eSports is not my beat – but some information’s come about that has me incensed enough to voice my anger and frustration regarding the farce that is this year’s Call of Duty Championships.
As you already know, the team that’ll be representing South Africa (though not officially) in the Call of Duty championships managed to win their qualifier by exploiting a loophole in the MLG’s rules. As per their qualifying rules, just two members on any team needed to actually reside in the country they’re representing. Winners Team RiZe exploited the overseas lag in a peer-to-peer multiplayer game, by getting their matches hosted by their UK-based drafts to snatch victory from – in my opinion – more deserving opponents.
And so, because of that, the team representing South Africa was comprised of just two actual South Africans. It’s gotten worse. One of the qualifying members, ParadoxX was denied a visa, so Team RiZe has seen it fit to draft in another player from the UK, from a different team all together. Just one player from RiZe, representing South Africa, is from the country.
It appears that rule relating to two members having to be from the country they’re representing applies only to the qualifiers. The MLG rules also state that:
Any changes to a team roster after the tournament has been seeded is at the discretion of tournament staff.
If the new player making up RiZe’s ranks has got his plane ticket, it would be safe to assume that the MLG in their infinite wisdom has okayed everything, and that it all falls within their rules. That, however, doesn’t mean we have to be happy about it. Want to know what makes it worse? These are the sort of people we have representing us:
. @LXT0151 @orbit_luke pic.twitter.com/WvoHyCCpQE
— JB (@DominateJB) March 26, 2014
If you ask me, Team RiZE and their antics have made a mockery of the qualifiers, a mockery of the championships and a mockery of the hard-working and passionate, eSports-loving people at teams like Hi5 and Adept; either of which I would have loved to see play in the championships in their stead.
Team RiZE…I wish you the best of luck. Wait, no…no I don’t. Screw whatever sense of pride and patriotism I have. I hope you get knocked out in the first round.
31 Call of Duty teams are in Los Angeles to battle for their share of $1 million this weekend. Here’s a list of all 31.
TCM Gaming (UK)
Brazil 5 Stars (Brazil)
Epsilon Esports (UK)
Aztek Gaming (Mexico)
TEC Intensity (UK)
Nsp (South Korea)
Team Orbit (UK)
Trident T1dotters (Australia)
Vitality Rises (France)
Immunity (Australia)
Vitality Returns (France)
VexX Revenge (Canada)
Killerfish (Germany)
WiLD Gaming (Canada)
SK Gaming (Germany)
Echelon (Singapore)
Reign Mix (Sweden)
Complexity (U.S.A.)
AllStars (Netherlands)
OpTic Gaming (U.S.A.)
Wizards (Spain)
EnVyUs (U.S.A.)
Sublime (Italy)
Faze (U.S.A.)
Lightning Pandas (EU)
Team Kaliber (U.S.A.)
Team Rize ZA (South Africa)
Strictly Business (U.S.A.)
Klarity Gaming (UAE)
Rise (U.S.A.)
Xfinity Gaming (U.S.A.)
I’m going to pick one team at random to root for, because I’m sure as hell not supporting RiZe. Zoe’s there to cover the entire event, and should have the opportunity to interview the team. She’s under instruction to ask the hard questions.
Last Updated: March 27, 2014
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:01
What the actual flip????
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:03
Little kids, behaving like CoD players. No wonder its a joke
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 27, 2014 at 12:34
But I thought that all CoD players were little kids…
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/apqY61M_700b_v1.jpg
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:35
LOL
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 27, 2014 at 12:38
bwhahaha
Norm the Horrible
March 27, 2014 at 13:01
Haha!
Spathi
March 27, 2014 at 13:27
Isn’t he a bit old for COD?
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:03
Things like this make me think Trevor has it all figured out with #ForeverSP
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 27, 2014 at 12:06
There is method in my madness.
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:05
Team Rize ZA (South Africa)
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/av0RgGE_460sa.gif
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:06
You said it
Rince
March 27, 2014 at 12:32
HAHAHAHA!
Darthdad
March 27, 2014 at 12:07
I’ll be surprised if they manage to get past ‘Strictly Business’.
Ever since this fiasco with the players being based overseas I’ve pledged allegiance to OpTic.
Looking forward to the weekend.
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:07
Shouldn’t be surprised really. This is South Africa after all.
ToshZA
March 27, 2014 at 13:12
Actually no. In this case it’s 80% England.
Eric
March 27, 2014 at 13:26
It’s like English sports teams, but in reverse
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 13:36
The corruption
Matt Merks
March 27, 2014 at 12:08
Well, that is a pleasant picture of the guys representing us.
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:13
Real class
Uberutang
March 27, 2014 at 12:25
Pretty standard pic of any console cod player, IMHO
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:31
Yeah, because only console players acts like that
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:08
“Screw whatever sense of pride and patriotism I have. I hope you get knocked out in the first round.”
Couldn’t agree more
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:11
E-SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTSSSSSS
http://cdn.gifbay.com/2013/04/a_hippo_and_his_diarrhea-41819.gif
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:17
*vomits*
ToshZA
March 27, 2014 at 13:11
Um, did Unavenged hack your account or something? WTF!
Rince
March 27, 2014 at 14:27
Going for the @Unavengedavo:disqus awards? 0-O
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 14:30
Raised the stakes as it were.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 27, 2014 at 12:18
But how can you be patriotic to a team that isn’t even South-African O_o
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:21
Was quoting Geoff, and what I agreed upon is that they get knocked out in 1st round
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 27, 2014 at 12:30
Lol, screw it… I am not going to argue if both of us are actually in agreement 😛
Was just saying that you(as in people in general) can’t be patriotic to a team that isn’t even part of your country.
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:39
Lol yeah
Spathi
March 27, 2014 at 12:10
COD 🙂
Labey-Kun
March 27, 2014 at 12:12
We are already having a hard time with the world recognizing us as pro gamers but immature behaviour like this is just sinking is even deeper into the hole
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:13
Expect the exact same photograph after the first round of the competition when they get back on the plane
Macethy
March 27, 2014 at 12:14
Looking at the photo from Twitter, I can fully understand why NOBODY takes “professional gamers” seriously…
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:16
If I were selected for a proper game, you’d bet your sweet ass I’d be dressed to kill, monocle enabled top hat SIR
ToshZA
March 27, 2014 at 13:10
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/hammerlock.jpg
Dark
March 27, 2014 at 12:18
Think the MLG rules need a look at……. these guys should rather be representing England.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 27, 2014 at 12:19
That’s exactly. I think it comes down to being the MLG’s fault for allowing this in the first place.
Ottokie
March 27, 2014 at 12:18
This guy in the back seats face is priceless.
Tarisma
March 27, 2014 at 12:43
Is that really the team?
Grimthwacker
March 27, 2014 at 12:50
Way to keep it classy……. What a bunch of w*nkers.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
March 27, 2014 at 12:22
Hope they get knocked out……by someone large and muscular
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 12:22
LOOOL
Ryanza
March 27, 2014 at 12:24
So this is what you call a team South Africa, where only one person is South African.
But where we have a proper South African team in the Battlefield tournament, we call that team Southern Barbarians.
How can we be proud of a South African team where the players don’t even give a fuck about South Africa.
What can I say? I hope the monkey does well? fuck this shit. Go do a dance for England’s B team.
Rikus
March 27, 2014 at 12:25
“Team RiZE…I
wish you the best of luck. Wait, no…no I don’t. Screw whatever sense of
pride and patriotism I have. I hope you get knocked out in the first
round.”
Seconded….
FSR
March 27, 2014 at 12:27
Don’t fret, Strictly Business will DECIMATE them. As will all of the teams in their group. What a joke and insult to the many who have poured their hearts and souls into growing CoD in this country.
Rags
March 27, 2014 at 12:27
Should’ve rather sent Zoe along with Ph4ntom and Detrony to Dreamhack.
FPS gaming on a console: Fail
MGL: Fail
4UK player representing SA: Fail
5 Assholes representing SA: Fail
…
ElNicko
March 27, 2014 at 12:28
Watch out…..we have a few Badasses on that plane. Are these guys like 12 ?? they barely look old enough to be out of primary school.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 27, 2014 at 12:38
…
ElNicko
March 27, 2014 at 12:51
So Much Win !!
Rince
March 27, 2014 at 12:32
What? It’s like an “English” football division! BWAHAHAH Where the only person who is actually English on the field is the fucking linesman! Trololo
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 12:33
Maybe if out football was setup like that we might actually win something.
Rince
March 27, 2014 at 12:33
Indeed 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 27, 2014 at 12:44
*soccer
Rince
March 27, 2014 at 12:48
lulz
Gerhard Davids
March 27, 2014 at 12:36
“She’s under instruction to ask the hard questions.” I dig it
Tarisma
March 27, 2014 at 12:45
Well think of it this way we give England the majority of their cricket players and a lot of “provincial” rugby players. It seems this trade off is only fair!
Norm the Horrible
March 27, 2014 at 12:55
Boom!
DBL_ZA
March 27, 2014 at 12:49
Pathetic
Rince
March 27, 2014 at 12:50
Shame, I think Geoff feels left out from all the lawsuit stuff…
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 18:50
Then he should tackle someone he gives a shit,unlike the MLG
Gavin Mannion
March 27, 2014 at 12:52
I just read through that guys twitter feed…. Help I lost 89 IQ points
Norm the Horrible
March 27, 2014 at 12:54
As did I.
Double-O-Six and a half
March 27, 2014 at 15:17
Some things can NEVER be undone!!! at least look on the bright side… you’ve still got a higher IQ than the COD SA kindergarten team…. combined…
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 18:49
hahaha
Ryanza
March 27, 2014 at 12:52
Why are there more than one team from the same country?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 27, 2014 at 12:53
Regions had a number of qualifying spots. Africa got just one.
Robert Hart
March 27, 2014 at 13:05
You sort of have to also lay some blame on MGL who made the decision to allow all of this.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 27, 2014 at 13:33
Indeed.
Mielies the Magnificent
March 27, 2014 at 13:07
Well, at least we know their twitter handler now…
InsanityFlea
March 27, 2014 at 13:09
I somehow imagined all COD players to be immature & stupid. ( I was right! ) There are some exceptions though, very few and far between.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
March 31, 2014 at 09:14
CoD is M-Rated right? Are these kids even old enough? I haven’t seen the pic.
Kensei Seraph
March 27, 2014 at 13:11
This pretty much sums up my opinion.
“Go team SA. Well the one guy that fucking comes from South Africa anyways.”
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 13:49
I know the dude who tweeted that quite well. Quite the legend here on Lagz as well…..
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 27, 2014 at 14:01
You mean that’s Tim? 😛 He looks 10 years old.
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 14:03
No, I said “quite the legend”
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 27, 2014 at 17:10
Uh, me? But I’m not on a plane….
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 27, 2014 at 19:20
Lies Jimmy – you’re the black box!
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 21:21
I said legend, not fruit
😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 28, 2014 at 09:06
Bastard! My plums are legendary!
Sageville
March 28, 2014 at 12:49
As the only legend on Lazygamer, I take serious offense being compared to one of these underlings!
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 28, 2014 at 14:58
I’m sure it was an honest myth-take.
InsanityFlea
March 27, 2014 at 13:19
I hope they packed their acne facewash.
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 13:49
XD
DrKiller
March 27, 2014 at 13:51
Would you guys have felt better about the team if this guy on the right didn’t look like a mop? 😉
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
March 27, 2014 at 14:57
Well I hope the other teams use his mop head to mop the floor with the team
boondocksaint87
March 27, 2014 at 13:54
Kan ek net asb daai fokken laaities ‘n PK gee asb!
Admiral Chief of Auraxis
March 27, 2014 at 13:59
Jy het my toestemming, gaan gerus voort
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 27, 2014 at 13:58
Wow… these tossers are worse than Bafana… Look at them! You just want to punch them in their gobs.
Graeme Selvan
March 27, 2014 at 14:11
I cant even begin to explain how I feel right now. What Utter bullshit.
Rainman
March 27, 2014 at 14:33
Now a good reporter would have elaborated why ParadoxX was denied a visa….. 🙂
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
March 27, 2014 at 14:57
I think they’d rather avoid any further legal litigation 😉
Sageville
March 28, 2014 at 12:52
Dammit, now I want to know why too!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
March 27, 2014 at 14:49
DAFUQ???? Team SA yet with only 1 SA Player and little kids who disgrace our country by zapping the camera for public posting!?
WHy are they not being fined for inappropriate behavior?
If the MSSA is so insistent that they are like big sporting institutes such as SARU and stuff then they should be putting a stop to this kind of disgraceful attitude.
They are OFFICIALLY supporting our country and bringing disgrace with their behavior.
But noooooooooo. Let a team who was doing our country proud remove the use of the flag and refuse them the use of the name South Africa in their team but allow this.
What… the actual…. GAHHH!!!!!
Sk3tz0
March 27, 2014 at 15:57
Fk ’em … May their Spawn Points forever be Camped..
Hammersteyn
March 27, 2014 at 18:48
LOL
vitam1n
March 27, 2014 at 16:26
Surely the one/two South African guys are mostly to blame here? Since without them there would be no team RiZE ZA. They are the enablers here.
Robert Hart
March 27, 2014 at 18:25
If not them, then someone else with 4 EU players would have just taken their spot in this fiasco.
Sageville
March 28, 2014 at 12:54
Doesn’t anyone else feel like the UK ninja’d our single african qualifying slot?
If ever there was a case for fronting….
Jason Ashman
March 28, 2014 at 04:33
aussie aussie aussie! … no… anybody?
Sageville
March 28, 2014 at 12:55
Shouldn’t you be out looking for MH370?
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
March 31, 2014 at 09:12
Too soon man.
Sageville
March 28, 2014 at 12:58
So essentially SA gave our qualifying spot to Team Orbit (UK) left overs.