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ESPN to Cover MLG (Pro Gaming League)

mlgpro.com — ESPN and Major League Gaming have entered in to a content agreement that will include coverage of professional gaming events. Historic day for competitive gaming.

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  • RavagesOfTime, on 01/14/2008, -2/+16And yet, Cheap Seats got cancelled.....
    • therobd, on 01/14/2008, -0/+4I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this was a one and done as well as soon as the contract is up. ESPN does pick up the obscure sports/games and air them on a temporary basis or once every year or so. Some replies have already mentioned the Scrabble championships and such.

      Back in the action sports heyday, stuff like aggressive inline skating was broadcast on ESPN regularly. The same held true for competitive eating when Kobayashi was huge a couple years ago. ESPN aired a few circuit events. Now, both sports' popularity has waned, and they're barely on the network anymore.

      I could see this being an annual event for one of the ESPN networks. I'm not sure if the potential for consistent coverage like more mainstream sporting events is there at this juncture.
      • bingobongony, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1What? The competitive eating was ALL OVER the channel last summer. And not just the Nathans one.
      • NSNick, on 01/16/2008, -0/+0True, but there's always the chance it could catch on, like the poker coverage did after 2003.
    • guitarh3ro, on 01/15/2008, -2/+6MLG sucks. I went in 2006 to compete in Chicago, and it's so stupid. In Halo, it's all about kill stealing with a BR. On Midship. RRX and BXR combos were often and deadly and was the only thing that allowed for quick rank ups. And the rules have it set to you lose, your out, even though you paid a fee to get in. No swiss match format (how it should be).

      One guy there flew out from LA to participate, but didn't here his name get called in the FIRST ROUND, so he went to buy a t-shirt. They let another guy play for him, who apparently lost. In the end, he paid for plane tickets to fly to Chicago just to get a t-shirt.

      MLG is dumb and the rules are lame. Call me a noob, I don't care what you think, but MLG has a flawed system that really needs to be changed.
  • canewediggit, on 01/14/2008, -3/+87he could...... kill.....all...... the noobs!
    • Lkr721993, on 01/14/2008, -0/+24That'd be epic if Chris Berman was calling it.
    • ch4os1337, on 01/14/2008, -0/+12"He just used the BXR technique to frag Mrspooge69, now expain that for the viewers at home.. Well Jim.."
    • Worldchrisis, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1I would pay $20 a month to see Gus Johnson call the tournaments.
    • cobainirvana, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1the sad thing is the majority of the people reading this don't know who the hell boomer is. video gamers do NOT pay attention to football...except me and the people who digged you up. whoa why the hell is the past tense of "to digg" not a word! *****!
      • Tebixan, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1The past tense of "to digg" is "dugg"

        And I think you'll find a lot of people who like video games & football, but hardcore fans of either are probably less likely to follow the other
  • theofficepicnic, on 01/14/2008, -7/+23This is truly amazing. Who would have thought that professional gaming could gain this much traction as to be recognized by ESPN as a proper sport?
    • mattyice11, on 01/14/2008, -5/+53I hate when people use the term 'sport' for gaming...there's nothing derogatory about calling it a game rather than a sport. Just because it's skill based doesn't make it a sport.
      • kingmanic, on 01/14/2008, -4/+8depends on your definition of sport. From Websters:
        sport
        Function:
        noun
        Date:
        15th century

        1 a: a source of diversion : recreation b: sexual play c (1): physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2): a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in2 a: pleasantry jest b: often mean-spirited jesting : mockery derision3 a: something tossed or driven about in or as if in play b: laughingstock4 a: sportsman b: a person considered with respect to living up to the ideals of sportsmanship c: a companionable person5: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue

        There isn't anything super special about physical exertion. Top MGL could woop my ass in Halo 3 as much as Marion Jones can woop my ass in needle taking or sprinting.
      • BearinG, on 01/25/2008, -0/+1So watersports aren't sports ?!
    • Bwackv, on 01/14/2008, -1/+4I agree that it's fine to have distinctions for different activities and that it doesn't take away from their credibility.
    • Speed, on 01/14/2008, -1/+6Keep in mind curling is also considered a real sport.
    • Coffeedemon, on 01/14/2008, -3/+15World Series of Poker? Countless other Card games, Spelling Bs? ESPN covering this does not make it a sport.
      • Worldchrisis, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1Don't forget competitive jump-rope!
    • Gonz037, on 01/14/2008, -2/+1Who would have thought that professional gaming could gain this much traction? Well... they cover poker on ESPN, 'nuff said?
    • sugarazor, on 01/14/2008, -3/+3At least poker has the coolness stigma of cigar smoke and neat visors. Competitive gaming frightens me if for no other reason that it's going to try to legitimize gaming culture and that kind of behavior should never be celebrated.
    • ruddy, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2can't wait till they air digging on espn
      • Tebixan, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1It's the digg National Championship!!!!

        On one side, the Ron Paul Zealots, leaving comments 6 pages long in response to a single line critisizing Libertarianism.

        On the other side, the Gamer/Apple Fanboi Coalition, who's tech is so much more superior to yours, that you should be shot for purchasing it.

        Gentlemen, start your web browsers!!!
    • DD00, on 01/14/2008, -0/+1The only difference is they aren't actually airing events. They are just reporting on them. So it's not quite there yet.
    • NeoCortex, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1By the way, ESPN also covers that wheel of cheese rolling down a hill with people running after it every year as well. It doesn't mean it's a sport.
    • gadgetlust, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2Every Stupid Pastime Network?
      /got nothing.
  • mlgpuckett, on 01/14/2008, -8/+4This is awesome
  • anTii, on 01/14/2008, -8/+45Are they replacing hockey or womens basketball with it?
    • slvrbullet87, on 01/14/2008, -2/+7ESPN doesnt cover womens basketball... nobody does
      • paulvq, on 01/14/2008, -1/+1Don't they produce the ABC broadcasts of the WNBA? I know they carry NCAA women's basketball.
    • Jeffler, on 01/15/2008, -0/+9ESPN isn't even covering the NHL :(
    • sinurgy, on 01/15/2008, -0/+9Dissing hockey just shows you're at worst a complete dumbass and at best a total pussy. Now go watch poker ya little lamo!
      btw...I'm not a Canadian either.
      • cplex, on 01/15/2008, -3/+1Hockey sucks and I'm Canadian. Being Canadian does not mean you like hockey.
        • Weip, on 01/15/2008, -0/+6Don't love hockey means you are not a canadian. Leave this country NOW!
        • hockey, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3cplex you are not Canadian. Buried as inaccurate.
    • Weip, on 01/15/2008, -1/+5Hockey is the best sport in the world! Period. And I'm a canadian :)
    • cobainirvana, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3im not canadian, but i will love hockey until the day i die. to even think you would compare women's bball to hockey is an atrocity.
  • HoboGrant, on 01/14/2008, -0/+11Stations in Korea have broadcasted gaming events for some time now and have been largely sucessful.
    I'm finally glad to see that a major station in the U.S., like ESPN, has noticed that the profession of competitive video gaming is legitiment, and perhaps a very profitable IMO with the huge following surrounding it.

    Hopefully coverage of MLG events will stick around for a long time.
  • Step1Mark, on 01/14/2008, -3/+91Be sure to catch ESPN's coverage of MLG on ESPN 8 ... The Ocho.
    • Typhoon2009, on 01/14/2008, -4/+4Ja ja ja! Que rico, hombre! Me encanta el Ocho, siempre tienen las noticias de los deportes mas obscuras.
    • pauljlucas, on 01/14/2008, -0/+3Thank you Chuck Norris
    • HydrogenOxide, on 01/15/2008, -0/+4Coming up next, the International riding lawnmower races!
    • Echuu, on 01/16/2008, -0/+1hahaha, i was just thinking that, but to be serious this is a good step forward for pro gaming.
  • YouRookies, on 01/14/2008, -11/+3I don't know how MLG is now but several years ago they had a bad rep for not paying out several event winners. They have been boycotted by the fighting game community but the Halo noobs keep them alive.
    • melonhedd, on 01/14/2008, -0/+2fighting lame community
    • IAmKalec, on 01/14/2008, -0/+5MLG actually has a very good reputation for paying its winners. You may be confusing them with EGL.
    • grancalc, on 02/05/2008, -0/+0No, YouRookies is right. From the end of the 2004 season until the end of the 2005 season, which actually concluded in February 2006, MLG had not paid out a majority of the prize winners due to some financial instability. However, the company never intended to steal money and always intended to pay out those winners, so it committed itself to set things right. Before the start of the 2006 season (April), all players owed money received their prize checks, and since then, prize money has been paid out in a timely fashion: no more than 8 weeks during the 2006 season, and no more than 6 weeks during the 2007 season. Paying everyone what they were owed after over a year of non-payment was symbolic of MLG overcoming a huge wall and taking the next step to success, which they have experienced quite a bit of in the two years since.
  • Bwackv, on 01/14/2008, -0/+17MLG was not the one who had a bad rep for not paying out event winners, that was CPL. Oops!
    • i208khonsu, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2They all have bad reps for not paying out event winners. Except of course for online only events which are subsidized by buy-ins, not sponsors. Orgs like CEVO.

      Anywhoo this is another big step for the NASCAR of eSports.
  • EvanVolm, on 01/14/2008, -0/+10I hope they get people who actually know about games and don't just read from a teleprompter.
  • stefl, on 01/14/2008, -3/+6This is more than just MLG gaining recognition. This is about competitive video gaming. Every chance is one more step towards bigger possibilities...
    • IrvineKinneas50, on 01/14/2008, -2/+4Promoting games like Halo as pro gaming is not a step forward, it's a tremendous step backward. If you want a game that takes skill, play a game like SOCOM, an RTS, or something that isn't a brainless respawn fragfest.
      • likwidfuzion, on 01/15/2008, -3/+3The Halo franchise takes a tremendous amount of skill and teamwork than you would think. Just watch any videos of the MLG team FinalBoss and you'll see.
      • Pyroteq, on 01/15/2008, -1/+3I'm sorry, did you just say SOCOM was competitive? What's the biggest tournament SOCOM has had. Lets see, Halo has been in WCG, MLG and countless other large tournaments.
        • volacide, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1Just because SOCOM hasn't had bigger tournaments than Halo means nothing. You completely misinterpreted his comment. He was saying that games like Halo don't require much tactical skill comprised of simply fragging and respawning. Games like SOCOM actually requiring more tactical, chess like, play for success.
  • hokeywebb22, on 01/14/2008, -1/+7I wondered how long it would take ESPN to broadcast people playing a good video game.
    They have had the Madden Challenge for like 2 years but I can't stand anyone who is ever on that show.
  • iPirate, on 01/14/2008, -15/+27There is nothing more boring than watching somebody else play a video game.
  • soccerman90, on 01/14/2008, -1/+4what no more G4 commentary? Why dont they leave it to the profesionals m i rite.......
    • Worldchrisis, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1The only acceptable commentator is Gus Johnson, who could make Backgammon at the old folks home feel like the World Series.
    • BearinG, on 01/25/2008, -0/+1I've watched MLg on G4 and it always seems to be Halo.. I think its a good idea and I actually use Forza 2 tv alot (having a smoke for example) but i wish they had more than Halo.. maybe I havent watched the show enough
  • jessestorm, on 01/14/2008, -3/+31First poker, now this. Even SPORTS are lazy.
  • brownsound00, on 01/14/2008, -10/+8thank god, get this off the Score (a major sports channel in Canada.) I watch the score to see my sports highlights... not people play Halo. Its completely ridiculous. You have video games, on a sports channel!!!!!!! WHY?
  • rheaume, on 01/14/2008, -12/+11Wow, thats... sad isn't it?
    • likwidfuzion, on 01/15/2008, -1/+3It is sad once you realize a top StarCraft player in South Korea makes 2-3 times as much as you sitting in your office cubical. Yeah, that's sad.
      • rheaume, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1He makes 300k a year?? *****!

        And besides, it doesn't mean I want to watch him play games in HD, sitting on the couch
  • xXGeechXx, on 01/14/2008, -2/+4Nice, an adult version of Video & Arcade top 10
    • Jeffler, on 01/15/2008, -1/+2Dugg for reminding me of the good old days of V&A T10
    • cplex, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1I was on that show once! I thought I'd be famous :(
  • nmcvicke, on 01/14/2008, -5/+13nerds don't watch ESPN, silly cable executives...
    • nthitz, on 01/14/2008, -2/+1Even more silly, people who watch ESPN don't give a ***** about the MLG
  • BetterThanYou, on 01/14/2008, -5/+11I would have much rather seen more paintball on ESPN.
    • UtahApocalyse, on 01/14/2008, -0/+2They show paintball on CSTV (which I don't get here) and I would love to see it on ESPN
    • Bodhii, on 01/16/2008, -0/+0I watch paintball on ESPN right after I watch poker and cup stacking...oh wait, no I don't.
  • tehjarvis, on 01/14/2008, -4/+4bad enough that there's poker, spelling bee's and dominos on ESPN...now THIS?
  • soccerman90, on 01/14/2008, -2/+1espn also broadcast the world scrabble championship, so why is this any worse?
  • broohaha, on 01/14/2008, -4/+2Yet one more thing not to watch on TV. Yeah, the U.S. is catching up, I guess, to the absolute banality that is TV entertainment these days. I was in Asia a couple months ago, and I couldn't believe I was watching a video game being played on tv. One of the most boring things to watch.

    I mean, really. I'd rather be playing it than watching it.
    • Sairgem, on 01/14/2008, -0/+3You could say the same thing about sports. I find it entertaining to watch really good players face each other on some games.
  • amgamer23, on 01/14/2008, -0/+5ESPN has broadcast DOMINOS...I would have been surprised if they DIDN'T announce this.
  • greenblob, on 01/14/2008, -1/+4Is MLG doing Smash again? There was a rumor that they'll host Brawl tournaments in 2008/2009.
    • melonhedd, on 01/14/2008, -5/+0I love mashing buttons
      • Shadic, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2If you're just mashing buttons, you'll get your ass handed to you.
  • legato763, on 01/14/2008, -7/+4Nobody is going to watch this
    People like to play games, not watch.
    • Mikhail101, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2no its more exilerating to watch pros play than to play yourself

      sarcasm...
    • h4mx0r, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2You'd be surprised that there actually is a niche of people who do. Of course, I enjoy playing, but trust me when I say that there are.
    • jsg7, on 01/14/2008, -3/+2I agree. Gamers want to play, not watch other people play. And non-gamers won't care...
    • likwidfuzion, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3Tell that to www.gotfrag.com
  • Mikhail101, on 01/14/2008, -6/+3oh yea coz we all know the athleticism in gaming, the competitors train vigorously by sitting on their ass playing video games and go on a strict diet of mountain dew and Doritos
    • KnuckleZ, on 01/15/2008, -3/+2i like how some game geek gave you a thumbs down lol..wow cmon guys you know this isn't a sport just like professional scrabble.
      • Mikhail101, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1its just that there lazy to get of there asses to play sports, i play TES: ESM 3 and deus ex etc.etc. but like i also do other things too.
  • wddwmmandalore, on 01/14/2008, -2/+2i hope they wont be shocked at extremely low ratings...but then again how many people watch the world scrabble tournaments?
  • ckdiggs, on 01/14/2008, -2/+3Keep in mind, the E in ESPN stands for Entertainment. This is hardly an endorsement that MLG is a sport.
    • likwidfuzion, on 01/15/2008, -3/+1Keep in mind, the S in ESPN stands for Sports. This is hardly an endorsement that MLG is entertainment.
  • Discobiscuits, on 01/14/2008, -13/+5***** MLG, Halo is the lamest shooter ever made.
    • IrvineKinneas50, on 01/14/2008, -6/+1Seconded. People who think they're pro gamers because they're good at Halo need a slap in the face. Halo takes no talent or brain activity whatsoever. It's a brainless, pretty-looking fragfest.
      • HunterSeeker42, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2Looks like somebody didn't invite you to the Halo party down the hall...
      • Pyroteq, on 01/15/2008, -0/+4No brain talent? Tell that to the players who can time a powerup so well they can have 2 players pickup the powerup at the same time then proceed to use a grenade to blast a rocket launch into their hands from the opposite side of the map and dominate the other team by not letting them move an inch off their spawn.
  • RedStarRizing, on 01/14/2008, -2/+16AND ERIC "DA BEARS" STROMBERG TAKES THE FLAG! HES RUNNING WITH IT! THIS COULD BE ALL OVER AND.. OMG! HES ON THE FLOOR ITS....ITS HIS THUMB... ITS A THUMB CRAMP!
  • kyleforeman, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2It's great to see this finally happening in the states.
  • PxCxG, on 01/14/2008, -2/+3A sign of the coming apocalypse?
  • MistaSparkle, on 01/14/2008, -2/+1This is bad. Now MLG will appear alongside trick shot pool.
    • slvrbullet87, on 01/14/2008, -0/+5Trick shot pool is awsome... i dont know why you have a problem with it
      • MistaSparkle, on 01/14/2008, -1/+1Alright, how about dirt track racing?
    • Dgen_X, on 01/14/2008, -0/+3and right after the 6th grade national spelling bee!
  • Kelgari, on 01/14/2008, -2/+0It's nice to see espn try their hand at airing a competitive video game. The only problem is the game they chose. Halo is only popular because it's new, shiny looking and easy to get into, it doesn't really have the depth of games that have endured for multiple years such as starcraft or quake.

    At the same time, they would have to hire someone who understands video games, like DJwheat, Carmac or Manifesto7. Watching someone like Madden try to comment on something he doesn't understand would be horrid.
    • Tebixan, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1Halo has been one of the best selling FPS for 7 years, thats hardly new and shiny looking. Maybe it's not CS or UT, but it's clearly not just a fad at this point.
  • ch4os1337, on 01/14/2008, -3/+2Get the ***** out...
  • SybotCB, on 01/14/2008, -0/+5If you read the article. It states that it's only for coverage on their website and at ESPN360 their online broadband "network". Not for their TV Station.
  • Papajohn56, on 01/14/2008, -3/+5ATTENTION: Just because MLG is on ESPN doesn't make it a sport, so stop calling it one. Magic the Gathering competitions were on ESPN a while back and that's not a sport.
  • bufar, on 01/14/2008, -0/+2Like I want MLG to be on the channel that boasts exclusive coverage of The World Series of Darts.
    • bingobongony, on 01/15/2008, -2/+2Wait..you are trying to put down something like darts becuase you think you are good at playing video games? Try polaying darts competively. Your arm would fall off.
  • MackPrime, on 01/14/2008, -1/+2the S is for ... Stuff?
  • IrvineKinneas50, on 01/14/2008, -6/+0Don't get your hopes up. As someone who's been playing on MLG for a while and actually have experience with MLG, I can say that MLG doesn't take skill. Games on MLG are games like Halo that are just ***** respawn fragfests. You'll never see a game on MLG that takes an iota of brainpower.

    MLG is to pro gaming as arena football is to the NFL.
  • dustinhansen, on 01/14/2008, -0/+2What games do they play?
    • IrvineKinneas50, on 01/14/2008, -6/+0Halo is MLG's biggest game. In other words, MLG isn't pro gaming. It's just a chance to capitalize on stupid teens who think that Halo is legitimate competitive game.

      The best gamers you will ever see overwhelmingly play RTSes and tactical shooters, not respawn fragfests.
      • SSCrow, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3They play SSBM, CS, Rainbow Six, and Gears. Among other games.
        Just because Halo is the most popular doesn't mean anything.
        Halo is a great game, too bad you can't see that.
        • IrvineKinneas50, on 01/15/2008, -3/+0Halo is a good casual game. To play it competitively is absolutely retarded. It takes very little intelligence due to the fact that it's a respawn fragfest.
          • cplex, on 01/15/2008, -1/+2Do yourself a favour, when MLG is on TV, watch a game or two. Then play yourself and tell me it takes no intelligence / skill.
        • Pyroteq, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2Yeah, Quake and UT take no skill because they are "respawn fragfests"... You're an idiot and you no absolutely nothing about competitive gaming.
      • greenblob, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2Well, money is money and these MLG-sponsored players are rolling in dough.
  • techfish, on 01/14/2008, -0/+1I would love to be able to watch Call of Duty 4 matches from CAL, CEVO and TWL on TV. I remember when EGLN.net was broadcasting CAL matches, I guess they didn't have enough support to stick around.
  • Jacobi, on 01/14/2008, -3/+2I think this is pretty silly honestly. But if poker can be taken seriously, then why not competitive video games?

    And yes, this is not a sport. Competition? Yes. Sport? Nuh-uh.
  • danielpyle, on 01/14/2008, -0/+1Wow someone else see the market...wonder how long until www.playskilledgames.com is featured on ESPN...
    Look for us soon at the NLOP. We will be taking over online gaming before you know it...
  • bigtigga7, on 01/14/2008, -1/+1Will this be shown on the Ocho?
  • roffelmeh, on 01/14/2008, -1/+1i was see 1.6 on espn
  • cbarning, on 01/14/2008, -0/+3Put the NHL back on ESPN.
  • joey368, on 01/14/2008, -3/+1Damn ESPN. If wrestling isn't a sport to them then what difference is gaming?
    • Tebixan, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3Gaming is competitive, wrestling is scripted
  • urbandistrict, on 01/14/2008, -4/+1I must be sleeping at work, this is not ***** real.
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