Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Monday Poll in Review: Biggest Payrolls

Well that was fun. For a day or two--and some of the results are interesting 'cus I haven't got a clue what some of y'all were thinking. According to the voters--and I thank you all for taking a moment out of your busy busy lives to make another The Monday Poll a shining success--the top five payrolls are: #5--LA Ironmen, #4--Tampa Bay Damage, #3--Russian Legion, #2--Edmonton Impact and--drum roll please, #1--Houston Heat!
Before dissecting the list I think some of the other results are interesting. Clearly many of you were swayed by off season activity. The only factory team in the top 5 is Ironmen but what separates them from say, Infamous (arguably the other major factory team)? Does Dye shell out more than KEE for their factory team? Or is that Ironmen have been in the news a lot lately making moves? And it's not like all the 'Men news has been positive as they've lost players too.
Even so I think, for whatever reason, you guys got it mostly right. After all the question posed was biggest payroll not deepest pockets. (Would you have responded differently?) Or the most expensive team to operate--which might have been the better question. In their heyday Tom Fore of Arsenal was widely reputed to practically throw money at his players--at least some of his high profile players and some of y'all know what's up with Art Chaos's owner who is believed to have deeper pockets than Sergey Leontiev of the RL. Now whether he shells out the cheddar like Sergey is another question. Whatever the truth what better way to waste a few minutes on a winter's day than speculating about the profligate habits of pro owners. (Not that I'm complaining, you understand.)

6 comments:

Nick Brockdorff said...

Will be interesting to see if Art Chaos makes it big in the US this year - and in turn what team the russians on Heat stick with ;)

Baca Loco said...

Last I heard the Art Chaos invasion has been forestalled a year as the boys on Heat fulfill their contracts. Strictly rumorology.

Nick Brockdorff said...

Ah, that would make sense :)

Also gives AC a full year to get the programme ready.

Pity to have to wait though, looked forward to seeing an all russian team duke it out in PSP Pro.

BTW, are teams in the Challenger division forced to commit to all events, or could a team enter for just WC, and thus gain Pro status for 2014?

Mike said...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't a couple Art Chaos players also play with the Russians right now? Berdnikov?

Oh, and thanks for keeping us posted on your move from Damage to X-Factor Baca. ;)

Congrats though and good luck this season. Is Ryan Brand out then, or still helping out?

Baca Loco said...

Mike
I automated today's post on the move but it didn't "post" at the scheduled time. Ryan is still there and I'm helping out. :)

Nick
The only way into Challenger once there is a fill complement of teams is via promo from D1. However, early on the league may keep a couple of spots open and it may take a year or two for everything and everyone to settle in. Just speculating.

Nick Brockdorff said...

Well, they have to be carefull that the division does not die out, like semi-pro did.

First off, I think it is important there are event prizes there.

Secondly, I think they need to make forced promotion out of D1 happen eventually, maybe as a season end thing.

And third, they need to give the division a little "tv time" (PBA time) at every event, by having deciding games on the main field, to incentivise teams to want to play the division, rather than staying in D1.

It's a great package they have come up with, but it definitely has a "handle with care" stamp on it.