Team SoloMid Takes Break from Interviews and Social Media for Performance Improvement
Team SoloMid recently announced that they will be taking a break from interviews and social media in order to focus on improving their performance. The team’s coach, Yoonsub “Locodoco” Choi, recommended this move to eliminate distractions and help the team improve on their current record in the League Championship Series.
Reasons Behind the Decision
The team’s owner, Andy “Reginald” Dinh, explained that this decision was inspired by similar practices in Korea, where players are banned from using social media during a rough patch. Dinh emphasized that this break from interviews is temporary and may be relaxed in the future. However, he singled out esports news site OnGamers for their critical content and stated a long-lasting reprisal against them.
Unfavorable Opinions on OnGamers’ Show
In a candid YouTube video titled “Ongamers,” Dinh pointed to the talk show Summoning Insight, hosted by OnGamers journalist Duncan “Thorin” Shields, as the reason for his decision. Some players, like Alliance top laner Mike “Wickd” Petersen, described the show as “creating content by bashing others.” On the other hand, Summoner’s Insight coach Christopher “Montecristo” Mykkles defended the show, stating that it provides constructive criticism and analysis like any sports talk show.
Strained Relationship with OnGamers
Dinh and Team SoloMid have had a long-standing relationship with journalist Travis Gafford from OnGamers. However, Dinh expressed feeling betrayed when Gafford shared the media ban information with his co-workers. Dinh believes that OnGamers profits off negative content and has decided to sever ties with them.
Debate and Defense on Social Media
This decision has sparked debate among the esports community, with opinions divided on whether the media ban is beneficial or detrimental to the sport. Mykkles defended his show on Twitter, highlighting the promotional value that teams gain from interviews. He argued that criticism is necessary for growth and that Summoning Insight offers a more open and honest discussion about teams.
Meanwhile, tensions continued to rise as Mykkles accused Dinh of hypocrisy, hiring a coach who had appeared on the show twice. Regardless of the debate, Team SoloMid players have chosen to stay away from Twitter and Reddit during this time.