Hotline League
Anchor FM
Call in show about League of Legends Esports hosted by Travis Gafford and Cubbyxx, featuring guests from all across the LCS.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Sports & Recreation Podcasts
Networks:
Anchor FM
Description:
Call in show about League of Legends Esports hosted by Travis Gafford and Cubbyxx, featuring guests from all across the LCS.
Language:
English
Website:
https://anchor.fm/hotlineleague
Episodes
FLY Falls Short at MSI, Can TL Redeem NA?! The WESTERN MINDSET feat. Zven | Hotline League 318
5/7/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:11:20 t-bone's take: FLY has to blow up their roster if they want to make Worlds
00:31:12 nohrii's take: TL v TES is the best stylistic matchup TL could get
00:47:57 GreenCervidae's take: as Zven said, NA will never win Worlds because pros don't play enough high elo
01:14:35 Tatami Galaxy's take: FLY's failure might set up an interesting narrative for Summer
01:29:02 gamberino wants to talk about Western mindsets at international tourneys
01:38:35 Outro
Duration:01:42:53
YOUR SPICIEST MSI 2024 TAKES! LEAKED THIRD INT'L TOURNAMENT?! feat. Nymaera | Hotline League 317
5/1/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:24:08 eBraum wants Nymaera's thoughts on LPL and LEC at MSI, and first int'l tourney without LFL
00:40:40 Yasukeh's take: MSI would benefit greatly from having more casters
00:56:24 Grayska's take: the LCS has entirely dropped the ball on MSI content
01:15:32 nocturnavi's take: the leaked third int'l tourney for 2025 should invite more minor regions
01:35:07 doublezeee's take: As an NA fan, I will always have expectations of western teams in general.
01:54:15 basil thinks TL could make Top 4 and GenG will flop
02:08:36 Outro
Duration:02:15:40
LCS's BIGGEST WINS, Spring Split learnings, Summer changes feat. Commish MarkZ | Hotline League 316
4/23/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:21:28 EzraSmiles's take: LCS should push more content during the break weeks to get through the lack of games
00:30:33 Rico Suave asks Mark about the plan to increase NA viewership and young viewers
00:53:21 Azikiel asks what Mark's take is on adding unbroadcasted games and fearless draft
01:26:45 Wakalino ask if there's any content planned for off days during normal broadcast hours
01:33:03 David asks if there's any hope for 2025 roadshows for finals
01:40:15 ppdoc's shoutout
01:41:30 Mark gives some more insights on Spring Finals
01:50:20 icebreaker asks Mark what the biggest surprise was during his first split as commissioner
02:02:33 Why can't Mark talk about bo3
02:06:20 Outro
Duration:02:08:01
Why TIER 2 is the FUTURE of LCS! C9 changes feat. Steve Kangas and Kelsey Moser | Hotline League 315
4/16/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:13:47 Davis's take: bring back Scouting Grounds as a content event
00:43:39 BreakingDreams is concerned for C9 due to lack of coaching staff support
01:01:03 Tzvi's take: colleges need to invest in lolesports through high school-focused roadshow
01:21:38 Braedan's take: C9 does best when they pull from their Academy team. Bring it back, Jack
01:36:15 Minnogi's take: it is clear that collegiate LoL is the future of League of Legends in NA and the Tier 2 scene
01:58:20 Outro
Duration:02:06:14
COREJJ on Team Liquid's AGGRESSIVE style! Is CRITICIZING your own team EVER OK? | Hotline League 314
4/9/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:18:15 Lord Audie asks CoreJJ about TL's growth since 2023
00:30:40 wombatbaby's take: FLY and TL makes sense because they're the only teams that have Challengers rosters
00:45:27 tbone's take: while Thanatos is a good pickup for C9, it won't solve their problems
00:55:47 skizzle's take: DIG firing Enatron was just a cover for poor roster construction
01:16:17 boggs's take: the Inspired interview was super overblown
01:31:05 Glaurung's idea: if a team wins a split, they get to choose the city for a road show
01:39:30 Outro
Duration:01:44:24
TL TAKES SPRING FINALS! C9 missing MSI, Impact the GOAT?! feat. Emily Rand | Hotline League 313
4/4/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:21:59 lymyion's take: TL is simultaneously the worst team to win the LCS and also the best team we've ever sent international.
00:40:33 David's take: the LCS Final should never be in the Riot Games Arena ever again
00:56:27 vash's take: teams need to give fans a reason to commit to them
01:11:34 Lord Audie's take: Bwipo and Inspired are the reason FLY lost to TL
01:21:55 Mephisto's take: TL is the best NA team because Spawn is the GOAT
01:37:00 Andrew's take: C9 missing MSI is bad for NA as a region
02:01:24 seanatonin's take: Impact the GOAT of LCS
02:17:38 Outro
Duration:02:26:02
FINALS, FINALLY! Does C9 NEED a rookie? Is 100T just LUCKY? feat. Bwipo | Hotline League 312
3/26/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:18 Rico Suave's take: there should be definitive leaders in a team to help shape identity
00:28:09 eBraum's take: as a C9 fan, C9 is going to get swept by TL, TL will win over FLY
00:36:10 Bwipo's hot take: The difference between 100T and IMT was pure luck
00:46:30 Is Berserker's gameplay suffering without Zven?
00:51:10 micspam's take: MarkZ being the face of LCS is really dumb
01:03:55 Tzvi's take: C9 needs a rookie to succeed
01:28:44 lymyion's take: Bwipo & APA (and players like them) are the 2 best players to come to the LCS
01:41:19 Azikiel asks Bwipo: how much has NRG's downfall been due to the loss of Ignar
01:49:35 bearusAurelius asks Bwipo why we don't see more roaming top laners
01:55:20 Outro
Duration:02:01:20
Would ROSTER CHANGES make NRG WORSE? Is BERSERKER a C9 LIABILITY? feat. Zven | Hotline League 311
3/19/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:44 rawnblade's take: NRG will get worse with roster changes, not better
00:30:05 LestForce's take: the LCS is trying too hard to make trash talk a thing
00:44:20 Zven wants to talk about IMT's branding
00:49:30 GreenCervidae's take: LCS needs more former pros on broadcast
01:04:40 Titan's take: TL will make it to LCS Finals against C9
01:19:44 SCared's take: Zven should replace Zeyzal as support and Licorice replace Fakegod
01:31:35 Dragosi's take: Massu has solidified himself in the Rookie of the Year discussion
01:42:50 N1ckster's take: Berserker is C9's biggest liability
01:59:55 Outro
Duration:02:02:59
SPICIEST PRE-PLAYOFFS TAKES! + TL roster drama feat. PapaSmithy and Andy | Hotline League 310
3/12/2024
00:00:00 Intro - Playoffs incoming, a sprinkle of drama
00:20:30 Gambirino's take: shifting from a live patch to a fixed patch for Playoffs will test the teams
00:37:40 icebreaker's take: from a product/hype perspective, 100T is the best team to send to MSI
00:51:22 Human Boy YesYes's take: DIG and TL have better shots at MSI than NRG and C9
01:07:40 Skizzle's take: C9 can't beat 100T if they maintain their 0-3 superweek form
01:19:55 deeeep space's take: DL's comments on Dodo are an example of where esports seriously needs to improve in PR and comms
01:43:25 NoReason asks: What does FLY look like without their NACL team?
01:52:51 muzzvein's take: River or Quid MVP, but Inspired and Jojo 1st Team All-Pro
02:06:24 Outro
Duration:02:10:46
WHY LCS should DROP SPLITS! BEST ADC in NA?! feat. Inero and Kelsey Moser | Hotline League 309
3/5/2024
Follow Travis on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/travisgafford Support: https://linktr.ee/tgisupport 00:00:00 Intro 00:24:53 Scatter Catt's take: the LCS should stop doing separate seasonal splits altogether 00:37:10 Miyaour's take: the three-week break could've been used better 00:52:30 mikey's take: bvoy has consistently been the best ADC in the league 01:03:30 bb's take: this is G2 and C9's best chance to win at international tourneys 01:16:24 Tbone's take: LCS should ditch spring split in favor of a tournament of the Americas 01:27:35 Russ's take: TL should seriously think about replacing ADC and Mid next split if they get elim'd in the first round of playoffs. 01:48:20 Thanks, subs and viewers! 01:48:45 Swede's take: the best way to bring Western viewership back is to bring back an in-client player 02:02:55 Outro
Duration:02:08:21
Can LCS teams INNOVATE on LIVE PATCH? feat. 100T Goldenglue, Spookz + Joseph | Hotline League 308
2/20/2024
00:00:00 Intro - triple-guest episode
00:21:50 ezra's take: 100T's success proves how important coaching staff is
00:35:40 Mastergen1's take: there's a lack of innovation on the live patch
00:49:55 Tim wonders about Sniper's skills outside his comfort zone
00:58:46 waka asks 100T how they feel about the state of LCS and the game itself
01:11:05 trasterisk's take: Spawn and Goldenglue are great examples of how T2 works
01:30:30 katmandu asks how 100T staff feels about the 2-week break
01:41:12 ppdoc asks who 100T considers their biggest competition
01:50:20 trespasser's takes: scared for C9 as a fan, + Sven is at LS's bootcamp, which team would benefit most from him?
02:08:55 Outro
Duration:02:13:30
Revenge's FAREWELL to LCS and HONEST player perspectives feat. Raz | Hotline League 307
2/13/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:25:53 Stevenator's take: for the first time in his career, Blaber is not a top 3 jungler in LCS
00:40:18 Gambirino's take: Quid has made a strong case to be rookie of the split if eligible
00:54:03 dctheking asks Revenge for a donezo manifesto - best and worst teammates, etc.
01:18:01 sandytoes' take: LCS is stabilizing
01:42:20 Travis asks Revenge if he'd encourage new players to try and go pro
02:00:10 Polowy asks Revenge how important Academy teams are to LCS teams in terms of practice
02:07:23 ZePaladin's take: LCS downsize gives rookies a chance to stand out
02:14:20 tuft REALLY misses the analyst desk
02:24:50 Dr. Nollie asks Revenge how honest players are with one another
02:34:48 Outro
Duration:02:42:24
Who's to BLAME on C9? Are Bo3s WORTH? feat. Spawn and Yeon | Hotline League 306
2/6/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:10:55 Cubby asks Spawn and Yeon about their reunion
00:15:50 Travis asks Spawn about external factors he's noticed
00:22:00 gengariffith's take: people should blame coaches over players for lack of direction on C9
00:38:35 Muzvein's take: Eyla is finally in a position to succeed
00:47:30 Davis's take: 8 teams has been great for the league in terms of parity and narratives
01:08:00 David's take: How about them Thieves?
01:20:55 twinkletoes asks HLL about the status of NA esports in 2024
01:39:44 GoldenKS's take: People forget how big of a deal Impact is for TL
01:47:34 Ashar asks Yeon and Spawn what feels different about TL and the LCS this year
01:56:26 Outro
Duration:02:00:04
Why the PROS show is AMAZING! Should LCS teams run TRYOUTS? feat. KangasCasts | Hotline League 305
1/30/2024
00:00:00 Intro - LCS and TGI updates
00:15:55 treethan's take: we should do team tryouts in NA like they do in KR
00:30:40 play's take: team owners should be livid about Riot's broadcast shortcomings
00:57:09 franz's take: if TL doesn't start picking up wins, they should drop CoreJJ not APA
01:13:12 brandywine's take: the PROS show is the best thing to happen for the scene in years
01:30:10 skizzle's take: SR's failure to keep Chime and pick up a good top laner is the cause of their poor performance and low placement
01:47:55 aemulator's take: C9 are infodoomed like no other team in the West
01:58:14 Outro
Duration:02:04:05
LCS SPRING during ESPORTS WINTER! LIVE PATCH, format, and more! feat. Palafox | Hotline League 304
1/23/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:45 Cubby and Palafox chat about Palafox's growth as an NA mid laner and 2024 mentality
00:21:50 Bluejay's take: with LCS being on live patch, innovation should be rewarded
00:32:58 bearusAurelius wants to talk about APA's tweet and wonders if LCS needs more games
00:47:57 nizzy2k11's take: the LCS needs more content like Jatt's 15 minute talk with players
01:00:30 Alienware break!
01:02:40 Emily joins HLL to ask Palafox about Azir
01:16:25 rawnblade asks Palafox how he feels after his first international experience
01:26:35 wokka asks Palafox how he feels about more player-related content on the LCS
01:40:30 junghoon wants to talk game industry layoffs
01:55:30 takeutchi's take: LCS needs to invest in local/regional growth over risky imports
02:13:45 Outro
Duration:02:18:03
Can LCS HYPE surpass LEC hype levels?! HALL OF LEGENDS + more feat. MARKZ | Hotline League 303
1/16/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:15:04 Franz asks Mark how LCS can match energy of LEC games ie. KC vs. MAD
00:30:30 Farmerginge wants to discuss having pro play take place on the live patch
00:39:50 murderino's take: no NA player should qualify for the new Hall of Legends
00:53:25 Alienware break
00:56:30 Wizery asks Mark for examples of past content that shined or missed the mark
01:12:00 gil asks Mark how his career so far is informing his new role
01:25:40 beans's take: Riot banning live coverage of NACL qualifiers is disrespectful to all parties involved
01:37:00 ezekiel asks Mark about the possibility of LCS vs LEC or other regions
01:41:40 Urdiales's take: LCS fans should focus on healthy ecosystem over international success
01:51:00 Outro
Duration:01:53:55
LCS 2024 CHANGES? Does JENSEN have something to PROVE?! feat. Svenskeren | Hotline League 302
1/9/2024
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:20 Tom's take: With the LCS down to 8 slots + a shorter schedule, early wins matter more
00:28:54 Bluejay's take: this is Jensen's biggest "proving" season since his debut
00:43:03 Cloud asks about svenskeren's coaching experience
00:53:45 Alienware break!
00:57:40 treethan's take: teams can't turn down sketchy opportunities in the current esports climate
01:19:35 JamJon's take: FLY has a better roster for growing Massu than 100T have to grow Meech
01:29:41 Davis's take; the winner of MSI getting a free trip to Worlds is good for format but bad for that winning team
01:37:40 Zak Mango is optimistic about Riot's efforts for competitive League scene
01:48:05 Outro
Duration:01:52:05
NRG's Rise, Changing Game Days, High-Power Players and More: 2023 in Review | Hotline League 301
12/19/2023
00:00:00 Intro
00:08:22 farmerginge wants to talk about worrying viewership numbers going into 2024
00:20:20 manny is excited to see LCS come back to the weekends and hopes for a bo3 format
00:32:50 mogul's take: props to NRG for exceeding expectations as underdogs
00:39:45 Alienware break!
00:43:33 evies talks about offseason and broadcast
00:52:35 olympius conspiracy: 2023 proved that C9 is content with regional success and resting on NA laurels
01:02:20 max's take: LCS 2023 had the highest average player strength we've seen in a while
01:11:18 LNA wants to shout out NA players and narratives
01:19:33 ren's take: LCS should lean into aging audience
01:35:54 LCS 2023 was a more compelling product that LEC for the first time
01:43:40 Outro
Duration:01:49:16
From CO-HOST to COMMISSIONER: MarkZ leads the LCS into 2024! What's next? | Hotline League 300
12/13/2023
00:00:00 Intro
00:16:33 outsane asks Mark why he's the man for the job
00:31:31 fearfactor's take: better comms are necessary for the LCS to improve
00:39:12 farmerginge asks Mark what viewers should keep in mind while they wait for implementation
00:50:22 Avajou asks Mark for his favorite HLL moments
01:03:05 Andrew asks if TGI can be unbiased?
01:11:59 DoubleG's take: MarkZ IS the man for the job
01:19:45 Cody's take: the LCS might struggle to fill Mark's shoes on the broadcast at first
01:29:50 praeco asks if there are differences between esports and tsports that can be leaned into
01:45:45 big angry hobo wonders if it's too late for 2024 LCS changes
01:52:30 CaptFlowers calls in to congratulate Mark
01:59:00 Azael and Emily join HLL
02:10:20 rudy asks Mark what he's excited to see evolve about the product moving forward
02:20:07 Outro
Duration:02:23:58
The BIGGEST moves and HOTTEST takes of the off-season with Croissant and Cubby | NOT-line League
12/5/2023
Check out Alienware's deals: http://alienware.com/travis Follow Travis on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/travisgafford Support: https://linktr.ee/tgisupport
Duration:02:29:23