine. Yeah. No, I actually, I do lean towards the side of Janko. I think the entire event put together from Niko is unreal. I think the stats he had and the impact he showed for Falcons was far and away. No doubt exertion was incredible during the grand finals. And if it's an isolated award for that series, he wins it.

Oh, not affiliated with Nico or HLTV. All right. My time to shine. Yeah. No, I actually, I do lean towards the side of Janko. I think the entire event put together from Niko is unreal. I think the stats he had and the impact he showed for Falcons was far and away. No doubt exertion was incredible during the grand finals. And if it's an isolated award for that series, he wins it.

But across the whole event, I think Niko was the stud. I think Niko showed a lot of versatility and I think it was rightful. I think it's in the right place.

But across the whole event, I think Niko was the stud. I think Niko showed a lot of versatility and I think it was rightful. I think it's in the right place.

That's actually the easiest thing to fix.

That's actually the easiest thing to fix.

No, I'm just laughing because this I feel like if anyone actually knows how to solve the choking problem, you could make a really fucking good business. Like, you know, it's just an it's a funny question, because I feel like we've asked it for so many teams over the years. And there's no great solution to it.

No, I'm just laughing because this I feel like if anyone actually knows how to solve the choking problem, you could make a really fucking good business. Like, you know, it's just an it's a funny question, because I feel like we've asked it for so many teams over the years. And there's no great solution to it.

I think even the teams who figured it out really wouldn't have a clean answer for you, you know?

I think even the teams who figured it out really wouldn't have a clean answer for you, you know?

I mean, reps obviously are going to be huge for it. Like, be putting yourself back in those situations as frequently and as often as possible. But there's no real, I guess, there's no, like, guide frame on that's going to take three events worth of reps or five events. You know, for the Danish guys who turned into Astralis, it took, like, two years. Exactly. You know?

I mean, reps obviously are going to be huge for it. Like, be putting yourself back in those situations as frequently and as often as possible. But there's no real, I guess, there's no, like, guide frame on that's going to take three events worth of reps or five events. You know, for the Danish guys who turned into Astralis, it took, like, two years. Exactly. You know?

I mean, I think if you contextualize Mongols with where they've come from and what they've had to deal with and the recruiting out of that region, and I'd say the last year and a half, two years have been so incredible for them that I can't even talk about them in any negative fashion, even if they're not finding a way to beat some of the best teams and having some disappointing results.

I mean, I think if you contextualize Mongols with where they've come from and what they've had to deal with and the recruiting out of that region, and I'd say the last year and a half, two years have been so incredible for them that I can't even talk about them in any negative fashion, even if they're not finding a way to beat some of the best teams and having some disappointing results.

I don't know. This just all feels like it's exactly as it's supposed to be for a team that's coming out of Mongolia, recruiting within Mongolia, very small counter-strike scene.

I don't know. This just all feels like it's exactly as it's supposed to be for a team that's coming out of Mongolia, recruiting within Mongolia, very small counter-strike scene.

far far away I think they've done incredible I'd like to see them break through obviously um but I I guess I would agree with you I go I think the slow game is something that they struggle with that's everything else seems to be about where it's supposed to be at everyone struggles with a slow game every now and again you know you got to keep breathing that's the key yeah it's and and it's all about the rhythm it feels like you should be holding your breath but keep breathing what about phase

far far away I think they've done incredible I'd like to see them break through obviously um but I I guess I would agree with you I go I think the slow game is something that they struggle with that's everything else seems to be about where it's supposed to be at everyone struggles with a slow game every now and again you know you got to keep breathing that's the key yeah it's and and it's all about the rhythm it feels like you should be holding your breath but keep breathing what about phase

I know the feeling. I've got a similar kind of day ahead of me as well.

I know the feeling. I've got a similar kind of day ahead of me as well.

And the game has changed so drastically in those five or six years as well. He probably has to relearn pretty much all those positions in terms of the utility sequences, the peaks that are coming, the angles that are being held.

And the game has changed so drastically in those five or six years as well. He probably has to relearn pretty much all those positions in terms of the utility sequences, the peaks that are coming, the angles that are being held.

Do you still think Frozen should be taking more of the sacrifices than Rain?

Do you still think Frozen should be taking more of the sacrifices than Rain?

Yeah, but didn't you say you wanted Frozen to take on more of the anchor roles?

Yeah, but didn't you say you wanted Frozen to take on more of the anchor roles?

That actually scares me a little bit. This phase team could be so exciting.

That actually scares me a little bit. This phase team could be so exciting.

Yeah. Yeah. Just packing t-shirts. It's going to be easy. I got to go. I have a, I have a meeting with a lawyer after this for a living will and trust. That's the kind of day I'm going to be having.

Yeah. Yeah. Just packing t-shirts. It's going to be easy. I got to go. I have a, I have a meeting with a lawyer after this for a living will and trust. That's the kind of day I'm going to be having.

So you don't think they're going to drop out of playoffs. You just don't think you're going to see them lift trophies.

So you don't think they're going to drop out of playoffs. You just don't think you're going to see them lift trophies.

and then there's fucking furia but it's just like this is what so maybe i know what you mean there's like a huge jockeying of position from five to ten essentially yeah nothing and nothing makes sense right well it's not nothing makes sense but it's like the jury's still out on all of it yeah you can't kind of the cool part you can't rely on the results because you don't know if they're going to be there again you don't know if they're going to be consistent you don't know if you can lean on them

and then there's fucking furia but it's just like this is what so maybe i know what you mean there's like a huge jockeying of position from five to ten essentially yeah nothing and nothing makes sense right well it's not nothing makes sense but it's like the jury's still out on all of it yeah you can't kind of the cool part you can't rely on the results because you don't know if they're going to be there again you don't know if they're going to be consistent you don't know if you can lean on them

Yeah. Setting up all the, all the bank accounts and properties and a trust for the, for the baby. So if we, if we die, you know, it's all set up to pass on to the baby.

Yeah. Setting up all the, all the bank accounts and properties and a trust for the, for the baby. So if we, if we die, you know, it's all set up to pass on to the baby.

It's all coming around. It's all turning up Counter-Strike all of a sudden.

It's all coming around. It's all turning up Counter-Strike all of a sudden.

Someone in the comments is going to go, you didn't talk about these guys. But we did the group stage last week, and now we're doing the playoffs this week.

Someone in the comments is going to go, you didn't talk about these guys. But we did the group stage last week, and now we're doing the playoffs this week.

I thought that already was fixed. I thought that was one of the things that got fixed like late last year. How I thought we had, when we had this conversation, when we saw they initially got invited, it was like the conversation was the rules have already been changed. So this can't happen again.

I thought that already was fixed. I thought that was one of the things that got fixed like late last year. How I thought we had, when we had this conversation, when we saw they initially got invited, it was like the conversation was the rules have already been changed. So this can't happen again.

Okay. All right, cool. Well, let's find out. It'll be fun.

Okay. All right, cool. Well, let's find out. It'll be fun.

The first match was like the wake-up call to the rest of the teams. I don't think any team even came in close to underestimating them or taking that too casually after that. That was maybe the worst thing that could have happened was them having a close game against Na'Vi.

The first match was like the wake-up call to the rest of the teams. I don't think any team even came in close to underestimating them or taking that too casually after that. That was maybe the worst thing that could have happened was them having a close game against Na'Vi.

In a way, like obviously not the absolute worst, but I think in terms of every team after that, no one is going to slack off in that matchup after you put that kind of a result in, right?

In a way, like obviously not the absolute worst, but I think in terms of every team after that, no one is going to slack off in that matchup after you put that kind of a result in, right?

I don't think there's a point in actually talking about whether it was a good or a bad decision for them to accept the invites, because I think that's the only decision they could have made, was to say yes. I don't think there's any universe in which they could have said no to those invites. I think saying no would have been worse than saying yes.

I don't think there's a point in actually talking about whether it was a good or a bad decision for them to accept the invites, because I think that's the only decision they could have made, was to say yes. I don't think there's any universe in which they could have said no to those invites. I think saying no would have been worse than saying yes.

I mean, I don't really, I'm not as knowledgeable of Australian state laws. I live in Malta, so I don't know. Yeah, well, that'd be the, but the stuff you own is that you own something in Australia.

I mean, I don't really, I'm not as knowledgeable of Australian state laws. I live in Malta, so I don't know. Yeah, well, that'd be the, but the stuff you own is that you own something in Australia.

So I'm assuming that would default to the closest relative.

So I'm assuming that would default to the closest relative.

And not rewarding closed circuits.

And not rewarding closed circuits.

Yeah, it would have to go through the courts and everything like that for them to prove they're the closest relative, but they would eventually get it.

Yeah, it would have to go through the courts and everything like that for them to prove they're the closest relative, but they would eventually get it.

Yeah. Fuck it. Let's just get in all the craziness. Let's get it out of the way early. I say we just do it.

Yeah. Fuck it. Let's just get in all the craziness. Let's get it out of the way early. I say we just do it.

Yeah. Let's get it all out in one year.

Yeah. Let's get it all out in one year.

I don't know. I think the whole – I wish the conversation around like women's teams is like – I don't know. I don't think we're ever going to see a women's team compete at tier one. I don't think it's ever going to happen.

I don't know. I think the whole – I wish the conversation around like women's teams is like – I don't know. I don't think we're ever going to see a women's team compete at tier one. I don't think it's ever going to happen.

I think the next progression is a women's player gets picked out of the women's league and is on a tier two team and does some cool things, maybe qualifies to an event, maybe goes deep, and then – Another woman does the same thing. And I think we're going to get individual women being placed in tier two teams.

I think the next progression is a women's player gets picked out of the women's league and is on a tier two team and does some cool things, maybe qualifies to an event, maybe goes deep, and then – Another woman does the same thing. And I think we're going to get individual women being placed in tier two teams.

And then hopefully we find one that's good enough and that a tier one team wants to take a chance on and actually steps up to the plate and delivers on it. And that's how we're going to start getting women more involved in tier one Counter-Strike is one by one. It's not going to be a team.

And then hopefully we find one that's good enough and that a tier one team wants to take a chance on and actually steps up to the plate and delivers on it. And that's how we're going to start getting women more involved in tier one Counter-Strike is one by one. It's not going to be a team.

Like the fact that... I don't see a problem with it in any way.

Like the fact that... I don't see a problem with it in any way.

We can, if you want to.

We can, if you want to.

Just a little bit of light Tuesday afternoon reading, you know, four pages of a Google document. It's beautiful.

Just a little bit of light Tuesday afternoon reading, you know, four pages of a Google document. It's beautiful.

Yeah, we can.

Yeah, we can.

Season 17.

Season 17.

A little bit more laid back, a little bit more fun, a little bit more friendly.

A little bit more laid back, a little bit more fun, a little bit more friendly.

I guess with the Valve ranking stuff, it's kind of like, can we just be done with long multi-month tournaments now? Can that just be the thing?

I guess with the Valve ranking stuff, it's kind of like, can we just be done with long multi-month tournaments now? Can that just be the thing?

A lot of those reasons do not apply.

A lot of those reasons do not apply.

That was a nice way, yeah.

That was a nice way, yeah.

Yeah, because they changed it now to fix that Gamer Legion loophole where you don't get your points until you're eliminated. So actually going further in the event hurt them in terms of VRS points.

Yeah, because they changed it now to fix that Gamer Legion loophole where you don't get your points until you're eliminated. So actually going further in the event hurt them in terms of VRS points.

Like Hugo B. Byron once said, all Counter-Strike, all day, all the time, all Counter-Strike. I don't even know where he went from there.

Like Hugo B. Byron once said, all Counter-Strike, all day, all the time, all Counter-Strike. I don't even know where he went from there.

I feel like that should just be everywhere, actually.

I feel like that should just be everywhere, actually.

Hold it in! Don't do it, Chad.

Hold it in! Don't do it, Chad.

You need a new therapist for fuck's sake.

You need a new therapist for fuck's sake.

The self-seated, the team self-seating.

The self-seated, the team self-seating.

but now it kind of ruins the i know this one is in tier two the ecl which is like a multi-month thing but we've had those before in tier one which have pretty much gone away but i think it's time in tier two as well just to get done with those long multi-month leagues they don't make any sense uh yeah i think like let's if we were just to think what would be a positive of a lengthier league i'm trying to think if anything kind of comes to mind um if

but now it kind of ruins the i know this one is in tier two the ecl which is like a multi-month thing but we've had those before in tier one which have pretty much gone away but i think it's time in tier two as well just to get done with those long multi-month leagues they don't make any sense uh yeah i think like let's if we were just to think what would be a positive of a lengthier league i'm trying to think if anything kind of comes to mind um if

So what do you know? Do you know when they, they gathered all these from the teams for this week ago?

So what do you know? Do you know when they, they gathered all these from the teams for this week ago?

It doesn't seem to be any kind of crazy, nothing like jumping off the page in terms of a massive difference, I guess.

It doesn't seem to be any kind of crazy, nothing like jumping off the page in terms of a massive difference, I guess.

Yeah. Oh yeah. That would have been Katowice. Yeah.

Yeah. Oh yeah. That would have been Katowice. Yeah.

18 playoff bracket. Oh, it's so beautiful. Well, look, baby steps. We take the wins where we can. We got to look at the positives.

18 playoff bracket. Oh, it's so beautiful. Well, look, baby steps. We take the wins where we can. We got to look at the positives.

NRG is going to be my sleeper pick at Pro League.

NRG is going to be my sleeper pick at Pro League.

Yeah.

Yeah.

To win one of the three series they'll play.

To win one of the three series they'll play.

I'm taking a big risk. I'm going out on a limb here, Janko.

I'm taking a big risk. I'm going out on a limb here, Janko.

I'm going out on a limb. No, I actually, I don't know. It's interesting. And I think they just have, I just, I'll always root for Nitro. I think it's part of it. I actually, I don't know how good they'll do, but Bro is a really interesting pickup for this team. Just to be honest with you, I'm just really curious to see how that whole situation works.

I'm going out on a limb. No, I actually, I don't know. It's interesting. And I think they just have, I just, I'll always root for Nitro. I think it's part of it. I actually, I don't know how good they'll do, but Bro is a really interesting pickup for this team. Just to be honest with you, I'm just really curious to see how that whole situation works.

Yeah, yeah. They've been doing good within the North American region. But what's interesting about it the most is that they dropped Breeze to bring him in, which is like, you know, obviously for the past few years hasn't been doing anything. But at one point, like a massive heavy hitter within the North American scene, and they've gone for more of like a role player out of Denmark. I don't know.

Yeah, yeah. They've been doing good within the North American region. But what's interesting about it the most is that they dropped Breeze to bring him in, which is like, you know, obviously for the past few years hasn't been doing anything. But at one point, like a massive heavy hitter within the North American scene, and they've gone for more of like a role player out of Denmark. I don't know.

It just seems like a team that's actually constituted making decisions that's targeted for some attribute versus just picking up big names, which is really rare, I feel like, in the North American scene. So I'm curious about what damage this team can do on an international scale.

It just seems like a team that's actually constituted making decisions that's targeted for some attribute versus just picking up big names, which is really rare, I feel like, in the North American scene. So I'm curious about what damage this team can do on an international scale.

No, I wasn't shocked by it either. I was more shocked by the selection of Bro, picking up a Danish guy for an All-American roster.

No, I wasn't shocked by it either. I was more shocked by the selection of Bro, picking up a Danish guy for an All-American roster.

Booyah. There it is. There it is. We should just end on that. It's a high note.

Booyah. There it is. There it is. We should just end on that. It's a high note.

No, I just wanted to do that just in case, but we can't end it there.

No, I just wanted to do that just in case, but we can't end it there.

I actually don't have a positive for why you would want to have a tournament that lasts from January to March or whatever it is, you know, over two to three months. Like, I don't actually see a positive to it.

I actually don't have a positive for why you would want to have a tournament that lasts from January to March or whatever it is, you know, over two to three months. Like, I don't actually see a positive to it.

uh but yeah that's that's it that's that's everything so if you'd like any of those 10 people to join us on the podcast feel free to send in recommendations or who you'd like to there's no guarantee that we'll consider it in any way when we choose the game who do you think could be the least likely to join if we did it in any given order as the talent i reckon least likely to join would be henry yeah probably and after that as a guest yeah

uh but yeah that's that's it that's that's everything so if you'd like any of those 10 people to join us on the podcast feel free to send in recommendations or who you'd like to there's no guarantee that we'll consider it in any way when we choose the game who do you think could be the least likely to join if we did it in any given order as the talent i reckon least likely to join would be henry yeah probably and after that as a guest yeah

No, she'd be huge.

No, she'd be huge.

No, she'd make time for us.

No, she'd make time for us.

See, I think it's like Henry and then the other nine are all tied for I think they'd probably 90% say yes.

See, I think it's like Henry and then the other nine are all tied for I think they'd probably 90% say yes.

I know, for fuck's sake.

I know, for fuck's sake.

I know. Let's just, let's just say this. It'll be like, it'll be like one of those, like, you know, if we're never, if we're not, if we're not together or if we're not married by like the age of 40, we just do it with you. Let's just say if we don't have a sponsor within like the next four months. By no, no, no. I'm thinking sooner than that, Chad. I'm thinking, I'm thinking four months.

I know. Let's just, let's just say this. It'll be like, it'll be like one of those, like, you know, if we're never, if we're not, if we're not together or if we're not married by like the age of 40, we just do it with you. Let's just say if we don't have a sponsor within like the next four months. By no, no, no. I'm thinking sooner than that, Chad. I'm thinking, I'm thinking four months.

We take all the dodgy shit.

We take all the dodgy shit.

I'm just saying, you know.

I'm just saying, you know.

And when people bitch, we can be like, guys, we gave it a good shot for five years.

And when people bitch, we can be like, guys, we gave it a good shot for five years.

Just let us have the shady gambling money. Let's go. Yeah, guys.

Just let us have the shady gambling money. Let's go. Yeah, guys.

This is the one place.

This is the one place.

Fuck you and your principles.

Fuck you and your principles.

We are in a nice hotel.

We are in a nice hotel.

So they don't count the points of ECL until ECL completely ends, but it ends after the cutoff points. So you don't get the points for ECL by the time the cutoff point comes around, which I mean, it's like, maybe you can reorganize it. Maybe you can reorganize it in the future. So it ends before the cutoff point. But like, again, I don't see the point of having a multi-month long league.

So they don't count the points of ECL until ECL completely ends, but it ends after the cutoff points. So you don't get the points for ECL by the time the cutoff point comes around, which I mean, it's like, maybe you can reorganize it. Maybe you can reorganize it in the future. So it ends before the cutoff point. But like, again, I don't see the point of having a multi-month long league.

Like I would almost be better to have like two or three week long events or just have it, have it set up differently.

Like I would almost be better to have like two or three week long events or just have it, have it set up differently.

So some benefit in terms of being able to move around a schedule around to the things you have going on outside Counter-Strike.

So some benefit in terms of being able to move around a schedule around to the things you have going on outside Counter-Strike.

See, that's, that's a, no, that's a fair point. I, but I also feel like if you don't run a league across three months, if your, if your event is just a week long and you have multiple week long events, if ECL turned into like a four day long format or something, I don't, I don't know exactly everything that would go into it, but

See, that's, that's a, no, that's a fair point. I, but I also feel like if you don't run a league across three months, if your, if your event is just a week long and you have multiple week long events, if ECL turned into like a four day long format or something, I don't, I don't know exactly everything that would go into it, but

you'd have less conflicts because you'd have shorter actual just bursts of Counter-Strike instead of drawn out.

you'd have less conflicts because you'd have shorter actual just bursts of Counter-Strike instead of drawn out.

This is let's crowdsource the intervention.

This is let's crowdsource the intervention.

yeah so maybe there's some middle ground that can be found right where if they still wanted two leagues they have to be of a shorter periods of time how long how long was uh how long was there was the why is this name eluding me right now i'm gonna feel like an idiot when i figure it out um what was the name of the semi-pro we play that we play academy league how long did that season actually take do you do you know wasn't it like a was it like three weeks or a month or something like that

Yeah, we have a lake in town that freezes in the winter, obviously. So for like charity, they do like once a year, they do like an ice golf drive. They set up like nine holes on the ice and you go out on the lake and you play nine holes in like the frigid cold. Drink a beer, you know, hit some balls in the snow. Drink a beer. Yep, there we are. I stepped right into that one, didn't I?

I didn't either, yeah. But that'd be an interesting thing to think about. Because I don't know, the way I think about it too is like, because you just said we have the perspective of the elite, like the top down. But even when like Pro League was multi-month long event, when it was like online and land, and even when we've seen like long-term season ideas tried to be executed, there's no...

there's no continuity it's like the same issue with like blast old format where like you kind of had a season of three events but since they were so spread out you can't have continuity so it feels like there's just never any point um to doing those long longer term formats

I mean, the showdown or the group stage was in January. The showdown was in like April. And it'd be like, remember back to three months ago when they played like this? And it was just like, yeah, but there's no point in even having this conversation anymore.

I did bring a flask of rakia and had a couple nippers, you know? Yeah, I needed that rakia blanket. You were not cold. It was fun though, man. They like, they like drill like little, like four inch holes into the ice as like the, uh, as like kind of, I guess the, the hole that you, that you have to put into, but it's hard. It's intense. I'll tell you this golf is fucking stupid.

It doesn't care if you're the number three seed or the number five seed. It just cares that you're one of the best five teams in the world.

I was going to say after the break, probably.

I've never, I've never played a sport that is more designed to make you feel like a complete idiot. Like I'm not obviously in the best shape of my life, but I consider myself a reasonably athletic person. Who's talented enough at most athletic endeavors. Golf is not one of them. Golf is not one of them. That will make you feel like a complete moron with no coordination.

I think they did that one-year deal or something, didn't they? Yeah, that one-year deal.

And I do not understand why people enjoy it.

Don't label them bad guys. That's a terrible mentality to have.

I'm not saying they don't cause problems or cause issues, but labeling the bad guys as... They're the bad guys. They're not the bad guys.

Yeah.

Stop! You can't make that leap.

I agree. I think it's a bad decision. But you know what? It's going to bite them in the ass because they're going to go down this road and the first thing that's going to happen is the first team that misses out on a major because they didn't go to a couple PGL events and they lost the points and they didn't get the points from that tournament, teams are going to break off.

They've chosen their route. I still think there's positive that these organizations provide to players and can provide further to the scene in the future. I think at the moment their business model is struggling. And yeah, this is, in my opinion, not a great decision on their part. But as soon as they're punished by it, it's going to change.

Yeah, I'm not looking for actual fucking detailed analysis. I'm just saying as a general concept, fuck golf.

They're getting too big too fast, and they don't actually have a good foundation.

I shouldn't say all of them as a general concept, but yeah.

You found a new bad guy. Keep going.

Yeah, they're all bad guys.

But the casters, the casters are good. The analysts are good. Yeah, we're fine.

No, I just meant the beers. I just meant the beers. We don't have to get into the event. I just meant it looked like you had a good time.

You can't get upset with them for leveraging the strength that they do have. Yeah, but here's the solution.

Tim likes golf. Rambo likes golf.

Option two is probably take less of a guaranteed salary and keep the higher share of prize money?

Rambo's brother is a professional golfer.

Yeah.

Yep, they got their own personalized golf bags, which is funny because neither of them, I don't think either of them golf. They just have the bags now.

I'll tell you something crazy, too. When we were in Katowice at some point, I talked to a team executive who was involved in the signing of players and the transferring. It was very similar to a GM role, let's say that. Um, and he actually told me that he thinks, cause we stumbled onto this kind of a conversation as well.

And he told me, he actually thinks that most, the majority of Counter-Strike players are paid very accurately for their value. He doesn't necessarily think that there is actually like players or salaries are too high. Like they're overinflated. He thinks the problem, he actually says, if you look at Counter-Strike, the viewership's there, the numbers are there.

We get, we get everything needed for these salaries to be justified. We just suck at, we suck at selling.

And Sylvia's out there just saying, if I build it, they will come. If I provide the prize money, the teams are going to show up in the fucking cornfield and walk out onto my stage and play the goddamn game of Counter-Strike. And that's what he's praying for. And James Earl Jones is going to make goddamn sure that happens.

Don't you? Okay. I got you. And then the frequent flyer program is the one where, depending on where you place, you get that money into a pot and then yes. And then if you turn an event down, it all goes away.

You got those sleep rooms now, you know? hell connor had to use one of those yesterday he had a nine hour layover there you go before he was flying home yeah and you know connor was doing something yeah i i've had to use those i've had to use those as well they're nice actually

I know, I know. We've already been over this a million times. It's just the words you use and when it gets paid out. But ESLs, I think Janko's point was ESLs counts towards your VRS because it's contributed with prize money. The freaking flyer doesn't go there at all.

Okay. All right, boys. Can we talk about Counter-Strike now?

Yeah, well, it was 52 rounds in.

I know. Can we talk about the game of Counter-Strike? Excuse me.

And we just did a really long bit on it. We just did about 40-some minutes on that. Can we do the game of Counter-Strike?

I can tell. I like it. I'm with you. I think the PGL coming in, I think this kludge went so well that I think that's a big signal to the other TOs that they better step their shit up and figure out how to make all this work. Because if they're still struggling with their kind of shit, PGL just showed them if you can strip it down and go back to the basics, you're going to knock it out of the park.

So, yeah, we'll see what happens from it. But I'm with you. I agree with everything you said. Except for maybe the format. Swiss best of three, still not my favorite. But it's a great format for figuring out who's the best team. I'll say that.

Loved it. It was great.

That's also why the game delivers because teams actually try when there's the stakes, which is a crazy concept, I know. But when you have that actual issue of the third, fourth place decider, teams will put some focus into it rather than just show up and get it out of the way for an extra $2,000, whatever it used to be.

sometimes can happen i mean i think i think there's going to be probably third fourth place matches that are going to be great and some of them would just be fine and some of them are going to be lackluster but i think there's going to be at some point a third fourth place decider that like pops up like right before the cutoff into into the the cutoff point for deciding the majors and there's going to be a lot riding on the line of the points in that matchup and i think

that's going to turn that third, fourth place match into almost like an unofficial grand. There's going to be so much riding on it.

Right, which is going to be, that might be actually the weirdest situation of all, but there is at some point going to be a third, fourth place decider that has a team's trip to the major on the line, and that's going to be fucking intense.

Janko, I'm just saying this movie could solve a lot of geopolitical tensions in your region. If everyone got on board with the message of this movie, we could solve it.

Have you tried it yet? That's the checkmate.

No, I want to start with Astralis because leading into the playoffs was the day after they suffered that atrocious loss on line to Heroic and then showed up the next day and handled Mongols and then handled, well, that had a good battle against Maus, but won the third place decider against FaZe.

So Astralis, I don't really know what to think of them at the moment because I still think they look disorganized, played a great game against FaZe in the third place decider, but still I'm not convinced. Have you seen the conspiracy theory?

Everybody except Liquid.

Is it positive steps and signs that you could actually feel like you can consistently place them event to event? Or is this just like, this one event was good. Now let's see if you can replicate this.

It's also kind of just funny in a way because that was the conversation around the old heroic team that he used to have, which is I don't get a lot of information passed on to me by the team around, which is why I'm so controlling. Not enough of them take initiative. So I imagine he's feeling a little bit like deja vu right now to a certain extent.

We've always, we've always had teams that cycle through like the, the hatred scope, right? Like you just have to spend some time there, no matter who you are, no matter who you are. Australia has spent significantly more time there than, than most other organizations.

I think my thought, my thoughts reflecting on Falcons this weekend is like, I have, I have this one idea with Nico. Like, I feel like, I feel like there's no other, there's no other player I can think of that I feel like could have, that could turn the sense and the feeling of this franchise around the way his Nico has done in just the first two months here.

like actually put this team together and made it feel like a complete team has been like a huge, a huge presence and rock in terms of inside the game. Um, in terms of, in terms of their approach to the game, I'm sure within, within how vocal he is, but like, I could never see simple stepping into this roster and feeling like it turned the complete fortunes around for the franchise.

I could never imagine device doing it. I could never, um, you know, I, I feel like Nico was like the perfect guy to come in and make this team actually feel like it can be competitive moving forward. Um, And then on top of that, my other thought is with Degster, because I love watching Degster play. He makes a lot of decisions that make me scratch my head and say, why did he do this?

But he had an incredibly impactful tournament. He's incredibly fun to watch. You're just going to live and die sometimes by his decision, like live and die by the Degster sword. He's going to make some bad decisions sometimes. But this event, he was fantastic.

A little over a year, right?

I felt bad watching Ancient because I feel like I feel like we could go back and watch that VOD and I think Niko got killed like six or seven times through smokes or blind and middle like and he tweeted out that like Ancient he fucked up and had a bad game on Ancient I was like yeah you didn't really have any impact but you did get killed through the smoke like literally four or five times on your T side like what are you supposed to do I think they should swap Tessus and Niko on Ancient okay have Tessus be the mid player

To what, take away the sting of departure?

No, not really.

Cool. Yeah. Cool? Yeah. I mean, look, you got to give him... All right, next team. You got to give him credit. Like, I don't know how this whole roster change thing has actually worked out to get him a trophy here right out of the gate. I'm not going to declare it like some major fucking incredible we found the new IGL of the future, but...

At least for the moment, Spinks had a great event coming in. The extra firepower surely boosted them. I think it's probably a very loose style of calling where you're still operating on a bunch of the shit that Shuhei brought in and liked to call. And you're just being a little bit more freewheeling with it because you don't have that true experience IGL at the helm.

So every player feels a lot of freedom and a lot of fun and a lot of creativity at the moment. And it combined to have a really, really cool run for them. but I still am not convinced this is going to last very long. It is one of those situations that I look at and I say, let's give it two months.

Let's give it two months and see where this whole IGL, let's see when Brolin gets tested, what is the response? When they fall flat, when they feel like they're running out of ideas, when everyone knows what they're doing, what's the next step of Mal's going to look like with the new IGL switching into this position?

Yeah, good for him.

He's made a really big step for all the gunners out there in the world who've been feeling like they're alone and isolated probably by their own selection with their, with their monitors.

Yeah. He's, he's chosen the path more traveled.

I would say so, for a lot of reasons, really.

I didn't see the tweet. What was it?

I just heard about this. Is it still up there? Has he deleted it, or is he a real man?

Of an account he was ostensibly following.

I think for, I like towards you a lot. I think towards you is an awesome opera.

She's paying for someone else's IVF though now. She styled it out. She styled it out really well. I think because the controversy kicked off that she faked it, she turned it into like a charitable thing of now that I'm getting so much more media attention, I'm going to take all the money I've earned from this and pay for someone else's IVF journey. Sounds like something Jake Lucky would do. Jesus.

Nothing. I just looked at the Twitter account.

Well, I feel like that's going to be like a really critical time period too, is what I just mentioned. Because in my head, it's like, how long do you think like the Shuhei stuff is going to stick around with that team as an IGL? Like if you have to keep refreshing things, right? Like if I say like... Every time they fail, it'll come up. No, no, no. I don't mean as a conversation.

I mean within the team with what Shuhei has already brought to this team over the past year and a half, whatever it's been. Yeah, the structure and the ideas. Like how long until that fades away? Because in my head, it's like two to three months.

And I think that's going to be about the point where we're starting to lead into the major and starting to assess where teams are and like final fixes going into Austin.

And then it's going to be like, okay, if it looks like that has completely collapsed, like you're in a weird situation where your brand new in-game leader for the first time is going into a major and having to recreate all the ideas that you need to be able to run and execute. I don't know. I think it's just going to be a fun story to track. It could be really sketchy heading into the major.

Yeah, of course not. I definitely wouldn't do that. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know if it was like a premeditated thing cause fair play, but you know, I think she styled it out either way.

It could be pretty clean.

That's what I'm saying. That's why, like, as an IGL, I don't know how long every time you refresh and I think the game is sped up now. I know teams start feeling like they've been figured out, you know, every couple of months. So I just know he's going to have to put in some work there. But, hey, two nice things. Well, one nice thing. Janko, you asked this question in the last episode.

You said, if Brolin has always wanted to be an IGL, why don't we have any interviews of him from back in the day? We found one. We got one. And did you see the Easter egg in the background? Yeah.

Arvore Semmler is in there.

I know that he was in... Actually, I don't actually know if he's in the background, but he was commentating and hosting that Swedish game show that this is from.

Honestly, it's so funny looking at this interview of 14-year-old Swedish Brolin. It's hilarious, actually.

Good for him, though.

It's bold to step up to the plate like that. It's bold.

Did exertion get robbed of the MVP?

Oh, not affiliated with Nico or HLTV. All right. My time to shine. Yeah. No, I actually, I do lean towards the side of Janko. I think the entire event put together from Niko is unreal. I think the stats he had and the impact he showed for Falcons was far and away. No doubt exertion was incredible during the grand finals. And if it's an isolated award for that series, he wins it.

But across the whole event, I think Niko was the stud. I think Niko showed a lot of versatility and I think it was rightful. I think it's in the right place.

That's actually the easiest thing to fix.

No, I'm just laughing because this I feel like if anyone actually knows how to solve the choking problem, you could make a really fucking good business. Like, you know, it's just an it's a funny question, because I feel like we've asked it for so many teams over the years. And there's no great solution to it.

I think even the teams who figured it out really wouldn't have a clean answer for you, you know?

I mean, reps obviously are going to be huge for it. Like, be putting yourself back in those situations as frequently and as often as possible. But there's no real, I guess, there's no, like, guide frame on that's going to take three events worth of reps or five events. You know, for the Danish guys who turned into Astralis, it took, like, two years. Exactly. You know?

I mean, I think if you contextualize Mongols with where they've come from and what they've had to deal with and the recruiting out of that region, and I'd say the last year and a half, two years have been so incredible for them that I can't even talk about them in any negative fashion, even if they're not finding a way to beat some of the best teams and having some disappointing results.

I don't know. This just all feels like it's exactly as it's supposed to be for a team that's coming out of Mongolia, recruiting within Mongolia, very small counter-strike scene.

far far away I think they've done incredible I'd like to see them break through obviously um but I I guess I would agree with you I go I think the slow game is something that they struggle with that's everything else seems to be about where it's supposed to be at everyone struggles with a slow game every now and again you know you got to keep breathing that's the key yeah it's and and it's all about the rhythm it feels like you should be holding your breath but keep breathing what about phase

I know the feeling. I've got a similar kind of day ahead of me as well.

And the game has changed so drastically in those five or six years as well. He probably has to relearn pretty much all those positions in terms of the utility sequences, the peaks that are coming, the angles that are being held.

Do you still think Frozen should be taking more of the sacrifices than Rain?

Yeah, but didn't you say you wanted Frozen to take on more of the anchor roles?

That actually scares me a little bit. This phase team could be so exciting.

Yeah. Yeah. Just packing t-shirts. It's going to be easy. I got to go. I have a, I have a meeting with a lawyer after this for a living will and trust. That's the kind of day I'm going to be having.

So you don't think they're going to drop out of playoffs. You just don't think you're going to see them lift trophies.

and then there's fucking furia but it's just like this is what so maybe i know what you mean there's like a huge jockeying of position from five to ten essentially yeah nothing and nothing makes sense right well it's not nothing makes sense but it's like the jury's still out on all of it yeah you can't kind of the cool part you can't rely on the results because you don't know if they're going to be there again you don't know if they're going to be consistent you don't know if you can lean on them

Yeah. Setting up all the, all the bank accounts and properties and a trust for the, for the baby. So if we, if we die, you know, it's all set up to pass on to the baby.

It's all coming around. It's all turning up Counter-Strike all of a sudden.

Someone in the comments is going to go, you didn't talk about these guys. But we did the group stage last week, and now we're doing the playoffs this week.

I thought that already was fixed. I thought that was one of the things that got fixed like late last year. How I thought we had, when we had this conversation, when we saw they initially got invited, it was like the conversation was the rules have already been changed. So this can't happen again.

Okay. All right, cool. Well, let's find out. It'll be fun.

The first match was like the wake-up call to the rest of the teams. I don't think any team even came in close to underestimating them or taking that too casually after that. That was maybe the worst thing that could have happened was them having a close game against Na'Vi.

In a way, like obviously not the absolute worst, but I think in terms of every team after that, no one is going to slack off in that matchup after you put that kind of a result in, right?

I don't think there's a point in actually talking about whether it was a good or a bad decision for them to accept the invites, because I think that's the only decision they could have made, was to say yes. I don't think there's any universe in which they could have said no to those invites. I think saying no would have been worse than saying yes.

I mean, I don't really, I'm not as knowledgeable of Australian state laws. I live in Malta, so I don't know. Yeah, well, that'd be the, but the stuff you own is that you own something in Australia.

So I'm assuming that would default to the closest relative.

And not rewarding closed circuits.

Yeah, it would have to go through the courts and everything like that for them to prove they're the closest relative, but they would eventually get it.

Yeah. Fuck it. Let's just get in all the craziness. Let's get it out of the way early. I say we just do it.

Yeah. Let's get it all out in one year.

I don't know. I think the whole – I wish the conversation around like women's teams is like – I don't know. I don't think we're ever going to see a women's team compete at tier one. I don't think it's ever going to happen.

I think the next progression is a women's player gets picked out of the women's league and is on a tier two team and does some cool things, maybe qualifies to an event, maybe goes deep, and then – Another woman does the same thing. And I think we're going to get individual women being placed in tier two teams.

And then hopefully we find one that's good enough and that a tier one team wants to take a chance on and actually steps up to the plate and delivers on it. And that's how we're going to start getting women more involved in tier one Counter-Strike is one by one. It's not going to be a team.

Like the fact that... I don't see a problem with it in any way.

We can, if you want to.

Just a little bit of light Tuesday afternoon reading, you know, four pages of a Google document. It's beautiful.

Yeah, we can.

Season 17.

A little bit more laid back, a little bit more fun, a little bit more friendly.

I guess with the Valve ranking stuff, it's kind of like, can we just be done with long multi-month tournaments now? Can that just be the thing?

A lot of those reasons do not apply.

That was a nice way, yeah.

Yeah, because they changed it now to fix that Gamer Legion loophole where you don't get your points until you're eliminated. So actually going further in the event hurt them in terms of VRS points.

Like Hugo B. Byron once said, all Counter-Strike, all day, all the time, all Counter-Strike. I don't even know where he went from there.

I feel like that should just be everywhere, actually.

Hold it in! Don't do it, Chad.

You need a new therapist for fuck's sake.

The self-seated, the team self-seating.

but now it kind of ruins the i know this one is in tier two the ecl which is like a multi-month thing but we've had those before in tier one which have pretty much gone away but i think it's time in tier two as well just to get done with those long multi-month leagues they don't make any sense uh yeah i think like let's if we were just to think what would be a positive of a lengthier league i'm trying to think if anything kind of comes to mind um if

So what do you know? Do you know when they, they gathered all these from the teams for this week ago?

It doesn't seem to be any kind of crazy, nothing like jumping off the page in terms of a massive difference, I guess.

Yeah. Oh yeah. That would have been Katowice. Yeah.

18 playoff bracket. Oh, it's so beautiful. Well, look, baby steps. We take the wins where we can. We got to look at the positives.

NRG is going to be my sleeper pick at Pro League.

Yeah.

To win one of the three series they'll play.

I'm taking a big risk. I'm going out on a limb here, Janko.

I'm going out on a limb. No, I actually, I don't know. It's interesting. And I think they just have, I just, I'll always root for Nitro. I think it's part of it. I actually, I don't know how good they'll do, but Bro is a really interesting pickup for this team. Just to be honest with you, I'm just really curious to see how that whole situation works.

Yeah, yeah. They've been doing good within the North American region. But what's interesting about it the most is that they dropped Breeze to bring him in, which is like, you know, obviously for the past few years hasn't been doing anything. But at one point, like a massive heavy hitter within the North American scene, and they've gone for more of like a role player out of Denmark. I don't know.

It just seems like a team that's actually constituted making decisions that's targeted for some attribute versus just picking up big names, which is really rare, I feel like, in the North American scene. So I'm curious about what damage this team can do on an international scale.

No, I wasn't shocked by it either. I was more shocked by the selection of Bro, picking up a Danish guy for an All-American roster.

Booyah. There it is. There it is. We should just end on that. It's a high note.

No, I just wanted to do that just in case, but we can't end it there.

I actually don't have a positive for why you would want to have a tournament that lasts from January to March or whatever it is, you know, over two to three months. Like, I don't actually see a positive to it.

uh but yeah that's that's it that's that's everything so if you'd like any of those 10 people to join us on the podcast feel free to send in recommendations or who you'd like to there's no guarantee that we'll consider it in any way when we choose the game who do you think could be the least likely to join if we did it in any given order as the talent i reckon least likely to join would be henry yeah probably and after that as a guest yeah

No, she'd be huge.

No, she'd make time for us.

See, I think it's like Henry and then the other nine are all tied for I think they'd probably 90% say yes.

I know, for fuck's sake.

I know. Let's just, let's just say this. It'll be like, it'll be like one of those, like, you know, if we're never, if we're not, if we're not together or if we're not married by like the age of 40, we just do it with you. Let's just say if we don't have a sponsor within like the next four months. By no, no, no. I'm thinking sooner than that, Chad. I'm thinking, I'm thinking four months.

We take all the dodgy shit.

I'm just saying, you know.

And when people bitch, we can be like, guys, we gave it a good shot for five years.

Just let us have the shady gambling money. Let's go. Yeah, guys.

This is the one place.

Fuck you and your principles.

We are in a nice hotel.

So they don't count the points of ECL until ECL completely ends, but it ends after the cutoff points. So you don't get the points for ECL by the time the cutoff point comes around, which I mean, it's like, maybe you can reorganize it. Maybe you can reorganize it in the future. So it ends before the cutoff point. But like, again, I don't see the point of having a multi-month long league.

Like I would almost be better to have like two or three week long events or just have it, have it set up differently.

So some benefit in terms of being able to move around a schedule around to the things you have going on outside Counter-Strike.

See, that's, that's a, no, that's a fair point. I, but I also feel like if you don't run a league across three months, if your, if your event is just a week long and you have multiple week long events, if ECL turned into like a four day long format or something, I don't, I don't know exactly everything that would go into it, but

you'd have less conflicts because you'd have shorter actual just bursts of Counter-Strike instead of drawn out.

This is let's crowdsource the intervention.

71%.

71%.

Explain to me how you guys can not drink, not have sex and not have savings. What are you spending your money on? Eggs.

Explain to me how you guys can not drink, not have sex and not have savings. What are you spending your money on? Eggs.

Is that what is doom spending? I didn't I saw this in the article and they didn't give a definition. It's just the world is ending and now we're going to go take a cruise because of it.

Is that what is doom spending? I didn't I saw this in the article and they didn't give a definition. It's just the world is ending and now we're going to go take a cruise because of it.

All right. So a new poll survey from Gallup says that more than one in five Gen Z adults, those born between 1997 and 2006, for those who aren't aware, identify as LGBTQ+. 31% of Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So gay agenda thriving, despite Josh, I believe, drinking from a Chick-fil-A cup right now.

All right. So a new poll survey from Gallup says that more than one in five Gen Z adults, those born between 1997 and 2006, for those who aren't aware, identify as LGBTQ+. 31% of Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So gay agenda thriving, despite Josh, I believe, drinking from a Chick-fil-A cup right now.

1 in 5 Gen Z adults. 1 in 5? 31 Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So it's not the young white dudes of this podcast that are ruining it. It's the woke lesbian women that are ruining it all.

1 in 5 Gen Z adults. 1 in 5? 31 Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So it's not the young white dudes of this podcast that are ruining it. It's the woke lesbian women that are ruining it all.

I don't understand. An interview that's now going to be very different now that Tim has had that encounter on the street.

I don't understand. An interview that's now going to be very different now that Tim has had that encounter on the street.

71%.

Explain to me how you guys can not drink, not have sex and not have savings. What are you spending your money on? Eggs.

Is that what is doom spending? I didn't I saw this in the article and they didn't give a definition. It's just the world is ending and now we're going to go take a cruise because of it.

All right. So a new poll survey from Gallup says that more than one in five Gen Z adults, those born between 1997 and 2006, for those who aren't aware, identify as LGBTQ+. 31% of Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So gay agenda thriving, despite Josh, I believe, drinking from a Chick-fil-A cup right now.

1 in 5 Gen Z adults. 1 in 5? 31 Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So it's not the young white dudes of this podcast that are ruining it. It's the woke lesbian women that are ruining it all.

I don't understand. An interview that's now going to be very different now that Tim has had that encounter on the street.