The Latest from Mr. Curious: NPPL Edition

Are you shocked your Facebook stock has face planted? Concerned you'll soon be reduced to Twitter to maintain your global social network? Devastated that Kristen Stewart slept around on teeny bopper beta fantasy superstud Robert Pattinson? Unaware that the U.S. Senate hasn't passed a budget in over 3 years or that the prez hasn't met with his jobs council in nearly 200 days while real unemployment continues to rise? (Don't be fooled by the U3 data kids, look at the U6) Unconcerned that the ECB (European Central Bank) is on the verge of fracturing over exploding (Or is that imploding?) Spanish bond rates or that the clock is literally ticking on the coming Greek default? Closer to home perhaps you noticed that in the weak and likely to be revised down Q2 GDP numbers that debt accumulation outpaced real growth better than 2:1? Whatever. Don't worry, be happy.

And to help you be happy Mr. Curious has some deep dish rumorlogy concerning NPPL plans for next season. None of this has been officially confirmed but does have multiple sources. And of course plans could change. Disclaimer out of the way the NPPL is contemplating 8 events next season. Count 'em, 8! 4 would be considered major or national events and 4 would be considered regional events. The regionals would feature reduced entry fees. No word on whether or not the league will expect Pro teams to compete in any event other than the national ones--but it seems unlikely. Pev's DC event would be demoted to regional status and along with HB, Vegas and probably Chicago the fourth major is projected to be Tampa. Vancouver has also been resurrected as a regional event venue.

Did you miss Mr. C's previous release on VFTD-FB? (It was more NPPL rumorology.) Keep up or get left behind. Just saying.

Mr. Curious Is Back

From his holiday vacationing. The lucky bastard. It's his world and we're just living in it. Anyway, as you should know by now a Mr. C sighting means another round of rumorology. And he did not disappoint--though he came a little short on details. (Beggars. Choosers. His world. What are you gonna do?)
Rumor has it KEE will not be sponsoring the NPPL this coming season and that a formal (or informal?) announcement will be forthcoming soon.
I know, there's been talk about that possibility for some time and this doesn't really add a whole lot but if true we should find out before long just what it will mean in fact and practice.

Procaps Sold!

After hitting a detour at Moose Jaw and taking a wrong turn at Medicine Hat Mr. Curious hitched a ride to Saskatoon where he was able to hire a dog sled for the remainder of his journey in the Great White North. When news of Procaps financial distress finally became public recently Mr. C was already on the hunt and re-doubled his efforts to nail this story down. Rumors have been swirling like an icy wind that a couple of paintball concerns were potentially interested in buying the company and VFTD received the news by carrier pigeon from Mr. Curious mere moments ago. In a wickedly entertaining twist of the fates it seems that Richmond Italia (GI Sportz) is the new owner in a move that reunites Mr. Italia (and a number of his staff) with the company he originally founded more than a decade ago. Reports are the deal was inked yesterday. No word on when an official announcement will be forthcoming.

UPDATE: It seems the folks at Procaps are playing dumb (or outright denying) the done deal but VFTD has confirmed the sale from a number of sources.

Mr. Curious has a question

In a playful mood Mr. C insisted VFTD guess what his question might be. The secret formula for KFC original fried chicken maybe? How 'bout 'What ... is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?' Does anybody really believe the popular uprisings in assorted Middle Eastern states will result in some sort of egalitarian democracy?

No?
Cui bono perhaps? It seems Mr. Curious has some additional questions now that 68 Caliber has got the ball rolling. You know, the John Robinson interview? Try and keep up.

You see, Mr. C has heard a rumor or two. Word on the street is that WDP (or APS if you prefer) is willing to shop the IP related to the Angel--at a very reasonable price at that. If true, Mr. C can't help wondering what would happen if KEE purchased that too. It would give KEE almost every marker and hopper related patent across the industry. Would KEE (or anybody else) give up that kind of control?

Look What Mr. Curious Found

The first Millennium of the season is over and while Mr. C wasn't all that interested in the results (Dynabrats win; good results for the UK across the board; where are all these Russian teams coming from?) he has had an abiding interest in American pros playing in the MS. A quick perusal of rosters seems to indicate the numbers may be down this year but the item Mr. C found most interesting was the 3 Vicious players on the Dynasty roster. The last couple of years Dynasty has competed with blended teams, first Arsenal and then Impact--but they also announced those moves. (Mr. C always assumed it meant a defrayed expense sheet for competing in Euroland.) This time around though, no announcement, but Vicious does share both gun & gear sponsors with Dynasty and the next MS event, Bitberg, falls on the same weekend as NPPL Chicago so odds are a heavily reduced Dynasty presence will be augmented with Vicious players for that event. Or maybe not.

Mr. Curious & The Cone of Silence

A short while after VFTD posted the MLP Update Mr. Curious showed up with his hands pressed firmly over his mouth. Practically bursting at the seams with some exciting news Mr. C refused, despite all his natural inclinations, to reveal the latest secret to fall into his ever grasping clutches. However, he couldn't resist offering up a clue or two. It seems that in the past competitive paintball hasn't had the best of luck making The Big Announcement. Instead of everyone rallying around excitedly it seems that more often than not everyone ended up deciding The Big Announcement wasn't all that big after all and the resulting letdowns proved more potent than the initial celebrations, so ...
The new meme seems to be to keep working away on Big Announcement-type efforts while keeping it all on the down low. Not unlike the maybe (could it be?) ESPN deal with the NPPL that the NPPL refuses to comment on officially--for the most part. So, while Mr. C wouldn't say it--it appears the PSP has a Big Announcement they decided to keep under wraps too.

Curious? Fortunately you won't have to wait too long to find out what it is.

Mr. Curious

Mr. C has been sitting on a brilliant item all week and it has left him a twitching, stuttering wreck. And if you've missed tonight's PBLive webcast you missed the big news. (But you can still catch it later. The PBLive crew will post it up for your future entertainment and enlightenment.) Meanwhile, Mr. C can no longer allow the cat to stay in the bag.

It seems our pals at Dye have very recently registered a new domain name thru GoDaddy called DYESNOW. As interesting--or even more interesting-- is this: http://video.mpora.com/watch/edCHQYw73/

How 'bout that, kids. Can you say, diversify?

Mr. Curious On The Prowl

It's a good thing Mr. C is around to set me straight. Paintball rumorology is full of more twists and turns than Old Skool Cold War Kremlinology and it may be I was led astray--or maybe not. I've been sitting for some time on a Pandora's Box of whispered innuendo, vaguely credible snippets of gossip and tenuous rumors and after I let one little rumor slip out I'm told almost immediately that it's wrong. Just goes to show you. Of course Mr. C had to qualify his objection by admitting that his information could also be mistaken. I'm referring to my prediction in this week's mailbag about the NPPL restructuring as a mostly Left Coast series. While not a rumor in and of itself it was predicated on the rumors about the NPPL's demise after Vegas and before a new season begins (despite there being 2011 dates already given on the website.) The latest Mr. C has heard is rumors of a shake-up in the NPPL and word that a new mystery moneyman is coming to the rescue--again. Frankly I don't give it a lot of credence simply because we've heard it before. On a more solid footing it seems the NPPL High Command are going to run some variant of the S7 format in the Pro division at Vegas. No details on exactly how it's going to work.

Mr. C says this next item may very well be disinformation but rumor has it that buried within the boxes of old Brass Eagle rubbish are some patents that may relate to the HydroTec manufacturing process. (It's said that Tom Kaye was producing a similar paintball for very limited use in the late 90's which may have sparked the Brass Eagle interest but which was supposedly not price competitive to manufacture at that time.) If true it could give KEE the means to contest or negotiate with HydroTec should their new paintball prove to a success.

And for you hopeful Eurokids who have heard it whispered that the PSP is coming to save you from the MS--Mr. Curious says not so fast. He's heard that too but insists that the prospect grows less likely every day.

Mr. Curious

Mr. Curious was mildly disappointed not to get the scoop on the wacky new paintball story but earlier today he was giddy with excitement over this snippet of info. Rumor has it the money & power behind the new paintball and the HydroTec kids is Kraft Foods. If so the potential to fend off litigation and ramp up to high volume production shouldn't be an issue as long as the new paintballs perform.

Later this week VFTD will break down where this move may take the paint wars.

Mr. Curious: special weekend edition

It seems that J-Rab's inability to be two places at the same time is causing an as yet to be resolved issue. Red Legion (apparently) has a pre-MAO practice scheduled for this coming weekend and expects him--not unreasonably--to attend. You know, the whole contract and money thing. At the same time the NPPL's DC Challenge is happening this coming weekend and J-Rab is also supposed to play with TB Damage. (Hence the problem with not being in two places at one time.) (Btw, is that a first ever use of the word 'hence' in a paintball related statement? Fingers crossed.) Just in case Justin opts for practice TBD will also be bringing in Damage regular Chad Busiere for the 7-man event.

UPDATE: As the Paintball Turns. Looks like J-Rab will play on Saturday but be unavailable on Sunday as the Legion are having some visa issues and won't arrive now until Saturday late. Meanwhile Ramzi has backed out (with a sore back) and left us scrambling for a replacement. Fingers crossed its been handled. There are starving players in third world countries desperate for these opportunities.

Mr. Curious

Has had his ear to the ground waiting for the latest rumblings of rumor or gossip and if has finally paid off. Except he's got this terrible kink in his neck. Next stop, the chiropractor.
Anyway, initially it seemed the shake-ups at KEE weren't over yet as the word was more high profile employees were likely headed for the exit doors. That now appears incorrect. On top of that however there's talk of KEE relocating their HQ to Arkansas. Sounds vaguely JT-ish, doesn't it? Indications are that's the current plan.

Mr. Curious Hears a Peep

There is this fellow in Montreal
Who imagines a paintball quite small
He was once a corporate whiz, genius and guru
Who liked strawberry but not chocolate Yoohoo
His latest idea he deems nifty
A paintball of caliber 50
But alas and a-lack it seems the public's too dim
To see the wisdom and profit behind GI Milsim

The word from Millenniumland is that Joy Division did not play with GI Milsim gats or with anything else shooting a 50 cal paintball but continued to shoot their traditional Angels. In related news it's reported that Boost Air Rennes, signed to exclusively shoot 50 cal, also didn't shoot small balls at Bitburg. No word on what guns they were using.

In other 50 cal in Euroland news Mr. C still can't find any official GI Milsim 50 cal marker sightings of guns for sale although there are reported to be Spyder 50 cal guns available to the paintballing public. (Reports are mixed. Some say there are guns in retailers hands, others say not, but it's hard to find confirmed units in players' hands.)

UPDATE: Mr. C's most diligent and prolific source in Euroland has discovered 2 players shooting 50 cal at Bitburg. They played for Consileum Dei's M5 entry and at least one of them was shooting a PE gun modified with the 50 cal kit. Go figure.

Mr. Curious

Hears that the NPPL is considering picking up where the PSP left off by bringing back the All-Star concept. No word on what form it would take or how it would be integrated into a regular event--if that's the general idea. So far that's all it is; an idea. It will be interesting to see if it has any drawing power.

Also heard something he found far more interesting than another run-of-the-mill All-Star game idea which is, you know, okay but really just okay. The other idea was the institution of a paintball Hall of Fame. And while it may seem premature it would be a good way to preserve some of the game's short history while recognizing some of formative figures of the sport and in the process laying another foundation for taking the game as sport seriously. The current thinking would see the Hall of Fame established at Pev's in Virginia. (A grand opening that coincided with the NPPL DC event would be a natural, wouldn't it?)

Mr. C doesn't concern himself with such things but I wonder how the politics of the game and competing leagues will impact what and who would be included in a Hall of Fame linked to one league. To do this right it needs to be a-political and inclusive of all that's come before and in thinking about it I'm halfway convinced that isn't possible. I hope I'm wrong this time.

Mr. Curious

Is bored. With the start of the season the rumor mill has slowed to a near standstill. Previous rumors of the TEPC (The Enormous Paintball Company, otherwise known as KEE) planning additional expansion by gobbling up (distressed?) paint maker, Procaps, has been put on the back burner for the time being. Could be management changes have stalled the plan but Mr. C hears talks are ongoing but are no longer urgent or immediate.

Mr. C also heard some time ago that the effort to reanimate SP was rejected by banks and tangible assets were sold off. Mr. C expected to hear more (and get confirmation) but that hasn't happened. Mr. C only mentioned it in relation to a couple of other related items; recent rumorology has it that SP--before the fall--was sweetening the pot trying to encourage gun manufacturers to make 50 cal conversion kits by offering reduced licensing fees for those who complied. (If so it didn't seem to have much impact or perhaps simply didn't last long enough to incentivize the industry.) More interesting is latest rumor that suggests nobody has come a knocking to collect licensing fees owed on SP's patents for a number of months. Mr. C doesn't know if that is correct across the board or not as gun makers are not unreasonably reluctant to discuss it.

Mr. Curious

Picked up a tiny morsel of rumorology recently and while it isn't big & juicy it's interesting. At least to a certain set 0f VFTD readers. It seems GI Milsim will be manufacturing their own paint beginning in July. The timing is said to coincide with the expiration of a non-compete.

Mr. Curious

Mr. Curious just got hit by a brick coming through his living room window. He's got a large knot on his melon but that isn't what's got his head spinning. It seems the anonymous note was a copy of an email announcing the sudden departure of George Eurick as Prez & CEO of KEE. It's not clear according to Mr. C whether he was cut from the roster or quit--but cut is getting all the betting action. It's also rumored that a guy named Robinson will be replacing Eurick. Robinson's got a paintball past as he was (apparently) the guy at the helm who ran the K2 paintball division into the ground. So exactly what the overlords of KEE have in mind is beyond Mr. C's ability to guess.

UPDATE: the latest rumorology suggests that Mr. Robinson has some supporters inside JT and that opinions on his past performance vary considerably.

UP-UPDATE: clairvoyant or just dizzy? Mr. C hears that more heads may be on the block and as long as the axman is in town... Guess we'll see when we see. Mr. C also hears that Gino over at Valken got word of the KEE goings on within minutes of the ax falling.

Mr. Curious

Is bored. Things have settled down for the time being with only team and roster gossip floating around--for the most part--and I usually won't indulge him when it comes to team and player gossip but this one is a little different. And besides, it's just a couple of questions.

According to ProPaintball Dynasty will be teaming up with Impact this year to play their (Dynasty's) Millennium Series CPL spot. Last year Dynasty teamed up with Arsenal to play their MS spot. It was assumed by some that given the rumored difficulties SP was having meeting their sponsorship obligations--some even suggest that's how Dynasty acquired the spot in the first place (from Philly)--that Dynasty was (or would have been) unable to play the spot without T4's backing in exchange for the split roster. If true, Mr. C. is wondering if the Dynasty/Impact split depends on Bart's wallet this year? And will that wallet begin to feel the pinch if it's called upon to help out the NPPL again this year--as was rumored about last year?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Back-to-back Mr. Curious

Last month in an 'Interesting Times' post VFTD passed along the rumor that JT Sports set to close by Feb. 1, 2010, in part, because a negotiation to sell (merge) (partner) (euphemism of choice) had fallen through. This was met by denials, assorted threatening phone calls, a guilt trip and a partridge in a pear tree. Within a few days the quasi-official word received from JT headquarters by the diligent investigative reporters at Ballers Cafe claimed JT Sports on the block, er, looking for a partner.

Shortly thereafter the rumor mill was grinding out the possibility that KEE was interested in picking up JT Sports. Today Mr. C says that a press release on the acquisition of JT Sports by KEE is forthcoming, possibly tomorrow and certainly within a day or two. (As always take Mr. C's rumorology with a grain a salt as he obviously doesn't know what he's talking about half the time. /sarcasm)

Mr. Curious

The latest rumorology claims Severe paintball is kaput. No indication of such at their website (or anywhere else a quick Google search can reach) but that is the word, and it's spreading like wildfire in certain quarters. If accurate and another paint manufacturer is gone how long will it be before the remaining companies start raising their prices?

Mr. C also insists there is continuing chaos inside procaps after the purge of employees with long-standing ties to the paintball community. He can't offer chapter and verse--but he is prepared to swear to it on the religious document of your choice up to and including the Watchtower tract that nice pair of elderly ladies gave him last Thursday. It looks like a cash flow problem (at least in part) and there are other rumors of more changes coming in the distribution network.

Mr. Curious

It's a new year but not a new Mr. C. He's feeling a bit left out what with all the Interesting Times posts stealing his usual thunder. So, lo and behold, he's got some odds n' ends for y'all.

Mr. Curious hears that GI Milsim is working with a Spurlock brother to have GI stuff produced in a Taiwan factory. UPDATE: Since a commenter with a relationship with Geo. Spurlock insisted it must be another George and Mr. C. was unavailable I took a look around on my own. I don't know the ownership relationship if any to the Taiwan factory but Mr. Spurlock's The Alamaar Group had and continues to have a working relationship with Honjet Technology Co. Ltd. of Port Kaohsiunk of Taiwan and the apparent source of the Torque loader and other paintball equipment over the years. He also heard that prior to the (supposed) departure of the Gardner Brothers from GI Milsim they--the brothers--had a run in with Spurlock at the Taiwan factory. Apparently Mr. S runs his factory the way he wants. And even further down the rumor hole it's whispered GI owes Spurlock a big chunk of cheese.

UPDATE 2:The Ford Report has now posted a cute little piece about the Spurlock brothers insisting George is out of paintball and that Mike is in Taiwan running the show. In the past George was number one brother but hey, Mr. Curious is willing to be corrected and I'm willing to remove George's name from the post. Could be Mr. C's source couldn't tell one brother from the other. Of course it would be easier to take Dale's word for industry info if his nose wasn't so far up the industry's backside most of the time. When you follow the Spurlock link take a look at the Craig Miller piece by way of example.

Mr. C also hears rumor of a new NPPL pro team out of Canuckistan but wonders how many old pro teams there will be.

And in related rumorology it seems T4 has been out of contact with the NPPL the whole off season though Mr. C. seems to think that Tom and Lane have had a conversation or two with some folks whispering there could be as many as 3 Arsenal teams playing PSP this coming season.