Hotline League
By Travis Gafford
Hotline LeagueFeb 27, 2019
FLY Falls Short at MSI, Can TL Redeem NA?! The WESTERN MINDSET feat. Zven | Hotline League 318
00:00:00 Intro
00:11:20 t-bone's take: FLY has to blow up their roster if they want to make Worlds
00:31:12 nohrii's take: TL v TES is the best stylistic matchup TL could get
00:47:57 GreenCervidae's take: as Zven said, NA will never win Worlds because pros don't play enough high elo
01:14:35 Tatami Galaxy's take: FLY's failure might set up an interesting narrative for Summer
01:29:02 gamberino wants to talk about Western mindsets at international tourneys
01:38:35 Outro
YOUR SPICIEST MSI 2024 TAKES! LEAKED THIRD INT'L TOURNAMENT?! feat. Nymaera | Hotline League 317
00:00:00 Intro
00:24:08 eBraum wants Nymaera's thoughts on LPL and LEC at MSI, and first int'l tourney without LFL
00:40:40 Yasukeh's take: MSI would benefit greatly from having more casters
00:56:24 Grayska's take: the LCS has entirely dropped the ball on MSI content
01:15:32 nocturnavi's take: the leaked third int'l tourney for 2025 should invite more minor regions
01:35:07 doublezeee's take: As an NA fan, I will always have expectations of western teams in general.
01:54:15 basil thinks TL could make Top 4 and GenG will flop
02:08:36 Outro
LCS's BIGGEST WINS, Spring Split learnings, Summer changes feat. Commish MarkZ | Hotline League 316
00:00:00 Intro
00:21:28 EzraSmiles's take: LCS should push more content during the break weeks to get through the lack of games
00:30:33 Rico Suave asks Mark about the plan to increase NA viewership and young viewers
00:53:21 Azikiel asks what Mark's take is on adding unbroadcasted games and fearless draft
01:26:45 Wakalino ask if there's any content planned for off days during normal broadcast hours
01:33:03 David asks if there's any hope for 2025 roadshows for finals
01:40:15 ppdoc's shoutout
01:41:30 Mark gives some more insights on Spring Finals
01:50:20 icebreaker asks Mark what the biggest surprise was during his first split as commissioner
02:02:33 Why can't Mark talk about bo3
02:06:20 Outro
Why TIER 2 is the FUTURE of LCS! C9 changes feat. Steve Kangas and Kelsey Moser | Hotline League 315
00:00:00 Intro
00:13:47 Davis's take: bring back Scouting Grounds as a content event
00:43:39 BreakingDreams is concerned for C9 due to lack of coaching staff support
01:01:03 Tzvi's take: colleges need to invest in lolesports through high school-focused roadshow
01:21:38 Braedan's take: C9 does best when they pull from their Academy team. Bring it back, Jack
01:36:15 Minnogi's take: it is clear that collegiate LoL is the future of League of Legends in NA and the Tier 2 scene
01:58:20 Outro
COREJJ on Team Liquid's AGGRESSIVE style! Is CRITICIZING your own team EVER OK? | Hotline League 314
00:00:00 Intro
00:18:15 Lord Audie asks CoreJJ about TL's growth since 2023
00:30:40 wombatbaby's take: FLY and TL makes sense because they're the only teams that have Challengers rosters
00:45:27 tbone's take: while Thanatos is a good pickup for C9, it won't solve their problems
00:55:47 skizzle's take: DIG firing Enatron was just a cover for poor roster construction
01:16:17 boggs's take: the Inspired interview was super overblown
01:31:05 Glaurung's idea: if a team wins a split, they get to choose the city for a road show
01:39:30 Outro
TL TAKES SPRING FINALS! C9 missing MSI, Impact the GOAT?! feat. Emily Rand | Hotline League 313
00:00:00 Intro
00:21:59 lymyion's take: TL is simultaneously the worst team to win the LCS and also the best team we've ever sent international.
00:40:33 David's take: the LCS Final should never be in the Riot Games Arena ever again
00:56:27 vash's take: teams need to give fans a reason to commit to them
01:11:34 Lord Audie's take: Bwipo and Inspired are the reason FLY lost to TL
01:21:55 Mephisto's take: TL is the best NA team because Spawn is the GOAT
01:37:00 Andrew's take: C9 missing MSI is bad for NA as a region
02:01:24 seanatonin's take: Impact the GOAT of LCS
02:17:38 Outro
FINALS, FINALLY! Does C9 NEED a rookie? Is 100T just LUCKY? feat. Bwipo | Hotline League 312
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:18 Rico Suave's take: there should be definitive leaders in a team to help shape identity
00:28:09 eBraum's take: as a C9 fan, C9 is going to get swept by TL, TL will win over FLY
00:36:10 Bwipo's hot take: The difference between 100T and IMT was pure luck
00:46:30 Is Berserker's gameplay suffering without Zven?
00:51:10 micspam's take: MarkZ being the face of LCS is really dumb
01:03:55 Tzvi's take: C9 needs a rookie to succeed
01:28:44 lymyion's take: Bwipo & APA (and players like them) are the 2 best players to come to the LCS
01:41:19 Azikiel asks Bwipo: how much has NRG's downfall been due to the loss of Ignar
01:49:35 bearusAurelius asks Bwipo why we don't see more roaming top laners
01:55:20 Outro
Would ROSTER CHANGES make NRG WORSE? Is BERSERKER a C9 LIABILITY? feat. Zven | Hotline League 311
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:44 rawnblade's take: NRG will get worse with roster changes, not better
00:30:05 LestForce's take: the LCS is trying too hard to make trash talk a thing
00:44:20 Zven wants to talk about IMT's branding
00:49:30 GreenCervidae's take: LCS needs more former pros on broadcast
01:04:40 Titan's take: TL will make it to LCS Finals against C9
01:19:44 SCared's take: Zven should replace Zeyzal as support and Licorice replace Fakegod
01:31:35 Dragosi's take: Massu has solidified himself in the Rookie of the Year discussion
01:42:50 N1ckster's take: Berserker is C9's biggest liability
01:59:55 Outro
SPICIEST PRE-PLAYOFFS TAKES! + TL roster drama feat. PapaSmithy and Andy | Hotline League 310
00:00:00 Intro - Playoffs incoming, a sprinkle of drama
00:20:30 Gambirino's take: shifting from a live patch to a fixed patch for Playoffs will test the teams
00:37:40 icebreaker's take: from a product/hype perspective, 100T is the best team to send to MSI
00:51:22 Human Boy YesYes's take: DIG and TL have better shots at MSI than NRG and C9
01:07:40 Skizzle's take: C9 can't beat 100T if they maintain their 0-3 superweek form
01:19:55 deeeep space's take: DL's comments on Dodo are an example of where esports seriously needs to improve in PR and comms
01:43:25 NoReason asks: What does FLY look like without their NACL team?
01:52:51 muzzvein's take: River or Quid MVP, but Inspired and Jojo 1st Team All-Pro
02:06:24 Outro
WHY LCS should DROP SPLITS! BEST ADC in NA?! feat. Inero and Kelsey Moser | Hotline League 309
Follow Travis on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/travisgafford Support: https://linktr.ee/tgisupport 00:00:00 Intro 00:24:53 Scatter Catt's take: the LCS should stop doing separate seasonal splits altogether 00:37:10 Miyaour's take: the three-week break could've been used better 00:52:30 mikey's take: bvoy has consistently been the best ADC in the league 01:03:30 bb's take: this is G2 and C9's best chance to win at international tourneys 01:16:24 Tbone's take: LCS should ditch spring split in favor of a tournament of the Americas 01:27:35 Russ's take: TL should seriously think about replacing ADC and Mid next split if they get elim'd in the first round of playoffs. 01:48:20 Thanks, subs and viewers! 01:48:45 Swede's take: the best way to bring Western viewership back is to bring back an in-client player 02:02:55 Outro
Can LCS teams INNOVATE on LIVE PATCH? feat. 100T Goldenglue, Spookz + Joseph | Hotline League 308
00:00:00 Intro - triple-guest episode
00:21:50 ezra's take: 100T's success proves how important coaching staff is
00:35:40 Mastergen1's take: there's a lack of innovation on the live patch
00:49:55 Tim wonders about Sniper's skills outside his comfort zone
00:58:46 waka asks 100T how they feel about the state of LCS and the game itself
01:11:05 trasterisk's take: Spawn and Goldenglue are great examples of how T2 works
01:30:30 katmandu asks how 100T staff feels about the 2-week break
01:41:12 ppdoc asks who 100T considers their biggest competition
01:50:20 trespasser's takes: scared for C9 as a fan, + Sven is at LS's bootcamp, which team would benefit most from him?
02:08:55 Outro
Revenge's FAREWELL to LCS and HONEST player perspectives feat. Raz | Hotline League 307
00:00:00 Intro
00:25:53 Stevenator's take: for the first time in his career, Blaber is not a top 3 jungler in LCS
00:40:18 Gambirino's take: Quid has made a strong case to be rookie of the split if eligible
00:54:03 dctheking asks Revenge for a donezo manifesto - best and worst teammates, etc.
01:18:01 sandytoes' take: LCS is stabilizing
01:42:20 Travis asks Revenge if he'd encourage new players to try and go pro
02:00:10 Polowy asks Revenge how important Academy teams are to LCS teams in terms of practice
02:07:23 ZePaladin's take: LCS downsize gives rookies a chance to stand out
02:14:20 tuft REALLY misses the analyst desk
02:24:50 Dr. Nollie asks Revenge how honest players are with one another
02:34:48 Outro
Who's to BLAME on C9? Are Bo3s WORTH? feat. Spawn and Yeon | Hotline League 306
00:00:00 Intro
00:10:55 Cubby asks Spawn and Yeon about their reunion
00:15:50 Travis asks Spawn about external factors he's noticed
00:22:00 gengariffith's take: people should blame coaches over players for lack of direction on C9
00:38:35 Muzvein's take: Eyla is finally in a position to succeed
00:47:30 Davis's take: 8 teams has been great for the league in terms of parity and narratives
01:08:00 David's take: How about them Thieves?
01:20:55 twinkletoes asks HLL about the status of NA esports in 2024
01:39:44 GoldenKS's take: People forget how big of a deal Impact is for TL
01:47:34 Ashar asks Yeon and Spawn what feels different about TL and the LCS this year
01:56:26 Outro
Why the PROS show is AMAZING! Should LCS teams run TRYOUTS? feat. KangasCasts | Hotline League 305
00:00:00 Intro - LCS and TGI updates
00:15:55 treethan's take: we should do team tryouts in NA like they do in KR
00:30:40 play's take: team owners should be livid about Riot's broadcast shortcomings
00:57:09 franz's take: if TL doesn't start picking up wins, they should drop CoreJJ not APA
01:13:12 brandywine's take: the PROS show is the best thing to happen for the scene in years
01:30:10 skizzle's take: SR's failure to keep Chime and pick up a good top laner is the cause of their poor performance and low placement
01:47:55 aemulator's take: C9 are infodoomed like no other team in the West
01:58:14 Outro
LCS SPRING during ESPORTS WINTER! LIVE PATCH, format, and more! feat. Palafox | Hotline League 304
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:45 Cubby and Palafox chat about Palafox's growth as an NA mid laner and 2024 mentality
00:21:50 Bluejay's take: with LCS being on live patch, innovation should be rewarded
00:32:58 bearusAurelius wants to talk about APA's tweet and wonders if LCS needs more games
00:47:57 nizzy2k11's take: the LCS needs more content like Jatt's 15 minute talk with players
01:00:30 Alienware break!
01:02:40 Emily joins HLL to ask Palafox about Azir
01:16:25 rawnblade asks Palafox how he feels after his first international experience
01:26:35 wokka asks Palafox how he feels about more player-related content on the LCS
01:40:30 junghoon wants to talk game industry layoffs
01:55:30 takeutchi's take: LCS needs to invest in local/regional growth over risky imports
02:13:45 Outro
Can LCS HYPE surpass LEC hype levels?! HALL OF LEGENDS + more feat. MARKZ | Hotline League 303
00:00:00 Intro
00:15:04 Franz asks Mark how LCS can match energy of LEC games ie. KC vs. MAD
00:30:30 Farmerginge wants to discuss having pro play take place on the live patch
00:39:50 murderino's take: no NA player should qualify for the new Hall of Legends
00:53:25 Alienware break
00:56:30 Wizery asks Mark for examples of past content that shined or missed the mark
01:12:00 gil asks Mark how his career so far is informing his new role
01:25:40 beans's take: Riot banning live coverage of NACL qualifiers is disrespectful to all parties involved
01:37:00 ezekiel asks Mark about the possibility of LCS vs LEC or other regions
01:41:40 Urdiales's take: LCS fans should focus on healthy ecosystem over international success
01:51:00 Outro
LCS 2024 CHANGES? Does JENSEN have something to PROVE?! feat. Svenskeren | Hotline League 302
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:20 Tom's take: With the LCS down to 8 slots + a shorter schedule, early wins matter more
00:28:54 Bluejay's take: this is Jensen's biggest "proving" season since his debut
00:43:03 Cloud asks about svenskeren's coaching experience
00:53:45 Alienware break!
00:57:40 treethan's take: teams can't turn down sketchy opportunities in the current esports climate
01:19:35 JamJon's take: FLY has a better roster for growing Massu than 100T have to grow Meech
01:29:41 Davis's take; the winner of MSI getting a free trip to Worlds is good for format but bad for that winning team
01:37:40 Zak Mango is optimistic about Riot's efforts for competitive League scene
01:48:05 Outro
NRG's Rise, Changing Game Days, High-Power Players and More: 2023 in Review | Hotline League 301
00:00:00 Intro
00:08:22 farmerginge wants to talk about worrying viewership numbers going into 2024
00:20:20 manny is excited to see LCS come back to the weekends and hopes for a bo3 format
00:32:50 mogul's take: props to NRG for exceeding expectations as underdogs
00:39:45 Alienware break!
00:43:33 evies talks about offseason and broadcast
00:52:35 olympius conspiracy: 2023 proved that C9 is content with regional success and resting on NA laurels
01:02:20 max's take: LCS 2023 had the highest average player strength we've seen in a while
01:11:18 LNA wants to shout out NA players and narratives
01:19:33 ren's take: LCS should lean into aging audience
01:35:54 LCS 2023 was a more compelling product that LEC for the first time
01:43:40 Outro
From CO-HOST to COMMISSIONER: MarkZ leads the LCS into 2024! What's next? | Hotline League 300
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:33 outsane asks Mark why he's the man for the job
00:31:31 fearfactor's take: better comms are necessary for the LCS to improve
00:39:12 farmerginge asks Mark what viewers should keep in mind while they wait for implementation
00:50:22 Avajou asks Mark for his favorite HLL moments
01:03:05 Andrew asks if TGI can be unbiased?
01:11:59 DoubleG's take: MarkZ IS the man for the job
01:19:45 Cody's take: the LCS might struggle to fill Mark's shoes on the broadcast at first
01:29:50 praeco asks if there are differences between esports and tsports that can be leaned into
01:45:45 big angry hobo wonders if it's too late for 2024 LCS changes
01:52:30 CaptFlowers calls in to congratulate Mark
01:59:00 Azael and Emily join HLL
02:10:20 rudy asks Mark what he's excited to see evolve about the product moving forward
02:20:07 Outro
The BIGGEST moves and HOTTEST takes of the off-season with Croissant and Cubby | NOT-line League
Check out Alienware's deals: http://alienware.com/travis Follow Travis on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/travisgafford Support: https://linktr.ee/tgisupport
TL STEVE'S TAKES on a SMALLER LEAGUE and LCS ACADEMY! Strongest team EVER? | Hotline League 299
Check out Alienware's deals: http://alienware.com/travis https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/deals/pc-gaming-deals Help protect 30% of the ocean by 2030: https://bit.ly/3ucafsV Follow Travis on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/travisgafford Support: https://linktr.ee/tgisupport 00:00:00 Intro 00:20:25 chief's take: the grassroots part of LCS is what made it great 00:33:45 TL Steve calls in to talk 8 teams and offseason 01:01:05 Alienware deals! 01:05:25 hexblast's take: the biggest loss from the two downsized teams is Inero and Kelsey Moser 01:10:05 lazerfruit's take: Riot should've given the two empty slots to top NACL teams 01:17:57 sogeking's take: Free agency is too lax, needs explicit rules to protect players 01:29:33 Only One break! See link in description 01:33:19 shake n bake's take: Needham downplayed how much the loss of 2 teams hurts the LCS 01:48:17 justin's take: the 2022-23 T1 roster is the strongest ever in LoL 02:00:24 treethan's take: jojo should've gone to Liiv SANDBOX 02:05:55 Outro
BANGER SEMIS, MOST DOMINANT FINALS EVER?! Playstyles, Patches and more | Hotline League 298
00:00:00 Intro 00:30:45 mr.bojangles' take: It's exciting that Shopify Rebellion is pulling talent from the NACL 00:43:16 leo's take: this is going to be the most one-sided Finals in Worlds history 00:52:52 Alienware break! HUGE DEALS! 00:55:50 bearus' take: WBG has the play style to beat T1 01:05:25 basil's take: Fudge has been receiving undeserved hate 01:18:30 Suta's take: FLY is going to lose all fanbase momentum they had from last season regardless of results 01:37:20 farmerginge's take: remove the Worlds patch and only have two patches per split to increase consistency of deserving winners 01:52:30 Outro
BIG OFFSEASON RUMORS! Why NA and EU should compete against each other + more! | Hotline League 297
00:00:00 Intro - Welcome Jonathon! Travis reviews BlizzCon 2023, NRG's Worlds experience
00:13:42 Sentiment towards NA on international stage
00:24:30 Jonathon on NRG situation
00:33:10 Offseason trends and narratives
01:04:20 Alienware break!
01:07:40 farmerginge's take: NA roster building is the 'fat loss pill' of the esports world
01:23:50 Spencer's take: the no.1 takeaway from Worlds is that NA and EU need to compete against each other more
01:35:45 mogul's take: TL is going to lose fans and rep if they drop APA
01:53:28 Stormblessed's take: Teams should be looking to pick up EMENES
02:09:05 Outro
NRG's Worlds climb-- how far will they go!? G2's scrims vs stage games + more! | Hotline League 296
00:00:00 Intro - Worlds updates, G2 Mark costume
00:27:40 dctheking's take: people are exaggerating the issues with Swiss
00:43:03 t-bone's take: NRG got the best possible matchup for Quarters
00:56:10 Alienware break!
00:58:50 yami's take: G2 posting scrims results was wildly disrespectful
01:19:45 KERNEL PANIC's take: teams are not going to stick to core development despite NRG's success
01:40:06 sling0's take: NRG performance proves that lack of path to pro in NA is detrimental to the region
02:00:00 Outro
CaptainFlowers's INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH for NA! Is G2 the DARK HORSE of the West?! | HLL 295
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:20 Play-Ins updates
00:26:40 Captain Flowers joins HLL to talk NA at Worlds
00:36:21 Justin's take: C9 is NA's worst team at Worlds
00:46:24 franz's take: G2 will make semifinals and should be a lesson to other orgs to invest in players
00:58:40 Alienware break!
01:01:17 rawnblade's take: Adam, BDS top laner, shows how you can earn fans through unique playstyle
01:09:10 rudy's take: the Bo3 qualifiers and elims are going to be the death of the LPL, only JDG will qualify, so 3 Western teams will get through
01:17:15 Lunabear27's take: For BoX series, teams should be allowed at least one surrender
01:27:48 bella's take: having Worlds every year is the root cause of all LoL's problems
01:35:43 gravity's take: NRG has a decent chance of taking a game off Weibo
01:43:25 rook's take: TL, C9 and NRG all win their first games
01:53:50 Outro
What does GRIND and GLORY mean to NA? Prince leaves FLY, Worlds speculation and more | HLL 294
00:00:00 Intro
00:23:00 reassure's take: keep supporting NA!
00:32:08 Xcelsior's take: The bracket did not select the 4th best team in the LCS to play for Worlds. GG's collapse was basically the worst in history of the LCS
00:43:43 Sammic's take: with Prince potentially leaving LCS, it's time to stop rotating the wheel of imports in LCS. This falls on Riot to fix.
00:54:45 Raz critiques Travis's take on imports
01:07:25 Alienware break!
01:10:15 DirectorDonut's take: GGs performace highlights why Riot has not wanted more than 3 teams per region at Worlds
01:22:54 Michael's take: it's time for NA to lose a seed at Worlds
01:36:00 lotus's take: TL will perform the best of NA's teams
01:46:12 presidente's take: The Grind and The Glory holds a lesson for NA
TSM's departure, LEC salary caps, and... NEWJEANS?! Getting ready for Worlds and more! | HLL 293
00:00:00 Intro 00:12:38 Talking about TSM 00:30:15 josh's take: salary caps are horrible 00:51:50 nickelodeon's take: with TSM/CLG gone it's time for new teams to build legacies 01:01:44 numiii talks NewJeans 01:13:50 Outro
WHAT'S UP with LCS GAMECHANGERS? WHO is the BEST NA TEAM at WORLDS? feat. Astrocats Avril | HLL 292
00:00:00 Intro
00:12:40 rudy asks Avril about her collegiate experience
00:22:22 max's take: Gamechangers feels like a very underdeveloped event
00:45:01 rexFC asks: what can Riot do to get more diversity in the LCS?
00:58:28 On Representation
01:07:00 Worlds Format announcement
01:09:20 Alienware!
01:12:15 fez's take: this year's Worlds is more important than any other for keeping Westerners interested
01:21:55 figment's take: TL is NA's best team at Worlds this year
01:34:50 EMENES response reaction
01:39:49 Simmz wonders what happened to the camaraderie of NA and EU
01:50:30 remixt's take: Swiss format will show the true strength of NA
02:00:00 promiscuous time traveler's asks to what extent Mark and Travis can influence LCS production
02:11:00 Outro
VIEWER BURNOUT, an HONEST look at LCS History, Gamechangers and more! | Hotline League 291
00:00:00 Intro - news and Reddit thread on improving the LCS 00:48:04 KAPPY's take: Riot should implement a rule that players can only switch major regions every two years 00:57:28 spencer's take: viewer burnout could be alleviated with more focus on entertainment 01:14:20 BB's take: move to Bo3! 01:28:46 zextrap points out difference between tsports and esports priorities 01:48:25 Invictus's take: Riot should adopt a standard rotation 02:00:10 Lore rant 02:06:00 numiii's take: LCS Gamechangers should get more love
TOAST'S TAKE on the SOUL OF ESPORTS! What REALLY drives viewership? feat. Emily Rand | HLL 290
00:11:47 Iron thinks Toast should help IMT 00:23:50 yami wants to talk creators and NACL 00:42:50 dez's take: the overpolishing of esports has killed a lot of the scene 01:01:45 Alienware break 01:08:00 Emily Rand joins HLL 01:16:10 chadcyberdemon asks about transition from journalism to stage 01:25:54 lazerfruit's take: GG will beat BDS 3-1 and are/will be the second strongest NA team at worlds 01:35:20 fearidan's take: LCS has been super entertaining, but it's not enough 01:51:20 sylveke's take: the best way for the west to win at worlds is by developing creative strategies rather than playing meta. 01:58:55 prongs's take: LCS talent's growth is limited by Riot 02:11:45 Outro
LCS LONGEVITY! Can NA keep up?! Team owners' takes, Riot press conference and more | HLL 289
00:00:00 Intro
00:18:27 Talocy's take: NA LoL needs to change its team practice standards to become competitive internationally
00:30:30 alexbad's take: Riot needs to take their PR much more seriously
00:59:00 Alienware break!
01:01:47 Shorn's take: LCS is fine if longevity is the goal
01:18:50 ben's take: VALORANT is Riot's no.1 priority
01:31:30 LordAudie's take: TL Steve's comments on team priority further confirm why LCS is in its current state
01:48:05 pop pop's take: Steve's take on fanbase growth is out of touch
01:53:35 Outro
NRG VICTORY LAP! The value of ENVIRONMENT over SUPERSTARS feat. NRG Palafox and Croissant | HLL 288
00:00:00 Intro
00:24:26 tuft DEMANDS an apology from Travis and Mark
00:35:00 lazerfruit's take: Palafox is best mid NA and NRG has the best chance of upsetting at Worlds
01:02:08 Dhokla asks Palafox what was going through his head at 24 mins in game 4
01:12:42 dctheking's take: the year of NA mids is fraudulent. NA mids aren't better, imports are just worse. Palafox and APA will get exposed at Worlds
01:26:30 ivzz's take: NRG winning LCS proves that having a well-coached team w good environment is better than investing in an all-star roster with no identity
01:41:40 theblacksheep's take: even though NRG just won LCS finals, critics won't place them as the top seed going into Worlds
01:53:30 Outro
UNSUNG HEROES vs. FRAUDS of Summer Split?! The state of NA vs. EU in 2023!? feat. Treatz | HLL 287
00:00:00 Intro
00:20:40 good guy tim has been impressed with FBI
00:33:00 mikey asks treatz if it's fair for costreamers to dump on LCS level of play
00:44:20 Alienware break!
00:47:20 King of Vocal Fry's take: TL series proved Unforgiven was so overrated and did not deserve to be all pro
00:56:15 Dave's take: costreaming negativity comes from spectator perspective
01:04:38 fist's take: TL v GG proved that Summit is a liability
01:14:28 ricky's take: GG is better than every possible EU 4th seed outside of maybe G2
01:28:46 Ligit0r's take: C9 is about to get their third LCS Championship in a row.
01:37:43 Murderino's take: TL has proven themselves this Summer
01:45:40 RubySea's take: there should be 3 LCS teams leaving after this season
01:57:43 Outro
100T's Roster Struggles; NRG GREATER than they appear?! DIG to the TOP!? feat. Spica | HLL 286
00:00:00 Intro
00:19:52 Munchkin predicts: DIG will beat GG, TL will beat EG, DIG will beat TL
00:35:45 Bluejay's take: Bugi, Insanity and Chime should be treated as valuable free agents
00:45:30 Alienware break!
00:49:26 MagiMick's take: 100T hasn't been able to put together a winning roster yet
01:01:28 Cool asks Spica about how culture and management affect teams
01:11:11 gyro's take: teams like NRG have always been greater than the sum of their parts
01:25:00 Cptn Turtleman's take: C9 is going to continue dominating; 3-0 vs NRG
01:37:00 tomjack asks Spica who he'd buff/nerf
01:48:48 Outro
Why EG is NOT a one-trick team! Is Contractz a TOP 3 JUNGLER? Playoffs predictions + more! | HLL 285
00:00:00 Intro - Barbenheimer, LCS news and All-Pro voting
00:35:51 Jae shouts out Wildturtle for his longevity and impact
00:44:30 Zemelci's take: EG isn't just an OTP team and Revenge proved it
01:00:00 Alienware break
01:02:55 Cpt Turtleman returns to predict that C9 will have a near-perfect run through Playoffs
01:12:20 Yami's take: GG will overperform C9 at Worlds because their team is more well-rounded
01:24:05 T-Bone's take: FLY should stick together next year, except maybe midlane
01:38:43 MagiMik's take: Contractz is a top 3 jungler in the LCS
01:49:18 Mikey's take: TL not making Worlds would be a disaster for their roster
02:04:15 Outro
Who is the BEST NA TRIO?? Which team should be KICKED out of the LCS? feat. Cubby | HLL 284
00:00:00 Intro
00:26:24 warpenguin's take: IMT should be KICKED out of the LCS
00:42:50 aggro's take: River will rob Blaber of MVP this split
00:58:50 Alienware break
01:00:50 Kon's take: we should wait til the split's over to critique viewership count
01:17:55 jnt50's take: NA midlaners outperformed imports for the first time in LCS history
01:32:00 littletree's take: EG not making top 4 nor Worlds
01:42:20 CptTurtleman's take: C9 trio of Blaberfish2, Fudge and Lord Zven will continue to dominate LCS
01:52:00 Outro
Could 100T MISS Playoffs?! How can LCS players achieve career longevity? Blaber the GOAT? | HLL 283
00:00:00 Intro
00:13:30 SydeB's take: NA's 4th seed will soundly beat EU's 4th seed for the Worlds spot this year
00:26:55 Mauricio's take: 100T is gonna finish 9th and miss Playoffs
00:46:00 Vall3y's take: FLY will bounce back
00:53:05 Alienware break!
00:55:55 Henry's take: GG is the best and maybe only hope for NA at Worlds
01:11:00 munchkin's take: NRG to Worlds
01:21:30 Observer's take: none of the MVP frontrunners have been POTW so far
01:32:44 dixiecup's take: LCS players need to do more to get their face out there more
01:42:30 LS joins HLL
01:50:15 Michael's take: plenty of deserving players will miss All Pro
01:57:42 Ivan's take: Blaber will win his 3rd MVP and become NA GOAT
Why NA will NEVER win internationally!? Can TSM rally to top 4?! feat. Cubby + Boostio | HLL 282
00:00:00 Intro
00:11:50 Rob predicts FLY is going to finish 9th
00:29:20 zemelci's take: NA talent success this season proves that NA talent exists
00:46:00 Alienware break
00:48:20 boostio's take: NA will never win on international stage due to lack of work ethic
01:11:50 kayokio's take: the Bo1 LCS format is outdated and boring
01:29:50 EzraSmiles's take: TSM will go 3-0 this week and finish top four in summer
01:46:22 Human Boy's take: GG is going to remain a top org
01:56:35 Outro
Is SUMMER MVP a two-man race? Can DIG go to Worlds?! Why RIOT wouldn't KILL the LCS | HLL 281
00:00:00 Intro
00:19:40 bluejay was satisfied to see TSM lose 3 games in a row after removing Insanity
00:34:33 yami's take: unfortunate that riot chose now to kill their own game
00:59:12 kon's take: Rich and Jojo should be leading the MVP race right now
01:15:14 brandon's take: FLY will make a miracle comeback to 4th
01:27:05 EzraSmiles's take: C9 isn't as far ahead as people think
01:33:30 T1 ThotSeize's take: DIG will be the third team to go to Worlds from NA
01:42:35 franco's take: casters should be more critical
01:53:05 Outro
EG on the RISE while FLY falls short?! Your SPICIEST SUMMER SPLIT takes feat. Cubby | HLL 280
00:00:00 Intro
00:18:45 Zemelci's take: TSM subbing out Insanity would be the perfect example of why the league is better without them
00:34:48 treethan's take: EG is revitalizing NA talent development
01:10:40 Alienware BLACK FRIDAY IN JULY DEAL!
01:13:20 rawnblade's take: LCS has a lot of great personalities among players right now
01:25:30 Joestar's take: EG is going to finish regular season in 1st place
01:37:06 kaz's take: this FLY start is the most disappointing in LCS history
01:51:51 Michael's take: Revenge is ready to be the best LCS toplaner
02:03:11 Outro
FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER! What's up with FLY? Will C9 fall off? The BEST of TSM?! | HLL 279
00:00:00 Intro
00:13:28 wafflefoot's take: Week 1 proved TL did well to keep their roster
00:25:40 Megan's take: FLY is 0-3 because no Winsome buff
00:34:50 River's take: people should care about the Reddit protests
00:53:43 warpenguin's take: TSM should keep Insanity in, he's the best player on the team
01:10:50 ImScrewed's take: Mark was right, 100T bottom team this split
01:22:05 knightsz was more entertained by the casters than the actual games this weekend
01:36:46 Dclang's take: C9 is gonna fall off
01:51:15 Outro
SUMMER IS BACK! Who's YOUR LCS MVP prediction? WALKOUT resolution and more! | HLL 278
00:00:00 Intro
00:21:00 ev500's take: Riot won the walkout, it was all just PR anyway
00:37:00 Michael's take: TL is winning the Summer Split and Pyosik is getting All-Pro
00:51:00 Alienware break and unboxing!
00:54:02 kath's take: LCS should absorb LatAm to expand talent pool
01:09:00 gottyboy says this is the LEAST excited he's ever been for Summer
01:20:45 gengariffith's take: Jojopyun will be MVP this split
01:28:15 treethan's take: this EG roster is better than people think
01:35:48 kon predicts 100T wins split and GG loses the hardest
01:50:00 Outro
Has the WALKOUT been SUCCESSFUL? Is there an END in sight?! WILL SUMMER SPLIT GO ON? | HLL 277
00:00:00 Intro00:24:33 RogersGalaxy's take: LCSPA Phil needs to be fired00:41:43 Ika's take: Phil's asks were poorly communicated and not reasonable01:09:05 Zemelci's take: it would be in the self interest of LEC players to walkout in solidarity with the LCS because if this walkout fails then it signs a death warrant for the negotiating power for both regions01:26:45 bang's take: LCS should buy back TSMs spot and use it for Valorant Style relegation01:36:22 squizzomatic's take: DL is an embarassment to the LCS and should not be welcome in the league anymore01:59:50 fez's take: letting T2 be its own thing is the best thing that could happen to NA, LCSPA demands are the worst for this02:14:05 Outro
LCS PLAYER WALKOUT! What are the DEMANDS and BEST OUTCOME feat. Phillip Aram and Kelby May | HLL 276
00:00:00 Intro
00:24:50 artichoke's take: LCSPA is being unreasonable with their demands
00:43:20 halfzippedjacket's take: it's the viewers' responsibility to boycott the LCS product too
00:52:45 Kelby May joins HLL to weigh in on sponsors' POV
01:01:20 sakowitz's take: someone at Riot is making actively harmful decisions for the LCS
01:10:35 micspam asks Kelby for his take on creator involvement in esports
01:19:57 tomshoe asks if there's been an increased push for transparency from Riot by LCSPA
01:32:10 bluestork's take: now more than ever, the LCSPA needs to become a formal union
01:46:53 lord nick's take: LCSPA should organize some for-fun games to be streamed during walkout
01:55:50 Kelby wonders why Riot's pushing for the show to go on this week
02:08:00 Outro
NACL's DRASTIC changes! Does NA REALLY value native talent?! feat. Vulcan | HLL 275
00:00:00 Intro - Vulcan's updates, NACL discussion
00:37:20 TSM discussion
00:48:30 gordo's take: Riot needs to restrict imports
01:04:20 knightsz predicts Vulcan gets a title on FLY
01:11:30 micspam asks Vulcan what he'd say to disappointed LCS fans
01:24:06 brakthir asks why legacy NA fans should care
01:33:00 yami's take: creator orgs will make NA the worst region
01:47:49 Outro
NA at MSI! Did MSI format succeed? NACL implications for the LCS and more | HLL 274
00:00:00 Intro - NACL, MSI format, and more
00:30:05 tomato's take: teams that choose not to support NACL should lose an import slot
00:46:00 Alienware break
00:47:45 Cubby calls in to talk NACL
01:11:35 Luctus's take: the people that voted on NACL decision should be getting more heat
01:33:10 OnePlus break
01:35:25 excelsior's take: GG had as good a showing as we could've hoped
01:43:37 mr. cool's take: GG and C9 looked better than expected
01:51:09 zemelci's take: this MSI format mostly succeeded
The NEW Western Narrative! Is 2023 Finally Our Year? feat. DonJake | HLL 273
00:00:00 Intro
00:19:20 laserfruit's rant on EU sentiment towards NA
00:33:07 kimmer's take: GG is going to run it back to LCS Summer Finals after MSI exp gain
00:41:45 Alienware break
00:43:00 Monjhall addresses reddit concerns around bracket
00:59:53 Gabe's take: C9 and G2 have the best chance of beating Eastern teams
01:12:55 OnePlus 11 break!
01:15:30 mockra's take: western analysts are ruining viewership for int'l fans
01:35:40 Izzdaer's take: the MSI broadcast has done a better job of creating team storylines than the LCS
01:52:20 Outro
Is GG making Semifinals?! Are minor regions set up for international success? feat. Drakos | HLL 272
00:00:00 Intro
00:33:35 treethan's take: GG losing the way they did to BLG was great, they will still make it to semifinals
00:43:15 OnePlus break!
00:46:30 Zemelci's take: LOUD should be the favorite to make it out of Group B, but lose to GG on Sunday
00:49:20 random discourse about London vs LA
00:59:00 back to the LOUD take
01:05:10 Zemelci's 2nd take: if G2 and GG had swapped Groups, it would've gone the exact same
01:08:40 jnt's take: with news of Rekkles role-swapping, we're going to see more role-swaps from other players
01:20:18 shibby wants to talk about the minor region narrative
01:35:20 Alienware break
01:37:30 dean's take: Vulcan to FLY might have language barrier issues off the bat
01:50:45 ayohae's take: minor regions are just here to get stomped and that's not fair to them
01:57:40 knights's take: drakos is the greatest NA caster outside of NA
02:01:40 Outro
Import rule rumor: is it GOOD or BAD? Should LCS players jump ship to LEC?! feat. Cubby | HLL 271
00:00:00 Intro 00:26:52 Nicole's take: Instead of required challenger teams, teams should be encouraged to run 7-9 man rosters 00:47:36 Bluejay's take: Needham's take on the showtimes shows how disconnected he is 00:59:50 raimi's take: if three-import rumor is real, it's a half-measure 01:10:24 goose's take: if Vulcan ends up in LEC, more LCS players should follow suit 01:15:35 Peter Dun joins to argue with Travis 01:30:30 knightsz's take: there should be a third slot in the import rule because it raises our chances of winning internationally 01:41:48 numiii asks Cubby what fans can do to support T2 league 01:49:02 vimstrike's take: EG dropping 4/5 of their roster isn't a bad omen for LCS 02:04:55 Outro
Can CLOUD 9 bring home an MSI trophy?! TSM isn't going anywhere! | HLL 270
00:00:00 Intro
00:20:30 fox's take: LEC format isn't sustainable for LCS
00:29:02 silyas's take: TSM isn't going anywhere
00:39:55 TomShoe on the Berserker 3 imports leak: Riot should scrap the import rule
00:52:40 Alienware break!
00:54:46 david's take: we should give up on caring about online viewership and focus on live event attendance
01:21:43 Burt Machine's take: salary cap is needed to support the ecosystem
01:35:15 littletree's take: C9 will finish in 2nd at MSI, losing to JDG