Maven, MerK CDL Caster Roles Are Apparently Up in the Air for 2022
For the second year in a row, it appears prominent Call of Duty casting duo Clint "Maven" Evans and Joe "MerK" Deluca will be absent from the CDL Kickoff Classic broadcast because of contract negotiations.
With the CDL gearing up to get its professional Vanguard circuit going for 2022 — community update and schedule announcement and all — it seems one of the fandom's long-beloved casting duos won't be a part of it.
MerK just said on stream that unless something changes over the next few days, him and Maven won't be casting at the CDL Kickoff event.pic.twitter.com/Yd5IUXjPht
— COD Gamepedia (@COD_Gamepedia) January 17, 2022
On Monday, MerK mentioned on stream that "unless something magical changes," both he and Maven won't be casting at the league's first in-person event of the year.
The next day, Maven followed it up announcing that he doesn't know if he'll be involved with the CDL at all in 2022, mentioning that he feels his past internal "battles" on the production side may have played a role in his current circumstances with the league.
I hope it gets figured out. I want to do this forever. COD is my life, and the only thing I want is for it to reach the levels I know it can. If not, I plan to do freelance and potentially work with an org on COD content. Have a delightful day.
— Clint Evans (@Maven) January 18, 2022
"I hope it gets figured out," Maven said on Twitter. "I want to do this forever. COD is my life, and the only thing I want is for it to reach the levels I know it can. If not, I plan to do freelance and potentially work with an org on COD content. Have a delightful day."
Later on, MerK took to Twitter to add that he as well is "in the dark" regarding his future with the CDL, and that for now, he'll be focusing on content/freelance work.
Competitive CoD has been a staple in my life for the last 12-13 years, as Maven tweeted, we are in the dark. For now, I’ll be focusing on content/freelance work. Luckily, my stream is in the best place it’s ever been. Lastly, want to wish the people working this weekend GL ❤️
— MerK (@JoeDeLuca) January 18, 2022
The CDL Kickoff Classic is set to begin at Esports Stadium Arlington on Friday, Jan. 21.