When the Championship Gaming Series was unveiled a year ago, the community instantly looked to long time American Counter-Strike: 1.6 rivals Complexity and 3D. What would the championship teams do – how could they pass on the opportunity to take their competitive quarrels to the next level? New York 3D and Los Angeles Complexity became the geographical cornerstones of the league to ensure a cross-continent east versus west dynamic. LA went on to become the most successful Counter-Strike: Source team in history.

3D were the stars of their franchise but withered away as the less merited players almost put General Manager Dave “moto” Geffon in the North-American finals anyway.

The question is what happened?

Three Dismal

During 3D’s inaugural year, 2002, they announced that their mentality and approach to the game would be reflected in their name. Aspiring gamers have tried to live by desire, dedication and discipline for years. In 2008 the team seems out of touch with these public criteria for success.

While their antagonists, Complexity, handled the switch to Source remarkably well 3D has yet to find the edge that made them a world-class team in 1.6. They are currently at an unimpressive 4-7 in CEVO.

3D’s first full season of CGS saw the team finish with 7 wins and 6 losses. It was not a good return on General Manager David “moto” Geffon’s loyal investment in the source team – he picked them first in the North American draft. Out west the rivals LA Complexity went 11 for 2.

Thus far 3D’s biggest Source accolade is winning the World Cyber Games in 2005 – notably with a very different lineup.

Winning over Loyalty

As another draft is approaching Geffon has had to do the math. For the Source team the numbers do not add up the way they should and despite his reputation for being loyal it can only go so far when the name of the game is winning. He knows that better than anyone and as a former star himself he is bound to see that something has been afoot for the better part of the year.

Andrew “recTOOOR” Rector has caught a lot of fire from the usual community keyboard patrol. His stats reflect that criticism as he is currently at minus 59 in the Gamesense system with minus 9 from the first CGS season. Gamesense is not a scientific way of looking at how a player performs – but it does paint a picture.

“reCTOOOR” is an adequate assist player, his play helps the others perform. However, he is unable to make an impact at a world class level and he needs to in order to defend his spot on what is supposed to be the beast from the east.

What is not as transparent to the fans is the fate of Michael “Method” So. The LA native has enjoyed the status as an international superstar since 2002. In Counter-Strike: Source he is not. He seems out of place in the game and the format it is played in – his aiming abilities is not making the impact it used to and it must be causing all kinds of headaches for Geffon.

So does not seem to have the same fire and passion, the desire and discipline if you will, to keep working hard enough to turn the ship around. If you want to be great at something you have to love it – the dedication is derived from a love of the game. Does So have that for CS: Source like he did for the old version? Or is he just there for the paycheck?

No matter what the answer is it is a headache for Geffon. Should he - come draft – neglect to re-sign So? It would be gutsy, and a move certain to attract criticism to his leadership of the team. However, So finished the North American Season last year with minus twenty-five.

Absence of Leadership

In the past “moto’s” in-game leadership was credited for much of 3D’s success. As a General Manager he has to lead in a different way. The impact he can make once a Source match is live is minimal.

When Ronald “Rambo” Kim left for Complexity 3D lost that vital in-game go-to man, that “special” someone that craves the responsibility it is to lead a team. There seems to be no one in the team that can pick up that slack. It is a liability for 3D – the clear presence of leadership will help when things do not go as planned. There have been plenty of examples to that point over the course of the last year. The only viable conclusion after 20 plus matches is that it is not working.

One of the things on Geffon’s mind come draft time should be to find himself a Tom Brady.