The Flycast - Hukes Journey Back to OpTic | The Flycast Ep. 130

Episode Date: December 27, 2024

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You were on this. You're probably, show additional. Show additional placements. Let's see if Nick's down there. Probably down there. God, I remember this fucking event.

That was my worst squad of all fucking time. You know who was supposed to be on this squad instead of fucking chaser and lifestyle? Shotsie. Was he actually? Yes. Welcome back. What?

I didn't say anything. I said nothing. No, go. Welcome back to a. Welcome Spicy today Welcome back To another episode of the Flycast

Episode Who cares Who gives a shit We have a special And I mean special The people's champs some would say We got my man Hooke The Noon the Flycast

Hook the Nook is here And we made This was a special request out of us Because this is a very unique situation that's going on so there's no better time than to get it get to you while it's fresh

we'll talk about probably end up going back to fucking Halo and maybe your entire life story and childhood traumas and some but I guess while yeah are you excited yeah well I'm nervous now no

while it's fresh I guess we should First off, how are you feeling right now? Before we jump back into like two weeks ago, how are you feeling right now? Where's your headspace? Are you excited? Are you pumped? Are you?

Yeah. Just how are you feeling in general? Honestly, I mean, I feel good, bro. Honestly, I feel like I'm just fucking gaming hell of hard right now. Yeah. Like in that game mode, like. Do you feel like the motivation has returned or were you hype in challengers? as well.

I was definitely motivated. Is this step like, fuck yes, man? Yeah, yeah, no, kind of. But, like, at the same time, like, I feel like I've been preparing myself for something like this. Yeah. Not this specifically, but, like, you know, to be back in the league. So I'm not as, like,

shot, like, shocked, do you know what I mean? I'm not having, like, the super, like, I'm just, like, ready, basically. Like, you were playing in challengers, like, sorry, I'm gonna, I'm really bad at interrupting. He'll interrupt you all. You're showing. You're at like You were playing Challenger's like

I'm gonna be ready If anything was to come up Yeah But it's also a different You're not just playing challengers To play challenges You're also a different level For the fucking

Yeah it was just a preparation You're also a different level of pro player Like you've played on main state You have championships In multiple games So like when you just see You just see Challenges as like a step back And you're coming back

You're coming right back in Yeah Whereas like a lot of challengers players Haven't gotten their shot yet. So when they get when they get that call they're like you know their heart and you're just like yeah we're back I'm back in. Yeah no don't get me wrong like for me this is definitely still very big like yeah it's yeah it's very big considering like everything that happened and not getting picked up on a team um kind of getting put in this position of like what am I doing

you know and now it's like just kind of just no hesitation playing challengers doing the thing um and really honestly i feel like i think of anything i'm more fired up than ever so yeah yeah yeah yeah let's go back um just quick rundown of last year what team were you on i was on Vancouver surge who was on that team well we had like a few different teams we started the year with okay go you want the end i mean started the year it was Illy Arsities Me Abusa That sounds like a solid squad

Yeah, yeah, yeah It was good Um He did not sound He went yeah Yeah, no, it was great That was pretty pretty good Obviously

We had some shit going on But like, yeah On paper, good to me Yeah, yeah yeah We had shit going on But anyways End of the year Me, 04, Abusa

Mbrezzi Dude, names are popping up O-4's nuts. I was the same as you were. I was like, who was O-4? And then I served. O-Four's nasty?

Yeah, he's good. Is he still in the league? Yeah, he's on the same team. Vancouver surge. Okay, so how did you feel last year during, were you happy with your placements? Were you happy with your teams? Were you like, I think I should be doing better than this?

Was it kind of what you expected? Give me a summary of last year, if you could. I hear you on that. trying to put myself back then but no honestly like during the year I was I feel like I'm always this way I'm always just thinking about the win and I'm just thinking about okay like yeah like if something happens I'm never tripping on what's happening I'm just always like I'm gonna win so like I'm always just evened out basically you know what I'm saying but after the year of course I think I wasn't it It was a weird year because this was the first time I'd never, uh, I was basically with like three rookies. I was kind of in a different position as well as being out in Vancouver.

Uh, not using that as anything, but like it is different. Like we're playing online matches from Vancouver. Wait. Um, that sucks. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What was your ping? We were minimum 40, uh, 60 in most games. We were at a disadvantage.

Uh, I don't know why teams even like, do that. Are they still playing out there? Yeah. Yeah, they are. They can't do that, bro. That's just so stupid. That doesn't even make sense. Hey, it's not my business, but yeah, if you just look at it for what it, it doesn't really, I don't know, anyways. Yeah, that was a situation out there, to be honest, but last year, yeah, I mean, I feel

like at the end of the day, it was, like, still something that I'm proud of. A decent year, shit year. Yeah, considering everything, I'm still proud of that year, for sure. Okay. We ended the year fourth Oh really? At UWC Yeah

Top four What about a world's what you got? We did not do that good Okay So yeah And the end of the year fourth It's not too bad Your spirits aren't

Yeah You know you're not Right Fifth overall seed Yeah That's like where I was And Halo for How much do you know about

O-9 Nats Yeah Considering that is literally My worst year considering everything like I'm yeah I can let that shit go

I can be like yeah despite shit happening you still kind of made shit happened focused on focused on getting some dubs and didn't

and went out yeah a solid fourth place which is like with the optic fans they'll hear that and the fourth place you fucking suck

it's the worst is good one person wins yeah this shit one there's one winner especially this day age. It is so, it's tough to win, bro. It's tough to fucking win. Like, getting fourth is solid.

So, I mean, after that, feeling decent, what, uh, you didn't get picked up by a team. How can you go through that a little bit of, like, maybe team changes or your teammates decided to go one way and you were like, okay, well, hopefully I get picked up by some other people. Stuff didn't go your way. Were you ever talking to a team? How did sort of your off season go after just getting fourth so it's hard for me yeah I can't really speak too much because I don't even know why I got dropped I was never told so I don't so who do we have beef with go out and say some names we need a clip yeah I okay I'm kind of used to that I feel like that's kind of like somewhat the nature of what we do like it's kind of I don't know not every

team is well I think my mic cut out no no I'm good obviously sometimes I get told or whatever but no I don't know to me it's kind

it's kind of normal at this point to like not know some things I don't know why because I don't know I don't always get the You just don't trust these gamers nerds like it's just not even a surprise anymore exactly yeah

because if someone's listening they might be like what really you don't know why but like it's like I feel like that's a common thing that happens in e-sports. Especially like in between seasons. People are like, let's just shake it up. Let's get some. And so then it's not even, in their mind, they're not even dropping anyone.

They're just rearranging the team. But the reality of it is someone is getting replaced and dropped, I guess. Yeah. So you find that out and then you're like, oh, it's cool. There's 12 teams. And then you find out about Vegas. And you're like, oh, shit, there's 11 teams. Like, there's really only 11 teams you can be on.

And then, like, one team only. speak Spanish. Do you speak Spanish? No. So there's 10 teams. There's only 10 teams you can be on. That's fucking insane. But then it's not going to be a phase. I mean, shit. If Faze didn't win EWC, like who knows? They might have made it. Who knows what would have happened?

But I asked Faze, obviously, Optic was staying the same. And then... Thieves. Thieves, like, form this quote-unquote super team in the off-season. Yeah. So it's like, then there's what? 17. Maybe 17.

No, it's so fucking... Do you feel like, formal likes to talk about how the game, there's a game behind the game where you're like trying to get on a team and trying to, trying to like figure out what team could be best. DeVide a little bit.

Yeah. You got to put yourself out there. You got to network more than you've got to fucking play. You got to be in those discords. How do you feel like you are in that game? In that game behind? The game that we don't get to see. I,

I used, I would say, No, I'm not good at that game. Yeah. I kind of, I feel like you're very introverted and quiet and you kind of let your actions and your skills speak for yourself. Definitely. But there is a, and I'm sure you agree, that there is a game. For sure.

Certain people were probably just good at talking. And they immediately, when they get dropped, they start reaching out the teams, they're friends with this person. People kind of call it a friendship league, even though I don't know if that's necessarily the case. So I guess when your situation happened, how did you go about? Because I don't think many people expected you not to pick up, get picked up by a team. Seth was gassing you two weeks ago.

And he was just like, dude, I think Hooke might be the best player, definitely the best eights player right now in the world. And he might be one of the best in the world. And I was like, damn. All right, Seth. So how did it feel like I am? But anyways. Nice. Fuck yeah.

Fuck yes. That's what we fucking need around here. That's exactly. That's how Nick felt in 09. He's like, I have them the best player. I'll tell you some O'9 stories with it. But,

okay, so offseason you don't, yeah, I don't know. Were you talking to teams? Is there a team you were going to play with that you can talk about? Or was it kind of just dead air? I had one team, one team that I was talking to.

Can you talk about that? What, Nick wants his names. I'm just kidding. Yeah, it was kind of a known thing, so we could talk about it. Minnesota. Okay. Who would the squad have been? So I never got too far into the talks, but the team that I was in talks with,

it would have been me, geo-estrial. We talked about different force, yada, yada. I don't know who the fourth would have been. I know who I personally wanted, but obviously it's not up to me. I was wanting Clay. Clay? Oh, damn. That was just me, though, so.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know if Clay will hear this, but that might make him happy a little bit. Oh, he'll be cheesing. So was that sort of it as far as teams after that? It was just like, damn. Like there's, like a fucking play challenge. Like, what's your attitude when you're not, not to bring up, keep bringing up the negatives?

Yeah, yeah. But what's your attitude when you didn't get picked? But like, you just got forth, your fucking hook. You're just so naturally skilled. Yeah. What's your mindset when you're... You don't strike me as like a, man, fuck these guys. I'm like, I'm going to come back and beat them all.

But maybe that is, is that living there at all? There's, it's there. It's there. It has to exist a little bit. A little bit. Yeah. But I'm definitely, let me try. Okay.

So for your question, I think I'm Mr. flip a negative to a positive type shit. So whenever a shit happens, I try to make it positive, you know? And so I don't know. That's pretty much it.

That's funny, because you're talking to Mr. change a positive into a negative. And you're Mr. negative into a positive. So y'all are like yin and yang. Because I feel like this is my dream. So I'm going to do anything it takes. Yeah.

You know, anything, anything. Because if, yeah, so, yeah. That's the way I think at least. Like, literally that's how I'm, like, wired, I guess. I don't know. Like, I'm just always like, yo, like, this shit's chilling. Like, we're good. Yeah.

Yeah. Was there any bad? Did you enter a sort of, I mean, I know you sort of just answered this question, but did you ever enter, like, because I feel like dropping from the league to challengers, if it was me, I would be depressed. I'd be worried about my future. I'd be like, is this it for me?

Do I not have it anymore? Am I getting too old? I have a fucking stuffy, snotty nose. And I feel like the mic's picking it up. Yeah. But like, all of those thoughts, yeah. Did that enter or you were like, fuck that.

I'm about, I just don't believe that shit. Okay. Yeah, that's all it is. I just don't believe. Of course, I think, I don't know, you have thoughts and shit. But like, like, everyone has, I don't know.

If I ever feel that way, I just don't believe. it because I just know it's not facts. Like I know how good I am so it's like it's just not even fucking true. So fuck it, you know? You never once thought like, damn this could be it. Nah. You were like, I'm gonna be back.

Nah. Nah, nah, nah. God, you're so much stronger than me mentally. Nah. I just, I almost want you to be like, yeah, you know what they're kind of was because then I'd be like, all right, yeah, we can relate. Like, you are human. Yeah, no, no, no.

Like, trust me, bro. Like, I don't know how to put it. Like, because I don't know how to put it. Like, because I don't know. feel that way right now but yeah i'm sure a couple weeks ago or or however a month a month ago like yeah probably like whatever had like a moment or something or i was just like rock man but like fuck man like this shit sucks man but like i don't know i don't like take it that serious though so it's like i guess i yeah that's probably a strength of i don't take like it too anything to to like

even the shittiness of life whatever like yeah fuck it yeah yeah Keep it going. Yeah. It is funny because I tried. I'm not good at explaining things, so bear with me. No, you're fine. That's our pod. That's what this podcast is all about.

I tried to find a video. Back in the day when I, like one of the first videos I, tournaments I worked was X games. X games like, I think Goat. Maybe it was ghosts. Yeah. There's either Ghost or AW. Did you play in both of them? No, you only played.

I played Ghost in AW. Okay, okay. Yeah. So, uh, I'm, I remember I did. I was like trying to make a name for myself, so I'm interviewing all the pros. And you and I had an interview. And this must have been 2014, 2015. And I tried to find it.

It's on an old pod or it's on an old channel that ended up being bought by DeSeredo. I hit up DeSeredo see if they could find it. They couldn't find it. But like it's so funny, like having watched you in AW, having watched you in Halo 5 and then come back. and then it just seems like you it seems like you had like a like a I don't even know like an awakening or something and it seems like you seem like a

not like a different person but like I think the way that you were just saying flip it flip it negative into a positive like that's kind of your mindset do you remember when that happened or is it just growing up I've always been that way yeah yeah no dude I think the thing that I'm shitty at expressing is like

I think this is probably Like, I think it's just, like, this sounds so cliche, but, like, I think it's just my love for gaming, bro. Because I don't know. I don't think about much. Like, I'm just, like, fucking playing the game, like, all day, every day. So to your point, like, too, like, I don't know. I feel like if I'm not on a team, it's like, in my head, I'm just like, bro, I'm just grind the game. Like, fuck it.

Like, you know? Yeah, yeah. It's nothing too crazy, honestly. I think that's just, like, yeah. When I think about it, it doesn't really. make sense but yeah i just play the game like yeah i think it's a good mindset to have because a lot of people would probably especially being in your position of like like you are a big name in cod yeah like you have been looked at as one of the better players for years now so i guess for someone like that

to sort of have to take that force to take that step down to challengers i feel like the the normal people like it truly would affect them but you've If I I try to put myself in the shoes In the shoes of a pro player Mm-hmm And like if I'm a if I'm if I have a ring

Mm-hmm Like you do Mm-hmm Or Clay did Mm-hmm And then they and then I Or I have to go down to challengers I don't think I would be able to do it

I selfishly Knowing how I am I don't think I would be able to do it Yeah But so I mean The fact that Clay worked his way back fucking up. You went back to the league. I think that's

just crazy. I think for you it seems like you just love to play anyways. I do. Like is it like a daily thing of like you can't wait to... I'm excited. Do you still have that kid feeling inside of like I can't wait to get back and play? For sure. Damn. So yeah, no, for sure.

I miss that feeling so much. No, yeah. For sure. I keep things simple too. Like It makes so much sense to me. Like, bro, I'm not, this is all I do. So, like, I'm not really looking at too much stuff. I'm literally just playing the game. And I get excited every day because I feel like I learn something every day when I play.

And whether that be something I do randomly or something that happens in the game, that's fucking comedy, that's what, like, makes everything, like, just normal to me. It's like, that's just my normal. And it's, like, yeah, it. Yeah, that's pretty... So when... Do you take the game... Do you try not to take the game too seriously?

Or, like, when you're playing, you're locked. Like, it... Because it seems like you just have fun, too. I have the... Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I take it seriously, but I try not to because I feel like... No, you have to take it serious. I take it very, very, very serious, but...

Yeah. I just... What you're saying, and I know you teamed with Porter, I can't imagine that dynamic. Do you fucking rage or not? Huh? Are you ever raging? Just, fuck, how the fuck did we lose that crim?

You got to rotate. Why don't that? Like, you ever have those moments or you're more controlled than that? No, sometimes I do. But it's never really, no, it's not like that. How do you like this current squad? I like it a lot. No, yeah, I'm super hyped to be.

But no, I feel like these guys are gross. I think it's me. how I think about it is like if I'm doing what I do and playing to my potential it's like it's unreal potential here so it's wraps for the ops yeah type shit before we get into you joining this team yeah or I guess this is kind of you're in challengers how was it how was it yeah how was it going yeah was it like were you guys the best team or for sure and you were shitting on everyone yeah and everyone knew you were the the best in challenges who's your team in challengers uh pro loot spart and capsiddle so it was just straight

like kem like we all we all had kem it was fun as fun you're just fry so so now that you're you're in the league are you like wishing the best for like are you hoping they get into the yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah now they're all beats bro like they deserve it for sure yeah did um okay so you're playing challengers yeah what how did this happen did you Did you expect the... Who called you? Was it a text? Was it a call?

Did you have no idea at all about Pred and, oh, wait, I heard Optic might, something might happen with Pred? Like, we can say that. Yeah. Did you hear something might happen with Pred on Optic? Not really. Like, it happened like within two days. So it was one of those things where it was like, yo, this might happen or this could

happened and then two days later it was like this is happening so who made the call like i don't know who all the the docs but obviously i was talking to aunt yeah yeah i don't know how it all went that's a good answer how did it initially you're sitting there watching rap battles on youtube sure and then you just get a call from shotsy uh wait what yeah you were actually watching The rap battles? No, I wasn't. I'm saying, are you just sitting there chilling? Just, like, just chill in.

I was mid, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was playing Challenger's Cup. Damn. Mid Challenger's Cup? You just bail? Oh, y'all, I can't finish the tournament. I like it out. Turn the PC off.

Yeah, yeah. So mid-challenges Cup, you get a call? Yeah. Were you expecting this call at all? I mean, like I said, Pre-text. I got like, it might happen,

you know? Like a text? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And like, don't join no one else type shit. Yeah. Okay. And that was what,

like a day or two before? Yeah. Yeah. So were other offers coming in? Not at this time, no. Shchoked. Idiots. It choked.

Yeah. I mean, it's so early. I mean, it's so early. I think. Yeah. Seth said,

I think he might be the best player. And then a week later he was on the time. I didn't think I would get back this. fast. Like I thought it was going to be after major one. Yeah. To be honest.

I mean, it's a strange. Like, think about it, bro. I literally went to Challenger's for a month and a half and it's like, and there was no events. There's nothing going on and I'm already back in it.

Yeah. So it's very fortunate, to be honest. Very fortunate. Like, what about? Now when you first get that text from Shotsy of like, yo, this might happen. Just be ready.

Yeah. Did he explain? I mean, I guess he didn't have to explain. Was it like a yo, something might happen with Pred and we might be replacing him with you? It was like, was it that sort of breakdown or text? Or was it like a yo you might be joining? All I heard was, all I heard.

Yeah, it was just like, yo, long story. This could happen for blah, blah, blah. But he didn't tell me all the details. You was just like, yo, there's a long story, yada, yada, tell you another time. Do you even care about all the details at that point? No, because it's not my business. As long as it doesn't affect the team. Exactly.

As long as like it's not, yeah, exactly. So you get that text, you don't, you're not on the team yet. You don't even know if it's going to happen. What's your monk mindset then? Are you excited? Are you like, I'm going to let the world play out? That was the hardest thing because obviously like I'm locked in at this point, right? Like I'm locked the fuck in.

And then you hear something like that. Like with your team. That gets you unlocked. Oh, yeah. Right? You hear something like that. How were you the rest of the cup? I was good.

It was honestly, that's what I was most proud of my. I literally was like, yo, like, I got to make sure I, like, fucking T up, like, locked fucking, and I did, but it was definitely hard. Did y'all win? We actually didn't. There's a story to that, though. You were locked. We're unlocked.

No, we were fucking locked. Shots he costed you. Winners finals, we winters finals, we win 3-0. Oh, shit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But then we had a seven-hour wait, and we didn't play until 11. So we just got ice, bro. Yeah, it's never good.

good. Yeah. Sounds like challenge. So cup ends. Exactly. The cup ends, what, a day or so later. Do you, is it a phone call? Does your phone ring?

Does Shotsie say, yo, I'm going to call you soon? Or was it just like, you're chilling? You look at your phone. Shotsie's calling you and you're like, oh my God. Yeah, yeah. I think literally, I'm trying to think, I'm pretty sure it was the next day. I wake up pretty early. It was like 10 in the morning.

He was like, yo, pull up to the office and that's it To this And that's it You lived around here? Yeah Oh

I'm pretty sure That's how I went He just said Pull up to the office Hard Yeah Were you nervous Walking in here?

Right A little bit I mean I felt a lot of things During that moment It's not as I know it's not As glamorous

As the downtown office It's surreal It's like Holy shit Do you Do you take it in Like like thank God like I don't know if you're religious or not but like I deserve this and like

I'm so blessed for this I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity yeah like is it just at that point it's just all happy thoughts and you you are just so glad to be back oh yeah and be where I think you deserve to be yeah for sure yeah for sure you walk into the office what what is it who do you see how many is it the opt is it the car team and hex like I'm just trying to We want to see. The experience. Yeah, we want the experience. The experience.

Okay. I think, so the first thing we did, I was at the Frisco Diner. Oh, hard, hard. That's how the intro was. So you met them there? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Obviously, I heard a little bit about what was going on. You walk in, who's there?

It was everybody. I'm asking. Everybody. Cod team and Hex? I think, no, not HX. Just the Cod team and Paige? Uh, page. Uh, page.

Ah, page The s, Lohax Lohax. You sit down And they're just like This is it, man Welcome to the fucking team

Let's fucking go Yeah, pretty much Dude, that's got to be so exciting It is, yeah, it is And then from there Does it just You come back to the office after Do you like scrimmed that day?

Do you talk business? We scrimmed, I talked a little business Uh So that got me dopeed up Make sure that money's right Because this challenge your shit was not it Yeah yeah

So yeah That that's all that happened Did that, went back here Talked to some people here And then showed up for scrims I think we literally played LAT first day Damn How were those scrims?

It was so much fun because it was the best comp Like I played this year So I can imagine How'd y'all do? True. He actually did good. Yeah? Yeah.

Did it feel? Was it weird? I had to drop a nuke on them. Why'd you look at me like that when you said that? You went like this. I had to drove a new. I was. I was going to ask if it was intimidating.

And obviously you've been to here before. You fucked these kids up. Yeah. But. Got a champs ring, man. Coming from challengers, you're not playing the best comp. So was it like a little intimidating, bouncing back your first? scrimmon, like this is going to be a different pace?

Or was it like, no, I got this. I'm him. Oh, my God. We got Flycast ads. Hell yeah. Smoothie King is here to support the Flycast. Can we get some love in the chat for that? The Flycast is sponsored by or presented by Smoothie King.

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smoothies. Download an order delivery from the Smoothie King app now. I definitely had the I'm him confidence

so like I wasn't chirping on that but no, I'm not intimidated. I'm definitely not intimidated. Did it feel like a different pace

of like the way the game was being played or is it sort of the same they just they're better players? They're a little bit more disciplined That's the one thing that Not to get

Too deep into it But as a player I'm still learning To find the balance between Like my play and Just playing other people that are Not playing at the pace that I am Yeah but you've played fast in every game Yeah exactly

So have you always had to have that Like anchor behind you in every game To balance it out Like in AW and HAL5? No I think I did no I think if any anything, I'm the anchor sometimes.

Really? I hold myself back. Yeah. I meant more of like the slow player. The player that plays slower looks over you while you do all your crazy shit. Nah. No, no, no, no, no. I do that.

Yeah. You do that. Like, I'll anchor if I have to. Yeah. I see you run a lot though. Yeah. But I have all. That's just all.

You were like, when you come into the scene in AW, like you're on that like, that crazy team. What was it? Like you, Stunner. Is that what it was? you and TJ and them I was just like who are these kids TJ's wearing fucking pajamas on stage

like these guys are insane Were they like a young fast aggressive Yeah just insane like insane Like one of the one of the craziest like matches you'll see Like and I'm like I don't even know Who any of these kids are And then you go to Halo do the same shit

And then you come back and you're all ready And then you went champs your first year back Fucking crazy Crazy timeline That's insane You made Nick retire from Halo, man I don't know if that was the case I think he came the year after me

Same with like Shotsie I never played against Shotsie I never even saw his name I know he won worlds He won worlds in the game you retired That's just the difference between Halo and Cod Who's different So yeah

I guess Excited for I mean we're at what week are we week four or no week two have you yeah week two or week three week three yeah week three yeah week three and one three and one still a lot of cod to be played when's the first event there's a minor online tournament when we get back so like january 10th is that is minor but February is the first tournament first events in uh February yeah you're fucking hype though yeah because it's in Barcelona right I do I yes who's your duo right now on the team

team. Y'all do seem kind of like a duo. No, yeah. Do you have a, do you, when it comes to that champs team, because you've talked about, we've talked about all, all four of your teammates from that champs team. Do you have like, do you have like a love for that team? Like, like you, because you, you're still playing with Shotsie. You talked about playing with, with Clay. Like, does it, does that, do you look back on that team and like it means a lot of?

Like those players mean a lot to you? Not for sure. Yeah, yeah, no, for sure. Yeah, not to sound delusional or anything, but I feel like... That was the greatest team of all time. Then I also feel like when I'm playing with Ant, like, especially like when I'm at, like, when we're on point, I don't know. I don't see us losing. Honestly.

Oh, yeah. Like, that's just how I feel. Like, that's how I feel going into this team. so it just gives me the confidence like I just need to do what I'm doing and that's it like yeah are you putting in more work now or is it like like is this just

I'm sure not much as far as like lifestyle and shit is changed but maybe you'd go out to dinner and shit but like now you're back on optic and it's like fuck no this is this is the chance I wanted this is where I belong I'm taking full advantage of this in my life is call of duty but I also feel

like that's sort of been your life anyway. Yeah. But it's like, I guess I'm asking, are you going harder? Are you, is it the same thing? Are you, I know you're focused. Yeah. And that's what we fucking need around here. Yeah.

I definitely, I mean, I'm playing the game at an absurd amount right now. Yeah. Yeah. Do you ever feel like sometimes playing too much is bad? Maybe I guess to the point where you, you're just playing to play and it's not, you're not playing to get better. and then maybe it's time to just turn it off for the fucking night? As long as, yeah, if I, that's a good question.

I do think there is that for sure, but right now, no, because I feel like I'm playing to learn and playing to get better. Okay. Or not even necessarily just playing to maximize everything I can about the game, basically. Yeah. Good.

Yeah. Do you game other than Cod? Do you play anything else? Yeah. Yeah. Where do you play? Not right now though Oh no right now

God damn right You tried to set them up No I wasn't trying to set them up You can't just play God The World of Warcraft Bear with me because I've competed for 10 years So sometimes when you guys ask me like questions I'm thinking about past years

Yeah The past years are much different than today Right Because today I feel much different than I did before Right Way different What other games have you been into I used to play Fortnite

Valerant. What was the game you grinded? And you were like, I fucking love it. Fortnite. Yeah. And Valer. Controller? Fortnite PC.

PC with controller or mouse and key? Mouse and keyboard. Damn, you were nice. Like building and shit? I would bro. So the year, MW19, that year I was screaming. And then I would play Fortnite all night after scrims.

And eventually I was playing pro scrimms on Fortnite. You play pro scrims on Fortnite? Night and scrimms at the same time? Yeah. Like my teammates know this. Was it, was it called Tifu scrums? I used to, like,

run those kind of, like, I would be the guy that does the countdown. Yeah. And I don't even know if you knew this, but I used to play Fortnite so much. It might have been. I remember box fighting Tifu.

So you're actually, like, were you nice at building and shit? Did you practice in creative mode? Yeah. I can't even imagine. Yeah. I feel like your Fortnite place that was.

You piss me off. Oh, yeah. Just some crazy, like, editing and running it down. So if you kind of, like, gave that up, Fortnite? Yeah, I haven't played in a minute. I played a little bit last year, but. And then what, Ballarat you've been playing? Nah, I didn't play.

I haven't played Valerant since season two, uh, 2020. Oh, damn. Or 2021, something like that. Since then, it's just been caught. You played ranked, where was your peak on that? Uh, Valant. Or Radiant, Radiant, Radiant. You hit Radiant.

I hit Radiant. Is that the highest? Oh my god. I'm so, I'm done. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done gay, I'm done gay,

yeah. I'm just bad. Let's just keep, let's just smoke weed and talk to the fucking people. Let's just keep doing this. How old are you? 25.

Yeah. But like I've, I'm not like that one. Yeah, you're only 25. I feel like I've been watching you play for fucking a decade. Yeah,

I swear 10, years ago you played Halo or some shit. That's fucking crazy. Yeah. Do you miss Halo or you just have to do it because you didn't, because you couldn't play Cod? No, I miss Halo sometimes. Let me get into that.

So before you played Halo, you played Cod? What? I was a Cod Pro first. Okay, you were a Cod Pro first. But I played Halo when I was a kid, like before Cod. Yeah, but as far as like career-wise. I was nasty at Hilo 3. Really?

You wouldn't believe me. How old were you? Like 9, 10? What the fuck? You weren't nasty at A lot of 3. Bro, I was 50 every playlist. You might have been, bro. You might have been.

50 every playlist, bro. Yeah, but I was selling 50s. No one cared about the playlist. I was 9 years old. Me trying to defend my, defend against a 9-year-old. No, trust me. You were nothing. No, you're right.

You're right. Looking at it now, I guarantee you I'm not as good as I thought I was, but back then I thought I was him. I mean, for 9, 10 years old, it is impressive. Were you watching the pros? Are you just playing? I was watching, you know the MLG, ESPN Top 10 videos? Yeah.

I was watching those. With Bucket? Yeah, with Chris Bucket. Was that like your first introduction to, what the hell is this? Eastport shit. Yeah. I don't even know if they called it East. I don't think ESP started to like 2015 or some shit.

Yeah, East Sports wasn't that thing. I fucking love watching that shit, bro. Yeah. Holy shit. Yeah, I loved it too. I actually love watching that. Yeah, but no, he came on the scene in AW. AW is the first time I remember seeing it.

What year was that? When did you go? 2014. 2014 to 15. When did you go pro? 2014 to 15. How old were you then? 15.

So then they make the rule and cod you can't play unless you're 18. So that's the only reason you went to Halo. You're like, God, I'll fucking play this trash then. Yeah. Was it? What's your... The way you put it is so funny. Every time he's like, yo.

So I'm saying, he takes positives and makes them negatives. I take the positive of Halo 5, laggy fucking shit. His perspective is fucking comedy. I'm telling you, watching YouTube talk is hilarious. We're going to have to talk more. I'm trying to be more like you. And you need to be more like him, man. You need more negative.

Yeah, exactly. So. Exactly. So right when you feel, find out you can't compete in Cod anymore is it immediately you were like I'm going to just play Halo yeah

I was already playing Halo 5 when it came out who was like your squad that you would play with a little bit like just running matchmaking Skype and Discord yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I would play with temp sometimes and then the Halo kids I was playing with I think was like Aries

What I think my first ever team, like, for fun, or not for fun, but like the first 2K I played with someone was like Cloudy Cloud, Aries and Victory X. What the fuck? That was your first? I don't know how I got on that, but it happened. I mean, they were probably, who you just named is all old fucks who were probably so desperate to find young skill. That's what Nick was never good at. Can we start from the first?

Where's the first? Age five. Your first... Oh, oh. Your first is with Contra. Contra, Devonator Boo Boo Boo Boo. I mean, you had some decent squads off rip. I just didn't know if you...

Elamite was your first ever coach? Alumni, that's alumni. Oh, alumni. Oh, okay, okay. But yeah, still. I can't see it. So the story behind me meeting Boo Boo Boo Boo Boo is insane. Like, it was just through matchmaking.

Like, so you want to know what it was? What? This is how much of a gamer I am so you can fucking understand how much of a geek I am. I kind of get it. Is Coliseum fucking matchmaking. This guy has a carbine and he fucking, what was it? Like, seven shot at me?

Like, it was the most insane carbine kill I've ever seen in my life. Like, obviously, I just started playing the game. But to me, I was like, holy fuck, who the fuck is this? And then I remember searching up his name after that game. And I was like, yo, you're trying to, like, scream? Like, and I hit him up like that. And that's how I met Bubu-Dub. Yeah, he was like a complete nobody, like, at the time.

Damn. Yeah. Because, yeah, even boo-boo, it's like, I don't even remember when he came up. I guess y'all sort of. And that's also how I found out or met Shati. Is he, Bubu-Dubu-Dubu was friends with Shati when they were like 10 years old or something like that. What? What?

The fuck is going on. Yeah, yeah. And he was like, yo, like, I remember Shazi didn't play the beginning of age five. And he was like, yeah, we have this friend like Shati. Like, he doesn't play this game. He's playing like Black Ops 3 right now or something like that. or something like that. And that's how I first met Shotsie.

But yeah, he's nasty. Yeah, they were like, yeah, he's so good though. He's so good. And in my head, like, I'm like, I have like this ego. I'm like, oh, like, I'm fucking A.W. Beast fucking hook the nuke. Like, there's no way this kid's that good. Like, you know, and then I remember playing with him and, like, he played it for a couple of days.

And it was like a year later after the game came out. And he joins my lobby and he was like, yo, look, did you know you could do this? I'm like, no. I'm like, how the fuck did this kid? He doesn't play the game. He knows more shit than me. Yeah, what? That's his thing.

This shit doesn't make sense. The Halo side. Your first ever event you get second at a world championship regional finals? That's your first event. That doesn't make sense. How does that happen?

It should look like that. It should look like I made it. I came into the scene and then worked my way up and now I start, now I start fucking going on. Was that online? No. That was to qualify. That was the qualified of world.

That was my first ever Halo event. Oh, so that was people outside of like the top eight. I was Starstruck that event. I was playing fucking Ola and Ogre 2 in Pool Play. And we beat them at my first day. Yeah, my first Halo event. What the fuck? Wait, so what was your first live event?

That was live. The regional finals. That was my first ever live event. That was the event where I got like that triple. They were like. Is that second point? place overall out of all the teams What the fuck?

Even with like Optic in there and shit? Yeah. Is that how you lost in finals? We lost, who do we lose two? Yeah, we're thinking, I'm also thinking Counter Logic. Look, look, look, counter logic gaming.

That's the talk squad. I'm more so thinking fucking Contra and We didn't even fucking scrim by the way. We didn't even fucking scream. Wait, let me see the play. of that event. Like, APG, I mean, yeah, this was

legit fucking players. Yeah, this was past my time a little bit, I think. No, I couldn't have been there on CLG. You were on this. Show additional. Show additional placements. Let's see if Nick's down there. Probably down there.

God, I remember this fucking event. That was my worst squad of all fucking time. You know who was supposed to be on this squad instead of fucking chaser and lifestyle? Shotsie. Was he actually? Yes. But I just didn't know who he was. Damn. Yeah, we got like top 12

or some shit. Damn. And this was to qualify for worlds. There's even video footage of... This is the first year, though, not the second year. No, this is that, this is in the MLG. This was to qualify for worlds. Is in Ohio, right? Yeah, it is. Yeah. I remember losing, I remember losing

the, like, Credos for like top eight and Naded. And just like, was just hopeless, bro. Trash-ass-ass fucking squad. That team is horrid. That was my worst team of all time. Big timers my coach. He didn't even play the fucking game.

Fucking this optic bullshit. I got set up. Because I could have fucking left, had a decent squad. I was just, but I was just stuck with optic because I was like, I can't leave. Like, this is going to be in my future. I'm going to retire here. I'm going to make millions of dollars within the next few years. How did that go?

I'm still working on that part. but and that was 15 years ago but yeah no it was I remember oh dude how that came together the team was supposed to be me Flame Sword falcated and Shotsie but instead

chaser and lifestyle I forgot about that event I roamed with big timer at this event because Flame Sword brought up falcated and Shotsie and I was like I've heard of falcated he seems pretty good and like obviously they're all new as fuck

like no one really knows him but I'm just like Shotsie I'm like I might have played against him once and he was like, yeah, he's like 14. He's like super good, talented. I'm like, I'm not picking up Shotsie. Like, bro, the event, like, we have to find two people who I can like somewhat kind of rely on. Like, I just had no idea who Shotsie was. And I was like, bro, we just need to pick up like the best of like people that have, that have been playing someone. We can hopefully count on. Like, I can't, I don't know if we can take that big of a risk of picking up Falcated

and Shotsie who are now two of the best, Falcated one of the best. Halo players in the world Shotsie one of the best if not the best of Call of Duty and the end in Halo as well like Dude that's a total A total fucking fail So then

All right But back to you So you go on Oh god Sometimes I get passionate That's like a top five moment in flycast history Seeing Matt scrolled down and I'd like I know he's down there

We'll be down there at the bottom Um, okay. So, wait, can we, now let me talk about the, the Cod side. You team with Kalani, one of your first events. Kalani is what it says up there. Isn't that, is, I think, I think he's like a, I think he was a MonoWher 2 pro. I don't even know I play. This must have been an online tournament.

Oh, is it? It has to be, yeah, I never played Lano with Kalani. I know who he is. It says offline. The playing league. Now, this had to have been an online tournament. Had to have been. Yeah, no, it was because UGC Niagara was a real land.

I played there. That was my first ever land, UGC. Niagara. They don't even know who you played with. They were like, you're the only. I wasn't even on carnage. You won v. Ford. Yeah, I know the team.

It was Tish. You guys don't know him. But Tish, uh, rage and, uh, fuck, bro. I hope he's not watching, but I forgot his Gamer tag. Ayers, airs, airs. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then, uh, are those just your boys?

or people you met online? People I met. But yeah, I mean, now I'm cool with Tish still and stuff like that, but yeah. Who is Vade Shot? Vade shot? I honestly don't know. What the fuck? I don't know that team.

Think of a different name. I don't know that team. I don't be honest. Other than Kalani. I remember Kalani. Because I think Kalani was like an old model offer 2 pro. And I didn't even know he played ghosts.

You know Zilla sitting there like, man, that was my favorite team. He's like, he tells his boys at work. He's like, yo, I used to team with Hooke. He says, yeah, it was like me, who knaed shot. And that's just plain about it. That's fucking crazy. So when in Kod do you realize like, wait, so how do you go from only not getting top 16 to getting second?

Because that's the team I'm talking about, the stunner team. So this is back in open bracket. So like considering like back then top 20, top 24, like you were like one of the better amps. Okay, sure. For true. It's basically essentially, like, if you're getting top four in the Challenger's thing right now, it's like you're one of the better amps.

So that's where I was back then. Dude, look at that shit. Look at what Kive used to be. What did they do to my boy? Yeah. What did they do to the game that I love? Methods. Yeah, so I joined this team.

This is a... So if you go back, it'll show all my teams or whatever, and the jump from 16 to whatever it was. I don't know where it went, but... Yeah, there it goes. So it was the Carnage team in AW, the first AW event, we got top 16. And this is when I were, I was really good online. Like extremely good online at the game.

So people are starting to notice me, yada, yada. Perp, Vex, and T.J., they were also AMs getting top 16, top 12 sometimes, I think they were getting. Right. So they're still AMS, but they were like the best, quote-unquote. Okay. So you made a little squad. Yeah, exactly. And they had another player

And they hit me up after that event And instantly, like literally as soon as they picked me up We were just fucking shit up Like online, online, everything. Yeah. Yeah. I remember because they, people were saying Back in the day they wanted you to win

But you kept getting second. Yeah, this is a very true thing. You kept getting second and then you went over to Halo and got second for a little while too. Yeah. And I remember being, I remember watching you in Halo And obviously I couldn't cheer for you because I needed to cheer for the optic guys

I was filming them at the time. But then you got that fucking the win down there, the pro league went in Halo 5. Yeah. And I was like, I'm glad he got, I'm glad he got one. It took a hot minute. Yeah, it took a while, but everyone knew you were, everyone, even the people that knew you from Cod going over to Halo,

they were like, it's only a matter of time. Yeah. You and Shotsie, man. That was the fucking talks. The two new young talents of whether it be Halo or Call of Duty, it was fucking. It was all you were Shotsie. Had you already come back over to Cod by the time the

the Splice era happened? Can't remember. Splice era, yes, yes. I played Shotsie one time before I left. Or two times maybe. I beat him once, he beat me once. From what I remember. Yeah, I beat him in pool play.

He beat me out of actual tournament. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah. Damn, and then you were like, give me the fuck out of here. I'm going back Yeah That's crazy man

That's what a What a fucking Your career What a career Your career has been insane up to this point I know you probably don't like Reflecting on it I mean maybe you do

I don't know Some people like that nostalgia shit Some people don't Yeah But I think it's always fun I think it's fun Thinking about 2009

And shit For some parts Yeah It's fun Nah it's the roller coaster Man You need some ups You need some downs

You need some some shit to happen and it just makes feeling like what Hooke's about to experience Yeah knock on wood Down I'm in challengers I'm back up I'm on optic green wall fan screaming who clutches up

5 5 round 11 to win the event Hooke the nuke Hooked a nuke Hooked a nuke And that's the shit And that's the shit We're bringing into 2025 Hooke we could sit down with you all day

But it is a tight sketch Hex has given me the side eye over there I gotta do a fucking flycass But with you It has been an absolute honor Hooke Super glad that you are on the squad Excited to watch y'all play

Thank you for joining us On the Flycast We'll have you back again eventually man Yeah thanks for having me Thanks for Thanks for hopping on Matt Craig Played how to music