Thank you very much narusaku256. It's been way to long but I am very grateful for the congratulations. :)
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It is 5 am in the morning where I am at the moment. However, I don't think I will rest until I put this letter I wrote somewhere. I decided to put it here, for it is here where I have my blog, and although I don't know what will happen to it, I do not want this to disappear. As such, here goes an unusual and yet a letter my heart desired to write:
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A letter to TSM:
If at this very moment I was a member of TSM, I would probably feel absolutely devastated. Putting so much time and effort into a lot of training, sacrificing a lot of things about life just to put the extra work into becoming the best team of League of Legends in the region of North America, and having one of the greatest support staff to help me make sure that I stay focused on the goals. And yet, in the end, everything was cut short in one single night.
And yet I can't really know how they truly feel, for I am just a fan watching from the sidelines. Even if I have a tight knot around my throat, I cannot truly understand just how crushing this moment is for each and every member of League of Legends North American team, TSM. Why I cannot ever understand? Because I have never felt the amount of pressure that they are feeling on a day to day basis, simply because of what "TSM" represents:
-"The Number 1 team"
-"The best line-up in the history of TSM"
-"The team with the best regular season"
-"A team made of superstars"
...and so on. To the North American League of Legends fans, TSM is a symbol of hope, enthusiasm and passion when it comes to League of Legends. For me, it is not exception. Ever since season 2, watching this team represent North America time and time again at the League of Legends World Championship fills me with joy and hope. Watching them proudly represent us on the Summoner's Rift and pushing their champion's skills to the limit against the best teams in the world is a symbol of inspiration which I can't really put into words. To the casual fans and to the passionate fans, this means that, for one or for a few weekends, League of Legends becomes the number 1 program to see during their following weekends. To others, it means gathering in a common place to watch the team from a big TV screen unleashing their skills and abilities to reach the coveted League of Legends World Championship Summoner's Cup. To the ones who can afford it, it means booking tickets to the Arena where the games will be held, just to cheer for them and to watch them personally as they battle their way through some grueling matches against very tough opponents. To me, it is being at the front of my laptop with my headphones on listening to the full streaming experience as my neighbors probably wonder why am I screaming so much. To each of the fans, we want TSM to win.
In this year, the organization did the best they could to prepare a North American dream team in TSM. They al know it: "Hauntzer","Svenskeren", "Bjergsen", "Doublelift", "Biofrost", "Reginald", "Weldon" and "Parth", each and everyone of them did their part to put the greatest of efforts into this year. They took the North American League Championship 2016 series by storm and punched their tickets to the World Championship as the number 1 seed. They "boot camped" in Korea several times in hopes to keep up with the meta game and have an edge versus the best teams in the World. However, no matter how much preparation, in the end a few plays inside the Summoner's Rift can turn the greatest hope into an crushing defeat.
To top it off, the League of Legends fans are so passionate, that whenever a team like TSM loses, they can be very demanding and can unleash a myriad of negative comments towards them. Words like "choke", "retire", "bench", "trash", "replace" fill up the comments section of the TSM squad whenever they express their sadness and disappointment through the social media. Do they feel the right to unleash at them? Maybe. But many other fans also provide support to their favorite team during these tough times. This is why I find myself awake after a 4-hour sleep, for even if this letter is never read by the members of TSM, I want to make sure that this letter is out there, showing them that fans are very supportive of them and that, even when the comments of "X region is better than NA" will circulate for a while, some of us will do what we believe is right: do what we would like to be done to us in these tough times:
'Dear TSM:
Although I do not know if this letter will ever reach you, I want to express and pour all my emotions and thoughts into trying my best to give you guys support and cheer during these times. Each and every one of you gave your 110% in these last months and you placed your reputation on the line as the greatest team in North America. However, the results have not been the ideal, for you guys have been defeated in some very tight matches. I could go on trying to figure out what went wrong, but I am no expert in League of Legends, for I cannot handle the stress of the PvP environment, and I know that the analyst staff will figure out the source of these losses. However, there is on thing I can do: do my best to provide support to you guys.
At this moment, I can't say for sure if you guys are even sleeping well, or even sleeping. The thoughts of last night's defeats are probably haunting your mind. That along with the hurtful comments of many fans will have you wondering if all your efforts were worth the time. Some of you may have some "alternatives" to take if you do not wish to hold this pressure anymore. However, I believe that each and everyone of you have what it takes to try again for the World Summoner's cup.
Yes, I know that this means another year of grueling work, sacrifices, time invested into the game and probably a lot of criticism from may fans. Honestly, I do not know the feeling. However, I do know that your guys worked extra hard to go this far. Was it worth it? To me, yes. Of course, this time you were knocked out of the group stage and there is bound to be disappointment, for the expectation were to be one of the top 4 teams in the world. However, the Rift can be cruel and these results can happen, whether we want them or not. However, this does not mean that TSM is a bad team. It only means that there is room for improvement in order to reach that goal. But no matter what, I want you guys to know that many of us fans will be here supporting you, wishing you the best and begging from wherever we are that this TSM squad would try once more to reach the World Championship. This line-up was not only built to be the strongest team, but also to be the one to endure the most criticism out of any other team. And with this I believe that you guys can stand up and take the Rift once more. Yes, it is disappointing to be on this position at this very moment; however this does not mean that "everything" is over. The game will continue to exist and so is TSM, and as long as this happens, you guys will still have fans who will be there supporting you and waiting for every update from the TSM squad. Why? Because we care! Because we love TSM! Because we still believe in you guys!
To Hauntzer, to Svenskeren, to Bjergsen, to Doublelift, to Biofrost, to Reginald, to Parthm and to Weldon, I bow my head to you guys in respect and in honor, knowing that you poured your hearts out into giving it all for you and for us. I want to see you guys grow in unison as a team and prove that TSM will always give their best, no matter the results, and try their hardest to make the fans proud. And even though this year the results will not be on paper, I know that this is just a small step in the pursuit of the dream that everyone in League of Legends aspire for: winning the World Championship.
For now, it will be a time to endure, to rest, and maybe even to visit those closest to you. After that, we do not know what will come next. But do know that we want the best for you and we will stand by you, cheering you on your matches, celebrating your wins and trying our best to cheer you up during your losses. We are the TSM fans and we will try our hardest to stand by our team, just like they try their hardest to represent us and make us proud. And you know what? You do make us proud TSM, you really do!'