SMYN to Lead MLG Anaheim Commentary Team

When it comes to the hard-hitting action of Super Smash Bros. Melee, one company implored the gaming world to “Show Us Your Views!”

We have answered the call.

In a partnership unseen in five years, Show Me Your News! (SMYN) and Major League Gaming (MLG) are teaming up to revitalize the online coverage for the Super Smash Bros. franchise. As it is currently planned, Peter “Youko” Spezia will cover play-by-play, while Miles “Solharath” Allen and Tony “TonyTH” Mattingly will provide color commentary for the Super Smash Bros. Melee championship bracket at MLG Championship Anaheim. The event runs from June 20-22, 2014 in Anaheim, California. While 1024 players are expected to participate in open competition, the top 20 will make the final championship bracket.

“This is a great honor for our podcast,” Spezia stated, “Major League Gaming has recognized our dedication to the Smash Bros. series and has graciously rewarded us with this opportunity. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

“We get to expand our potential audience,” Mattingly expressed, “Not only that, but new viewers to the game get to benefit from our fresh perspective on Smash Bros. and the gaming industry. It’s a win-win for both sides.”

Fans of SMYN might recall that relations between the podcast and MLG were not always so amicable. Some bitterness ensued when Major League Gaming purchased Smash World Forums in the summer of 2009, deserting SMYN’s established fanbase that listened through iTunes. Other details of SMYN-MLG interaction have remained a secret, but all seems to be resolved today.

“I think the fact that I now play Smash professionally helped mend things,” Allen speculated, “Though, while Project M isn’t Melee, I think it gives our group a restored sense of Smash credibility.”

Those who have followed Melee’s recent rise in broad eSports appeal may be confused by this move. Many Smash enthusiasts today look to the Melee It On Me podcast and community platform as the leaders in this area of expertise.

“There’s no disrespect intended to Prog and D1. They do amazing work on the mic, but this is strictly a business move,” Spezia asserted, “From what I understand, this is the only gig we get. It’s all part of the deal and we had some leverage. MLG owed us a pretty big favor and we just had to wait for the right moment.”

What if this really is the perfect time for the SMYN crew, though? The podcast about gaming industry news has been breaking down the DOJO-like Miiverse updates for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS, yet with the Anaheim Championships slated to take place after E3 2014, are we likely to see a public demo for the new game at this MLG event?

“We’ll just have to see, won’t we?” Allen pondered with a twinkle in his eye, “It would be very fortuitous for us to be able to provide commentary on that game as well. Not to mention, if any new characters are revealed! Maybe the answer for all of that is in the clouds, though.”

When asked if he would provide his fan-favorite wrestling angle, Mattingly replied, “Oh, for sure! The people’s champ aMSa, going up against Mango Nation? What if Armada shocked everyone and came out of retirement, just to go up against Mew2King? What if there’s some drama behind the scenes with Dr. PeePee? The stories almost write themselves! I hope the Anaheim crowd is ready for a show!”

Rumor has it that Read the Manual‘s Joe “TheDobaga” DeVader and Ben “GymLeaderBen” Higbee will be recruited to provide sideline reporting, though this is unconfirmed at this time.