Fifteen years ago may not seem like a long time, but in competitive video gaming, its a lifetime. An industry thats butterflied into its adolescence and exploded over the past two years was once tiny and in its infancy, despite the common belief that it only just begun. For Paul Chaloner, a 44-year-old man from Brighton, England who goes by the nickname ReDeYe, this is his playground and it has been for the past 15 years of his life.From South Korea to Poland to the United States, Chaloner has been at the forefront of esports since its inception. Hes hosted two of the first esports, Quake and Unreal Tournament, the rising Counter-Strike, and one of the worlds most popular esports franchises of all time, StarCraft. Chaloner has been the voice on the mic, as an announcer and commentator, for more than 59 esports titles in his tenure.Recently, he hosted Dota 2s The International 6, a $20.7 million tournament that houses 16 teams from around the world in its biggest event of the year at Seattles KeyArena. Chaloner is no stranger to the International, but this year he not only hosted the event, he was consulted by Dota 2s developer Valve to see what improvements could be made to up the ante for the event.The International is very challenging for me as a host, Chaloner says. Its very difficult, its a very tricky show, and this year were trying some new things. Ive been involved with Valve this year, and they asked me to come in and consult for them a couple of months ago and help them come up with ideas to make TI different and produce it very differently.While Chaloners career has been one of traveling the world and commentating on and hosting events, esports hasnt come without its price for him, he says. The traveling and time away, as well as the heavy workload, has made Chaloner make sacrifices in his personal life as well. Chaloner wishes, if he could go back in time 15 years ago, he could tell a younger version of himself that.Be prepared for sacrifice, he says. I havent really spoken too much about it, but esports has cost me, theres no doubt about it. Personally and financially. I had a very lovely woman in my life with my children, we were very set, very happy, she was very supportive at the time, but esports took its toll on us. I havent been with her for 7 years. Its caused all sorts of issues with my children, with my family, so this stuff doesnt come without a price. I think I wouldve told myself just be prepared for the sacrifice.Chaloners interest for video games came in the 1980s. He says his competitive drive, which he discovered while playing traditional sports, made single-player computer games, like Chuckie Egg on the Dragon 32 and The Hobbit on the Spectrum, enjoyable. While online gaming wasnt an option then, Chaloner says he always had one goal: I loved the computers and the challenge of beating the computer. It was the biggest thing I got a kick out of.As Chaloner got older, he witnessed the invention of the Internet. He says this truly fulfilled his competitive drive and mixed it with his love for video games. He was able to play online against others and compete against those better than him. The Internet came along and thats when a modem got installed in my PC and it allowed me to play QuakeWorld online and play against other human beings, he says. And I suddenly realized, I wasnt quite as good as I thought I was. Kicking the asses of my friends every Saturday with a few beers, that was fairly easy. Beating people online in deathmatch was like, Oh, some of these guys are quite good.From there, Chaloners unexpected journey began. His passion started with Quake and Unreal Tournament, which were released in 1996 and 1999 respectively. In 2002, Chaloner was given the opportunity to broadcast a Quake game online. If you told him hed be the worlds most popular esports host back then, hed probably tell you that you were crazy.It didnt take long for the esports industry to begin its early stages of development. More competitive video games, like StarCraft: Brood War and Counter-Strike 1.6, released and immediately took off in South Korea and Europe respectively as top games. Chaloner, who was becoming more involved in broadcasting at the time, realized that he would have to step out of his comfort zone and learn to broadcast other games if he wanted to make a career.That really hit him after a conversation with Twitch director of programming Marcus djWHEAT Graham, who at the time, was an up-and-coming broadcaster in the space.In 2004, we were all going to the World Cyber Games grand finals and back then, wed only take five or six commentators and you had to cover 14 or 15 games, right? Chaloner says. So I didnt get to go in 2004, but I went in 2005 because WHEAT said to me, Dude, basically, youre gonna need to learn more games than just Unreal Tournament, Counter-Strike and Quake. Youre going to be more valuable, and you can be used more flexibly.While now, commentators the likes Anders Blume, Auguste Semmler Massonnat, Rivington Riv Bisland III, Christopher MonteCristo Mykles, make more than a fair living by casting primarily only one game, Chaloner says in the early days of the industry, that was just not possible. But now, 15 years into his career and unlike his peers, Chaloners covered 59 games, something no other broadcaster in the esports space even holds a candle too.I can pretty much do almost any game on stage without really knowing much about it, theres a certain set of skills that Ive picked up over the years that allow me to do main-stage for most games: hype a crowd, get them excited, he explains. I think its been easier for me to go and do that and transition over to those other games, because I did that very early on as a commentator. And as a commentator, switching games is really tough.Like Anders, Semmler, and Mykles, Chaloner is a freelancer and works with multiple companies in the space at any given time, something that continues to grow in appeal as the industry grows. Unlike standard employment in casting, most notably with Riot Games and its League of Legends casters, these voices of the games are allowed to do as they please, create their own work schedules, and negotiate their market value. Its grown to the point in esports where it doesnt just encapsulate casting, but writing, consulting, designing, and other industry trades.Chaloner says he believes this model is healthy in esports, as he runs his own consulting business in addition to his own casting and host career. Its [healthy] because at this time, a lot of companies want to come into this space, and they dont always know what they want. Theyve heard of esports, they like it, it has lots of money involved, and television viewing figures are really good, so they want in on it since the demographic suits them. Thats often the case.That push from non-endemic companies, those who did not originate in esports but want to come into the space, has occurred for over a decade. Chaloner, for his part, was an integral piece in one of the first major expansions into the space by non-endemics: the Championship Gaming Series. This tournament series was owned by major satellite television company, DirecTV, with direct association to Mountain Dew, British Sky Broadcasting, and STAR TV.This league was the first of its kind and broadcasted Counter-Strike 1.6, Counter-Strike: Source and Team Fortress 2 to television viewers around the world. Although its seen as a disaster by many of those involved or who covered it independently, the Championship Gaming Series took a leap to broadcast esports on television.The Championship Gaming Series and its affiliates learned one of esports hardest lessons by trial and failure: being genuine means almost everything. The league changed many in-game identifiers, such as the roles of terrorists and counter-terrorists, to suit television.Since the leagues dissolution in Nov. 2008, DirecTV has never attempted to work in the esports space again, and Mountain Dew only just recently returned this year. I think a lot of people are sold ideas, they can do this. They can spend $500,000 and can make this really cool tournament, and everyone will love them, Chaloner explains. But actually, theyre the people who get tarnished by it. They come in and do one thing and then are like, We didnt have a good experience in esports, no one told us it was this hard and then they go away and we dont want to do that anymore. We dont want to alienate companies from this.Chaloner says that he tries to do the exact opposite when he consults. He says that he warns his potential clients of challenges that might be ahead. When someone comes to me and says, I want to invest in esports, the first question I ask them is: Why? He says. What is it that has attracted you? And usually, its the demographic. Usually, its because they want to reach those kinds of people. But its not just that simple. You have to understand what mentality we have, who we are, were very picky, were very demanding, we want free stuff all the time, we want it to be bloody good when its free. Were a tough demographic to crack, so I will advise them on that.And for those who have been burned before, Chaloner is confident that they should give esports a second chance. But then again, theyll need to truly commit to producing the highest quality of product and work extremely hard at marketing their product. The esports audience only accepts the best, he says.Second chance is exactly what it is. [Esports] is a different world now, 10 years later, he says. I think companies will have a better experience now, but get the right person, get the right set of people around you. If youre gonna hire full-time, take the time, find the right guys. There are plenty of passionate and highly skilled people already.Among the names Chaloner mentions, he says that his moment with HeatoN at his recent Esports Hall of Fame was something spectacular.I had a fabulous moment with HeatoN before he went out and got his Hall of Fame award. ... HeatoN, Ive known for more than 10 years as a friend, Chaloner explains. Weve gone through a number of things together, CGS obviously being one of them. I dont know, we just shared a moment backstage, a very nice moment, sort of very nostalgic in a way. I suppose one day itd be quite nice to put together a book on that stuff. Maybe people would enjoy it.Dansby Swanson Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. David Justice Jersey Large .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/ . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Charlie Culberson Jersey . 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Jerry Royster Jersey .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona.DOHA, Qatar -- Los Angeles sought to allay concerns over Donald Trumps election, Paris played up its glamorous venues and Budapest set itself apart as a mid-sized alternative as the three cities made their first public pitches Tuesday in the race to host the 2024 Olympics.With 10 months before the vote, the three candidates had a chance to deliver their message in 20-minute presentations to the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees, a gathering of more than 1,000 delegates from around the world.The meeting occurred exactly after a week after Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in the American presidential election, a result that could have an impact on Los Angeles hopes of bringing the Summer Olympics back to the U.S. for the first time since Atlanta hosted in 1996.Trumps comments during the divisive campaign about Muslims and Mexicans and some of his foreign policy views may not help the California citys chances with some of the IOCs 98 members, who represent a range of nationalities, cultures and religions.It was American sprinter Allyson Felix, a Los Angeles-born African-American sprinter and six-time Olympic gold medalist, who addressed those concerns during the presentation. Without mentioning Trump by name, her message was clear.We just finished our presidential election, and some of you may question Americas commitment to its founding principles, Felix said. I have one message for you: Please dont doubt us. Americas diversity is our greatest strength.Felix said America needs the games to help make our nation better, now more than ever.She raised the issue of race and slavery in explaining the history and diversity of the country.Were also a nation with individuals like me, descendants of people who came to America, not of their own free will but against it, Felix said. But were not a nation that clings to our past, no matter how glorious -- or how painful. Americans rush toward the future.I believe L.A. is a perfect choice for the 2024 Games, because the face of our city reflects the face of the Olympic Movement itself, she said.IOC vice president John Coates, of Australia, was among the delegates in the audience and said Felixs words hit the mark.I did think Allyson addressed the Trump issue very well, he told The Associated Press. I think the question was hanging. I thought it was very, very well-crafted.Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat who was a prominent Clinton supporter, also took up the theme of diversity and openness, saying his city can deliver transformative games.I see an America that remains actively engaged in the world, he said. I see an America that is outward-looking, ready to play its role alongside the community of nations to address our worlds most pressing challenges.Speaking afterward, Garcetti said an Olympic bid stands on a citys own merits and does not depend on who is the president of the country.ddddddddddddToday we just reminded people that any nation is made of its people, not one person, he said. We think that is something that, whether its Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, transcends all of us as Americans. I dont think that the Hungarians or the French or the Americans are making their bid plans based on what the national leader says.Los Angeles hosted the games in 1932 and 1984. New York and Chicago failed in bids for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, respectively.This is our third attempt to host the Olympic Games in the past 10 years and for many reasons ... I must say this is the most remarkable U.S. bid I have ever seen, U.S. Olympic Committee President Larry Probst said. We have learned many lessons from our previous bids, and failure can be a great teacher.Paris, which hosted the games in 1900 and 1924, has been considered in a tight race with Los Angeles. The French team stressed the bids compact nature, with 85 percent of athletes housed within 30 minutes of their venues.In Paris in 2024, we will swim in the River Seine, Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the delegates. We will travel in driverless vehicles. We will celebrate the games on the Champs Elysees, with the Eiffel Tower and all along the Seine from the Grand Palais to Saint Denis.The Spanish-born Hidalgo cited her own background as an example of what Paris offers.To be an immigrant, to be a woman, to have dual nationality and to be able to be mayor of Paris, this city has brought me opportunity and freedom, she said. Paris has an incredible force.Budapest, which has never hosted the Olympics and is making its seventh bid, has been seen as the outsider in the race. The Hungarians said they only need to build three new venues and will harness the city center for the games.Most of all, they said Budapest offers something different.A Games for one mid-sized global city is a Games for all mid-sized global cities, across the world, bid chairman Balazs Furjes said. A Games in Budapest sends the message that the Olympic Games are not simply for the mega-city, but for mid-size cities, too.The Doha audience included officials from 205 national Olympic committees, dozens of international sports federations and, most importantly, dozens of members of the International Olympic Committee, which will vote on the host city next September in Lima, Peru.Under tighter IOC rules, these are the first of only three presentations during the two-year bid race. The second will be at a private technical briefing for IOC members in Switzerland in July, and the third will be the final presentations on the day of the vote in Lima. ' ' '