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Overwatch: Houston Outlaws Lose Two Senior Managers

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Overwatch: Houston Outlaws Lose Two Senior Managers

Matt “flame” Rodriguez and Adam “MESR” De La Torre, respectively General Manager and Facilities and Operations Manager, leave Houston Outlaws.

As the Overwatch League is shaken by many homestands cancellations due to coronavirus, Houston Outlaws took a harder hit today. Both Matt “flame” Rodriguez and Adam “MESR” De La Torre, respectively General Manager and Facilities and Operations Manager, leave the team.

What is happening with the Houston Outlaws?

Houston Outlaws was originally founded by Infinite Esports, who were acquired by Immortals Gaming Club, the owner of Los Angeles Valiant. In 2019, Immortals Gaming Club sold the Houston Outlaws to the Beasley Broadcast Group, a radio broadcasting company in the United States.

When a new company acquires a team, they tend to bring in new people to improve performances. The Houston Outlaws had some issues the previous season. Despite coaching and roster changes, it was a matter of time before higher ranked managers were fired.

The crowd cheer for the Houston Overwatch live at one of the teams Homestands

However, such changes are not without consequences. When changing managers or coaching staff, teams usually wait slower times like the off-season or mid-season. Moreover, Houston Outlaws seemed to do better than before during this new Overwatch League Season.

One month into the Overwatch League 2020 Season, the Houston Outlaws already beat the odds by winning against teams with a higher power ranking. They won 3-0 against Paris Eternal and 3-1 against Toronto Defiant. Even if they lost three games, it was not without putting up a fight. Houston Outlaws still have work to do if they want to reach the top of the League, but it seems the team is getting to know each other and increase their performance week after week.

Rodriguez and De La Torre leave the team in turmoil

Matt “flame” Rodriguez is the General Manager for Houston Outlaws since 2017. On his Twitter account, Rodriguez states that he is now a free agent. If he doesn’t retire and is looking for another job, it means either that he was fired or left due to disagreements with the organization. In both circumstances, internal conflict seems to rise within Houston Outlaws.

Adam “MESR” De La Torre first joined the Houston Outlaws as a Coach, before becoming Facilities and Operations Manager. He helped players adapting to their new life; whether coming from abroad living in the USA for the first time, or general adjustments to leaving their hometowns to join the Outlaws’ headquarters.

Internal troubles rise in Houston Outlaws

The Houston Outlaws players were not aware of these management changes. Jeffrey “blasé” Tsang, DPS player for the Outlaws, said on Connor “Avast” Prince’s stream that he found out about Rodriguez and De La Torre leaving the team this morning. He stated that “I know about as much as you guys do right now.”

Is the new owner of Houston Outlaws making necessary changes, or is more drama coming up in the next week? The Overwatch League is already under a lot of pressure. Time will tell if the Houston Outlaws’ players will resist additional internal conflict.

Overwatch: Houston Outlaws Lose Two Senior Managers
Ophelie Castelot
Ophelie is both an esport and journalism lover. She is the former head of the CS:GO section for a major esport website. Ophelie has been analyzing Overwatch ever since its release in 2016.