One of the biggest things happening for players here at the CGS combine outside of getting drafted (or not drafted) is that players are getting their name known among this new and exciting professional leauge. The need to get to know these players is important for not only the new General Managers but also for producers, administrators, organizers and all of vast machinery that is just now building up for this major league.

Case in point here is Michelle Pleet also known as Phoenix. Phoenix is one of the female Dead Or Alive players that has played and hung around consistently on DoaCentral.com, Xbox Live and even in the grassroots offline tournament scene. She flies all the way out to LA from the east coast in Delaware to win a spot as one of the 1st ever salaried full-time gamers.

Of course there was one little problem, outside of the DoA players, no one in CGS circles had ever heard of her. So Michelle's goal had to be to play so well and carry herself in such as a way as to impress the GM's and get her name recognized as one of the best women DoA players in the country:

Hello Michelle (Phoenix). So tell us about your video game background.

I'm a gamer in general but I play mainly 2 video games, Halo & DoA.

How's your Halo game?

My Halo game is ok. I played games with my bother a lot and some friends and so I got into gaming that way.

So then is Dead Or Alive your best game?

I would say so. Yes, I would think so. My friend got me into gaming online a few years ago and I was playing Dead Or Alive Ultimate a lot. Then about 6 months after Dead Or Alive 4 came out I was able to get a 360 and the game and I've been into DoA since then.

So how'd you end up in fighting games and on a hardcore gaming site like DoaCentral?

Well I've been on that site getting strategies and getting into online and offline tournament information for at least 2 years or so. I played in online tournaments 1st and then started going to offline tournaments that were somewhere near me. I even went to EVO East and got beat down pretty bad but it helped me to get better.

Oh, so you played on the East Coast a lot? I'm originally a Phila. boy myself.

Yes, I'm from Delaware now but I'm really a Baltimore Maryland girl born & raised. I don't feel very "Delewary" yet.

So how old are you and what are you doing in terms of work or school?

Well I'm 18, graduated HS and now I've completed my 1st year of college in general studies. If I'm lucky enough to get drafted I'd like to work as a pro player and go to school as well. I'm a multi-tasker. I'd love to see where this could take me.

How have your matches been going here at the combine?

I've played 3 matches so far and I've won them all.

So you like your chances against what you've seen so far of the women's competition?

Yes, I think so. I've been playing the girls on DoaCentral for a while so I know who's female online and I have sense how I stack up against the top girl DoA players. Girls got a sense for each other online, we have to stick together. It's tough for girls online. (laughs) I don't hide my voice or anything so sometimes guys give us a hard time out there.

So you get extra pleasure from beating guys?

Ha ha. I take equal pleasure in beating everyone.

Looks like you have a chance to be one of the top 6? How does your family feel about you pursuing this?

They're supportive. My mom is the one that helped me get out here. A couple of the GM's have talked to me but nothing too serious so far but I'm keeping track.

Looks So who have played against in your matches so far?

I played PMS Wedge, she's my girl, we have so much fun together. I played PMS Trina, she played very well and was a tough match.

The 3rd match must have been the big face-off with Mystik?

Yes. That was a big match people were looking forward too. It was fun and I was glad to pull it out.

Thanks Phoenix. Any shoutouts?

Oh, just shoutouts to everyone in the whole DoA community!