Flamesword Interview

In this edition we go “Heads Up” with Flamesword from Status Quo.  We wanted to bring some clarity as to why Strongside joined.  We also wanted to find out what we should  do to get invited to the next LAN…. ha ha.   Seriously though, here is our conversation with the up and coming “Flamesword SQ”.

Insider: Well, let me start with a bang if you don’t mind.  I’ll get it out of the way. What do you have to say to all the people who say you guys “bought” Strongside?

Flamesword: First the sponsorship has always been the same, Tot’s dad, and I talk to him on a daily basis.  The sponsorship is free airfare, coverage of hotel and food. Next after the winterLAN we began talking to Strongside, but it wasn’t to team it was just to see what he was doing at the moment and his reply was he was thinking about joining us because he was impressed with our potential after watching us at the LAN.

Insider: So it’s safe to say that the rumors everyone has swirled about Mike getting “special” money is false.

Flamesword: Yes, because in reality Mike brought over a sponsorship to us and now Tot’s dad isn’t paying for anything more than just to fly us to his house to LAN other teams.

Insider:  What sponsorship did he bring … can you say?

Flamesword: I don’t even really know the names because, besides “Nestle” the chocolate company, they’re Mid West companies that I never really heard of over here in New Jersey.  Also, I think were getting a few things from Crank and a gaming store similar to Gamestop.

Insider: You guys kind-of came out of no-where last year.  What led to your success?

Flamesword: Um, just the drive to try and win. Toronto was our first time placing top 16 where we placed 12. I had just picked up Totz. He had never made it out of AM before and I had never placed top 16 yet until that event.  When he joined the team he brought a new energy since he was young and didn’t want the chance of him being on a good team to slip away. The events prior to that were difficult because I was teaming with a friend for three events in a row.  In the end was fun for me, but I could have had a better team the entire time

Insider: So you guys picked up Ace and Strongside.  A lot of people say Ace is overrated, what stands out about him to you?

Flamesword: I don’t believe He’s overrated, but I can see people saying that because he’s Elamite’s brother.  All I have to say is he gets the best clips for montages and he is a great team player. When he’s “on” he can’t be stopped!

Insider: You guys are beginning to get a lot of hype.  I think it obviously helped that Strongside joined.  What do you see as you biggest strengths and weaknesses and a team?

Flamesword: Our biggest strength, is that we are learning so much and practicing a lot and we get the benefit to LAN many teams because of Totz LAN setup.  For a weakness, I guess its that we still haven’t learned all the little extra things the top pros know that we are learning now from Ace and Mike.

Insider: Fair enough… Moving into 2009, everyone wants to win in Meadowlands.  What is your team goal? Is it to win, to place top 5, top 8?

Flamesword: Of course to win, but since I have never placed top 8 yet I’ve set my goal to place 5th.  I know we can place higher if we continue practicing hard like where doing now.

Insider: What has having a veteran like Mike, who has won a National Championship, brought to the team?

Flamesword:  Experience I’d have to say. He helps our team in every aspect.

Insider: You as a player, what do you need to work on to push the team to the next level?

Flamesword: Increase my individual skill and not make too many dumb decisions.

Insider: What would you say to the young players out there trying to get to where you are?

Flamesword: Don’t let chances slip by and try to stay with a set team so you can practice longer than a month before an events comes up.

Insider: Have you seen the site: MLGInsider.com?

Flamesword: Yea i checked it out a few times. Read the Chig interview. 

Insider: What are you thoughts on it?

Flamesword: Good site, from what I’ve seen so far. I think more people should try to get involved with it.

Insider: Would you say in your opinion that it’s fairly credible?

Flamesword: Yea, you don’t have to edit anything out from peoples interview.

Insider: What do you want to say to all your fans?

Flamesword: Thanks for being a fan and I hope I can live up to all the hype everyone is giving me and my team.

Insider: Any shout-outs as we wrap it up?

Flamesword: Everyone from the winter LAN, my team, the fans, and good luck to all 09′ teams competing at Meadows.

Insider: Last question, I’m dying to know … (laughing) How do we get invited to Totz house to cover the LAN this summer?

Flamesword: Well, we had gathering of gamers at the winter LAN and I can always see what I could do.

Insider: Thanks for your time.

Good luck to Status Quo. They have the potential to bust quite a few brackets in ’09 in Meadowlands and to possible even become one of the elite teams this season.