Interview with Grubby: Part 1
The community so far has been quite vocal about their disapproval of the team’s dissolution. How does it feel knowing that there are that many fans out there who feel so passionate about you and Four Kings?
I am glad that they are vocal about the team’s dissolution – what I don’t think is that the main ingredient in that theme is ‘disapproval’. Disappointment would be a better word, from what I’ve read. That feeling is the same within me, so I very much appreciate reading the sympathetic responses all over the community.
Daniel Claesson’s (LiiLD.C) stay in Four Kings was relatively short lived, yet he spoke so passionately about the opportunity. It seems as though he wasn’t given the chance to shine having such a short career in Four Kings, how do you see his career progressing from here? 
LiiLD.C. joined up with us shortly after his WCG Sweden’s qualifier. That must be around 4-5 months ago now. He’s been one of the most motivated and passionate team players I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing next to. I trust he should not find it hard to find a new team and I would certainly like to recommend him to any team that is on the look-out for an established talent, with lots of room to grow under the correct guidance.
In 2007 we saw your team mate Olav Undheim (Creolophus) retire on the cusp of a promising Warcraft career. How do you think that reflects on the e-sports industry, if at all, that even a player with as much potential as Undheim has to bow out of world class competition for a more stable career through school?
I think that reflected more on Olav Undheim as a person than on eSports as an industry. You must understand that Olav is a very confident person who knows exactly what he wants. He thinks extensively before making a decision, and it was his decision that it was time for him to move on and explore another aspect of life. Life is short, so follow your head & heart.
What specifically have you taken away from Four Kings that you think will be of great value in later life and in your career?
That there’s a place for anyone to fit in somewhere with people that
accept you as you are.
Do you at all feel any resentment towards the Four Kings organisation? A team with successful players like yourself, Yoan (ToD) and Undheim with four WC3L championships under your belt, surely more could have been done to keep the team intact?
Of course I am very disappointed that it came to the point where individual players branched off and ultimately the team came to an end. Whether more could have been done is not an important issue to me anymore. That might have been relevant when I was in the team and I would definitely have given it my all to try and make it work. In such times, there is little time for resentment. By now, I will just move on and look at my immediate future.
How do you think Starcraft II will effect e-sports in Europe, do you think that mainstream exposure is tied in with the success of e-sports and do you think the West will ever catch up to South Korea in regards to pop culture status?
As a Warcraft III player I find it completely senseless to speculate about the impact of Starcraft II. When the time comes, it does. Until then, I will do my best in what I do best.
Male and female competition is segregated in almost every mainstream sport, do you think e-sports can or should divert from that trend?
There are areas where males and females can compete evenly (poker), there are areas where males and females can not compete evenly (on average in sports, males will get measured by harder standards), and then there are areas where I believe males and females can compete evenly, but don’t do so yet, because of any number of reasons.
That is where I believe WC3/eSports is atm. Broadness of the playing field, amount of available time spent on practice, any kind of causes that have not even been researched yet – I don’t know.
Right now I believe it’s very sensible to keep female and male competition separate, although females should be allowed to play in either gender competition. The female category of competition is particularly important to attract females to participate in equal playing fields. I fully believe that when females give themselves the chance to participate, there is no actual barrier that should stop them from competing on a 100% level with males.
You’ve said your favourite author is Isaac Asimov. Do you yourself have an interest in the sciences or robotics? Are there any other authors that rouse your interest?
It’s not robotics that interests me, it’s the way Asimov writes. I already loved his writing, but when I also read his book “Gold”, I became a fan. It’s because I learned a lot of how he thinks, how he writes. I like his unashamed arrogant attitude. I don’t see him as arrogant, but honest. He acknowledges his own skill, and he is honest and straightforward
Thanks for your time Manuel, all the best finding a new team.
Images from Four-Kings.com .
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24-01-08 03:02am |
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Nicely said. I hope there will be more Warcraft III 1 on 1 female tournaments! I will be the first to join! :p
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24-01-08 10:10am |
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SCII is scary... awesome interview, cu on MYM!!
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