Name:
Jon Corley

Position:
Writer

About The Author
Jon Corley is a long tenured Team 3D writer who currently heads 3D.NY's Website Staff

We've seen what seems like hundreds of lists arguing who the best players in the league are and who deserves to be franchised. However, we have yet to give credit where credit is due. Every franchise has a couple of players who are the backbone of their franchise, but for whatever reason, they are overshadowed and often times overlooked. I thought what better way to recognize them than in a Toast Time article, I can think of no greater honor! Kicking things off in no particular order.....

Volcano
Long time Team 3D and now 3D.NY Member, Sal "Volcano" Garozzo is a pillar of strength for the 3D.NY Franchise. One of the most consistent Counter-Strike players to ever touch the game, Volcano is everything you'd ever hope for out of a player. Although a fairly reclusive individual in the past, Sal has come out of his shell since joining the CGS and taken the reigns of the team so to speak. Although he isn't the strat caller, I would peg Sal as the team leader, or at least team motivator for lack of a better phrase. The first couple of times I heard Sal screaming for his teammates to get pumped up I had to do a double-take to make sure that was him. Never before had I heard him scream like he does now. Thankfully most his yelling is in an attempt to motivate both himself and his teammates and is not directed at the opposing faction.

With the addition of Juan and Nicknoit, 3D.NY was revitalized and rearing to go come Season 2 and boy did they live up to the hype. Excellent play courtesy of Volcano was responsible for much of the team's success throughout 2008. All but a lock for being a protected player, it looks as though we'll be enjoying Sal's company for the foreseeable future, or until he loses the itch to shoot domes.

Phantom
Undoubtedly one of the biggest keys to Carolina's success is Joe "Phantom" Tackett's and his unselfish play. For two season's now Phantom has been the #2 man for Carolina's racing squad and I have never heard a complaint from him. Paired with Rex in season 1 and now GeneralELive, Joe is one of the most selfless gamers in the league. A great racer by his own accord, Joe has simply been dealt an odd hand for two years in a row now. GeneralELive was brought in with the intention of catapulting the Core the top of the league in Forza 2, and did just that. However, General alone couldn't complete the task and had it not been for some excellent play from his partner Phantom, I doubt Carolina would have even made it to the North-American Final let alone win it.

If I were Mark Dolven, I would seriously consider keeping Phantom on board as long as the rule's stay the same. The only reason I'd think about ditching Joe for someone else would be if the CGS changed the format to purely a time-based hot lap type. Joe is an excellent racer but there are faster racers out there and if the rules are altered, we might see a new partner for GEL.

Lari
Longtime EG member and now a seasoned CGS veteran with the Chicago Chimera, Pasha "Lari" Lari has been an integral member of the franchise from day one. Although the Chimera's CS:S Squad hasn't been all that stellar as of late, it is by no means any one persons fault. Lari was a consistent player in the first season, but staggeringly average. However, Season two saw a breakout performance from Lari which caught most of his competitors by surprise. Whether it was the time off or just things coming together for him, Pash had an excellent 2nd year last season.


Chicago Chimera GM Brian Flander has made it abundantly clear that he is looking to tweak his roster in hopes of achieving better results, but it is unclear at this point who will make the cut and who will go home packing. If Lari plays anything like he did in Season 2, I would be hard pressed to find a reason to release him. Whether or not his past performances will be suggestive of what we'll see next season remains to be seen, but I were a betting mad I'd bet that Lari will come back stronger than ever for Season 3.

Zid
Former 1.6 star from the Jax Money Crew, Zid has been the leader of the Dallas Venom since they were drafted over two years ago. Although the roster has gone through some drastic changes, one thing has remained the same and that is the man at the helm. Known for his loud and often times harsh leadership style, Zid has finally assembled a group of guys with which he can consistently win. Venom's Counter-Strike Team was easily the most improved this season and I attribute much of their success to Zid's role in the team.

In the past, Zid was the main AWPer for his team, but since drafting Brawrski, Zid has relinquished this role and now usually AWP's in conjunction with Brawr if at all. One of the most feared duo's in the game, Zid and Brawr have almost singlehandedly catapulted the Venom to the top of the stats sheet. Although much of the team's success was in part to the addition of new players such as Brawr and Mustang, something must be said for Zid's consistent leadership and excellent play.

Warden
Without a doubt in my mind, one of single most important players on any franchise is Matt "Warden" Dickens. Long time Complexity member, Matt has been with coL from their inception and continues to play for them to this day. An integral member to the team's success, Warden is often overshadowed by his teammates. A self proclaimed entry fragger, Warden often times finds himself as the first one dead and near the bottom of the scoreboard. However, his role should not be overlooked simply due to lesser stats, he is as important to Complexity as Volcano is to 3D.


That being said, it seemed as though his own GM wasn't as big of a believer in Warden as I am. When the 2008 draft rolled around, 4 of the 5 CS:S Team members were either franchised or protected, leaving Matt the only one who wasn't and vulnerable to being drafted. Although I doubt he would have even played for any other team, Jason Lake's gamble paid off and he was able to pick Warden back up. Whether it was arrogance or just business, if I were the GM of LA, I would never put a player of Warden's caliber at risk again, I would have risked someone else.

Stermy
A true professional gamer who is renowned for his dueling ability, Stermy was a surprise pick by Kat Hunter two years ago. Not only was he drafted very early in the draft, he was drafted ahead of many more established FIFA names. Although the gamble appears to have paid off, I would have never risked it in the first place, but Kat Hunter did just that and is now reaping the benefits. One of the most dedicated players in the league, Stermy has evolved his FIFA game to the level of the best in the world. Hours upon hours of practice have resulted in his ability to put the ball in the back of the net and it paid off this year for the Optx.

Although his results weren't what he hoped for as he was outclassed throughout much of the playoffs, Stermy was still crucial to the overall success of the franchise. As the saying goes, true leaders lead by example and Stermy does just that. A level headed and proven performer, Stermy has an aura about him which his teammates seem to thrive off of. Whether he'll be back for more in 2009 will remain to be seen, but I wouldn't put a top 3 placement at the Combine past him.