The Flycast - The Best Rookie Season of All Time | The Flycast Ep. 157

Episode Date: August 9, 2025

OpTic Gaming Merch: https://shop.opticgaming.com/Check out the OpTic SCUF collection and use code “OpTic” for a discount: https://scuf.co/OpTicCheck out the OpTic Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optic-podcast/id1542810047https://open.spotify.com/show/25iPKftrl0akOZKqS0wHQGThe Best Rookie Season of All Time | The Flycast Ep. 15700:00 Intro 01:00 Quitting the vape 06:30 Winning Champs & EWC 15:36 having Karma on stage at EWC20:00 MaNiac halo legacy 27:00 Mercules controller settings 35:00 Merc playing other games 40:00 old school cod 55:00 what win felt better 1:02:00 Rostermania

How many likes on this vid for us to stop vaping? It's a good amount of likes. Flycast, I think with you as a guess, at this point in time, maybe like 2K. Is that a lot? How much do you know? If it's just me and Hidg, maybe 500 likes. To quit vaping? No, 2K.

Yeah. 5K likes. We got 5K on our last one. Okay, so we need it. Maybe 5K. We need more than that. 6K? I was thinking like 10.

I was thinking 30. I was thinking like 10 to 15. See, you're thinking optic. You've got to think flycast. I'm thinking couldn't vape. I was going to say, I don't think he cares about it.

How can I just keep hitting this shit that's slowly killing me inside? Is there a thought in your head? Are we rolling? Is there a thought in your head? Welcome back to the flycass. Welcome back to that other episode of the flycass. We're not.

doing a cool episode like last time we're getting lazy over here but we'll bring it back one day is there uh we're talking about vaping a little bit and how many how many views this would need to get or how many likes this would this video would need to get in order for us to quit vaping

15K 15K is insane we need all the green wall to any green wall like this video I need a soft of fucking green wall is probably I promise I promise I'll quit 50K if it's 15

Like if he hits 15K and then he stops learning out, he can't shoot anymore. See, you're saying that, but like, what if? But like, would you actually? Yeah, I'll quit. I'll go to the Zins. I mean, it's winding down at least. No, it is a step in the right direction. I've quit before and it took like a year to quit.

I feel like Zins are deaf probably better. You're not in hell and smoke into your lungs. And they don't really like. They're not good for you, but you know what I mean? Yeah, it's just not as convenient. It's not like flavorful. It's not like as enjoyable, which I don't even know. And not even to like hype up vaping or something,

but it is just taken over this generation, especially like you're, how old are you 21? 22, no. 22. Like even just the younger generation, they're starting off. Like no one would really get into SIGs that heavily, unless you're like four more or something.

But no one would get into SIGs that heavily when you're that young. People had smoked SIGs, but it's, I don't think it's comparable, comparable to hitting something like this all the fucking time. No, it's not. Those are everywhere. High school bathroom. Like, everyone that's got one. That's insane. Like, motherfuckers are probably freshmen hitting this.

Like, just walking the stall. When I was a senior, I think they had just made those like, what is it, B-L-Us, like blues. Have you ever, can you look at up? Those are, like, the first ever. The first ever E-Siggs. Those are awful. B-L-U. And, like, that was like...

What'd you... Sorry, go ahead. And, like, that was, like, the... Yeah, those. Oh. Those were, like, the first E-Sigs. And, like, if you... If you hit it, like, the...

The top would glow blue. I never had one, but I saw, like, I saw people do it. What years were you in high school? Or when did you graduate? Did you graduate? Who? Yeah. Oh, 22?

Graduated in 22? So, okay, so were even, like, was vaping a huge thing in high school? Or was it only, like, a few people? No, like, yeah. Or, like, it was actually crazy. Yeah, no, everyone was vaping.

Even, like... I can imagine if vapes were around when we were in high school. It would have been insane. I feel like our schools were, like, my school was, like, kind of strict. People are, like, ripping... No, but you got to...

People are ripping pens in the bathroom. Yeah, you gotta think, like, no one's smoking cigarettes in the bathroom. You can smell it, and it's a fire. Maybe it would have been bad. But, like, and then, like, I remember the first, like, vapes were, like, chunky. People were called the mods. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they were, like, and you hit it, and it goes,

Yeah, I feel like that's what Holly still hits. That's what Nina still hits. Yeah, like, they pull up with fucking cannons, like this long, just, and they're, like, and they're, Like a fucking you just like dragging my flames. There's like a there's like a time of my life that I like I like reminisce on it's like from 20 like early like it's pretty much the scuff house era Or it's like everyone that I would be in a discord call with like you would just hear. Oh yeah Yeah and then it would just be in the middle of the conversation with like six different people at the call you need something discreet for school Wow would you see like ninth group?

like freshmen just ripping vapes and shit yeah what are we gonna do man we gotta save the children what do you it all starts with the 15k likes on this video yeah we need 15k likes before we get into cod and shit what does this do for you because I don't know what it does for me I don't know why it's I started doing it again because I would like go out drinking and I'm like fuck I kind of I'd see someone with a vape I'm like let me hit that and then it sort of started with that Like I would just do it whenever I drink Then it started I would go out drinking I'm like fuck I'm gonna buy a bait beforehand

And then it just turned into now a daily habit Which after It took me like a year to finally quit And then I took like nine months off And then now it's back again But I feel like it doesn't even fucking do shit for me What does it? It doesn't do it same thing for me

What are we doing? I don't really get buzzed but like Sometimes if I'm like stressed or something shit I'll just hit it. Really? Do you ever get like Does it hurt your like stomach? Yeah, well, my stomach's always fucked up.

I don't know if that's... Hitch was like, yeah, he has a stomach egg. I don't know if it's from that. And I was like, well, Monster and Vates for breakfast. Just wake up. I don't drink that much energy drinks. Oh, no. Well,

350 bands, huh? You made sure to... What? You made sure... Well, what reminded me of it was the... The is who is that on the shirt is a Benjamin Franklin is right is that the $100 bill yeah yeah he knew what he was not today he knew he's what he was put on today 350 bans later how we feeling back to back um I mean what are we gonna do with this money

what are we what are we gonna do with this money just just know like the first pod you were on we were here for day one he's got the jays on yeah he's got the Benjamin Frank shirt. I'm lucky investing at all. I'm going to get a car, though, just for, because I don't have one in Texas. I'm going to sell my one back in Indiana and then put the money towards that.

Like a Volkswagen Jetta? Well, first off, what do you got back in Indiana? It's like a 2014 Cadillac ATS. Is it like something decent? Yeah, it only has like 30-something K miles on it. Oh, really? Yeah. I can probably...

2014 with 30-something K? Yeah, I was hell of surprised. I could probably get like 15. And now what are you thinking for a car? I don't even know. I want something that has like... Ben's, like... An AMG?

Maybe a Benz. Right now. Maybe a BMW. I was thinking like that. I was thinking someone, something like 400 to 500 horsepower, but not like too crazy. How expensive is that?

Like 70 grand or something? No, like I was trying to spend like 60 max. Okay. 65 maybe. Do you think is smart? man it's like crazy oh the see if nick is that how much it was this year if nick had made this money

386000 yeah but you know half that's got to go uncle sam get getting most of that at least that some way though right with taxes there's got to be said hit up skunk let me figure out how you have finesse in taxes or something

but that is still what a crazy picture do you see ogre twos like reply more than my 14-year career. Yeah. That's insane. Well, I was going to say way more, but I mean, if you actually don't look this up, but I think how much I made off my like eight-year career, just don't look it up.

It's like an average salary of one year working at fucking Nerdvana. It's not, did Zuma really make 375? Yeah. From competing? Are you saying that is a lot or not a lot? That is a lot. Yeah, he did. Oh, in his career.

In his whole career. Oh, what the fuck? And then I'm thinking, I'd be forgetting this is four months or whatever it's fucking been. How much of a change is that? I don't know. I don't want to ask like, let's go. Oh, you almost got 100 racks, Nick. 98 grand.

He's like, that's way more than I thought. Oh, too. I was like, hey, bro, I was thinking like 68 can. I said don't look it up by the way. I think this is including GGCS. Yeah, like bullshit. Like this turned out. I mean, I guess it still kind of counts, maybe.

You, Mike Pee, and Pomage. I mean, I guess I'll fucking take it this morning I fucking thought. Yeah, I don't want to ask like, not trying to get in your family's business, but like, it's this a, because I remember when I was 18. I come from like middle class, whatever. But whenever I won 25K or a team on 100K, I won 25K. And it was like, not a big deal for the family, but like people are like, like, what the fuck?

Like, oh, Nick's how money now. We don't need to pay anything for him. It was like, it was like a, I don't know. It's like it switched something in the family. And I feel like I'm making it sound more dramatic than it was. But like, no one in my family gets 25K just randomly. So it was like, it's a big thing. Is it safe?

to say that's the fucking thing for you but in a insanely more massive way yeah it's definitely saying i've always lived with my parents but my mom's like uh my mom's a nurse anestesis i don't know what that is so like she she makes a good amount of money oh really yeah but no they're just happy for me yes but i'm have they talked to you about has has money been in the conversation yet oh yeah just like are they making sure that I'm investing. Fucking your shit up. Yeah, yeah, just like making sure I'm investing,

and sending me up with accountants. Especially now at your age, like investing now is such a smart thing to do. Because your money just makes money. Yeah, money will make money. And then when you have money, just sitting there, you're like, fuck, I might as well just like buy this shit, this designer, this.

Are you into any of that? Like designer clothes? No, this is the Jayzone, the Benjamin Franks. Sure. You're going crazy. These are the only shoes I got. with the heck shoe now you're safe yeah yeah so this was like the only that I bought and then it's just saving the rest and some shirts it's basic shit oh man that's a lot of money for four months

I don't want to keep talking about it but like it seems like it's stressing you out man well it's just I've had a good past like two months and I'm just like hell yeah and now I see that and I'm just like fuck but I mean the comparison to the thief of joy man all you have to do is when champs and the EWC back you're back That's all you have to do So we did our first pod with you What would you say? That was five months ago

When did we do that? When did you join? Do you know the date? I don't even remember I just go with the flow He just had it up I just go with the flow Matt just had it up

I don't know Well we did a first pod with you Yeah when was this Two months ago Five month I was that I said I was that I'm sorry May May June July Okay, so like say three, four months or something.

I don't like how I look at that. Wait, Loki, can I get it? Can I get a monster? Is my belly sticking out? Yeah. I get a monster rehab. Yellow. My bad.

Wake up. Monster. I bet you have no food in you. No. But be honest, what time do you wake up before this pod? Pod started at 11. He's like, I woke up at 11. When were you out of bed?

I was out of bed at 1025. What the hell? Yeah. What happened between... You just sitting on the toilet? Yeah, it was fighting for my life. Okay. Yeah, thanks.

So here we were. Put this fucking bait down. Here we were. 15K likes, chat. Your grand entrance into Optic, they treated you the best way possible and sent you off with us to go get ice cream. Great, welcome.

Now, I mean, we try to give ourselves some, like, credit of like we welcome them in he knew it was a safe space brought him good vibes ice cream like he knew he belonged so we try to give ourselves a little bit of credit but at this moment here was there and I want you to be brutally honest I know you just got was it a third or fourth place with Toronto fourth way no third right was it third there with Toronto right yeah yeah third Third with Toronto You join Optic You're kind of coming into a shit show

Right here This murk right here Look at that screenshot This murk right here Did you have any fucking idea About What was What was about to happen

Did you Was it in your head like Nah I can come here We might be able to fuck shit up Yeah That was your thought Yeah Because it wasn't it the first map

You guys played you all 30 point club somebody yeah and i obviously it was a shit show but i played with or like against them and seen them play for years i know how insane they are so i was like yeah what the fuck so why are they getting shit on yeah i was i was like i could defa bit like we're right so you were that confident in yourself to where like i know i'm fucking good yeah if i can team with these guys yeah exactly anything might be possible yeah exactly who uh whenever you first joined who kind of was there someone that like took you under the wing

because it's been a few months um yeah is there anyone that sort of um I wouldn't I wouldn't I wouldn't say mentor but no I wouldn't really say so

but probably like Aunt Bruce yeah they're the most like vocal about like if I'm fucking some shit up on the map or something they're like yeah like very dead so yeah probably that much

what was it like having Damon in the comms because I know That was lucky clutch. Was it? Yeah, because he was getting better with it throughout the whole tourney. Like at first he was like... Is he kind of quiet in the beginning? Like, I don't want to fuck off y'all's flow.

Yeah, well, even towards the end, he's still quiet, but like he's calling out at the perfect times. Like, when the rotation's happening or when we get like a three dead and like we're missing one, he's just tracking names being like, oh, it's a booza, you know? So, yeah, no, it was clutch. Do you want to see more coaches? I think coaches should be a thing behind players. I actually liked it. I thought I was going to be like, at first I was like,

I was like, I was like, that shit's a little. And then after playing with it, I was like, I actually got like. Yeah, you also got karma though. I wonder if so many other teams are like, you know, exactly. That's literally what I was saying. I was like, where I guarantee some of the coaches,

like without the X-ray vision and shit, like, brother. They probably don't even know spawns behind the screen. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's a good point, actually. Because I feel like a lot of the coaches aren't like that great of players. Yeah, so exactly.

I was like, Damon has that experience. There were probably coaches up there that were shitting themselves. Yeah, like had no idea what to do because they're so used to seeing x-ray shit. Oh, we should be doing this. They were probably tweaking. There were probably some coaches tweaking. Like, rotate. I guarantee you there were coaches up there that were more nervous than the players.

Like, I guarantee it. I wonder if anyone made like a horrible call. I wonder what coach went up there and didn't say a word the whole time. The whole tournament didn't say a word. There's that some. There had to have been. Yeah, you got to think. People were just approaching that differently.

Some players might have just been like, yeah, just, bro, don't even worry about it. Like, stand up here, but like, don't worry. Just let us get in hard. Let us play our game. But yeah, if you got Damon as your coach, it's just like, I feel like it's just full trust. Yeah, like at the end of the hossi, he's like, going into the P4 Rock Hill he's like the guy I fold could pinch

and then he ends up pinching Bruce kills him like it's just Damon he's just a vet He's just a bet I wonder if Damon Like those situations happen And Damon's just like Just like quietly

I don't know I think When I was talking to Damon When he was here two days ago He was he seemed like Amped about it Like he didn't want to get to It doesn't it seemed like He didn't want to get too excited

But he was like He was like, yeah, that was like a lot of fun. Like, because he was up there on stage and he was competing, like, in a sense. He wasn't holding the controller, but like he was a part of the play. He was a part of the team. Whereas like when you're behind the monitor and you can see, you can see when the other team gets a blessed spawn and you're like, fuck. And like, please read it. Please read it.

You're yelling at the screen and shit. Like you don't get that when you're up there. So you need somebody that can like really do it. Yeah. standing up behind them on stage is definitely a whole new like element that coaches don't have but it's like a skill in itself i was so i was really surprised that players like all the all the old like all the old school washed up like like no good players anymore like uh octane methods yeah those yeah octet death still got it no i'm just fucking so zini doesn't

He did single out Zinni still got it, too. Zinni's decent. People always fucked me up because I'd hear Zinni's bad, Zinny's trash. But then I watch him play it. I'm like, this guy's fucking good. He's a pro player.

Like, what's all this fucking... No, you just have to... Zin's head swells sometimes. You've got to knock him down. I would have just had to know him while he was competing on why this is the way people treat him, I guess. No.

I mean, he was just getting top sixes. People just troll. he was getting top sixes and he's surrounded by people that got top twos yeah so like they're just they roast him um yeah it's like me being an optic with these halo fucks yeah and they all roast like back in my day i was looked at oh i'm good like i'm a good player like i'm saying top threes and shit i wanted a ven or two you're like the zen oh okay but now that i'm surrounded at halo i was pretty fucking good at halo like i was getting the top three i won two to i won a national championship, which would be

Cod champs at this point. Oh, shit. So I want to know. Why do they meme you then? Because I'm surrounded my motherfuckers. You're just win and win and win. And if they don't win, it's looked at as bad. Like, they'll get a third and it's floptic.

Flop the optic so bad. But if I'm getting a third, I'm like, fuck yeah, good shit, squad. I can fucking get it. So there is a difference, but like, yeah, just being surrounded by, like, some of the best to ever do it. Like, nothing but like top 25 players of all time in Halo.

they just it's just a maniac was bad at halo kind of fucking thing um right nick where do you think in the in the as far as best as far as best halo players in history out of our current optic roster where do you where you think you sit what do you mean with our current optic roster like with our current with our current with everyone that's in opta i'm last no no no not like not the players i'm saying everyone in general where would i be of all time all time list yeah so first I would think no all in Optic all time list out of the people in Optic like including me and Merck and Matt Craig so you'd start at the top I would say lunchbox I'm right after all the Halo players you're so all the Halo players then lunchbox

you're before lunchbox no lunchbox is before me it's everyone that's ever played Halo and I'm last then all of you fucks are under me that's how the list goes. I just didn't know if you thought you were above Hooke or not. I think I am actually. Are you above Krem? Yes. You think ants running your shit?

Yes. Well, if ants run in your shit, then Kyler's probably running your shit. Yeah, but Hook was good for like two seasons. I can't put that like above your story. Oh, okay. So aunt was like better. But Ant was so good. Yeah, Shotsie was insane.

When like on the three Pete to win worlds and I've seen him play. I don't know if, I mean, you could put his career above mine. His career was only like two years long though. So it's like, it's hard to say. Like he was getting like top three, top six, top threes and then eventually like winning events. Wait, look up Shotsie Halo. But it's like, do I put that above me getting top three in multiple games, winning in Halo 3, winning in H2A? playing good

I mean obviously Shotsi's a better fucking Halo player than me but he had like a two year career like literally I think he might uh did he win during like the throwback tournees though he didn't put

see but it's gonna it's gonna show so many like qualifiers and this is all bullshit you can go offline you can go to offline see this is all that no one's watching Halo

look at how much cash he's made probably made more fucking In his two years. There just wasn't money when I was playing. Oh, so the price pools are shit. Then they got better. I mean, for Halo, they've gotten a lot better.

For Halo, this was decent. Halo, this was great. Where Halo was at this time, this is fucking amazing. With their prize pool. Yeah, that was when he won worlds, won the event before. Yeah, I mean, you can put,

You just put fucking shots Huck. I don't know if Hook was winning, but Hook was a dog. But like, yes, Hook would probably be better than me. Wait, have you ever played Booboo Dooboo? Yeah, I used to run his shit. I don't know if I really played him like that. I felt like he came in kind of late.

But like, I was always above boo-boo, I think, until like I about retired. But I think he like came in kind of late. I'm like, I'm more I'm like, oh, all these fuckers came in like, renegade shots. shooter, boo-boo,

whom I falkated, all of these guys. Like, they came in, like, as I was leaving. Like, I never even played shot. I don't even know if Shotsie went to an event by the time I retired. Yeah, I don't know if you did either.

I'm just, I'm like 2007 to 2000, early 2016. And, like, then all of these guys spawned up and just started, like, running Halo 5. Yeah, and didn't play. But I mean, technically, they weren't better.

And didn't play in, The first event was 2019. They're 20, 20, no, he played in 2017. Matt has this organized by a prize. Yeah, 27, 27, he was his first. Yeah, so I was already retired, so. But I mean, I'll still put them above me.

I mean, it's just, it's just obvious as good as they are. I just think, I just think it's like, it's unfortunate that we have so many good storied Halo players. Just his mechanical skill. Yeah. Like, if you want to be one of them, how many kills you get it? think. How many kills you're getting if you want to be one of them, Halo?

Which Halo, though? My best Halo? Yeah. Halo 3? Well, the thing is, he's insane. Yeah. The thing is, Shazzy. He's still beating me.

Say we played a, what do you even play to? 10 or 15? I think 15. Say we played a 15. If I'm really trying, and he's not trying that hard. No, both at full for the church. We're both full. Like, it's, it's world.

Winner gets 500K. Yeah. Do I get to take a bean? No. That gets me at least seven or eight more kills. No, it doesn't. It gets you thinking that you're getting eight more kills. Um, I don't know.

I'd say I'd lose like 15 to 8 if I'm really, really trying. And like, I know that it's tourney day this day. So you start playing. And a snipe doesn't, does a snipe? spawn on Guardian? Yeah. It does? S3. Okay. Snipe 3. It depends on who gets that sniped it. Yeah, but...

Shotsy knows... People were... People were spawned in Halo 3, you think? His movement, though, he's getting to that sniper before you. Well, it just... It depends. I've never seen Halo 3. Yeah, not to... Halo 3. Halo 3, it's not really like that. Halo 3, there is movement. Or it's like weird

that... Shotsie... There's not movement, but when you watch Shotsie play Halo 3, there's fucking movement suddenly. he was like nating himself to get up onto like like lichandelier and shit what the fuck doing like little jumps that are hard to everyone behind him that they weren't happy it was like me it was like what was it me matt like me formal and uh set and we all went of fucking course slash yeah after watching that i was like yeah he'd fuck me up um all right this is the question of the fucking year and cut or uncut uncut uncut i'm keeping

is raw. That's what you meant. What the hell controller settings are you playing on? Default? I play flipped, flipped only. That's the only thing I changed. So you play flipped and then everything else is

default. So you're sliding with what, B? Yeah. Circle. First off, does anyone talk to you about this? Of like, first off, have you ever thought about switching to paddles? Yeah, no. It ain't got me a controller with buttons

on it. Oh, so now you might I was looking to try it today. Really? But are you like scared to try it? No, because I can just switch back. I don't like it. That's true.

But do you realize you're the only person and practically cod-hits since they started making scuffs? You're like the only person who doesn't use paddles. Even people who claw, I think, will use paddles sometimes. But like you don't use paddles and you do this thing which I invented.

I don't know if you knew this. But I invented the half claw. Do you always shoot with your index finger? Or do you shoot with your middle finger sometimes? Just always index finger? Yeah. See, that's how I was in Halo 3. But I would claw for like certain things.

Like if I had to pick up a weapon while I'll be turning and running away. Like I always shoot with it, but sometimes I'll take it off to like slide. It's weird. I don't know. I don't know how to explain it. I, uh, see I would have to like, yeah, I don't know. I would have. So, okay.

So you'll take it off to slide. So then you literally can't even shoot. Like you can't be like sliding and shoot. Yeah, that's why I usually slide with my thumb. But like sometimes. You'll take. I gotta make a hand camp video. Yeah, you do.

Yeah. I was actually going to say like maybe we should do that today, but it'd just be a whole fucking thing. But I was going to say like end the pod where we just stand behind him and watch his fingers move. All right, slide here, pop up and shoot and just like see how that works. No, it's got to be like a fucking 20 minutes.

video yeah it's got to be like a breakdown yeah it's gonna be a perfect no that would be a that we have we have those videos the what are they called inside the mind that'd be a perfect perfect video for you so sometimes okay so first off you're like the first player to ever just play default no one in the league plays default unless they're claw yeah unless they're full clawing hitting all that so you'll slide with b and then just bring your thumb back to aim Yeah. Slide with B. But how do you pop up?

What is it? What's the... BBA. What's the combination? What's it called? BBA. Slide cancel. How do you slide cancel?

Or how do you snake? I just move it fast. I don't know. Just thumb, thumb, B, thumb B. How do you snake? Same thing? Yeah. What the fuck?

It doesn't even make sense. No, sometimes when I snake, I'll do index for B, I think. I don't know. So it's to a point where it's like, yeah. It's all muscle livery. And I don't want you to like start overthinking it. Because I remember when I started like half clawing, I started like overthinking the shit. And I was like, fuck, should I?

And then I tried fool clawing and it fucked me up for like a month. So then I had to switch back. So don't overthink it. It's just, I don't know. It's just insane that you do that. Is it just something you were always comfortable with and you never felt like you needed to switch? Yeah, exactly. I always started on it and I was always like pretty good.

And then I just kept getting better with it. but would you see other people with like paddles and yeah no I would see it but I would just still be slamming them so day like I'm chilling on default so weird man makes no sense to me so you never like got into a situation where you're like fuck I can't do like there's too much to fucking do look like I don't the only the only game it's ever been like that is a black copsy but I've also I've been I don't know I could probably play it now but like Yeah, even Black Ops 3 to like run wall. Yeah, that's the only game. Like even IW I can do it, like AW. Wait, isn't that Black Ops 3? To run on the walls? Yeah, but I've never heard it called run wall.

What's it called? Wall running. Oh, whenever you're wall running, it's like you're hitting A, so it's like there's just no chance to shoot. No, there is. It's just like, it's just the jumping, really. But honestly, I've gotten so much better with it. Like, I could probably play it.

No, I got to try. I've always played jet packs on default, AWIW. It's literally just B-O-3 sometimes where I had trouble. Wait, how do the fuck do you do jet packs? How do you jump in the air? I just move it fast, but I don't know. That's so crazy.

See, like me moving my thumb back to my joystick, it's like my thumb wouldn't be on the right point of my joystick. And I can also jump, I can also jump while I aim at the same time. With your thumb. Yeah. I can press both at the same time. You'd be pressing A and... Yeah.

Like, while my thumb is all my thumb is all. I can do with both. I think that's what someone said. Because the way I, like, hold my... I don't know. No, that's what someone said. They were like, no, I think he presses, like, both at the same time with his thumb.

Like, his thumb's still... This is joystick. His thumb's, like, still here, but he'll press A. Yeah. Over here. With his thumb still. It's fucking freakish, bro.

It makes no... I don't know I don't know I don't know how you fucking do it man I don't understand that That would be I don't know I feel like I would just And I'm not trying to make you

Headcase it But that would make me headcase it Matt what games What games is uh is Merkin next week Uh B03 That dude but I need to get an AW I'm trying to get an AW

I'm like you know for me in that shit You're only in that one You're not in black of four I'm in B0 4 too I think AW might be the only one I'm not in I'm like, bro, that's my favorite game. Give me a nice show. So even if we're not playing, we've got to stand behind there and hang out.

I don't think so. I don't think so. It's set it at the bottom of the sheet. Oh, then, yeah. Even if you're not in the matches, show up. It's five to nine? Yeah. Four hours? What are we doing?

Five days a week. Even on my birthday. Hey. 40th, baby. You got to get a birthday pass. Really. Maybe if I have something going on, I will. Or I'll try to get a birthday pass or something, but.

I'm done drinking. Getting back into my healthy lifestyle. We're doing around the bar in two days. After that. After that, we're done. Around the bar, I mean, I have no choice. I'll get some fucking drinks in, but I really... I mean, fuck, I'm tired of talking about it on podcasts.

I've gained 10 pounds of just pure fat. James is fat as shit, too. Yeah. James is kind of losing it. I feel bad for him. You've noticed that, right? He'll get it back. He'll get it back.

He always does. Just a few swipes later. I got to see James on the fucking court. He talks like he's him on the court. Are you his on the court? No. I'm like, I'm still doing James. The way you said it, I was like, damn.

I'm still doing James Dirty though. I feel like I would too. He just has no like, there's no aura around his back. Like, you can tell he's just like, oh, it's the tall white boy in high school. Yeah, I can't see him being a shud. Shit easy. We'll have him on next episode or something. Just

He's talking shit. Yeah, yeah. Need to see you on the court. No, I did it. I didn't say that. James said, the comments have noticed

how you're getting a little more comfortable, though. You're opening it up a little more. It was like a lot of the, a lot of the press conference comments. Oh, yeah. Hell yeah. Now I got some wins under my belt.

I can kind of talk a little. Now I can talk shit to James about, basketball yeah once you start dominate oh no i've always said what i want you gotta show up on the halo day next week you gotta see champion in the in pure form

yeah stand right beside you better not be getting the world side playing against shotsy then just see I'm loki got to go home and like playing just a little bit I need a little

something because these motherfuckers I just haven't even how to control her and so literally it's been like I've probably had a control of like four times, excluding the little videos we'll be doing here, like four times in the past

like year and a half. I'm gonna tell a page you give me an AW shit. What about last week? What was last week? When you held a controller for seven days straight? Well, in Eldon Ring. But I mean, that... Oh yeah, you beat it? That don't count, yeah.

Alder Ring was fun. Do you ever play any nerd games like that? No, I want to, though. Elden Ring looks fun. It looks hard. You should do a marathon. No, I'd be on that shit for weeks. no you want it no you want it nah

no you'd figure it out actually you don't have paddles so you might might fuck you I feel like the was that dodging the dodging well you really don't even need

your right stick how do you dog would be or I would dodge with my paddle no that's light but that's yeah no it actually would work out because you don't even really

need your right stick like that but it was fun it was uh those type of games are something I've never played so to try that out for the first time and it be as fun as it was I would definitely recommend

I've been playing Val getting a ran I'm going through that phase Dashie had you on that shit No he's on the CS wave right now But he's too high tier for me Are you just playing by yourself No I'm playing with Joe Joe to C's

Joe to C's Have you been getting ran He's awful as well You ever play Is this like your first PC game Or like mouse and key? Yeah Yeah

When I first started I didn't even know I didn't even know how to fucking walk on it Yeah I know I like the WASD I never played like a fucking game Oh that was real That's real early then

See the sickening part though It's like in the If you kept playing In like a few weeks It'll probably be good I mean I was decent I had to send it one It's not like crazy

But Yeah your shot's probably decent but like hitting no my shot my shot's awful oh really i just like game sense my way up there like no it's just s and d with superpowers and birds but it's sitting corners and use my you too are you the type that like you're still moving when you're shooting

and like you're just spraying down yeah no i'm dog shit and just praying you get a head shot that's about how i was i mean vall after that third bullet your shot i want to start playing c s but you got to learn lineups and shit I mean, you gotta do that. I mean, you kind of gotta do the same thing for Val. Not lineups, but like,

Val is just like, like, once you get... Spray pattern, like, I feel like it's just way easier to shoot. Once you get in like ascendant and stuff, it's just like, all right. Like, everybody wait, and then 10 people use their util at once, and then whoever's remaining after that. Those type of games are so fun, but it's so not fun if it's not going your way. Yeah, no, it just makes me rage. I remember we did an optic match.

or it was Optic versus 100 thieves Valoran and I was just getting in Valoran I was just getting shit on first off they had a bunch of good players but I was just like getting shit on fucking Zinny saying shit to me I was like pro

and like Zinny doesn't I don't really play either but Zinny doesn't play but he was doing better than me so he was just like saying something I'm like just get me off this fucking game it actually like ruined my day that day It was one of those where it's like, like something, you can get shit on, whatever, go move on with your day.

But like that was the type of shit where I felt like my day was ruined. They had like. Valern will ruin your fucking day. Once you're like three hours in getting your ass whipped. Yes, it will. The type of nerds you be playing against. Shit, they be saying in the chat. Just hit here in your teammates, sometimes the teammates you get.

Like, I just want to fucking. Teammates blaming you. Let's see, I do have some questions here. I actually have a bunch of questions. Um, this is a funny one. And Hitch, I want you to chime in. Matt Craig, maybe even you too. Actually, Matt, can you bring up his 1V3 while we talk about this?

Massive question across the land of call of duty has been asked time and time again year after year after year. And I want to hear from you. Is Shotsie a superstar? Yes. Well, you heard it here first. That was like, what does that have to do with the 1V3? Well, I'm just, I just wanted to have up because I want to watch that as well. Oh, okay, okay, okay.

Yeah, it doesn't have to do with this. Hitch, what's your opinion on it? Is Shotsie a superstar? Yeah, of course he is. How long has it? Did he just get superstar status? No. Do you know who I'm talking about when I say, there's people saying he's not a superstar?

X is this a troler. Like, is he, I don't know if he's trolling. He is trolle. I don't, I think, out of him. Outside of a camera, he will still... Would dribble down and still say... Maybe he would... Maybe because that's...

He loki, he's starting to believe it. Like, he said it for so long on camera, you might actually... But, like, Aix doesn't... Aix is like a... Like... His... He...

If Shotsie was on any other team, Aix would be saying that he's a superstar. Dude, Shotsie... Shotsie could drop at 2.5 against thieves and Grands, And he'd be like, oh. He'd be like, yeah, but there was two events this year. I mean, Brandon, you'd be like, Brandon's just laying down the damage, though.

Like, he'd say so shit like that. Like, I promise. I think it is like the first person that might break into that top four that has been like the solidified top four for years. Who is the top four? Seth Ian Damon, uh, either four more,

formal or clay. The, the debate is between formal or clay from, in my opinion. But, um, I didn't really know formal was running. I knew formal was running shit, but I didn't know he was on some like top four. What's it called? The Mount Rushmore.

I would say so. I would say he is. But I mean, I'm obviously very biased because at that point, it's just the entire dynasty team. I'm pretty sure. Yeah, he's like the best gun skill. That's what he's known for. He's like, he's gun skills. It is, it's weird.

It is weird how good it was. The only thing that, the only thing, the only debate that I can see for Clay is that Clay, like, played longer. Like, Clay played Black Ups 2. He won in Blackups 2. He won in Ghost. He won, he won before it was deemed, like. He's played for so long. Clay was winning in, like, Mono Warfare 2.

And, like, people don't talk about Monofer 2. That's the thing about Halo is people talk about H1 wins. Like, that's insane. Not H1. You don't think so? Early H2, maybe. Yeah, I wouldn't say anyone talks about it. about a Halo 1.

People, the fact that people talk about H2 wins, that's like talking about Cod4 wins. Yeah, like Halo 2, 2005, 2006, 2007. Like, people still put that up there. It's like, that's good fucking wins. Yeah, no one talks about, no one talks about anything before Black Ups 3, or Black Ups 2 for COD. Black Ops 2 was what, 2011? 2013.

2013 was Black Ops 2? Yeah. So like, Mono War for, there were lands and Mono for 3, there were lands in Mono 4, there were lands and cod two and there were lands in blackups one there's lands and cod four fuck yeah that's what big timer won that's sharp one hasra won one astro won an event i think i think he won one what the hell maybe he only got second but like that's that's what i'm saying like no one talks about those lands it's it seems like whenever you start start talking about best of all time you start at black ops too which i think is

unfair to the people that played and there's only a few of them was only like crim six clay i seen Seth like seen a clip on my timeline the other day of like people common from you guys seen that it was like mw2 yeah yeah w3 yeah they weren't even talking i was like oh i saw is that was set in that yeah it was like set there was one video i think it was big scump doesn't even call out and there was just skump just maneuvering and the other team's base it was like 30 seconds like they weren't even common everyone was like Combs and we love so much.

I don't know if it was like a big guy's turn either. No. It was a scrim and it was a scrim and it was a scrim and it was monoeuvre for three CTF on bootleg and it's like that is like you like kind of play

until you get three down then you pull. So like the comms don't really start until like three. I don't know. They're like hard point comes I think changed everything because you have to be talking. You got to know everything in the moment.

All right. Well, right here we got, is this the play of the tournament? This has to be, right? What other fucking play happened? Yeah, yeah, it has to be. This has to be. Mark, with the 1v3 situation. Damn, that shit's loud.

Bro. All right, before, can we go back to the very beginning? Bro, Kyler's reaction is my favorite. He started clapping like this. I thought he was in the crowd first. I wish he showed the whole thing. Wait, why am I bobbing and leaving, though? Wait, where are you?

Kyler, Kyler the bottom left. Watch it again so next season. What's your, right here. Pause it? Or actually, all right,

go to the very beginning. So you kill one. How fucking locked are you? I'm so locked. Are you thinking like, like I can actually fucking do this? Oh yeah. No, I knew as soon as I got out to Big Door,

I was like, wait, this is wonderful. Especially because I saw it in aid for backside. Okay, so actually I think, wasn't the crowd screaming right here? Is this one of those moments where the crowd was screaming? While you were planning, right? No, I think they were planning, right? Yeah, yeah. They're planning.

Like, could you hear that in your headphones when you were outside this door? No. Because it was like, they're playing. You just heard noise. You just heard noise. Because it was really the round before this or two rounds before this. Literally the crowd was saying, B! B, B, and they were planning, like...

But I swear they did it again. Yeah. And then they were trying to say this was cheese because Mark heard they were planning. No, very... So, and then you went in right away. The round they were, like, screaming B, like, we didn't even move. Like, you can't hear...

You can't really hear. You just hear... You just hear noise. Like, you know something's going on, but you're like... That's why it's like a 1v1, like, when I was diffusing on Rewind. Like, if you hear noise, he has to be on the bomb. Why are they making noise? Right, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know, they're just saying something. Like when they were saying B like none of us moved. Yeah, let's get back to that um I want to talk about that whenever you were diffusing, but let's not would I got that defuse I'm pissed That's okay we'll get back doing this like um all right you can play this Watch Kyle just looking at your face watch Kyler watch Kyle watch Kyle watch Kyle like a huge Bro what is your what's the feeling right after that like is your heart just racing to the point where you like can't even speak? No, I was just my I'm blowing. I was like, holy shit. How did I just win that? Like, do you feel, do you feel, and it's always, I ask this because now I feel nervous in these situations whenever I play. But I feel like as a player, when you're in them, you're not that nervous.

You're just thinking, like, what's the best play on you possibly? I wasn't. So in this situation, like, are you, is there any type of nerves or it's just, you're so locked? Let me make the best play possible. No, yeah. You're just so locked. All right, play this shit. To be honest.

For the eighth time. you like your position right here he didn't even shoot did you start shooting his body I didn't even see that until right there did you get lightheaded here no

I would have passed out he had to hit his babe no I didn't get lightheaded but no that was insane is there I don't even is there moments like that in in Halo where like there's downtime and it's all on you

because like because like I feel like a 1V3 and you and you win it or you you get two and it's a one v1 your heart rate is just in it has to be insane like the moment after winning that i was like that was the most dopeed up i've ever been even after even after even after even after winning chips i'm not even joking really i mean i imagine that was fucking huge that instead of it going yeah bro you're in a one v3 for them to tie it up four

four but yeah exactly just because like the moment of like of how the whole series was going and then dude that is such a massive that is such a massive that is such a win the next round? Yeah. Oh, okay, okay. I mean, damn. Damn. Yeah, that was the play of the tournament.

Okay, so to get back to the other, you were diffusing against, it was these guys, right? Map 2. You were diffusing in a 1v1. What was he set the scenario for people? What was it? Bomb was down A.

There was literally a perfect time to hop. What was the map? Rewind. Rewind, bomb was down A. He just, like, shot at me, I just seen him and then I like insta hopped the bomb. It was like 17, like 16. He like ran away.

I think I would have got it, bro. Based on like the, based on where he ran and like how he was playing it. Yeah. And then when I watched it back, yeah, I would have got that shit. Did you see the? The crowd started yelling? Yeah. Did you watch it back again?

Like you could tell, like right when the crowd started making noise, he was like, gosh. Yeah, because like he wasn't moving for like the first two seconds and then it got louder. He just started. He's literally full sprints up and like literally pre-fires of the bomb. He knew I was on it. He didn't even look anywhere else. Literally slid and just started pre-fire on the bomb. I mean, that is so cheese.

What the fuck? Is that Quavis? Jocci? Yeah. Qua-lis. Yeah, that is kind of fucked. Like, was there any other moments like that? Because I remember after they, their crowd did it the first time,

then our crowd started doing it. They're going to be. Like all of you. Was the B thing and this one was it. It's the only time I remember. Yeah, that shit just like can't happen. That type of stuff at an event, like it just... Yeah, no, especially because there was no white noise either,

so you could, like, hear the crowd more than... Oh, there wasn't white noise? Yeah, so you could hear the crowd more than usual. Just plain as day. What was it, like, having Damon in between rounds and S&D? Did he say much? Not really much in S&D, to be honest. I feel like it was, like...

did more beneficial for us in the response right yeah yeah okay um i got i got my questions here i came prepared you know do you think he coughs like that on purpose or do you think that's a legit it's the fate bro it's the fake cough boz says he's he does that cough for like uh attention Bose has says has said that hasn't he said

oh no i haven't been around him enough it's like a little kid like you know what a little A little kid calls and it's just People have like screenshoted me And that's how I fucking call I thought there was like one more thing I wanted to ask about the event I asked you Who have you bonded with the most on the team since you've joined? You don't have one you just think it'd be shotsy and dashy

Yeah probably what if you bonded with about James Sellers? Probably splashy Probably splashy Like in game like He's splashy. Yeah. Who's splashy? Dashy.

Oh. Why is he splashy? Because one time in Vanguard, he accidentally fell off the map into the ocean. Yeah, it was like, when he just like slow walked off the edge while like aiming it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he fell off into the water. And so people started calling him splashy. That is fucking hell of it.

And then Perlou is like, you get primed dashy, I get splashy when I'm on up to get. Yeah. Oh, shit. Wait, isn't ProLute? Is it announced? Isn't Prolude our sub or something now? I haven't heard that. I saw it on the...

I don't know. Maybe. Matt, help me out here. Did they talk about it on the optic pod? Is ProLute the... I mean, I saw it on the TV. I was trying to go somewhere. I don't know.

I haven't even heard of it. Prolute the sub. Dude, that might have been... I swear it said Prolutes are subs. I was going to translate into, okay, where sky's going now. Bro, that might have been... Like, old as fuck? Like...

I think that was old as hell. Wait, what date was this? This page is 245 pages long, and that was page one. Like, this is from like four years ago. Yeah, I was gonna... I haven't heard that. Yeah, but I saw like e-sports players of the... And all that shit.

Oh, damn. I am... I was just looking at topics from fucking... Matt just, for whenever Matt writes out the topics, he just hits... enter and write some more out. I was like, I feel like I look at you when I heard that. I was like, do you know some shit?

I don't. So we do actually have e-sports personality, breaking, breakthrough players. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that that actually is, yeah, that's happening. Let's get Merck's thoughts on who should be winning. Esports personality of the decade. Who do you give it to, Merck?

Remember, heck sends your payments. Gotta be scum, right? Well, that's what I would say. Yeah. I'd say, scum, like, I don't know. Hax, no, Hax is chill, he's cool. I think, I think Ant could get two of these. Breakthrough player of the decade?

Yeah, because who else? Who else is on there? I mean, probably some fucking legends. Yeah, probably so, but we're just in such a bubble. This is of the decade. Maybe is there, like, is like fucking donk on there? I don't know how. I don't even know who, I don't know who's on there.

Controller player is. Now, this is an interesting one. controller player of the decade. These names. See, if the decade was like 2010 to 2020, it'd have to be scump, right? Of the decade. 2010 to 2020, Seth has that. But if you go 2015 to 2025, I don't think Seth has it.

Jotsie. It's either Matt or Shotsie. But Shotsie didn't even compete in 2015 or 2016. Yeah. Started Halo 2017. It might be mad. Is it forms? Lucky he was shooting in B04 too.

Like Forma was dominating Cod in like 2015, right? 2015, 2016. No. 2017. No. He was a dominating Cod. Just 2016, 2017. Wait.

What year is B.O.4? Matt won the last, Matt won the last event of Ghost. So that was in 20... Oh, no, my time. My time's skill. That was in 2015. And then he joins Optic. And then... Yeah, fucking.

Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. I mean... I might go for me. Matt. I would personally... I mean, and he comes back to Halo in the world. I got to give my teammate cheese. Give me shots. I mean, that makes

sense to me. Fair enough. And he would do the same for you. I would probably give it to Matt, personally. I'm thinking for me? Just because of that extra year. I mean, you're thinking Matt won the last event and ghosts. What about Crim Six? I mean, I think Ian's dominant...

Ian is in the same box that I put set then. Where it's like if it's 20... If it's 20... to 2020 but they're doing it based off of e-sports awards years and the esports awards was founded on like a in 2015 we really do run this controller shit huh I think God opt-a think we like all of us yeah like all of us type shit type shit uh what win felt better champs I think I know this answer champs or EWC? Loki EWC.

What? I was gonna say EWC just because I feel like the Miami series was like such a grueler like to overcome it. I don't even remember chance was champs just kind of like

a breeze? Champs literally three out everyone until, yeah, I thought they were gonna do it. I thought they were gonna do the dream. But I feel like that's your first event win. It's fucking,

yeah, that's your first event win. And it's your first event one is champs. Only like a few people can relate. They both felt insane. but like, I don't know. I feel like getting the second wins, like, you know, that it was the first, yeah. I don't know how to explain.

The grueler does make sense, because there wasn't. Like, the Surge series was intense. Yeah, yeah, it was. And that was also, like, grants, too. Also, you can look at it, like, champs. It was, like, we're trying to prove we are the best, and then you proved that event.

Then EWC is like, all right, this solidifies us. We were the best team in the fucking game. Exactly. And for you guys to win how you did. like yeah UWC was like we didn't just get lucky at champ well obviously we didn't get lucky at champs we slammed everyone but like

but people are saying like champs cheese oh wow they do good one event yeah exactly yeah yeah the EWC definitely locked you guys up as the best team of the year which is insane because we were also the worst team of the year

and then also yeah like champs we didn't play a grueler until finals and then we got through the grueler and then finals we just slammed so it was right Yeah, yeah, yeah. What was the team talk after winning champs? Because I feel like does a little bit of drive kind of dissipate after champs?

Or was it just like straight back to practice? Even though you guys won, are you looking at it like, like fuck it, we won champs. Like this is going to be a cool tournament. Let's go, try to make some money, try to win the event. But like, fuck it, bro. We won chance. We were really worried about this shit. Because like, even as fans, we're going to be really worried about this shit.

Like even as fans, we were like, even if Optic doesn't do well, fuck it, we won champs. Like, they have a, you know, we'll let them have a bad event if that, if that does happen. But in y'all's heads, what were y'all thinking going into the event? There was probably less pressure just because, you know, we just won champs. But we basically were just like, well, they were like last year, we got fucking hell of complacent. Like he had to run a champs. Yeah. Didn't even take EWC series.

Right. And that's what I was thinking. We were like, this year, we're definitely. Def taking a serious because last year they didn't do I don't know what did they get last year they did decent top four And then they were just like we're not getting complacent We're coming to win this shit But like the practice leading up to it was I would say champs was definitely like more

Intense like locked in practices but we were still like locked in pretty much every day Was it like a yo let's fucking go back to back? Yeah exactly That the mindset with everyone because the scrims like the scrims were still go I wouldn't say they were as good going like I don't think we even, we lost actually one, but we were like lagging. I don't think we've ever lost the scrim. I don't even know. I was, like, because Shatsy was saying on stream, he was like, we lost a map count or something.

I was like, I swear I don't think we've ever lost the map count. We lost, like, one to Toronto, because we were, like, lagging, and then we chalked at, like, three maps in, but he was saying we lost this third or something. I was like, I swear we'd never lost. It's funny, because that was actually my next question. The season's over, so you can kind of, I don't know if other teams, Do you think other teams are getting mad That you guys are talking about scrums now

Or should it be like a It's never talked about There was another team I saw it No I don't think I don't think anyone really cares to be honest But at this point people just wanted Who did the interview that was talking about you guys And they were like oh they beat us for two months

Purge Yeah that was Boston Yeah so they'll do Like we didn't I don't even think we said anything about that They just came out and said Yeah So they're like I don't think they came about it They asked the Boston guys who, yeah, like who they thought was going to win.

They were like, well, Optics been beating, Optics been slamming us for two months straight in swims or something like that. Oh, yeah. What the fuck? We literally lost, like, I think we played them every other day. So like eight maps every other day. We lost one map to them in like a month and a half. God damn. That's got to be like a thing about it from their perspective, though.

Like every day is just bad. Every day. Can you get off after those scrimms and like enjoy yourself? You just see Bruce, you just see dashy pop up and your die. They said their scrimms like in that video, they were like, other than that, their scrims sounded like their scrims were going kind of good. So maybe they're just like, yeah, these guys are just the best. Yeah, I was, okay.

So I don't think it was like full confidence killer because they were winning against other teams. Oh, okay. Yeah. It's just like, damn, we can't beat these guys. Was that sort of the case? because I heard stories, y'all be thieves, like 250 to 30 on Skyline or something. Like, was that in Shotsie sometimes, I think we had him on the Halo pod. And he was mentioning like, bro, we're like, we're slamming people in scrimms.

And then immediately he's like, but I know it's just scrims and all that matters is when you pull up to the tournament. But were scrimms really like, what were the scrims? Do you know what the scrims like were before you joined compared to when you join? Um JP Def has like a stat sheet for all that But No I'm sure he does

No I don't know how they were before But yeah we But when you joined Yeah we were just slamming Like just instantly off of it But that's the thing is like I've heard that so many times Like

Like no When people say slamming Nah Teams are like not even getting like Over 150 Like in every hard point Yeah Like just

Every map is like Is it like known Within the teams Like fuck like No one's a We got shit on my optic. What about you guys? Oh, yeah.

You know, teams deaf talk. It's like someone came up to me. They were like, team you just scrimmed. Someone from the team you scrimmed called me and was like, we just got our ass beat. They're literally the best in the game. Like, hearing shit like that, like, their confidence is just not. Like, they're not going to play us and be confident.

Right. And if you're not confident. Because people say scrimms me nothing, but I feel like there's definitely needs something. Yeah, bro. It's mental. Like if you're getting slammed by a team for a month straight, like you're coming in. You're not thinking, nah, but at the event, I'm going to fuck you up. Yeah.

I have a question. There's a, so obviously, Rastomania is a big thing right now. It seems like there's going to be three teams that end up being pretty good. From what I, I mean, obviously you build around Simp. Obviously, you build around the hydrant and scrap. And then there's like a wherever sell, wherever sell. wherever sell and draws go. So what's going on with Faze?

Keep, bring me up to the air. Everyone's gone except Simp. And Abizi is restricted. Yeah, and Abizi has a buyout. Damn. And then for Faze or for Thieves, Ghostie has already tweeted out his free agency.

And then people are, there's an assumption that Dylan as well is also going to be released. So, but we don't know that. Okay. So that immediately takes it from everyone was thinking there's a top three team But that being said, heretics aren't changing either, right?

The heretics haven't made a change or have they made a change? They're like all free agents. All of heretics? Yeah. Oh, shit. Did they just get second? Third. Well, no.

Or no, you go play search. I guess they got fourth because they lost the third place match. Oh, they did. Oh, shit. I don't think they should change. I don't think they should change. I don't think they should change either. I thought they had something like something works between them.

Yeah, they're probably the language. That's like Riao and shit, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, whenever I watch his POV. Like, going into it, going into it, we thought they were probably the second best team. That's what they played like it. Like that series.

Like second or minimum third. Really? I'm surprised they lost, but, I mean, playing a... But like after losing that series, like the third, fourth place, but... Yeah, playing a third fourth place. Because then they also got reverse swept in that, right? Oh, no It was something crazy

It was a grueler, right? It was a gruel Because there was one one in the Goan under the control Oh So they didn't get a reverse sweat But I don't really watch I think it was a group

So they up in the S&D Like 5-2 or something And lost it It was something Something like that Like Matt 5 Yeah Because we were watching that

I was like If they lose this That's a bad fucking Sunday Nick was playing an elder ring While we were watching Yeah So what do you I mean if you're

Who has? the best start of that like if you're a GM of all these guys would you rather build an entire team around sim or would you rather start like with where the thieves guys are or start build around draza and sell like there's a lot of potential there and i don't think anybody's i mean i know you're not trying to give any gas but like no it doesn't seem like from what i've seen that anyone's looking at challengers players and as a challenger player that came up and you started dominating, do you think that's a mistake? Yeah, I mean, watching the last event, I feel like craze was slamming,

like Loki the whole event, so. Yeah. I feel like if a team can pick him up and just get him into their system, good. I played with them. I don't think we've ever lost a tourney together, but he was good back then, but, like, watching this tour, I think he got better. He should definitely be in there. Was this his rookie year?

Well, yeah. Well, technically. Or wait, no, is he still a challengers? Yeah, he's still in challengers. But they allow challengers, teams to play. But he was still, like, playing really good. They beat phase, and he was, like, slamming. They beat phase.

Going into worlds and EWC, what were the other teams that y'all were looking at is, like, because I'm thinking Optic Phase 100 Thieves, but I'm thinking that from, like, such a noob. Yeah, I don't really pay attention like that perspective. From, like, a pro player who scrims, and you know. all those guys, who were you thinking was like top three, top four. Based off scrimms it was us, thieves, Miami

and surge. Like not in the order, not in the order specifically, but top four, yeah. And Faze was like, they were kind of getting slammed. And scrimms? It just is hard. We only scrimmed

them once between champs and EWC and it was like, yeah, it was a slamage. I think they got one one map. it just i mean it feel it's obviously that those four guys it just feels like their mental was gone yeah after after champs like yeah and even like they were like scrimming challenger's team was getting like grand but it's like their mental was just chalked they didn't know if that ross shocked maybe that's what happened with us they lost champs they lost champs in a bad way for the second year straight and then they realized that the best way to make to try to make any money at

EWC was to stay together. So they know. These four guys know that they're not teaming together anymore. But they have to play another tournament together. That's got to be a hard like... I mean, they did that last year, though. They like stuck it out through EW... Like, they were already talks about breaking up.

But they win fucking EWC. But they were like more dominant. Not more dominant. Yeah. Yeah. Like they were way better last year. I just don't understand. It was like if we win this event then we stick. Right. Like, yeah. Those three play or those Trasa sell Simp a busy? I think even if they won EWC, they would have broken up.

Really? That's what I... It was like way different. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because last year it's like, we win, like, we get... I also think there's a weird, like... Or even if they get, like, top two last year, they probably stick. But this year, even if they won, they probably would have changed.

There's like a weird thing going around. Like, I... I'm browsing my Reddit homepage more often, which is an issue. And it's just a bunch of, like, fun stuff. And then, like, cod competitive... Reddit will come up. There's like a smear campaign on fucking sell and a Beasy. What is that all about?

For the for the for the last five, six years it seems like sell a Bezzie Simp is like like the like if you're the fourth on that team, congratulations. You won at least two events. Yeah, exactly. And now all of a sudden because they placed poorly at champs, you know, at one tournament back to back years. it seems like people are like downplaying how good Abe is and they're talking like straight up talking shit about how like how sell plays like I feel like that's insane is that crazy or is that like a yeah no it's definitely crazy but his eight ab's just expectations are so high that when he even struggles a little bit and like respawns people are tweaking yeah like I don't know because he's been so dominant for years that he has like one mid year then people are not even mid i mean they won two events they so went two events like how is that mid exactly they won two events this year yeah they won two events and yeah people are so like they're like they're so weird man hey dude i think abe's insane yeah no he is i think because he he he was when

he when he started playing on e united like before simp was when sim was 17 couldn't play yet abe was like insane on that roster and then they what did they drop i think they dropped major maniac or they dropped somebody and replaced him with Simp and when that happened like now that you have two of them and then they win they go on this insane run even when his respawns are struggling he's always going to be good at search so and then phase is like known for their search so he's a big part of that it's going to be weird seeing those two play against each other it's going to be like fucking watching snake bite Royal two play against each other it's like that's insane that's such a long has has has Simp ever played a land tournament it without a BZ I don't think he's ever played one I don't even know because I think I think his first year on United he played with

with a BZ and then when they went to phase in CDL in MW19 it was on when was that what year 2020 2019 2019 was like the the roster was

Sempe cell uh Major Mani R-Cities. No, no, no, major maniac. I don't know who the fifth was. I know the comments are tweeting. Is there any rumors of who might join Simp on Faze?

I've heard O-4-A-Boza. Yeah, I've heard that. Really? See, if I'm sitting there, I'm thinking, like, but, like, I had Abizi-Draza cell, and now I'm getting O-4-A-Booza, which they are good players. Honestly, Abuza,

04 04 wasn't They're on They're not the tree They were teaming right Yeah with another trio They were teaming right Yeah

O4 and Abuz are on Surge And I would When we would play against them Or they're just on the stage And I'm watching them I'm like God damn They're annoying

Like they're really good But it's just It is weird seeing Such huge monumental names That you've been teaming with And just dominating with And though a lot of seconds

It's that weird time though. It's that it's that because I remember when MonoWher 19 comes out and you've got like enable and like and now you've got these these like legends in Call the Duty and replace you see

you see people being like do I want to pick up enable or do I want to pick up a shotsy or an Illy. Right. And it's like the same thing happened with Damon. The same thing happened with Octane no. That's just how the game goes. It's how the game goes. Yeah.

A few more things. What song, and Matt Craig can you pull this up? What song, because you have an interesting choice of music that no one would really expect. What song are you listening to before your match on Sunday? And is that sort of your routine? Do you listen to music as you're warming up or before matches? Yeah, no, just when I'm shooting bots, I listen to music. I don't have a certain song.

Do you have a song that you know you played that we could play? We just want to like pretend. inside the mind inside the mind murk what song does he have playing you can pull out your phone and like look up one yeah yeah yeah but we i want to give i want you to give matt craig a song so we can get

to feel of playing with a controller no paddle i'm shooting bots bum boom boom i'm in champ in the middle of the desert it's champs sunday middle of the desert surrounded by billions what are you playing about a piss my son

play uh i don't uh Not, let's see it. No, play that in real shit. Don't try to tone it down. Okay, well, ESTG. Look up ESTG. Young Shiner's.

By Young Shiner's. No, no. Young Shiner's is a song there. By E.S.T.G. Oh, E.T.G is the band. It's the band. That's the band. The artist.

Well, let's listen to, like, a minute of this. And let's just get in that fucking zone. Oh, this is some lead shots. Hey. I wonder if Bose knows him. Oh, yeah, Bozby sending me music. I feel like y'all would listen to some similar shit. So this is Merk, just.

You can't be caught listening to this in Saudi. Yeah, right? Just billions around him, out in the desert in Saudi. About to play for 300 racks. Have you been listening? I've listened to this type of stuff since childhood? Yeah. All right, Matt, I'm good.

Has this always been the type of music you listen to? Yeah. Is this like what your friends at home listen to as well? Yeah. Damn, y'all are just a bunch of little thugs. A little wrestling thugs. Where, Indiana? Yeah.

Would you say you were from like a bad area? Or was it just kind of, no? No. It's just good music. Was your school hell of white people? Uh, yeah. Just like listen to shit like this. Oh, dude.

Yeah. just maybe in the in the locker room what was it what was there like culture shock for you going over there no no you don't give a fuck he's rolling and playing that yeah I got my earpods in

all right all right all right all right um all right this is my last question champ Sunday then I know you're 22 you don't give me shit probably don't even think about it it's champ Sunday or whatever day what are you eating on a champ Sunday and I ask everyone this

and you never really hear anything like crazy or different but what's like you wake up well champ Sunday I didn't even eat. See? Yeah that's what I'm talking about. That's okay I got slammed. I just didn't have an appetite. It's okay I got slammed in grants but leading up to that usually Starbucks bacon sandwich. So you wake up

you're still in bed you hit the bait. Then you what? Shower, get your ass go to Starbucks? Or do you order Starbucks? Usually DoorDash. DoorDash, Starbucks, straight to the room? I usually try to time it right before you leave. Okay, so you go down to the hotel lobby, get the Starbucks, and walk to the venue. What do you get from Starbucks?

Bacon sandwich, cake pop. You get that cake pop to start a cake top. That's what I'm talking about. Sometimes everything bagel if I'm hungry, but usually just those two. All right. Hell yeah. And if I'm, like, tired, we'll get a frappuccino. We'll get a frappuccino.

Oh shit, man. We just want to say thanks for saving the org. Yeah, thanks for saving Shotsie's career. One more thing. I got one number thing. Shout out aches. What's been going on with Ben J. and Assim? I've been out of the...

I don't really keep up with all that. I've been out of the loop. But I think he's like... From what I've seen on Twitter, just like arguing with Kenny and Abizi. BZ and what was the last guy

who's the guy Neptune Oh yeah He got into it Ben J and the scene's getting into it with the players man Why are they responding I don't know

We gotta get Ben J on the flycast We do I don't know much about him He seems interesting Yeah we gotta get a lot That's how Ben That's how Ben But all right man

I guess that's gonna do For the flycast Merck thank you for joining us Congrats on your success It's about to be a long career, man. It's about to be a long career. It's going to be right here. It's going to be right here.

All right, guys. That's going to do it for us. Matt, Greg. Played out. Yeah, out of your music.