“Eddie, you’re a born loser,” or what a pro gamer’s job is about
Chances are that you will never become a champion if you think that winning is about your skill and training. Winning is about so much more than that.
I have seen players that come to events prepared like never before. And then something unexpected happens, their world crumbles and they fall apart.
I had to wake up too early. I had to wake up too late. The monitor was too big. The monitor was too small. They lost my luggage. I played with a borrowed mouse. I forgot my PS/2 to USB adapter. The chair was too low. There was too much noise. The referee did not give me enough time. They did not have any water when I needed it. Fans bothered me too much.
More often than not, *something* will not be right despite the best intentions of the players and the organizers. What then?
There’s a fantastic scene about winning and losing in The Hustler, one of the best American films of all time. I find it to be the best inspiration for any athlete or competitor, anywhere.
Fast Eddie, the most talented pool player in America loses to Minnesota Fats, the best hustler there is. He afterwards discusses it with Bert Gordon, a manager of sorts of pool hall hustlers.
Bert Gordon: Eddie, is it alright if I get personal?
Fast Eddie: Whaddaya been so far?
Bert Gordon: Eddie, you’re a born loser.
Fast Eddie: What’s that supposed to mean?
Bert Gordon: First time in ten years I ever saw Minnesota Fats hooked… really hooked. But you let him off.
Fast Eddie: I told you I got drunk.
Bert Gordon: Sure you got drunk. You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning… that can be heavy on your back, too, like a monkey. You’ll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers.
The thing is, a pro gamer’s work is not done once he finishes training and boards the plane to play the next day. Thinking like that is irresponsible. A pro gamer’s work goes beyond raising his skill as much as possible.
A pro gamer’s job description is “eliminating all possible excuses.” It’s about taking into your own hands every single element that can be controlled. It’s about going home and saying “I couldn’t have done anything better.” In and out of the game.
Notice the pink headset. One of the best CS 1.6 teams of all time playing ESWC Masters of Paris on borrowed equipment. A lesson they did not forget.
It’s an extra bottle of water in the bag, a pillow brought from the hotel on the first day of the tournament in case the seats are too low, a mouse in hand luggage in case the suitcase gets lost by the airline.
It’s getting used to the tournament PCs and eliminating issues the second that it is made available to you.
It’s charging your phone before boarding the flight and topping it up with some credit, having a reliable number in your phone book, a piece of paper with the most important address. In case the guy that was supposed to pick you up messes up or gets stuck in traffic.
Do you really want to put your tournament life on the line in the hands of a stranger? If you do that, you’re a born loser.
All that relying on a stranger can give you is an excuse. Enjoy paying your bills with that.
