It's not always easy to be a part of Mango Nation. Joseph "Mango" Marquez will tell you that himself.
"It's hard to be a Mango fan because you don't really even know what you're going to get," he said. "I'm the wildcard. On a good day, I'm at the top. On a bad day, I lose to anyone and get 17 place. So it's like a roller coaster--and that's part of the beauty in it."
Take April 4 for example.
Joseph "Mango" Marquez is hours removed from a second place finish at Pound 2016. Fans are still questioning his decision to bring out a Marth secondary in a pivotal set in the tournament. They wonder if he still has it, as 2016 brings another second place finish to Juan "Hungrybox" Debiedma.
There are echoes of him trying to figure out how to balance streaming and being a top player. Fans might catch him playing Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, The Culling, or even Team Fortress 2 before they get a glimpse of him playing Super Smash Bros. Melee. His practice schedule isn't as comprehensive, regimented, or regular as the other top players.
And yet, on April 4, Marquez is excited. Why? Because Allen Iverson is going into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
"Allen Iverson is probably my favorite basketball player of all time, just because of everything about him," Marquez said. "His appearance--he's this little guy out-balling everyone...and I don't think I've ever seen someone dominate like him. Even with all of the greats--the way A.I. did it just made everyone look so foolish. He doesn't look like a basketball player, but his style--it's very unique. And there will never...there will never be another A.I. you know?"
Safe to say that the parallels between the two are there.
Marquez is still the biggest standout in Smash, as his fan base would attest. He gets the longest lines for autographs at events. The beard seems to become more and more massive. Tattoos of favorite characters and some of the biggest influences in his life color his limbs. His stream isn't always filled with his practice sessions, but you might get a glimpse of his son on stream.
In Melee, the difference between him and the pack is even more pronounced. "The way I play is very risky, and you'll see me going for things that are generally not the smartest thing, but they look cool, and that's the appeal," he said. "I had 2013 and 2014. Obviously, I started slumping, and it's nice to see that a lot of the diehard fans stuck around. Everyone hates my fans because of how passionate they are, and I love my fans more than anyone else--that's probably why they like me so much."
He brings up Dwayne Johnson, The Rock. He says that's the kind of public persona that speaks to him. "If you're not playing for the people, what's the point? Hearing crowds when I'm playing...people start going crazy, especially when I start moon walking and doing my thing. So being a Mango fan is a beautiful thing--and also sometimes the worst thing in the world.
The beauty of being a Mango fan was evident throughout 2013 and 2014, as he picked up some of the biggest wins in the scene, ones that would define not just his career to that point, but an era.
As players like Hungrybox, Adam "Armada" Lindgren, and William "Leffen" Hjelte stepped into the spotlight, wresting away control, the victories he wanted the most slipped through his fingertips.
"I was actually talking to Daniel [Tafokints] Lee about it. We said last year was my adjustment year," Mango explained. "This whole new Melee style is not my style...it's very optimal, very by the book, and it's just all broken down, and that's not how I wanna play the game."
"So last year, I was trying to incorporate that into my style, but I still wanted to be Mango, so I gotta get my style and the optimal part to just meet in the middle. I'm slowly starting to shoot a few more lasers when I need to, slowly starting to do the bread and butter stuff, the things that Leffen and Armada do--the by the book every time...I had to shift my whole play style," he continued. "I keep getting second...but I'm kind of happy about it, because it shows that at least I can get there. I just gotta work. When Mango and optimal meet in the middle, we're going to see beautiful things. Hopefully I can get it by EVO."
No time like the present.
Smash Summit 2 is a stone's throw away from his hometown, and the intimate nature of the event plays into his favor. Summit is Mango's favorite Smash event. It's up there with EVO because he gets to play in a more casual setting.
"Even at my house these last few days, it has been nice to hang with Shroomed, SFAT, and Armada in a more casual way, instead of it being all business. Everything runs smooth, because what--there's only 16 people here? Everything is just perfect, and you know, honestly, the best part is, after the weekend here, you see the improvements so quickly. If you go on the friendlies television, anyone you play is going to be good, and you can just practice against pretty much the best people in the world."
That's the kind of practice Marquez needs. "Melee is so exhausting, mentally and physically--like it's a draining game," he admitted. "I can't do it everyday. Armada--he's a grinder. Armada will grind against a computer and grind...same with Leffen," he said. "That works for them. That doesn't work for me, so I just practice when I need to."
Marquez has been playing a long time--and he knows he needs time to get in shape. For him, Melee is a mental sport. It's about prepping for that. If he can grind a few weeks beforehand, the muscle memory will come back to him. Marquez insists that it's much more important to work on mentality.
"I'll always feel like Marth is the best character in the game." Joseph "Mango" Marquez
The challenges and side events will let Marquez try things out against some of the best in a bit more casual setting. "I might do some experimental stuff and...use my Marth in a set or something, just for practice I think," he said. "I'll always feel like Marth is the best character in the game. A lot of people don't agree with me but when you're playing your best with him, you can't really touch him. He's got the range and the best grab in the game--the only character that has true auto death combos on Fox and Falco.
Even against floaties, Marquez thinks that Marth hasn't been used to his full-strength. "Marth players are kinda slacking right now, I feel like he's very untapped. I feel like he's the best character at a level that hasn't really been dissected enough. I have fun playing with him because he's very different. What he adds to the game...no other character really adds to it."
He admits that his Fox isn't particularly good into the Marth match-up. "As I play as Marth, I see what beats him--what's annoying to the character. So it's also nice to gain that little insight."
Learning a new character is fun for Marquez. It keeps him invested in the game. If he can take him to the next level, it'll be a good character to carry in his back pocket. Marth and Falco might end up being the sixth man.
"They'll come in, play 20 minutes, and they're done," he said. "Fox is going to be the Kobe Bryant--the carry. I'm going to need my bench guys."
"That's how I kind of see my other characters," he continued. "I just need them to come in, win their one or two matches, and that's it. So, if I can get him to that level where he can just come out, win me a game or two when I need him to, that's all I pretty much want from him."
Mango Nation, don't get worried. Your loyalty will pay off, according to Marquez. "When Armada and Hungrybox win, it's just like the way they play the game is more business. They come in, they go to work, and that's it. It's always business. But with me, it's more like I'm the wildcard."
Marquez admits that because his style is not optimal--and because it's not by the book, he has to overcome the odds. As Marquez laughed about Allen Iverson making it into the Hall of Fame, it seemed like the number three meant more to him than just the jersey that A.I. wore for the Sixers.
He has his eyes set on July and another shot at his third EVO championship. Smash Summit 2 is another stop on the way for him, and one that may lay the groundwork for the rest of the year.
"All Mango fans need to be patient. Give me some time. I'm going to make this all work, and then it's going to be a beautiful thing. Just gotta wait for it."