The Filipino-American professional player Michael “ninjaboogie” Ross Jr. (30) played the MOBA DOTA 2 (Steam) for the team SMG, an organization from Malaysia. On Friday, the team announced his release. The player states: He was fired because he visited his mother, who was in end-stage cancer. He wanted to spend just a few days with her in the hospital as it was coming to the end, but the team did not accept this decision. There were doubts about his motivation.
This is the player in question:
- The 30-year-old ninjaboogie is a veteran in DOTA 2. He switched to Valve’s MOBA in 2012; previously from Heroes of Newerth. He plays the role of a support.
- In his long career as a professional player, he earned $475,000. The majority of the money came in 2019 when he earned $137,320 for a mid-range placement at the huge tournament “The International 2019” (via esportsearnings). At that time he played for the team Mineski, also a team from Southeast Asia.
- In 2021 he joined Team SMG, but this period ended in a dispute.
Team bids farewell to player in Twitter post, thanks him for his dedication
The team announced its farewell: Team SMG posted on Twitter on May 20 the departure of ninjaboogie and thanked the player for his “enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication to Team SMG”.
There were no signs as to why the separation occurred. Everything seemed kind of cool.
Player wanted to spend just a few days with his dying mother
This is what the player says: The 30-year-old explains what lies behind the separation. It was an eviction that had already come the previous week:
- He had known for a long time that the day would come when his mother would die. Because she had end-stage cancer.
- The player’s mother had suffered a stroke on May 12 and was admitted to the hospital.
- Ninjaboogie was actually supposed to fly back to the team on May 14. A “boot camp” was pending. But he asked in a conversation with the team to be able to stay longer with his mother, as the preparation camp did not start until the 20th. He would be there then.
- A player from Team SMG, Carry Midone, pressured him already on May 14 to make a decision on whether he would fly back or not. The team expressed doubts about whether he was still completely focused.
“I can’t leave her alone in this critical situation”
This is why he did not fly back: The professional assured the team that he was still fully motivated and would not be distracted. In his free time, he also trains, but he can’t leave his mother alone right now. He would feel like a failure as a son if he did that. He just needed a few more days to be with his mother: It would be decided in the next few days, either she would be better or unfortunately she would die.
By Monday, the 16th, she would be discharged from the hospital.
The player asked for more days with his mother before he then goes to the boot camp with the professional team. He hopes the team will accept his decision (via twitter).
My aunt is with her in the hospital and keeps me updated on her condition. I play ranked in the free time I have. She even told me herself to go, but I can’t leave her alone in a critical situation like this. I would feel like a terrible son.
I just need to sort out a few more things before she hopefully gets discharged from the hospital, and I am ready to meet all of you in the boot camp. I hope my decision is okay with you.
ninjaboogie in a message to Team SMG
Player is fired, his mother dies the next day
This is how it continued: On May 15, the team informed him that they had a meeting without him. And would continue without him in the future.
The player says his mother died on Monday, May 16.
These are the reactions: Many on Twitter can empathize with the player’s situation, as they too have lost loved ones to cancer.
The reaction to the team’s actions has been partly outraged. Twitch streamer Trainwreck says:
Screw them, dude. It’s clear that the people who made this decision don’t have families, because if they did, they wouldn’t have just supported your decision, they would have encouraged you to do it.
Trainwreck
The professional player was asked on Twitter why he wanted to return to his team so quickly. Why he didn’t take the time to mourn his mother. The player explained (via twitter):
- his father died of COVID early in the pandemic
- since then, ninjaboogie has been the head of the family, and it is his responsibility to take care of them
- he had used up all his savings and had to earn money – only in this way could he take care of his mother if she survived
There has been no further statement from the team so far.
We recently reported on MeinMMO about a professional player who was fired under controversial circumstances:
18-year-old professional paints a “Z” in DOTA 2: Valve disqualifies his team – he is fired
