I know I'm not exactly a part of Edenia's Royal Family, but I simply have to speak out here...get ready for some blunt honesty from me. Keep in mind, these are purely my own views I speak with, not anyone else's.
I don't like 16-Bit (surprise, surprise). And I certainly don't respect him. I found it difficult to favor him for a while now, but ever since the NEC conspiracy which he was exposed for, I lost the ability to maintain any traces of respect for him. It's probably a bit personal for me because the player he happened to conspire against in that video was KhaoTik, one of my closest friends in the community...let it be known now: you make a plan to fuck any of my friends over, you're on my shit-list and it's gonna take a miracle for you to come off of it.
Before anyone responds to this with the intent to point it out, yes, I know the rigging did not actually come to fruition. I know he didn't get his own way when he bitched out at NEC. And I know he owned up to it and apologized when he was exposed via the On Blast Show. I commend him for doing so...but would he even have done that if he was never caught in the first place? I cannot answer that, but he can.
However, there is only so much I am willing to be patient with before I throw my hands up in the air and say, "I've had enough, this is stupid." I tried to put aside my personal views on him because of how much hype he brings to tournaments and how hard he's been supporting our game, which in turn bolsters our community, which I deeply appreciate. I agree with those who say that we cannot take away from his accomplishments as a top Kitana player. But being a player and being a person are two entirely different things...if you would cast aside your sense of honor for something as ridiculous as cheating - or attempting to cheat, I should say - don't be surprised when a shitstorm breaks loose. Sooner or later, the truth will find a way to come to light...it always has, and always will.
Something else I should point out: his lack of respect for the MK community itself is another reason for me not to like him. This doesn't need explanation, does it? If you don't conform to what he wants, he will find a way to make you look bad. If you don't give him his drama which he clearly relishes in for reasons I cannot understand, he goes to stir some up himself (perhaps the NEC conspiracy was yet another of his attempts to do that?). And by "drama," I mean feuding which goes beyond merely a gaming rivalry and starts to become harmful...just the fact that there are others voicing their dislike of him does more than prove my point.
16-Bit's likely going to read all of this and not care, but why should he? To him, I'm a nobody, and I'm perfectly content with that. If I should ever encounter him in any of the tournaments I'm going to this year, I'll pretend he's not there except for when I have to watch him in the matches. Call this immature if you'd like, but it certainly can't be as bad as what he has done...and it's my choice in whether or not I want to respect and acknowledge him. Right now, until I see a reason to alter my views on him, I choose to do neither of those things.
I'm not the kind of guy who likes to hold grudges, though. I have always tried to see the best in everyone, never mind my nature as a salty player, LOL. So I truly hope that my opinions on the man will change over time. He's fortunate to have accomplished what he has done, and he's fortunate to have the opportunities that he's got. I will forever envy him for that. But I will not prioritize success over my relations with people, no matter how hard I pursue it.
And 16-Bit vs. KhaoTik? Bit's already ducked him at NEC, ten bucks says he'll just duck out again. But as KhaoTik said, we can't force either player to fight it out...it has to be done willingly. So let them both go about their ways as they see fit.
/end rant
