Published: March 11, 2007 01:17 pm      

Local video gamers to challenge top team

A high school Burleson entrepreneur. A top-rated “Halo 2” professional team. What do they have in common? A scenario that seems to happen only in Hollywood.

Mac Daddy’s Games co-manager Matt Franks and his “Halo 2” semi-pro team MDG and pro squad Team SA, had the opportunity to challenge the nation’s highest-ranked team, Final Boss, over the weekend at Red Bull’s FINAL Exam collegiate video game tournament in Austin.

Like the plot of the 1976 film “Rocky,” the chance for a previously unknown team to step up and take on the champs is something that rarely happens, and it was an honor to be able to seize the opportunity, Franks said.

“It’s always been a dream of mine, and now its finally coming true,” he said prior to the event.

Franks’ father and Mac Daddy’s owner, Clyde McClain, agreed.

“It would be like me stepping into the ring with Muhammad Ali,” he said.

But while the former would likely result in an extremely one-sided beating, McClain was hopeful his boys will hold their own against the champs, he said Thursday.

“I think they’ll give them a game,” he predicted.

Led by David “Walshy” Walsh, Final Boss has captured more championships and prize money than any other “Halo 2” team before them.

They are also involved in a three-year, $1 million deal with Major League Gaming event coordinators, making them some of the wealthiest professional gamers in the world.

Team MDG and Team SA are comprised of high school players, and they won’t compete in the tournament, but playing against Final Boss was more than enough reason to attend the event, Franks said.



Philip Navarrette can be reached at 817-645-2441, ext. 2337,

or reporter@trcle.com.