I'm Michael Kosta.

我是 Michael Kosta。

And before I started covering the news on cable TV, I was a successful professional athlete.

在有線電視上播報新聞前，我是一個成功的職業運動選手。

What sport? Tennis. Duh.

什麼運動？當然是網球啦，這還用說嗎？

I was ranked 864 in the world, so I was a natural to investigate the newest sport sweeping the nation.

我是世界排名第 864 名，所以說由我來調查這個席捲全國的新興運動是再自然不過的事了。

Video games?

電動？

Competitive video gaming, known as esports, is booming.

電競，也就是電子競技，發展越來越蓬勃。

There's even a training center with five training rooms and six locker rooms.

甚至有個訓練中心有五間訓練室和六個置物櫃房間。

The Olympics are considering adding esports.

奧運正在考慮是否該新增電子競技這個體育項目。

I went to California to a so-called training center in someone's garage to talk with these Ethletes about why video games isn't a sport.

我去了一個位於加州的倉庫，也就是所謂的訓練中心，去和那些電競選手聊聊為什麼電動不是一種運動。

What the hell is this?

這是什麼鬼？

This was the Alienware Training Facility for eSports' Team Liquid.

這是 Alienware 這家科技公司底下的電競團隊 Liquid 使用的訓練設施。

Complete with scrimmage stations, a war room, PR department, a team coach, and even an in-house chef.

配有了分組混戰機台、戰略室、公關部門、教練、甚至還有駐點廚師。

The team's star, whose name is Taco, was acquired from Brazil's top team.

電競隊裡最活躍的選手是 Taco，他是從巴西頂尖的團隊跳槽過來的。

This is a real sport.

這是真正的運動。

You call yourself an athlete?

你敢稱自己是體育選手嗎？

Yes, of course.

當然敢啊！

We compete, we go to tournaments, we travel a lot, we got some money.

我們互相競爭、參加錦標賽、很常旅遊、也賺了些錢。

What does an eSport athlete, Mr. Taco, do every day?

Mr. Taco，一個電競選手每天都在做什麼？

- Just practice. - Yeah.

- 就只是練習。 - 了解。

I'm a former professional tennis player.

我之前是個專業的網球選手。

That-That's what I would call, like, a-a real sport.

這才是我所認知真正的運動。

There is an opponent, and you would relish the opportunity to defeat them with your racket.

你會有個對手，然後可以享受用球拍擊敗對方的機會。

What do you actually have to show for what you're doing?

你能向我們展示些什麼來證明你的專業性嗎？

Yeah, but, come on.

好吧...

I-I have a-a really strong finger.

我有隻很厲害的手指頭。

- A finger? - Yes.

- 手指頭？ - 對。

This finger have already killed at least one million people.

這隻手指頭少說至少殺了一百萬人有。

- That finger's killed one million people? - Yes.

- 這隻手指頭少說至少殺了一百萬人有？ - 沒錯。

At least.

至少一百萬人。

Taco is referring to his kills in Counter-Strike, a game where guys shoot other guys before a bomb goes off, apparently.

Taco 指的是他在 CS 遊戲裡面殺過的人數，顯然地，CS 是一個射擊遊戲，人們必須在炸彈爆炸之前射死對方。

How is this a sport?

這怎麼會是運動的一種？

I won the Ann Arbor Junior Open at 11 years old.

我在十一歲的時候贏得了 Ann Arb 青少年公開賽。

How hard could it be to pound on these dorks?

打敗這些傻子有什麼困難的？

What are you staring at, huh?

有啥好看的？

I'll whup your ass next.

我等下就會屌虐你了。

- TACO: To the left, to the left. -To the left?

- TACO: 往左邊，往左邊。 -往左邊？

You think-- Oh, Jesus Christ!

想得美—噢，天啊！

I shot him four times; he shoots me once and I die?

我射了他四次，但他只向我開槍一次我就死了？

These games were clearly rigged against more muscular athletes.

這些遊戲很顯然地比強壯的體育選手更懂非法操作。

Aw, Jesus.

噢天啊！

How do I keep dying, Taco?

Taco，為什麼我一直死掉？

But who's paying for these cucks to sit around all day and mash buttons?

可是誰會養這些小白臉讓他們整天無所事事的按按鈕？

Apparently, guys like three-time NBA champion Rick Fox, owner of eSports franchise Echo Fox.

很顯然地，像是 NBA 冠軍 Rick Fox 或是經營 eSports 連鎖店的 Echo Fox 這樣的人就會投資電競團隊。

What are you doing with these nerds, man?

老兄，你在這邊跟這些書呆子耗幹嘛？

You're a real athlete.

你是真的運動選手。

And so are they.

他們也是啊。

What the shit are you talking about?

你在講什麼鬼話。

Me and you, we played real sports, you know?

我們倆是做真正的運動，懂嗎？

You can see our balls in our pants when we play.

我們在打比賽的時候是真槍實彈。

Were you an athlete?

你之前是運動選手嗎？

Oh, yeah, yeah.

噢對啊！

I played professional tennis.

我是打職業網球的。

I was ranked 864 in the world.

世界排名第 864 名。

Oh, okay...You win-- you win a couple of tournaments?

噢好吧...你有贏過一些錦標賽嗎？

No, I didn't win the tournaments, but... (stammers)

沒有，我沒贏過錦標賽但...(結巴)

How much money did you make in your career?

你的直涯理你賺了多少錢？

I made $11,000, about.

我大概賺了 $11,000。

But there's-there's a whole system, and I-I was, you know, right in there, playing as a pro athlete.

不過這個體系很完善，我在那邊就真的是職業選手。

Oh, okay... In our era, I think there was no shame around pursuing a career in professional sports.

噢好吧，在我們這年代，我覺得在職涯上追求些成就沒有什麼好丟臉的。

Because you could get a scholarship to college, which, by the way, you can get as an eSport player now.

因為你可以拿到大學的獎學金，而且還是以電競選手身份拿的。

Uh, there's a number of colleges that are building eSports arenas on their campuses.

呃...很多大學都在校園蓋電競館了。

-This is all great. -Yeah.

-這些都沒問體。 -對啊！

But let's get down to brass tacks here.

但我們來談談正事。

How much do these ethletes make?

這些電競選手賺多少？

Probably the best, top player in the world in one of our games, he makes probably $800,000.

我們其中一個電動裡最頂尖的電競選手收入大概 $800,000。

What?

什麼？

And while players like Taco made over $800K last year, other top gamers earned upwards of $4 million.

像 Taco 那樣的電競選手每年賺超過八十萬但其他等級更高的選手可以賺到比四百萬更多。

And thanks to advertising and sponsorships, revenues will top $1.4 billion this year!

多虧廣告和贊助，今年利潤更是達到了十四億！

$1.4 billion!?

十四億！？

Are you kidding me?!

你在跟我開玩笑嗎？！

But what really makes it legit is Vegas sportsbooks take bets on it.

但最酷的是拉斯維加斯的運彩會下注。

So I did what anyone would do, sold my dog for 3,000 bucks and put it all on Team Liquid at the Barclays Center.

所以我就跟大家一樣在 Barclays Center 以三千磅的價錢賣掉我的狗然後把錢全押在 Liquid 隊上。

I'll buy him back after I win.

我贏了之後會把牠贖回來。

Amsterdam. London. Cologne. Montreal.

阿姆斯特丹、倫敦、科隆、蒙特婁。

I don't give a shit!

我什麼鬼都不在意！

You're in Brooklyn now, baby!

親愛的，你來到了 Brooklyn 了！

This is the Barclays Center.

這是 Barclays Center。

This is where champions play.

冠軍打比賽的地方。

And the Brooklyn Nets.

也是布魯克林籃網比賽的地方。

We're gonna heal as a team or we're gonna die as individuals.

團結力量大，否則我們將會一個個任人宰割。

Did I make myself clear?

都有聽到我說的了齁？

-Yeah. -Yeah. -Yeah. -Yeah.

-有。-有。-有。-有。

Come on!

上吧！

All right, ignore all that, and we just follow the game plan.

好喔，不要理他，我們就照原本的應戰策略走。

Let's go, guys.

大夥走吧。

It was time for Team Liquid to win in the semifinals and make me some money.

Liquid 隊是時候贏得準決賽然後賺些錢了！

Team Liquid!

歡迎 Liquid 電競隊！

Let's go, baby, let's go!

加油加油！

It definitely felt like a real sport.

這確實很像真正的體育。

These gaming gladiators were ready for battle.

這些遊戲戰士都準備好應戰了！

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for, Team Liquid versus Gambit!

先生小姐，眾所期待的時刻來臨了，Liquid 隊 v.s. Gambit 隊！

Click your mouse!

快按你的滑鼠！

They flexed their fingers.

他們活動了手指。

They clicked their buttons.

按下按鈕。

They adjusted their headsets.

調整他們的耳機。

Come on!

拜託！

-Liquid! -Taco! -Liquid! -Taco!

-Liquid! -Taco! -Liquid! -Taco!

Hey, let's start the wave, starting over here!

嘿我們從這邊開始來製造波浪的效果！

Watch the stairs...watch the--

小心台階...注意看––

-Oh! -Oh!

-噢！ -噢！

They fought to outmaneuver, evade, and shoot their opponents' heads off.

他們以智取勝、侵入、並射掉對手的頭顱。

And just when it looked like Team Liquid was on the ropes, they rallied.

而正當 Liquid 感覺要敗北的時候，他們又重振旗鼓了！

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

耶！耶！耶！

The next round finalist is Team Liquid!

晉級到決賽的是 Liquid 隊！

That's what I'm talking about!

這樣就對了！

That's what I'm talking about, baby!

幹得好！

Number one!

第一名！

Team Liquid!

Liquid 隊！

Are video games a sport?

電動是一種運動嗎？

Who cares?

誰在意啊？

I'm rich.

我有錢了！

Time to try to buy my dog back.

我該去買回我的狗了。