Professional FIFA player Mike LaBelle says a lot goes into preparing for an esports tournament.
“For this next month, I’ll be playing every single day, where I’m creating content on Twitch, which you can find YouTube,” he told Cheddar in an interview. “The week before, I’ll look to play a lot more offline, because it is an offline event.”
And there’s a physical aspect to his training as well.
“At least for me mentally...if I got good rest, I feel like I’m going to be on top of my game,” he said. “I try not to eat poorly before an event. I wouldn’t recommend fast food.”
LaBelle recently signed on to New York Red Bulls as its first official esports athlete and will represent the club at the EA Sports FIFA 18 gaming league, competing in April’s eMLS Cup and in FIFA tournaments around the world.
LaBelle boasts more than 285,000 followers on YouTube and over 70,000 on Twitch, where he offers FIFA tutorials.
He says there are nuances to the sport that may escape casual gamers and fans.
“I think people who aren’t necessarily involved in gaming don’t understand that there’s a big difference between playing in-person versus playing online. So it’s important to get that kind of practice and repetition and see if there’s anything different so you make good habits.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/mls-kicks-it-with-esports).
Is there trouble in paradise for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft? New reports out of ESPN chronicle a power struggle between Brady and his head coach. Nick Dimengo, Senior Editor at FHM Magazine, joins Cheddar to discuss how ego could impact the future of what some call America's most powerful team.
"At the end of the day, this relationship will end most likely with Belichick and Brady leaving together," Nick Dimengo, senior editor at FHM Magazine, told Cheddar.
Between Bells: A preview of Sunday's Golden Globes, the first major awards ceremony of the #metoo era. Plus, Rihanna and Kylie Jenner square off in a battle of the celebrity beauty brands. We're joined by Health, Racked, Mashable, TheGrio, CinemaBlend and more!
Meagan Martin, professional rock climber and American Ninja Warrior finalist, discusses her tips for staying healthy in the new year. She notes the importance of staying hydrated and having healthy meal replacements like snack bars to keep you full throughout the day.
Between Bells: Californians lining up for recreational marijuana, Hollywood's A-List women say 'Time's Up' on workplace harassment, and can Dems get a DACA deal? We're joined by Fast Company, Cannabis Culture, Bossip.com, TechnoBuffalo, Conservative Review and more.
While you were out partying this past weekend, World Cup Ski Jumper Abby Ringquist was competing in the US Olympic team trials for Nordic Ski Jumping.
After placing second in the competition, she joins Cheddar to tell us how she's helping other young women fund their big dreams.
John Graham, Speedo USA President, and Team Speedo USA swimmers Cullen Jones and Elizabeth Beisel talk the #GetSpeedoFit campaign and why water sports are better for your health.
Max Lippe and James Parker, cyclist and spokesperson for Electron Wheel discuss the product that turns every bicycle into an electric one.
There was a time when sports and politics rarely mixed, but that all changed in 2017. FHM's Nick Dimengo joins Cheddar with a look back at the biggest trends and stories from the year in sports.
After playing with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years, basketball superstar Kobe Bryant retired in 2016. This week, the Lakers honored the all-star by retiring not one, but two jersey numbers.
