The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Esports: The Newest Craze Sweeping The Nation

Episode Date: January 14, 2023

Michael Kosta visits the training facility for Team Liquid to find out why esports (competitive video gaming) are so popular.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. Hi. I'm Michael Costa. And before I started covering the news on cable TV, I was a successful professional athlete. What sport? Tennis. Duh. I was ranked 864 in the world, so I was a natural to investigate the newest sport sweeping the nation. Video games. Competitive video gaming, known as e-sports, is booming. There's even a training center with five training rooms and six locker rooms.

The Olympics are considering adding e-sports. I went to California to a so-called training center in someone's garage to talk with these E-fleets about why video games isn't a sport. What the hell is this? This was the alienware training facility for e-sports team liquid, complete with scrimmage stations, a war room, PR department, a team coach and even an in-house chef. The team star, whose name is Taco, was acquired from Brazil's top team. This is a real sport. You call yourself an athlete? Yes, of course. We compete. We go to tournaments. We travel a lot. We got some money. What is an e-sport athlete, Mr. Taco, to do every day? Just practice. Yeah. I have a former professional tennis player. That's what I would call like a real sport.

There is an opponent and you would relish the opportunity to defeat them with your racket. What do you actually have to show for what you're doing? And come on. I have a really strong finger. A finger? Yes, this finger I were killed at least one million people. That finger is killed tha thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi toe tace tuce, tacoe. tacoe. that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. toc. tocke. toc. toc. toc. too. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. tooe. too Yes, this finger I were killed at least one million people. That fingers killed one million people. At least. Taco was referring to his kills and counter-strike, a game where guys shoot other guys before a bomb goes off

apparently. How is this a sport? I won the Ann Arbor Junior Open at 11 years old. How hard could it be to pound on these dorks? What are you staring at, huh? I'm gonna who who who up your ass next? to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the left the left to the left the left the left the left the left the left the the the the the the the the the the the the their their th. thoom people their th. thi one their their their their their their their their their their their their their their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their one. their their their their th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. the. the. the. theea.ea.ea.ea. Wea.ea. th.ea. th. the. the. thii. thi. Junior Open at 11 years old. How hard could it be to pound on these dorks? What are you staring at, huh? I'm gonna whoop your ass next? To the left, to the left. To the left, do you think it's... Oh, Jesus! Christ!

I shot him four times, he shoots me once. theymea tha? But who's paying for these cucks to sit around all day and mash buttons? Apparently guys like three-time NBA champion Rick Fox, owner of e-sports franchise Echo Fox. What are you doing with these nerds man? You're a real athlete. And so are they? What the shit are you talking about? Me and you we played real sports, you know you can see our balls in our pants when we played. Were you an athlete? Oh yeah. Yeah.

I played professional tennis. I was ranked 864 in the world. Oh, okay. You win a couple tournaments? No, I didn't win the tournaments, but it... How much money did you make in your career? I made $11,000 about, but there's a whole system, and I was, I was, I was, I was, I. Oh, okay. In our error, I think there was no shame around pursuing a career in professional sports because you could get a scholarship to college, which by the way you can get as an e-sport

player now. There's a number of colleges that are building e-sports arenas on their campuses. This is all great. But let's get down to brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass brass the the the much do these E-Fleets make? Probably the best top-lanar in the world in one of our games. He makes probably $800,000. What? And while players like Taco made over $800K last year, other top gamers earned upwards of $4 million dollars. And thanks to advertising and sponsors,

revenues will top $1.4 billion this year. $1.4 billion? Are you kidding me? But what really makes it legit is Vegas sports books take bets on it. So I did what anyone would do. Sold my dog for $3,000 and put it all on Team Liquid at the Barclay Center. I'll buy them back after I win. Amsterdam, London, Cologne, Montreal. I don't game a shit! You're in Brooklyn now, baby! This is the Barclay Center. This is where champions play and the Brooklyn Nets. We're going to heal as a team, or we're going to die as individuals. Did I make myself, Claire?

Come on! All right, ignore all that, and we just follow the game pun. Let's go, guys. It was time for Team Liquid to win in the semifinals and make me some money. Team Liquid! Let's go, baby. Let's go! Let's go! It definitely felt like a real sport.

These gaming gladiators were ready for battle. Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for Team Liquid versus Gambit. Click your mouse! They flexed their fingers, they clicked their button, they adjusted their headsets. Come on! Liquid! Let's start the wave starting over here! Watch the stairs. Watch it! Oh! They fought to out maneuver, evade and shoot their opponents heads off. Just when it looked like Team Liquid was on the ropes, they rapped. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Your next grand finalist is Team Liquid.

That's what I'm talking about, that's what I'm talking about, baby! Woo! Number one! Team Liquid! Our video games a sport, who cares? I'm rich. Time to try to buy my dog back. show weeknights at 11 10 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus.

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