My 2021 recap and my future plans (Including Zerolag drame and scam)

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TL;DR at the bottom for the lazy people

Early 2021:
Coming in to 2021, I'd just taken a long break after the 2020 Summer Split to try and work on problems within myself and the motivation issues I was facing within League.

I got in contact with a few teams and was really thankful to @coachdz4 for allowing me to work with him and the team of RoX in the LCL. We had a few problems and obviously didn't reach playoffs but the experience was good and I met some wonderful people there. I wouldn't change anything about the split really.

Summer 2021:
Then going in to Summer of 2021 and being ready to come back to coaching in a Head Coach capacity, I was very optimistic and got, what I believed to be some good offers. After taking 1 in the UKLC with some promises from the org I went and rejected all other offers with them telling me I had to and had to prove it before they would send me the contract. Did this on the Thursday and was told the contract would be sent on Friday or over the weekend, messaged on the Saturday asking how they wanted to run tryouts and got told I wasn't wanted anymore.

Zerolag:
So yeah, I went back to some of my previous offers pretty much on my knees asking for the offers to be reinstated and I got lucky, Zerolag hadn't found anyone and @thanoseco (better known as Pegasus) wanted me still.
So we made our agreements, I signed my contract, and tryouts started for 3 roles (Top/Jungle/ADC) and it went pretty well until 3 days before the roster lock when I got told they already had ADC signed and I couldn't take the one I wanted. Thought 'fuck it', this guy is good, we can still do well.
So we had our roster of Adiss/Jony/Mert/Gagai/Pigeon. Then came the 0-3 superweek in week 1. But the 3rd game, the AD doesn't even turn up. And the next day he 'signs' for the team we lost to, even though he was apparently contracted to us? I then get threatened by the owner @geobit (Better known as Istostorm) to not tell anybody or release anything on Twitter or anything because he doesn't want people to know and the league will kick us out if people know.
Anyway, we somehow played out the split with Rago and @Xintox_Lol joining and we got playoffs and with more then like 3 weeks of practice I firmly believe we would have done well and pushed for a top 3 finish.

Moving in to Winter 21, I have a good connection with Pegasus and we agree that I'll stick with Zerolag because my overall experience with them was good in Spring. I enjoyed my time with the roster, himself and there were no issues with payment like I'd heard a lot about + I would have a full preseason to build a roster and target a finals finish for Winter.
Turns out, for the split itself, the management team has disappeared and the Assistant Social Media guy @MysteryGRE is taking on a management role with no prior experience or understanding of management. He spent the entirety of tryouts telling me I'd made mistakes and pushing for me to sign his Diamond 4 friend because he played competitive 2 or 3 years ago (Sorry I don't remember exact split or year).

Again though, I was happy with the roster we put together, even if it was super last minute, but we had a mix of experience and rookie talent. I also somehow managed to persuade my main man @coachmynemosyn (Emre) to work with us during his time off and he brought with him a lot of strength that we were lacking previously. So there it was, our roster of Audax/Cleanser/BP/Rago/Lion. However, results during the split weren't what we hoped. We had some players with motivation problems and 1 player who refused to listen to coaching staff or any form of criticism. Doesn't help also that the 'manager' of the team is talking shit in dm's with people, telling 1 person he wants to kick a player but then telling the other player he wants to sign him for the new split????? (And then adds himself as a 'coach' so he gets a free leaguepedia page). During all this, Istostorm agreed a deal to sign a new jungler for playoffs/relegations without talking to myself or Emre even though both of us were happy with Cleanser and had no plans or aims to replace him.
Again, we somehow get playoffs with some lucky results from other teams helping us out and we just say 'fuck it' going in to the playoffs with zero expectations and hopes of making it far and it really did help. We took a game from Refuse playing fucking NASUS but dropped out in the first round 3-1 and I think everyone involved was happy it was over.

On Thursday November 25th, I get told by Pegasus that we will have a meeting to discuss the season and plans for 2022 during the week of the 29th. On the 13th of December I'd still had no messages from him or anybody else connected with the organisation of Zerolag. So I message the owner, Istostorm, and get told I have to speak with Pegasus. So I message him again, and then on the 17th of December. I eventually got a reply on December 20th telling me the org will be a 'Full Greek team from coaching staff and players' which makes sense, new sponsors want that as an aim, But then I speak with some people (who have asked not to be named) who are NOT GREEK and they've been invited to tryouts and Istostorm is begging them to join the team, At this point I'm not to bothered about staying with the team but it's been almost 1 month since our final game as a team and I've still not been paid but I know Cleanser and Audax have (I didn't ask any of the others).

Zerolag Scam (the part I know everyone wants):
I ask Istostorm to get paid what I'm owed. I don't get paid. Apparently he doesn't even have my contract anymore and he doesn't know how much I am owed. He tells me to go back to Pegasus. Pegasus tells me he has no involvement anymore so it's not his job. Istostorm then threatens to 'you will hear from our lawyers in the UK. I prefer to pay 2K on legal fees' if I say any of this on Twitter. 6 days later he pays me 249.79 euros when I am owed 450 euros total and has preceded to ignore any messages since this so here I am. (Looking forward to the legal battle).

2022 and my plans:
Simply, I will not be coaching in 2022 and likely never again. My real life job has taken off with a promotion and I've set up a new business which opens January 3rd so I won't have time to coach anymore unless I get some crazy insane offer, which I don't expect to happen.
I've enjoyed the majority of my time in coaching and wouldn't change any of it as it's helped me to become a better person and I've made some friends for life.
My problems lie in the fact that there are many many people in this industry in positions of power (coaching and management) who are not deserving of these positions. No names mentioned because I am way too bored of having my DM's filled with hate and shit from these people and their fans.

Instead, I want to praise and bring acknowledgement to the people in this industry who I like and would gladly give my time up for to help. No order and I will probably forget some people so I'm sorry in advance.
@OceannLOL - You know I love you. You deserve more chances than you ever get and I'm sorry I could never help you more. You're a friend who I will 100% be staying in contact with and you make a cute couple with @MiyasuraLOL ;)
@MiyasuraLOL - Only known you a short time but you've done so much for Void and for me in helping with setting up my new business venture so thank you and you make a cute couple with @OceannLOL ;)
@Pahviboxi - You're one of the first people I met in Esports in the wider community and you've done more for me as a friend than you'll ever know and I hope you feel the same way. I know you've been through a shit time recently but I'm ready for you to bounce back. And thanks for playing league with my wife while she screams in your ear xd
@SeemLoL - You hella smart and hella funny brother. Again, someone else I can't wait to see how you do in life and stay in contact with even after we're both out of this industry.
@thanoseco - I've never had any issues with you and you actually did a lot for me during the Zerolag drama in Summer and fixed problems you didn't need to. Good luck with your new shop!
@AudaxLoL - What a guy! Bad reputation about you (from what I'm aware) but you have a fucking strong mental and you're just a very very good player simply. Helped me a lot when I've suffered mental health problems and I appreciate that!
@flayjin - Best player to ever come out of UCLAN. Some fucking boy you! Quite clearly a friend outside of league who came to my wedding and sorted my tie out xD No doubt we'll be meeting up soon!
@coachmynemosyn - One of the smartest coaches I've ever met and I'm honoured to have had the privilege of coaching with you before I leave the scene. Started as scrim partners and ended up as my friend.
@Dunlosi - You got fucked over waaaaay too many times in the UK scene but you're fucking good at this game and deserve to be so much higher.
@ElCe_lol - My original coaching partner. We got to EU Masters before and had some fun fucking times and enjoyable journeys. I really hope to see you make it far in the industry and I'll always root for you!
@Legolas1v9 - Best Spanish ADC out of Superliga (Better than some in there). You will be at EU Masters and winning Superliga by the end of 2022 for sure. Good luck man!
@garp_lol - Confused why you're teamless for 2022 when you go EUM multiple times and have one of the best attitudes I know. Now go drink some more hot sauce and get drunk!
@Pivotless - Jesus christ how long have I known you for? Best female top in the scene and will continue to smurf. Can't wait for you to be back in Hull so we can go for a drink some time!

Probably so many people I've forgotten to mention but I love you all in your own ways and you can always message me if you need me!
Thanks to everyone who read this far down, you're the real ones (Here comes the drama but I'm leaving so it will just be dramatic without me now sorry).

TL;DR
- 2021 was a rollercoaster
- Go read the whole thing you lazy people
- Leaving the esports industry to focus on IRL things
- Love a lot of people and will be rooting for you all!

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