#1 - Pandemic - (14-2)



Eligible roster, as listed by CEVO:
Adam "Reptile" Dopko
Samuel "oPlaiD" Lingle
Ryan "scknsS" Mitchell
Nick "TheFragile" Leon
Dan "REP" Nunez
Paul "newby" Turner
Alex "alex" Anthone
Eric "hubris" Dean

Samuel "oPlaiD" Lingle's answers to rk's questions:

1. What have you been doing in the down time between the end of the season and now? What have you been doing to prepare for the playoffs?
In between playing Left 4 Dead, we've kept busy staving off the hordes of adoring fans we acquired after our nailbiting CGS ProAm championship victory, although you could say both are pretty similar - thwarting packs of ravenous zombies.

We have not put in much preparation time for this because, honestly, we don't need to for most of it. We're much more focused on the ESL Major Series III Group Stage since it's a lot tougher for us to compete in that environment due to a number of factors, including but not limited to latency, hangovers, and Swedes. We've spent a little time practicing against a few European teams to get used to the annoyingly high ping (again) and their slow and boring play style, so that's helped with a few of the challenges.

2. Has it been tough to get motivated for these playoffs? Do you feel like the team is ready to go?
It really has been hard to stay motivated for CEVO after taking the $5,000 cash prize in the CGS ProAm, but then this tournament's bounty holds a special place in our hearts.

Returning Pandemic player Tim "Dummy" Olson got into gaming by watching Fatal1ty dominate in Quake in beyond, so we're going to do our best to make sure to win that top of the line RAM so he can complete his fantasy of creating an autographed Fatal1ty brand gaming system.

Whenever we start thinking that we don't really need some silly RAM, we just remind ourselves of little Timmy's dream and it keeps us going full steam.

3. How well do you think you guys will do?
"There are lots of good teams in this tournament, and on any given day, anyone can beat anybody. We've obviously had a lot of success in TF2, and we hope that continues in CEVO."

That's probably what I'm supposed to say, but that's silly.

Obviously, we think we're going to win. I'm sure everybody else, does, too. Can't blame em, we haven't lost yet...

And honestly, we wouldn't be competing if we didn't think we could. That's the attitude you need to have in any competition. If you don't believe you'll be victorious, you probably won't - a fact that's certainly helped us stay on top, because, we're actually pretty freaking terrible.

4. Any shoutouts? Comments? Compliments on rk's haircut?
Our #1 shoutout of course goes to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; without him none of this would be possible, he's close to all our hearts.

We'd like to thank all our fans, we do this for you and we're glad to have your support (despite the zombie comment above).

In the spirit of retired Pandemic player Alex Anthone, we'd like to give a shoutout to Mike Jones. It goes without saying that his music has inspired us all.

Also, we'd like to thank Donovan McNabb. Without his stirring performance this week after being picked up off the waiver wire, Reptile's fantasy football season would be in shambles.

As for the haircut? My mother taught me that if I don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all, so... no comment.

Oh, and, Dummy wants to give a shoutout to Jack from Lost. Think that's it!

Preseason Prediction:
Without a doubt, the favourites to win it all yet again. Pandemic comes into Season 2 in total control of the North American TF2 scene, firmly entrenched in their #1 spot. Having won pretty much everything up till now, there's really no end in sight to this pain-train - and no signs of the team getting bored with winning, either. Anything less than 1st place will be a setback for these guys - actually, anything less than 1st with a perfect record will be a shock, the way things look now.

Playoff Prediction:
oPlaiD said it himself, and I can do nothing else but echo his thoughts - nothing short of placing #1 will be enough for Pandemic, nor should anything less be expected with the questions surrounding their one and only real rival, eMg. What they'll do with DDR3 RAM, I don't know, but I'm sure the CEVO crown still fits :3

Predicted placing: 1st