Michael Cavanaugh (electronic sports player)
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 |
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| Michael "StrongSide" Cavanaugh | |
| Born | August 25, 1988 Template:Greenwood Greenwood, Arkansas, United States |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Professional Gamer |
| Children | 0 |
Michael Cavanaugh (born August 25, 1988), also known by his gamertag StrongSide, grew up in Grenwood, Arkansas, United States. Cavanaugh has been a professional Major League Gaming (hereinafter "MLG") Halo and GoW player since April 2006. Currently a member of team Final Boss, Cavanaugh has been a member of Carbon, DtO (Destroy the Opposition), and LeGendZ in previous seasons.
Cavanaugh has enjoyed a great degree of success within Major League Gaming's Halo 3 division. In addition to consistently placing highly with Final Boss during the 2007 MLG season, Cavanaugh finished second in MLG's 2006 1v1 Halo 2 competition. Moreover, his 2006 4v4 team, LegendZ, placed fourth overall in the 2006 championship tournament. Cavanaugh's intensive Halo 3 practice regimen is also notable; analysts of Major League Gaming have referred to Cavanaugh as "the equivalent of a gym rat in Halo 3" due to the long hours he dedicates to developing his skills at the game.
Cavanaugh has appeared regularly on MLG's television show on USA Network.[1]
On June 13, 2007 Cavanaugh was awarded a $250,000 league contract from MLG[5].
Contents |
[edit] Gaming career
MLGpro.com on Cavanaugh's ability:
| “ | Strongside burst onto the competitive gaming scene in a flash, catching the eyes of established pros by finishing fourth in FFA of his debut tourney, the 2005 Las Vegas MLG event. Unsatisfied by a mere fourth place finish and driven to reach the top of the prize podium, Strongside quickly refined his astounding raw talent through a highly publicized daily training regimen. His dedication netted Strongside national accolades, as he became the 2005 Pro Choice Awards’ Most Improved Player.
Possessing boundless talent, Strongside bewilders spectators through his flashy maneuvers and ability to escape unscathed from underhanded encounters. With seemingly incomprehensible performances, onlookers can’t help but label Strongside “lucky.” However, the strength of Strongside's highly developed 1v1 mind games cannot be overstated. He has established himself as a top contender for the 1v1 crown. Strongside has become a fan favorite through his lively, personable demeanor and youthful charm, always displaying a genuine love for his sport. Although he holds a self-proclaimed weakness in team games, Strongside is a young and developing player whose frightening amount of talent suggests great potential for the future. |
” |
His signature move, a.k.a. "The Strongside" is now used by almost every pro player on the circuit and by the higher levels in team swat. When he is being shot by more people than he feels safe shooting back at, he turns around and puts his head down so that the people shooting at him cannot shoot him in the head, therefore giving him a chance to run away. In the words of his teammate and MLG Legend Walshy, "I don't know why people shoot Strongside in the back. They are just wasting their ammo." The rational for this move is the fact that it is impossible to get a headshot on the target looking at the ground.
Recently Strongside lost to Slain Tcm in a 1v1 match over xbox live
Strongside became a pro player during the 2005 season.
[edit] MLG history
[edit] 2008
| Event | Championship 4v4 | Championship FFA |
|---|---|---|
| Meadowlands | Final Boss - 1st | -- |
[edit] 2007
| Event | Championship 4v4 | Championship FFA |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | Final Boss - 2nd | Top 16 |
| Meadowlands | Final Boss - 1st | Top 16 |
| Charlotte | Final Boss - 1st | 5th |
[edit] 2006
| Event | Championship 4v4 | Championship FFA | Teammates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Team Carbon | -- | Team Carbon |
| Dallas | Team Carbon | -- | Team Carbon |
| Anaheim | Team Carbon | 4th | Team Carbon |
| Chicago | Team Carbon | -- | Team Carbon |
| Orlando | Team LeGendz - 8th | 2nd | Defy, Mack, Vash |
| NY Playoffs | Team LeGendz - 5th | 2nd | Defy, Mack, Vash |
| Las Vegas National CC | Team LeGendz - 4th | 2nd | Defy, Mack, Vash |
[edit] Pro's Choice Awards
3rd Best FFA (8-man) Player[6] and 2nd Best 1v1 Player[7]
[edit] 2005
| Event | Championship 4v4 | Championship FFA | Teammates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 9th | 4th | Suff3r, Blondie, ElamiteWarrior |
| Nashville | 9th | 9th | Metallic Aqua, Foxy, Manova |
| Seattle | 2nd | 2nd | Ramby, Murfman, Samurai |
| LA Western CC | KSI - 4th | 4th | G-spot, Sad Panda, Blackjack |
| Atlanta Eastern CC | KSI - 3rd | 3rd | G-spot, Sad Panda, Blackjack |
| Chicago Central CC | IGS Monglers - 4th | 1st | Karma, ShocKWav3, Gandhi |
| NY National Championships | Phreaks - 2nd | 2nd | Karma, ShocKWav3, Gandhi |
[edit] Awards
2005 Pro's Choice Awards[9]
[edit] Preferences
Cavanaugh's preferred game is Halo 3 (with his favorite MLG gametype being CTF Pit), using Bumper Jumper controls, 5 look sensitivity.[10] His other favorite video games include Guitar Hero and many of the old school systems like SNES, NES, N64 and Sega.
[edit] References
- ^ StrongSide on USA Network
- ^ Team Final Boss game on Xbox Live
- ^ StrongSide's Gamertag
- ^ StrongSide's Halo 2 Emblem
- ^ MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING SIGNS 13TH PLAYER TO $250,000 CONTRACT
- ^ 2006 Halo Pro's Choice Awards | Major League Gaming
- ^ 2006 Halo Pro's Choice Awards | Major League Gaming
- ^ Official Pro Website with free MLG Torunament Footage
- ^ 2005 MLG Pros Choice Awards | Major League Gaming
- ^ X1059225BDY.indd
