At the Springfield Melee Local

As Season 2 begins, Gaz and FlowerDog are mysteriously missing. In their absence, Guat steps up as TO and runs an excellent tournament, which features a breakout performance from Oars, as well as an upset in Grand Finals: Max, rank #6, over DryBones, rank #3. Max has been having close sets with all of Springfield's Top Echelon for months now, and they scored a well-deserved victory at Quaranfiends #11. Outside of this, bracket played out largely as expected. On my end of things, I was happy to interview three players I have not previously had a chance to chat with: Cam, a fan favorite Fox who refuses to L-Cancel; Oars, a new Falco on the block who is now a proven threat in bracket; and Slurp, our newest Captain Falcon who is sure to improve quickly with his weekly attendance at Guat's Smash Fests. Social Media of Featured Players: Guat - @MarioTheLatinoLief - @LLiefersonPugs - @grimer1994Dag - @coyote_cocktail

The Springfield scene experiences a shake-up when multiple lower level players have great tournament runs. 

In this fiery episode of "At the Springfield Melee Local," Dag and FlowerDog reminisce on Runescape times past. How rich could they have been as youngsters if they had only applied themselves? 

It's Falco week, baby.  One Falco is a returning veteran, one Falco just had his bris, one Falco feels a little sleepy, and another Falco feels that down-air bliss. 

Springfield's best Marth main and Springfield's most handsome Marth main sit down and talk about why they love Melee. 

Five locals in to the season, and the Post Covid glow has begun to wear off. We aren't all best friends and family all the time, anymore; we are competitors once again. 0:20 -- The Diatribes of DryBones and Dag 18:32 -- Pugs dodges Guat AGAIN 30:15 -- The World According to Gaz 01:03:10 -- Everybody Hates Melee 

In this episode, we house a visitor from South Carolina--Luigi player and TO, Travy. I also talked with Springfield Smash Legend Roman, who has been playing Melee since 2005, as well another Springfield newcomer (and Luigi player) Logg. It's a hot one this time, folks. 0:23 -- SPECIAL GUEST Travy, from South Carolina 23:06 -- The true '06 King of Smash, Roman 44:39 -- Talking sh*t and getting hit w/Guat55:42 -- A Fistful of Gaz Dollars 1:23:48 -- Logg logs on 1:36:00 -- Fashion talk with Lief 1:45:53 -- Four Smashers, One Mic 

In this episode I sit down with the incredibly charismatic Morly, a Snake player from Saint Louis whose wit and energy is as explosive as anything Snake's packin' in his endless pockets. In addition to Morly, I talked to long-time Springfield legend Doctor B; the new Falco on the block, LemonLord; he old Falco on the block with all new tricks, Par 4; and a whole slew of Springfield regulars. Social Media of Featured Players: Morly - @Morly_PogGuat - @MarioTheLatinoSeven - @SevenThomsenGaz - @Gaz_ThinkingPugs - @grimer19940:21 -- STL Special Guest MORLY21:49 -- Mixin' up the Medicine with Doctor B 30:13 -- Par4ThePeople for the People 40:23 -- Give praise to the LemonLord 46:40 -- You Already know what it is with GUAT 1:08:46 -- Seven and the Binding Blade 1:20:32 -- When Gaz Attacks! 1:32:45 -- Pugs and the Secret Recipe 

You know, this tournament happened like three months ago so I don't really remember too much of what happened. I do remember talking to Guat, MY BOY, about Melee, and I also probably ate some chicken tenders. Also, our tournament is called Quaranfiends. Social Media of Featured Players: Guat - @MarioTheLatinoGaz - @Gaz_thinkingSeven - @SevenThomsenPugs - @Grimer1994FlowerDog - @ssbmFlowerDogief - @LLieferson   0:21 -- Maxin and Relaxin w/Guat20:53 -- Gaz Strikes Back 34:19 -- The Quickest Interview yet with DryBones37:11 -- Seven and the Great Glass Elevator 45:21 -- 6900 ELO Chess Climb with Pugs 1:02:03 -- Roostin with FlowerDog1:20:00 -- Winding down with Lief 

After not seeing each other for over a year, the Springfield Melee scene reunited at their first post-COVID local. This tournament housed familiar faces, as well as a crop of new players, which was amazing and totally unexpected for our first tournament back. It was all smiles and tears at this one, folks. (There was also a weird baby sock taped to the wall--perhaps, never worn?)I interviewed Corporate Patrick, our former TO; Seven, our current TO (as well as an all-around amazing player); Pugs, a new kid on the block with a beefy Ganon; FlowerDog, the town hero; Lief, the town hotboy; and Gaz, the Marth who reigns over all. Social Media of Featured Players: Seven - @seventhomsenGaz - @Gaz_thinkingPugs - @Grimer1994Lief - @LLiefersonFlowerDog - @ssbmFlowerDogTimestamps: 0:12 -- Talking Puff with Corporate Patrick10:10 -- PM Bowser Lore with Seven 21:36 -- Gassing with Gaz 33:00 -- Vacation (with Pugs) is all I ever wanted 40:51 -- Springfield Melee BOYS COUNCIL ft. FlowerDog and Lief 

On Saturday, August 28th, Springfield ran its first post-COVID regional, SUNSHINED. The tournaments was everything we could have hoped for: OG Swaglord reset the bracket against Zamu in Grand Finals (before being 3-0'd), three Springfield players made it out of pools, and smashers from Columbia, KC, Saint Louis, and even Oklahoma were able to attend. At this tournament, I wasn't able to conduct as many interviews as I originally hoped, but I still captured some quality audio, and I hope everyone enjoys what I've collected here. At the next Sunshined, I hope to interview double, if not triple, the amount of players I was able to on this first time around. 

Springfield Missouri recently held a tournament called SUNSHINED, where I got to sit down and talk with Zamu (I also drowned in pools but WHO ASKED). We talked about perfectionism, improvement, the Pokemon Trading Card Game, and whatever else came to mind. Zamu placed 1st at this tournament, defeating OG Swaglord in Set 2 of Grand Finals, after a reset from OG Swaglord. You can follow Zamu on Twitter @ssbm_zamu and support his stream at twitch.tv/ssbm_zamu.