There are moments so monumental it's hard to believe they can even be true. It's like a fever dream no one ever wants to wake up from. Nothing can be more aptly described than the rise of DPS powerhouse Josh "Sideshow" Wilkinson to the forefront of professional Overwatch as he secured a coveted 14-day contract with the Florida Mayhem.
Broadcast talent turned Overwatch League pro, Sideshow has shown everyone they can truly achieve all their life goals; no matter how preposterous they may be or how much a person throws in their ranked games.
Professional Career
Sideshow's dreams of becoming an Overwatch League pro became a reality after the Florida Mayhem accepted his Pharah 1v1 challenge against Jun-ki "Yaki" Kim. All he had to do was get five kills before Yaki got 20 and he would secure a 14-day contract. Through sheer determination, luck and Yaki's hubris, Sideshow prevailed.
Before Sideshow was an Overwatch League pro for the Florida Mayhem he was part of a dynamic casting duo with Brennon Hook. To be fair, he stills does this with the Florida gig being more of a side hustle. Before he rocked the casting world, he was an OWL analyst. Before he was an OWL analyst, he was a Team Fortress 2 god. Has it been mentioned the man got kicked out of medical school? Is there anything this five-head can't do?
Sideshow isn't just limited to Overwatch, though. He recently almost climbed into immortal in VALORANT alongside his casting partner before the beta closed for good. One of the defining moments of his VALORANT career was when he tried to place Cypher's cam while the round had already started. He was quickly shot in the back from long and his team lost point C control.
Hero Pool
Sideshow's hero pool might be the best in the entirety of the Overwatch League. It includes Pharah... and that's about it. Look at his Liquipedia page for confirmation. He is a dynamic attacker with the winged hero and produces some of the most clutch barrages known to man.
When he doesn't dominate his plat-level games on DPS, he occasionally feeds an insane amount of ult charge on Roadhog and is boosted to masters by his subscribers while he plays support.
Overwatch League Impact
Sideshow's impact on the Overwatch League is undefinable. He hasn't even played a map in his career, but that doesn't matter. Those around the league know who he is and what he is capable of. It's only a matter of time before his named is called. Hopefully before his contract ends.
What really makes Sideshow special is his impact outside of being a pro. He became the first OWL talent to shave his eyebrows for reaching 2,000 subscribers and the first to use his massive amount of forehead as ad space for organizations. He truly is next level in how he approaches building his brand.
When people think about the Overwatch League 100 years from now, they might only see one face. It's the face of a man who went against all odds to get to where he is now. For years, critics said plat players weren't good enough to get into the league. They said tier two and tier three players deserved more opportunities. Sideshow proved both of those notions wrong by becoming the first plat-level star in the OWL and did so by leaping over all those players that have been clawing their way to the top for years.
Sideshow did so for the people. He ate the rich. He may not have invented esports, but he is well on his way to defining it.