Monday, August 3, 2009

The Monday Poll

This week VFTD continues forward with my single-minded, nearly pathological exploration of pro paintball. I mean, come on, it's a shaky concept of marginal substance that barely exists except as a convenient (and self-aggrandizing) referent. And yet--that's what everyone wants to be. And who wouldn't? (And, no, that was not ironic in any way. Ideas have power. Just keep in mind what Uncle Ben told Peter about using his power for good.)
To date the collective voice predicts the pro ranks will shrink next year to around 14 teams, or thereabouts. (The Collective Voice. Wow. If that doesn't sound like Orwellian doublespeak I don't know what does. Kinda creepy.) This past week the related topic was about the characteristics and/or qualities y'all recognize as the key element(s) in designating a team as pro.

With this week's Monday Poll VFTD gets down and dirty--and specific. The poll lists all the currently active pro teams and asks you to vote for those you don't think ought to be included in the pro ranks. Unlike past polls you will be able to vote for as many teams as you like. Well, not teams you like like but teams you don't think belong among the pro ranks. Got that? Get to voting.

Monday Poll in Review
Last week's poll; What makes a pro team pro? was a runaway. Every option received at least one vote but no other choice came close to the big winner; results. You decided the proof was in the pudding. Without real pro teams, mostly, you decided the teams that got it done on the field were the most deserving. The second most votes was a tie between major sponsorship and dedication followed by reputation. Making up the rest of the field was longevity, came up thru the ranks and established players. Other was a mixed bag largely trying to synthesize choices into a more satisfactory response.

I think a bunch of y'all jumped on the comfortable, obvious bandwagon choice and voted accordingly but that if you made a personal list of teams you regarded as "pro" and tried to figure out why the answers might just surprise. And while I'm at what is the statute of limitations on "results"? When do "results" become ancient history? And even more basic than that, what constitutes "results"?

Given the lack of the one undeniable clear cut answer--pro teams are pro teams because they compete in professional leagues in which the players are paid to play--I think this week's poll will demonstrate a lot of muddled thinking is still going on. I'll explain what I'm thinking (right or wrong) along with the results next week.

UPDATE: I will refrain from suggesting somebody has lost their mind or even that somebody else is simply screwing around. Oh, yeah, I'm taking about the votes so far. If you've got a good reason for throwing a vote at the Ironmen or Philly or Dynasty I'd love to hear it.

16 comments:

Don Saavedra said...

Part of me hopes everyone votes Damage in the poll just to play a joke on Baca.

Martin said...

Looking at the results you have to wonder if people are voting for more than one team?

I missed last weeks poll (damn it) - and it was a great topic. The options/votes seemed to be people looking more at rosters as opposed to "The Team" itself.

Pelc said...

You can vote for more than one team if you don't think that more than one team doesn't deserve to be pro.

Mike said...

Will be interesting to see how hypocritical people are. I already see 2 votes for Impact. Did the people not vote Results make a pro team? 2nd overall 2007 NPPL isn't bad at all. Have had success in Open PSP, as well as the NXL last year with two 4th places. Not to mention 3rd at San Diego last year.

Maybe I'm just being too defensive of the home team from Canada...

papa chad said...

some I might consider pro in one league and not in another.

Baca Loco said...

P.C.
If a team qualifies for pro status in your mind don't vote for them. What we're looking for is how everyone's perceptions of pro status are visualized. It's the cumulative result that will be interesting, not any individual quirk or bias or opinion.

Don Saavedra said...

What made the decision for me was strength of program, evidenced by past results. There are teams on that list that haven't done much lately, but are still being run by the same people that were responsible for past success. That says they have the potential to once again place at or near the top with the right pieces, and that is why I still consider them Pro.

houdini said...

Maybe Pro classification should mean you need team PR manager. Ok I live on the other side of the world but I haven't even heard of some of these teams... maybe that's why they have a lot of votes?

(Ok Ok I hear you all saying "if they actually started winning they would get the publicity" - true...)

Baca Loco said...

Would they, Houdini? From what sources?

houdini said...

True - I forget I live in a world misunderstood by outsiders, by those that don't feel the passion, shunned by the mass media, mocked by other mainstream sports, ridiculed by many others... you have a point but by puting the teams up for this poll you've probably added to the publicity some of these team may get... now if someone says to me have you heard of Elevation I can say yes... and it started right here at VFTD... on their behalf I thank you Baca :)

anonachris said...

Dynasty, Ironmen, Philly, Russians. Those are the only "pros" in my book. I voted No on the rest, as much as I respect a lot of the teams and players!

Of course, in the basic sense, they are pro if they register as such. So I have no problem calling everyone on that list a pro.

But for me it's an equitable combination of results, funding, dedication (ie how much time is spent on strictly paintball by the team)

anonachris said...

Oh, and Infamous! I also included them, based on the assumption they are this quasi corporate factory owned team that is professionally run (supposedly!) The dedication bit in terms of practice time of my assessment probably flies out the window with these guys.

So we have: Infamous (75%), Russians, Ironmen, Philly, Dynasty.

3 "factory" teams, 1 extraordinarily wealthy and training-oriented team, and 1 extraordinarily talented and consistent team.

And I'm certain someone could poke a dozen holes into why I picked them and not another. But there's "something" to each of those teams that sets them a part as special in my mind. Unfortunately Aftershock dropped off that list some time ago! :(

anonachris said...

Aftershock dropped off that list some time ago! :(

Not to mention Avalanche...

Anonymous said...

I'm a little confused since every team on the poll is pro..

Anonymous said...

you spelt Explicit wrong.

and Explicit went 3 wins and 4 lose's at HB and Corona. And you think there not Pro? If you guys say it matters what happens on the feild then whats up? And it matters what happens on and off the feild.

Anonymous said...

Rut roh, someone let the unwashed masses in.