BOOM's Builder HoF Article

[leandrofg 1,162]

BOOM, Class of S87

@BOOM

 

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Joined: 2011, S24;

Positions Held: VHL Magazine, VHLM AGM;

First-Gen Player: (S25) Vladimir Boomchenko;

Hall of Fame Players (at the time of writing, Season 88): (S33) Odin Tordahl, (S42) Bismarck Köenig.

 

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Boom, what a beautiful guy. As soon as one takes on the task of writing the builder article of this beautiful specimen, one instantly regrets it. It's 489 pages of activity in his profile since September 19th, 2013. Twenty thousand nine hundred and one posts at the time I'm starting to write this article.

 

First and foremost, we're talking about a very ancient member of the VHL, starting his journey before the infamous DDoS attack that wiped out two years of his content and his first player's career.

 

2011 was the year the BOOM legend was born.

 

You might know him by BOOM, UZI, BYE, Samurai7, or any other username name he might have used, but the most likely thing is that you know him. It isn't easy to achieve this notoriety level when you're not part of the inner circle. BOOM hasn't held important or highly regarded positions around the league... he has just been here. He's been here for the members he recruited over the years, but he has also been here for anyone seeking guidance. Although he may seem somewhat unapproachable, maybe due to his Australian badass aura, there's a great user and better person just around that cloudy persona.

 

He's not one for flashy or dainty moves but is one of the most present users in the history of the VHL. He's not part of the founding crew of the VHL, but he has been part of it long enough. In 2019, our historian went through the VHL's log books and saw when the active users of the VHL then had joined the league. BOOM, having joined the league just four years after its inception, was one of them. Of the users that had joined the VHL during the first five of the league's existence, BOOM was one of the 34 still active.

 

It's not all fun and games, though. It takes real time and effort to be active for such a long time, and you expect a certain level of care and respect after so much time invested. At the end of 2016, BOOM took one in the chin when Thor Odinsson retired early after some issues with his team's management. This happened during the turbulent "Project Player Two" era in the VHL, which failed to do its primary task, increasing the player pool. Instead, it "sucked the energy out of the dwindling member base," and BOOM, with his technically fifth player, decided it was time to part ways in the VHL, ending Fujimoto's career and starting his own VHL hiatus.

 

At this point in his VHL career, BOOM could have already been inducted as a builder. Not only did he have two players with Hall of Fame careers, but he had already held a position in the VHL Magazine, leading the project and actively trying to innovate and reach the VHL audience through different channels. He had been a member for six years, brought multiple quality users to the VHL, and supported VHLM teams. Even with the resume on his back, BOOM took a step back from the VHL and gave the league time to improve.

 

Eventually, the league ended "Project Player Two," contracted, and started doing things in a better way. The member base was growing, and eight months after saying goodbye, the universe couldn't contain BOOM's return. It was time to create another great player... but that didn't happen. The league wasn't ready, and after half a year, Vaydar Odinsson retired, and BYE went into hibernation mode - and it took ten seasons to get out of it.

 

A new Odinsson was born, Gunnar, and "it [was] good to be back in the VHL" for BOOM. After that time off, he came in with a new perspective. No longer was he searching for cups, being a top earner, or leading the stat sheet. That newly found VHL feeling was back. BOOM was looking forward to a fun Locker Room and creating a healthy environment for everyone involved. At the end of his career, Gunnar was as serviceable as they come, playing multiple positions across five different VHL teams. This was a moment of reflection for someone who was still a great, committed, and appreciated user around the VHL. Here's someone that struggled to be the best version they could and taking advantage of the opportunities available to their player. Someone who shared the highs and lows of the pressure someone can put on themselves and the effect that real life can have on your VHL activity.

 

BOOM is now with his 8th player and has fulfilled some goals he had set out for himself when he returned to the league in 2020. He's been a fun user to be around and accepted different challenges during his career with Hammar Voss but still has the hunger to be the best he can be. Voss leads the league in TPA and is poised to break TPE records. The personal accolades are starting to show, and the goal certainly is to win the elusive Continental once again. The last player BOOM had inducted to the Hall of Fame was Bismarck Köenig, and before that, back-to-back, a player that has been selected as the 25th best player ever, Odin Tordahl.

 

Hammar Voss is booming and could have the Hall of Fame accolade in the future, but that's not what today is. Today is BOOM's day. A much deserving member of this honor who is poised to read this article and humbly reject any celebration that comes from it.

 

To a much-deserved induction, Cheers!

[leandrofg 1,162]

@BOOM, if you read this and I've fucked up somewhere in the article, please let me know. I'll adjust accordingly. You deserve an article without incongruences. Also, I'm sorry this took me so long to churn out. Cheers!

[BOOM 8,758]

Thanks for the work you put in and to anyone else that contributed. I think STZ was the Magazine lead when I was there, I just did GFX for ads and stuff. I can't even remember half of what you wrote, but I definitely appreciate the memory refresh! 

[Subject056 1,205]

I don't know Boom's history in the VHL, just that Boom is an awesome person in general! So it was cool to read this and get great insight into Boom's players and his time in the VHL. This was written really well, nicely done Leandro!

 

Congrats Boom on your HOF players, you've played the game well

[leandrofg 1,162]

9 hours ago, BOOM said:

Thanks for the work you put in and to anyone else that contributed. I think STZ was the Magazine lead when I was there, I just did GFX for ads and stuff. I can't even remember half of what you wrote, but I definitely appreciate the memory refresh! 

 

Some of the posts I read through made it seem as if you were the one putting it together (and even pushing to switch to a podcast format) but I will adjust it accordingly. It goes for a better story since I believe STZ is a recruit of yours! In any case, I'm glad you enjoy this. We've shared the Locker Room and have spoken a number of times since then, even during my search for an AGM. I appreciate you!

[OrbitingDeath 3,198]

I love you Boom

[BOOM 8,758]

2 hours ago, OrbitingDeath said:

I love you Boom

 

I love me too! 

[OrbitingDeath 3,198]

25 minutes ago, BOOM said:

 

I love me too! 

Lets all love you together \o/

[der meister 3,197]

Legend.