Not trying to create drama or hate on anyone, but this is something I've seen several people in chat asking, for example during RBW2, but even way before.
Is it just me or does t90 not particularly like Viper? I do know they know each other in person and seem to get along okay there, but I always find it a bit weird when t90 is casting Viper games.
It used to be much worse and has gotten a bit better, but here are a few reasons why I think t90 might not be the biggest Viper fan:
- he almost always seems to root for the other player
- even when Viper was very clearly #1 (like before 2020), t90 would often call him "one of the best players", whereas every other caster called him "clearly the best player"
- t90 rarely gives him credit when he does something well
- t90 claims Viper maphacks or calls his play "disgusting" if it is done well (I know these are partly jokes, but they almost exclusively happen towards Viper, not so much towards other top players)
- I particularly noticed it during the game of Nicov vs. Viper in RBW2, where t90 was visibly disappointed in the end and said he was "heartbroken" when Nicov lost
- Also, the contrast between t90 and Dave in this set was startling: Dave kept praising the Viper ("this is why he is the best in the world still", "amazing play by Viper", "this is why he is better than Nicov")...) and t90 always responded by downplaying it or turning it into more general compliments towards other players as well ("this is what the top5 is so good at", "but he did lose 2 games against Nicov despite that" etc.)
Now I do know the common responses: as a caster, t90 wants to make it exciting, always the same guy winning is bad for his viewership etc.; the underdog is more appealing; as a caster, he wants to make it exciting.
However, IMO these don't really explain his behaviour for various reasons: For one, t90 basically only does it to this extent towards the Viper, not when you have other somewhat one-sided matchups (e.g. Hera vs a non-top5 player - he would never downplay Hera's play like this). Furthermore, other casters in aoe3, other e-sports or professional commentators, e.g. in soccer, don't nearly do this as much when casting "clear favourites". Finally, Viper has looked more shaky in recent tournaments and even then t90 does not "praise him more" or "go easy on him more often", he still seems not as sympathetic to him (meaning it isn't just "Viper always winning" that causes t90's behaviour).
Thoughts?
Is it just me or does t90 not particularly like Viper? I do know they know each other in person and seem to get along okay there, but I always find it a bit weird when t90 is casting Viper games.
It used to be much worse and has gotten a bit better, but here are a few reasons why I think t90 might not be the biggest Viper fan:
- he almost always seems to root for the other player
- even when Viper was very clearly #1 (like before 2020), t90 would often call him "one of the best players", whereas every other caster called him "clearly the best player"
- t90 rarely gives him credit when he does something well
- t90 claims Viper maphacks or calls his play "disgusting" if it is done well (I know these are partly jokes, but they almost exclusively happen towards Viper, not so much towards other top players)
- I particularly noticed it during the game of Nicov vs. Viper in RBW2, where t90 was visibly disappointed in the end and said he was "heartbroken" when Nicov lost
- Also, the contrast between t90 and Dave in this set was startling: Dave kept praising the Viper ("this is why he is the best in the world still", "amazing play by Viper", "this is why he is better than Nicov")...) and t90 always responded by downplaying it or turning it into more general compliments towards other players as well ("this is what the top5 is so good at", "but he did lose 2 games against Nicov despite that" etc.)
Now I do know the common responses: as a caster, t90 wants to make it exciting, always the same guy winning is bad for his viewership etc.; the underdog is more appealing; as a caster, he wants to make it exciting.
However, IMO these don't really explain his behaviour for various reasons: For one, t90 basically only does it to this extent towards the Viper, not when you have other somewhat one-sided matchups (e.g. Hera vs a non-top5 player - he would never downplay Hera's play like this). Furthermore, other casters in aoe3, other e-sports or professional commentators, e.g. in soccer, don't nearly do this as much when casting "clear favourites". Finally, Viper has looked more shaky in recent tournaments and even then t90 does not "praise him more" or "go easy on him more often", he still seems not as sympathetic to him (meaning it isn't just "Viper always winning" that causes t90's behaviour).
Thoughts?