Ever wonder how PBIndustry plans to change their current economic struggle? Did you expect they would simply tighten their belts, hold on and hope to ride out the hard times? Rumor is starting to coalesce and whispers are escaping from windowless smoke-filled rooms. Personally I don't think even the paintball industry has the brass cojones necessary to pull this one off but the best conspiracy is the one nobody believes could possibly be true, right? Interestingly, this isn't anything new. The idea has been around for some time but has lately become a front burner topic and there are some big players in the loop.
Some of you will object to the term, conspiracy. After all, corporations in other fields aren't in the habit of doing business in the public square either. Just so, but if the course under discussion is adopted it will demand a nearly unified front and prearranged agreements. At a minimum that could be called collusion and when you discover the target of this plan I suspect most of you will agree that "conspiracy" just scratches the surface. Do I have your attention yet? Funny thing is the word has already leaked onto the paintball internet (and beyond) but the few who have commented don't seem to understand all the ramifications.
One simple move, if accepted industry-wide, could lay the groundwork overnight for an enormous change that could reinvigorate a massive chunk of the industry. (Of course, somebody will have to pay a price.)
Let's call the plan the .50 Caliber Solution.
That's it. That's all there is to it. A brand, spanking new paintball as the accepted industry-wide standard. (It may not actually be .50 caliber but that is number bandied about most of the time.) Doesn't sound like much at first, does it?
Focus first on the necessities if there were a new paintball and then on the possibilities.
No, VFTD has not morphed into a fringe whacko black helicopter NWO site. (I do that one over at Bombthrowinganarchist.com) And it may be the idea doesn't get any further than some quiet conversation or a trial balloon or two before it disappears. Who knows? But Dale over at The Ford Report references the rumor along with a not-exactly-a-denial denial "...There's another rumor flying about that ProCaps is leading the charge to force a changeover to .50 caliber paintballs. Romanian Terminator Sorin Voinea of ProCaps thinks this is hysterical ..." in yesterday's latest edition of The Ford Report. Hey, he said it, not me.
Let's What If? starting with paint. A smaller paintball is materially cheaper to produce, package, and most importantly, to ship. The margins that are killing paint manufacturers saddled with debt suddenly provide more profit at the same prices. In a market with a flat player base and glutted with perfectly good used guns capable of new gun performance how do you turn sales around? A .68 caliber breach and bore gun and barrel won't be much use shooting a dramatically different sized paintball, will it? Perhaps hoppers wouldn't need to be changed but who can doubt retrofit internals to maximize performance wouldn't be a part of the change over? Would every pair of goggles need a new lense manufactured to a different standard because of the decreased impact area? I don't know but I can easily see it happening. How's that for a start? New paint, new guns, new barrels--lots of new stuff. Beginning to see the brave new paintball world that features a new universal paintball standard?
Sure, there are obstacles but desperate times call for desperate measures and if you do not believe these are desperate times for some of the manufacturers you're head has been buried in the sand. Most of the complication--assuming all the major players end up in agreement--is in how to work the transition period and how to sell it to you, Joe Paintballer. My guess is cheaper and safer with a 'for the good of the game' thrown in for good measure.
Impossible? Overblown? Just plain crazy? Probably, but the talk inside the industry is for real. At this point I guess the next big question is--will they actually pull the trigger on the .50 caliber solution?
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The German Tsunami
By now you've all heard about the German legislation aimed at, among other things, banning paintball. But did you know rumor has it that privately most of the European paintball peeps consider the effort to fight a lost cause? Which may be a realistic take on the industry's lack of any political influence--unlike, say, the real gun lobby. So either the ban is a fait accompli or else only a sufficient public outcry might deter the politicians and cause them to modify the final legislation. Fortunately, there are a lot ballers in Germany and around the world trying to make their voices heard.
That's not the tsunami though. Not by a long shot. Take a minute to think about the ramifications of a German ban on paintball. (Purely the practical apart from a future trend politically.) What does Paintball lose immediately? A lot of players, teams and a still developing market. But the German market isn't just the German market. How big a hit do the MS and Grand Tour take if German teams disappear or are drastically reduced? Two of Europe's largest distributors are based in Germany. I'm told one of the smaller paint makers ships hundreds of skids of paint annually to Germany. And that Germany, when considered separately from Europe as a whole, is a top five market worldwide all on its own. Are you beginning to see the tsunami yet? In a time of general economic weakness within PBIndustry the loss of the German market could easily be the straw that broke more than a few camels' backs. It will, if it happens, cause a significant contraction in the European branches of the big U.S. players they can't afford right now. The potential ramifications really do reach every corner of the globe.
So, if you were thinking that's really tough for the Germans but it won't affect me--we all might need to reevaluate.
Which leads me to the biggest VFTD tease ever. You will not want to miss tomorrow's post; The Ultimate Paintball Conspiracy. I confess to being a conspiracy buff but that doesn't mean they don't exist. And a German ban could push the conspirators further down the path they are already considering. Fortunately nobody in Paintball can keep a secret and the word has gotten out. It could be the biggest story of the last decade.
UPDATE: sources in Euroland called to tell me to get it right so here I am, getting it right. My only excuse is that thing's been changin' mighty fast over there lately as this latest information has developed in the last 48 hours. Seems paintball folks have organized and using the services of a PR firm may have made some inroads in the last day with the help of a lot of players rousing public opinion. No deal is done and the ban could still pass but what seemed two days ago to be a lost cause might yet carry the day.
FOLLOW-UP: Please check out the comments as Missy (who knows her stuff) disputes the scale of the German market's importance and consequently the scale of the impact should a German ban ultimately happen. While I aim to have fun here at VFTD it is never my intention to steer you wrong so I appreciate Missy taking the time to correct a possible error. The latest news looks more positive so hopefully we won't have to find out what the real impact of a paintball ban in Germany might be.
That's not the tsunami though. Not by a long shot. Take a minute to think about the ramifications of a German ban on paintball. (Purely the practical apart from a future trend politically.) What does Paintball lose immediately? A lot of players, teams and a still developing market. But the German market isn't just the German market. How big a hit do the MS and Grand Tour take if German teams disappear or are drastically reduced? Two of Europe's largest distributors are based in Germany. I'm told one of the smaller paint makers ships hundreds of skids of paint annually to Germany. And that Germany, when considered separately from Europe as a whole, is a top five market worldwide all on its own. Are you beginning to see the tsunami yet? In a time of general economic weakness within PBIndustry the loss of the German market could easily be the straw that broke more than a few camels' backs. It will, if it happens, cause a significant contraction in the European branches of the big U.S. players they can't afford right now. The potential ramifications really do reach every corner of the globe.
So, if you were thinking that's really tough for the Germans but it won't affect me--we all might need to reevaluate.
Which leads me to the biggest VFTD tease ever. You will not want to miss tomorrow's post; The Ultimate Paintball Conspiracy. I confess to being a conspiracy buff but that doesn't mean they don't exist. And a German ban could push the conspirators further down the path they are already considering. Fortunately nobody in Paintball can keep a secret and the word has gotten out. It could be the biggest story of the last decade.
UPDATE: sources in Euroland called to tell me to get it right so here I am, getting it right. My only excuse is that thing's been changin' mighty fast over there lately as this latest information has developed in the last 48 hours. Seems paintball folks have organized and using the services of a PR firm may have made some inroads in the last day with the help of a lot of players rousing public opinion. No deal is done and the ban could still pass but what seemed two days ago to be a lost cause might yet carry the day.
FOLLOW-UP: Please check out the comments as Missy (who knows her stuff) disputes the scale of the German market's importance and consequently the scale of the impact should a German ban ultimately happen. While I aim to have fun here at VFTD it is never my intention to steer you wrong so I appreciate Missy taking the time to correct a possible error. The latest news looks more positive so hopefully we won't have to find out what the real impact of a paintball ban in Germany might be.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
PSP Chicago Field Layout
For those of you so inclined it appears that the opinions are running around 50/50 over on PBN as to the worthiness of this layout. Some of the most recent positive reports coming from peeps who claim to have played it. I do not doubt their experience. Only their competence and that of their opposition. (If you think I'm talking about you, rest assured, I'm not. How could any reader discerning enough to hang out here at VFTD not be a brilliant player?) (Ouch, I did it again. That darn sarcasm thing. Note to self. Don't alienate readers.) Besides, what you will do against some numpties in not-even-a-real-practice usually doesn't turn out to be how you play at an event when the points count and the refs pull you out when you get shot.
First I want to comment on the potential positives--and then it's gonna get kinda technical. I will not be discussing how to play this layout. (You never know when you might catch an opponent by surprise.) On the plus side the snake is okay. And I'm fine with the SD in back center although that will be a serious handicap (and hardship) for a lot of teams. Well, that was easy. So much for the positives. Oh, and depending on how you look at it this field will reward gun skills largely because field position is very neutral.
My concerns with this layout are that lanes of movement are limited and predictable. That aggressive movement isn't rewarded in giving up killer shots. (Who does the 50 Dorita kill?) The design pushes the play into halves of the field unless teams keep players back in which circumstance points will slow. (The exception to this is the D-side Aztec [Temple] which is also the primary avenue to the 50--and brings me to my last concern.) The field has easily identifiable essential bunkers--positions that almost have to be played, particularly early in a point, which will lead to repetitious, and quite likely defensive, play especially in the lower divisions.
To keep things relatively simple I'm going to discuss aspects of three bunkers that should go at least part of the way towards explaining my previously stated concerns. The Cake in the D-side corner and the snake side MD & MT. There is nothing wrong with the Cake and it is legitimately playable but what does it do? In and of itself, almost nothing, though it's another place a player can use as a launch point in moving to the Aztec. The wire lane is nearly pointless as movement up the D-side of the field is accomplished inside the wire. And the Cake's natural shots are limited and inconsequential although the Cake is sufficiently "protected" that it can be played more aggressively by a player simply staying in the vicinity of the Cake and even conceivably standing up at times.
*I'm going to take a moment and discuss "elevation" and by that I mean is the level the player plays a position at because the player's field of vision and shot opportunity is directly impacted by their elevation. Crawling in the snake, tucked into a Cake, on a knee in an Aztec, standing in a Can. In the case of this Cake the placement in the deep corner along with the other surrounding bunkers contributes to the Cake's lack of playable options.*
The snake side MD offers three principle options; movement snake side, snake side shots and D-side lanes and shots. I expect the majority of the time it will be used to try and lock down the D-side of the field because A) it has the best lanes for doing so, and, B) it positions the "odd" player where they can swing snake side as needed. My concern isn't the placement of MD itself but the angles and lanes created by its spacial relationship to the D-side bunkers. It offers so much more than most of the other bunkers that it almost has to be played.
The snake side MT is an interesting bunker because of the elevation advantage it confers. This is partially neutralized by the placement of the Can inside the snake but I am curious to see how the relationship between the MT and the opposite diagonal beam plays. Otherwise it is the dominant position on the snake side of the field as I suspect the snake itself will be very difficult to play for effect.
That was the Cliff Notes version (for you, Mick) but if anyone has any questions post them up in comments and I'll probably answer to much greater length than you ever wanted to read. Consider yourself warned. Additionally, for our Euro friends I'll do the Bitburg MS layout (next week) and I will discuss how to play that one.
First I want to comment on the potential positives--and then it's gonna get kinda technical. I will not be discussing how to play this layout. (You never know when you might catch an opponent by surprise.) On the plus side the snake is okay. And I'm fine with the SD in back center although that will be a serious handicap (and hardship) for a lot of teams. Well, that was easy. So much for the positives. Oh, and depending on how you look at it this field will reward gun skills largely because field position is very neutral.
My concerns with this layout are that lanes of movement are limited and predictable. That aggressive movement isn't rewarded in giving up killer shots. (Who does the 50 Dorita kill?) The design pushes the play into halves of the field unless teams keep players back in which circumstance points will slow. (The exception to this is the D-side Aztec [Temple] which is also the primary avenue to the 50--and brings me to my last concern.) The field has easily identifiable essential bunkers--positions that almost have to be played, particularly early in a point, which will lead to repetitious, and quite likely defensive, play especially in the lower divisions.
To keep things relatively simple I'm going to discuss aspects of three bunkers that should go at least part of the way towards explaining my previously stated concerns. The Cake in the D-side corner and the snake side MD & MT. There is nothing wrong with the Cake and it is legitimately playable but what does it do? In and of itself, almost nothing, though it's another place a player can use as a launch point in moving to the Aztec. The wire lane is nearly pointless as movement up the D-side of the field is accomplished inside the wire. And the Cake's natural shots are limited and inconsequential although the Cake is sufficiently "protected" that it can be played more aggressively by a player simply staying in the vicinity of the Cake and even conceivably standing up at times.
*I'm going to take a moment and discuss "elevation" and by that I mean is the level the player plays a position at because the player's field of vision and shot opportunity is directly impacted by their elevation. Crawling in the snake, tucked into a Cake, on a knee in an Aztec, standing in a Can. In the case of this Cake the placement in the deep corner along with the other surrounding bunkers contributes to the Cake's lack of playable options.*
The snake side MD offers three principle options; movement snake side, snake side shots and D-side lanes and shots. I expect the majority of the time it will be used to try and lock down the D-side of the field because A) it has the best lanes for doing so, and, B) it positions the "odd" player where they can swing snake side as needed. My concern isn't the placement of MD itself but the angles and lanes created by its spacial relationship to the D-side bunkers. It offers so much more than most of the other bunkers that it almost has to be played.
The snake side MT is an interesting bunker because of the elevation advantage it confers. This is partially neutralized by the placement of the Can inside the snake but I am curious to see how the relationship between the MT and the opposite diagonal beam plays. Otherwise it is the dominant position on the snake side of the field as I suspect the snake itself will be very difficult to play for effect.
That was the Cliff Notes version (for you, Mick) but if anyone has any questions post them up in comments and I'll probably answer to much greater length than you ever wanted to read. Consider yourself warned. Additionally, for our Euro friends I'll do the Bitburg MS layout (next week) and I will discuss how to play that one.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ask the Coach
Episode 2--Shooting with Either Hand
Coming soon. Episode 3--The Gear Bag
UPDATE: This is terrific. Some diversity of opinions amongst the clickers out there. But it leaves me curiously unsatisfied. How about a comment or two? I can't decide if peeps are objecting to the characterization of some pros or Coach's unvarnished assessment of Lil Baller's deficiencies. Or are you just whining because the voices sound goofy?
Major League Paintball Held Hostage: Weekly Update
Welp, the PSP is going on hiatus--oops, jumped the gun on that one. The hiatus comes after Chitown. There were speculations early in the year that PSP was contemplating sanctioning (organizing?) some regional events in place of the fourth event and the open schedule from June to Cup added credence to the idea. But so far nary a hint or a whisper and if the league is actually gonna do some regional gimmick it needs to let everybody know pretty soon--otherwise who is gonna show up? I don't know about y'all but thanks, in part, to the exceedingly poor timing by the MS in declaring Paris an open event and then scheduling it less than a week after Chicago I'm going to Costa Rica during the PSP summer hiatus.
Meanwhile we's seven or so weeks out and registration for Chitown is -- not yet open. And in late breaking news the new PSP website still sucks.
The freshly restructured USPL (but we could be the NPPL if you'd like that better) is now counting on the West Coast Open in July to set their course for success. It's too early to look at numbers though there are 20-something teams signed up which (fingers crossed) I take as a positive sign. The league is also offering some serious discounts for early payment--pay in May. As always it will come down to who pays and in the next two months both the WCPPL and RPL will have run events that could cut into USPL turnout. At this point it's a waiting game.
Apparently the MS is telling the Eurokids don't worry, be happy as the pending German legislation to ban paintball will not affect the Bitburg (Germany) event come the end of May. And while you're at it come out in great numbers to show the politicians what a swell sport paintball really is--'cus right now nobody who doesn't have to be in Germany is signing up for our event. The MS website currently lists 7 registered teams in D2 & M5, the only unlocked divisions in Series play.
No word on whether the spectator unfriendly new inflatable field enclosure will be used at Bitburg. There is finally word though on how the unplayed matches and results from Malaga will be made up. Some of the missed matches will be played at Bitburg (come on down early, like Thursday, if you're in the neighborhood) and the rest, including the finals, will be played in Paris at the next event. This means, among other things, that roster restrictions will apparently be loosened and that scheduling will be based on the reading of tea leaves or tarot cards depending on your team's preference. (I made up that last bit. The important part is that schedules won't be based on results 'cus there are no results.) For a look at the latest statement issued to the teams by the MS go here.
Our weekly tour now concludes with the Grand Tour central conference event in Poland scheduled for this weekend. Looks like the event will have 40 teams. I don't know if this is good or bad but past events have apparently done considerably better. It also appears the current lack of interest from lower division teams in playing Bitburg didn't translate into extra numbers for Warsaw. Funny (ironic) how most of the concern going into this season was how U.S. top tourney ball would be affected but so far it seems to be Euroball taking the biggest hits.
UPDATE: Big stuff coming on Friday, slackers. The Ultimate Paintball Conspiracy. The plan to revive the industry.
Meanwhile we's seven or so weeks out and registration for Chitown is -- not yet open. And in late breaking news the new PSP website still sucks.
The freshly restructured USPL (but we could be the NPPL if you'd like that better) is now counting on the West Coast Open in July to set their course for success. It's too early to look at numbers though there are 20-something teams signed up which (fingers crossed) I take as a positive sign. The league is also offering some serious discounts for early payment--pay in May. As always it will come down to who pays and in the next two months both the WCPPL and RPL will have run events that could cut into USPL turnout. At this point it's a waiting game.
Apparently the MS is telling the Eurokids don't worry, be happy as the pending German legislation to ban paintball will not affect the Bitburg (Germany) event come the end of May. And while you're at it come out in great numbers to show the politicians what a swell sport paintball really is--'cus right now nobody who doesn't have to be in Germany is signing up for our event. The MS website currently lists 7 registered teams in D2 & M5, the only unlocked divisions in Series play.
No word on whether the spectator unfriendly new inflatable field enclosure will be used at Bitburg. There is finally word though on how the unplayed matches and results from Malaga will be made up. Some of the missed matches will be played at Bitburg (come on down early, like Thursday, if you're in the neighborhood) and the rest, including the finals, will be played in Paris at the next event. This means, among other things, that roster restrictions will apparently be loosened and that scheduling will be based on the reading of tea leaves or tarot cards depending on your team's preference. (I made up that last bit. The important part is that schedules won't be based on results 'cus there are no results.) For a look at the latest statement issued to the teams by the MS go here.
Our weekly tour now concludes with the Grand Tour central conference event in Poland scheduled for this weekend. Looks like the event will have 40 teams. I don't know if this is good or bad but past events have apparently done considerably better. It also appears the current lack of interest from lower division teams in playing Bitburg didn't translate into extra numbers for Warsaw. Funny (ironic) how most of the concern going into this season was how U.S. top tourney ball would be affected but so far it seems to be Euroball taking the biggest hits.
UPDATE: Big stuff coming on Friday, slackers. The Ultimate Paintball Conspiracy. The plan to revive the industry.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Xball: Laning Off The Break 2
In part one of laning OTB we (and when I say we, I mean I) covered the core training concepts of first ball, fast ball and team ball. These form the foundation of your future ability to successfully lane off the break, Sunshine, so if you missed them go back and start over again. There's no point in skipping ahead. If your foundation is flawed it will effect everything you build on top of it.
This time around I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best (contrary to prior experience) and increasing the level of complexity while narrowing the margin for error. Scared, Sunshine? You're gonna need a high tolerance for frustration because it isn't going to get easier, it's getting harder. Listen up, Sunshine--no gun throwing, no heaving your goggles and definitely no crying so be ready to tell your teammates it's just sweat, maybe even a little blood, but not tears. (That goes for you too, girls.)
This time we're going to take a more in depth look at player positioning otb, stationary laning and living and lastly, maintaining an effective lane on the move. But first I want to take a moment to explain why these are the follow-up elements you should focus on. Part One focused primarily on the individual techniques involved and began touching on how that is incorporated in a team scheme. Part Two picks up where One left off and focuses on how to implement those techniques--and additional skills--within the first 5 seconds (or so) of the breakout. (A) Player positioning goes into more depth on how to set-up and take covered positions while laning otb. (B) Stationary laning is kind of a misnomer as what I mean is an extension of player positioning; the act of laning while moving into a covered position, typically the home bunker. And (C) maintaining an effective lane on the move refers to either a step out shooter, an edger or the first few steps for a player intent on actively running & shooting to their primary.
A. With a single home shooter this isn't usually an issue (though a quick look at the PSP Chicago layout might make you think twice.) With two shooters it is important that each laner knows the assignment and has planned in advance for how each will take up their position. As it is difficult to shoot effectively and retain as much cover as possible with two players in the same bunker the most common alternative is the stack. One player is low and tight, tucked up in the bunker while the second player is behind the first and centered so that the bunker provides the maximum angles of protection. The second player also tends to stand or crouch so there is an elevation difference as well between the two.
B. There are two issues here; shooting an effective lane and not interfering with the rest of the breakout. No planning or poor planning results in interrupted lanes, peeps running into each other, players shooting their teammates and so on. While that degree of chaos may not be the norm even something as seemingly minor as forcing the lane shooter to hesitate a second before aiming down the assigned lane almost always means no OTB kills that point. So there's two things at work here; getting on the lane as quickly as possible and sustaining that lane as the player takes cover (which frequently requires the player to move 10 - 15 feet or so.)
C. This is a variant of laning OTB for more advanced levels of play. (Realistically most teams are shooting most of their guns OTB but there is a huge gulf between simply shooting your marker and shooting to effect.) A step out shooter is shooting the same lane options (mostly) that the home shooter is. The object is to add a second gun OTB and delay the move of the step out shooter to the primary. The edger--using the base of the X to hide his intention--is focused on laning a home shooter who is expected to be focused on a wider lane. The player running & shooting isn't really a laner. In fact, he is the opposite, but the same skill set applies with respect to the speed and accuracy of acquiring the initial shooting lane.
How-To practice.
A. The best way is to go through the motions. Over and over. First, all players who will be home shooters laning off the break need to discuss how they will set-up in the home bunker. All the configurations to be used must be accounted for. Once the players know how they wish to set-up it's time to do it by repeatedly acting out coming off the board simulating the beginning of a point. Once you are satisfied the routine is set it's time to do some shooting. To keep paint usage low have teammates spot your lanes and go through the breakout motions shooting just the initial stream of paint. A dozen paintballs shot is plenty. (Adjust poor lane accuracy the same way you practice First Shot.)
B. As soon as the shooter combos are settled it's time to act out full team breaks off the board to assure that regardless of each player's action it all happens seamlessly. And, listen carefully, Sunshine, one successful simulated breakout isn't enough. Do it often enough so that y'all can do it in your sleep.
C. Now it's time for a little fun. You get to shoot paint. This drill can be done with 2 players, 4 players, 8 players or 10 players. The basic drill is one home shooter and one player running & shooting laterally. Again, it simulates the breakout. The shooter comes off the board shooting a lane. The runner comes off the opposite board running to a corner while shooting back at home to suppress the laner. With 8 players it's 4 on each end of the field; a runner to each corner and a home shooter both ways, snake and D-side. Players move thru the multi-player drill moving left to right so that everyone takes a turn at every phase of the drill. The 10-player variant adds two players at one end of the field to act as edgers making it that much more difficult to shoot an effective lane. This is an essential drill so learn to love it.
Lastly is the issue of commitment. Most laning fails because it isn't on target quickly enough. Add in the fact many players are more interested in staying alive than shooting an effective lane--mixed with poor or no preparation--and the commonplace result is players bailing out on their lanes almost before they've begun shooting them. End of the day all your skill and practice won't get the job done right if you will not commit to doing it right.
Next time (in a couple of weeks) I'll finish up on laning OTB by discussing how to find the lanes you want to shoot and how those lanes can change based on your breakouts (or making adjustments) when the opponent is having success.
This time around I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best (contrary to prior experience) and increasing the level of complexity while narrowing the margin for error. Scared, Sunshine? You're gonna need a high tolerance for frustration because it isn't going to get easier, it's getting harder. Listen up, Sunshine--no gun throwing, no heaving your goggles and definitely no crying so be ready to tell your teammates it's just sweat, maybe even a little blood, but not tears. (That goes for you too, girls.)
This time we're going to take a more in depth look at player positioning otb, stationary laning and living and lastly, maintaining an effective lane on the move. But first I want to take a moment to explain why these are the follow-up elements you should focus on. Part One focused primarily on the individual techniques involved and began touching on how that is incorporated in a team scheme. Part Two picks up where One left off and focuses on how to implement those techniques--and additional skills--within the first 5 seconds (or so) of the breakout. (A) Player positioning goes into more depth on how to set-up and take covered positions while laning otb. (B) Stationary laning is kind of a misnomer as what I mean is an extension of player positioning; the act of laning while moving into a covered position, typically the home bunker. And (C) maintaining an effective lane on the move refers to either a step out shooter, an edger or the first few steps for a player intent on actively running & shooting to their primary.
A. With a single home shooter this isn't usually an issue (though a quick look at the PSP Chicago layout might make you think twice.) With two shooters it is important that each laner knows the assignment and has planned in advance for how each will take up their position. As it is difficult to shoot effectively and retain as much cover as possible with two players in the same bunker the most common alternative is the stack. One player is low and tight, tucked up in the bunker while the second player is behind the first and centered so that the bunker provides the maximum angles of protection. The second player also tends to stand or crouch so there is an elevation difference as well between the two.
B. There are two issues here; shooting an effective lane and not interfering with the rest of the breakout. No planning or poor planning results in interrupted lanes, peeps running into each other, players shooting their teammates and so on. While that degree of chaos may not be the norm even something as seemingly minor as forcing the lane shooter to hesitate a second before aiming down the assigned lane almost always means no OTB kills that point. So there's two things at work here; getting on the lane as quickly as possible and sustaining that lane as the player takes cover (which frequently requires the player to move 10 - 15 feet or so.)
C. This is a variant of laning OTB for more advanced levels of play. (Realistically most teams are shooting most of their guns OTB but there is a huge gulf between simply shooting your marker and shooting to effect.) A step out shooter is shooting the same lane options (mostly) that the home shooter is. The object is to add a second gun OTB and delay the move of the step out shooter to the primary. The edger--using the base of the X to hide his intention--is focused on laning a home shooter who is expected to be focused on a wider lane. The player running & shooting isn't really a laner. In fact, he is the opposite, but the same skill set applies with respect to the speed and accuracy of acquiring the initial shooting lane.
How-To practice.
A. The best way is to go through the motions. Over and over. First, all players who will be home shooters laning off the break need to discuss how they will set-up in the home bunker. All the configurations to be used must be accounted for. Once the players know how they wish to set-up it's time to do it by repeatedly acting out coming off the board simulating the beginning of a point. Once you are satisfied the routine is set it's time to do some shooting. To keep paint usage low have teammates spot your lanes and go through the breakout motions shooting just the initial stream of paint. A dozen paintballs shot is plenty. (Adjust poor lane accuracy the same way you practice First Shot.)
B. As soon as the shooter combos are settled it's time to act out full team breaks off the board to assure that regardless of each player's action it all happens seamlessly. And, listen carefully, Sunshine, one successful simulated breakout isn't enough. Do it often enough so that y'all can do it in your sleep.
C. Now it's time for a little fun. You get to shoot paint. This drill can be done with 2 players, 4 players, 8 players or 10 players. The basic drill is one home shooter and one player running & shooting laterally. Again, it simulates the breakout. The shooter comes off the board shooting a lane. The runner comes off the opposite board running to a corner while shooting back at home to suppress the laner. With 8 players it's 4 on each end of the field; a runner to each corner and a home shooter both ways, snake and D-side. Players move thru the multi-player drill moving left to right so that everyone takes a turn at every phase of the drill. The 10-player variant adds two players at one end of the field to act as edgers making it that much more difficult to shoot an effective lane. This is an essential drill so learn to love it.
Lastly is the issue of commitment. Most laning fails because it isn't on target quickly enough. Add in the fact many players are more interested in staying alive than shooting an effective lane--mixed with poor or no preparation--and the commonplace result is players bailing out on their lanes almost before they've begun shooting them. End of the day all your skill and practice won't get the job done right if you will not commit to doing it right.
Next time (in a couple of weeks) I'll finish up on laning OTB by discussing how to find the lanes you want to shoot and how those lanes can change based on your breakouts (or making adjustments) when the opponent is having success.
Baca's Blog
Today over at Baca's Blog on the Big Bullet (link is post title this time) I ruminate on the proposed German paintball ban. It may seem a long way away and not really your problem (or mine) but the day could come sooner than you think where it will be our problem. Anyway, light reading for a miserable Monday.
Later this evening I'll be posting Xball: Laning OTB 2. According to my schedule it should have been posted Saturday latest but we both know what my blogging schedule is worth. Instead of being timely I'm contrite. Sort of.
Tomorrow, along with the MLP weekly update I'll also be posting episode 2 of Ask the Coach. I know you've been waiting anxiously for this latest installment. (Yep, that was sarcasm again. Get used to it.)
Wednesday will be Chicago field layout day. I've spent some time analyzing how this will play so we'll talk about it. It's not dreadful. It will play and my issues with it have nothing to do with the snake at all. More on Wednesday.
Later this evening I'll be posting Xball: Laning OTB 2. According to my schedule it should have been posted Saturday latest but we both know what my blogging schedule is worth. Instead of being timely I'm contrite. Sort of.
Tomorrow, along with the MLP weekly update I'll also be posting episode 2 of Ask the Coach. I know you've been waiting anxiously for this latest installment. (Yep, that was sarcasm again. Get used to it.)
Wednesday will be Chicago field layout day. I've spent some time analyzing how this will play so we'll talk about it. It's not dreadful. It will play and my issues with it have nothing to do with the snake at all. More on Wednesday.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Left Coast Bias
Does the paintball universe revolve around Cali's navel? Apparently it does. But that's hardly news to anyone who has paid any attention at all in recent years. There are, of course, a couple of good reasons for this--primarily the numbers of competitive players of all ranks and the successes of Cali-based pro teams over the years. That's the simple truth but it seems to me that in the process a lot of other players and teams have been ignored over the years and, in some respects, continue to be.
Interestingly much of what most paintballers know about the pro teams and their paintball heroes they get second hand. Players and teams are featured in ads, catalogues and promotional videos produced and disseminated by their sponsors. Bigger, more powerful sponsors generally means higher profile and more promotion. The magazines did (or probably still do) make an effort to feature photos of sponsored teams for their advertisers. They also feature popular players as guest (or regular) writers and the subjects of interviews and other kinds of features like How-To's. The players promote their teammates and friends and it quickly becomes a reinforcing cycle for those who get an inside track. Toss in the stars of assorted paintball videos and event DVDs etc. and pretty soon a player can be famous for a particular 5 seconds of action seen thousands of times by fans who know virtually nothing else about the player. Until a magazine does a feature based on the video's popularity and round and round it goes.
The next obvious question is: is it a chicken and the egg thing? Is the media Cali-centric because that's where the best-of-the-best are or does the paintball world believe that's the truth because most of the media is/was Cali-based or grew out of relationships where people talked about, supported and promoted their friends and teammates? Or another way of putting it is this: does the media make paintball stars or do the stars attract the media? Clearly, to my mind, it isn't an either/or kind of proposition as, I think, there is some truth to both sides of that particular coin.
Interestingly much of what most paintballers know about the pro teams and their paintball heroes they get second hand. Players and teams are featured in ads, catalogues and promotional videos produced and disseminated by their sponsors. Bigger, more powerful sponsors generally means higher profile and more promotion. The magazines did (or probably still do) make an effort to feature photos of sponsored teams for their advertisers. They also feature popular players as guest (or regular) writers and the subjects of interviews and other kinds of features like How-To's. The players promote their teammates and friends and it quickly becomes a reinforcing cycle for those who get an inside track. Toss in the stars of assorted paintball videos and event DVDs etc. and pretty soon a player can be famous for a particular 5 seconds of action seen thousands of times by fans who know virtually nothing else about the player. Until a magazine does a feature based on the video's popularity and round and round it goes.
The next obvious question is: is it a chicken and the egg thing? Is the media Cali-centric because that's where the best-of-the-best are or does the paintball world believe that's the truth because most of the media is/was Cali-based or grew out of relationships where people talked about, supported and promoted their friends and teammates? Or another way of putting it is this: does the media make paintball stars or do the stars attract the media? Clearly, to my mind, it isn't an either/or kind of proposition as, I think, there is some truth to both sides of that particular coin.
I can tell I'm losing some of you. It seems a self-evidently weak case and besides, if you follow the logic, I'm sorta suggesting that all the fanboys and general paintball fanatics are having their opinions formed for them and it's a much more comfortable thought to think one's opinions are correct and that's why your heroes get the lion's share of attention. (Hate those unintended consequences.)
Case in point; the PSP All-Star contests. What better measure can be offered up for the relative equality of the top players? To date there have been 3 All-Star match-ups where the East played the West 3 matches for bragging rights. The first two years the East won the first two matches at each All-Star event with the West maintaining their dignity by winning the third. Last year the two sides split the first two matches and the third went to overtime with the East being victorious once again. And even if you discount the first All-Star event because some of the West players were at less than their best the overall results speak for themselves. Have those results changed anything? Not really.However it all shakes out, whether it's really and East coast, West coast thing or just the way things worked out without anybody giving it much thought along the way I find it pretty nearly undeniable that the Left Coast Bias exists.
Webcast: The Final Word
For now, doh. There is never a final word final word around here and the sooner you accept that the easier it will be to maintain your mellow.
First, I'd like to thank Pat for hanging around and putting up with us (and by us, I mean me.) It is more than annoying to be told how to go about your business. I know that. And when peeps do it to me I may remain serene on the outside but inside I want them dead and buried in unhallowed ground with every sign of their existence destroyed and churned into the earth. (Okay, so maybe I overreact sometimes.)
That said I'm gonna do it anyway because, well, it's my blog and you can't stop me. It's not a great reason but it's an undeniable one.
Keeping Don's suggestions and the 180 rule in mind here goes: 1) remove the cameras from the pits. They aren't used much and without sound their descriptive power is--wait for it--muted, at best. What could help convey the intensity and emotion of the game is, without sound, mostly time filler. 2) Take those cameras and place them on the penalty box in a protected bracket and aim them to show a portion of the D-side of the field. (It might be seen as a minor violation of the 180 rule but not by much and should visually assimilate easily in the context of the field and the players' uniforms.)
The result is no additional equipment expense and at least partial coverage of the D-wire from both ends of the field. My only question is the quality of those cameras relative to the camera set-ups on the snake side. If the disparity is too great obviously that would be less than ideal.
Eventually (assuming this whole competitive paintball thing actually survives a week or two) as the webcast expands, the game grows and its reach broadens more improvements will be made and among them will be the issue of displaying more of the action on the D-side of the field. It will happen so why not address it? No harm, no foul, just an annoying know-it-all insisting on offering up an idea or two, wanted or unwanted.
Oh, and if it occurred to you that there is a measure of irony in this post given my admonition in 'The X-Factor' post below--it occurred to me, too.
First, I'd like to thank Pat for hanging around and putting up with us (and by us, I mean me.) It is more than annoying to be told how to go about your business. I know that. And when peeps do it to me I may remain serene on the outside but inside I want them dead and buried in unhallowed ground with every sign of their existence destroyed and churned into the earth. (Okay, so maybe I overreact sometimes.)
That said I'm gonna do it anyway because, well, it's my blog and you can't stop me. It's not a great reason but it's an undeniable one.
Keeping Don's suggestions and the 180 rule in mind here goes: 1) remove the cameras from the pits. They aren't used much and without sound their descriptive power is--wait for it--muted, at best. What could help convey the intensity and emotion of the game is, without sound, mostly time filler. 2) Take those cameras and place them on the penalty box in a protected bracket and aim them to show a portion of the D-side of the field. (It might be seen as a minor violation of the 180 rule but not by much and should visually assimilate easily in the context of the field and the players' uniforms.)
The result is no additional equipment expense and at least partial coverage of the D-wire from both ends of the field. My only question is the quality of those cameras relative to the camera set-ups on the snake side. If the disparity is too great obviously that would be less than ideal.
Eventually (assuming this whole competitive paintball thing actually survives a week or two) as the webcast expands, the game grows and its reach broadens more improvements will be made and among them will be the issue of displaying more of the action on the D-side of the field. It will happen so why not address it? No harm, no foul, just an annoying know-it-all insisting on offering up an idea or two, wanted or unwanted.
Oh, and if it occurred to you that there is a measure of irony in this post given my admonition in 'The X-Factor' post below--it occurred to me, too.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Paintball Stuff: PSP edition
Just a few items worthy of quick comments.
The new PSP website. The old site wasn't flashy or exciting but it worked fine and was simple to navigate. The new one is a mess. It looks like a bad high school media class project. Seriously.
The Chicago layout that first appeared on Pro Paintball and over on PBN in the PSP forum (from the Canes forum) is now up at PSP Events. I was hoping it was a fake (because I didn't get my copy Wednesday) and because it's frankly just plain poor. Obviously we'll play it like everyone else if it comes to that but it's a mediocre design that looks mostly like they were trying too hard to be different. I'll break it down next week.
As brilliant as the webcast has been, and it has, I'm wondering when we're going to get to see more of the D-side action. Pat? Matty? Anybody? (I've heard the concern is the angle changes on the D-side will be confusing compared to the snake side but I'm not getting it.)
The Dynabrats (at least Alex and Johnny) have channeled Shepard Fairey and come up with a scheme to sell Red stickers to finance Red's plane fare to Chicago. (Was I the only one surprised when Red didn't appear at MAO after the PSP used him in their promo?) I think it's only fair the kids work the street art angle made ubiquitous by Fairey seeing as he jacked most of his images and ideas from uncredited sources. (Okay, that last bit wasn't very paintball but here at VFTD I take seriously my obligation to expose you lazy slackers to a little culture once in a while. And in Fairey's case it's damn little. *bada bing*)
UPDATE: Added the links I forgot to include last night.
The new PSP website. The old site wasn't flashy or exciting but it worked fine and was simple to navigate. The new one is a mess. It looks like a bad high school media class project. Seriously.
The Chicago layout that first appeared on Pro Paintball and over on PBN in the PSP forum (from the Canes forum) is now up at PSP Events. I was hoping it was a fake (because I didn't get my copy Wednesday) and because it's frankly just plain poor. Obviously we'll play it like everyone else if it comes to that but it's a mediocre design that looks mostly like they were trying too hard to be different. I'll break it down next week.
As brilliant as the webcast has been, and it has, I'm wondering when we're going to get to see more of the D-side action. Pat? Matty? Anybody? (I've heard the concern is the angle changes on the D-side will be confusing compared to the snake side but I'm not getting it.)
The Dynabrats (at least Alex and Johnny) have channeled Shepard Fairey and come up with a scheme to sell Red stickers to finance Red's plane fare to Chicago. (Was I the only one surprised when Red didn't appear at MAO after the PSP used him in their promo?) I think it's only fair the kids work the street art angle made ubiquitous by Fairey seeing as he jacked most of his images and ideas from uncredited sources. (Okay, that last bit wasn't very paintball but here at VFTD I take seriously my obligation to expose you lazy slackers to a little culture once in a while. And in Fairey's case it's damn little. *bada bing*)
UPDATE: Added the links I forgot to include last night.
Major League Paintball Held Hostage: Alert!
It hasn't been the Millennium Series month, has it? Seems it's silly season for German politics and that means it's time for more gun laws--even if your gun isn't, er, really a gun. German law already requires paintball markers to have the dreaded "F" stamp, the .68 caliber designation and an authorized dealer's mark but that's not enough apparently as the politicians are debating the wisdom of banning markers altogether as they allow peeps to simulate violence or some such similar absurdity. (In past years German authorities have confiscated plenty o' paintball markers for being insufficiently stamped.) And all this just in time for the MS's Bitburg (Germany) event at the end of May wherein the Millennium is going to try to rectify the failures of Malaga.
Will they (the politicians) or won't they? And will it have any impact on Bitburg? Heck, does all the legal hoop jumping to even bring a marker to Germany to play for a weekend impact the turnout? I'd be inclined to think twice but then I'm lazy and that all sounds like work.
UPDATE: It was late and I forgot to add any links last night but anonachris had your back and posted this one in comments. It's an English translation of a German story from Der Spiegel.
Will they (the politicians) or won't they? And will it have any impact on Bitburg? Heck, does all the legal hoop jumping to even bring a marker to Germany to play for a weekend impact the turnout? I'd be inclined to think twice but then I'm lazy and that all sounds like work.
UPDATE: It was late and I forgot to add any links last night but anonachris had your back and posted this one in comments. It's an English translation of a German story from Der Spiegel.
The X-Factor
Does it ever seem to you like paintball has more than its share of dumb and ignorant? Ignorant, by definition, isn't bad, just uninformed. Dumb, however, like ugly, goes more than skin deep--it goes all the way to the bone(head). The subject is the status (and/or fate) of pro teams. And, in truth, all competitive paintball teams. It's easy to crack on teams and players and that's okay. Really. For the pros, even paintball pros, it goes with the territory. The notoriety breeds glory and adulation--in admittedly tiny doses within the confines of the sport's followers--but it can also breed envy and animosity. That's just part of the price. Beyond that high profile teams and players are a part of paintball's public domain and talk, whether positive or negative, is just that, talk. So when some internet know-it-all starts running his (or her) mouth online it's no big deal.
The reasons for this are straightforward; the fundamentals of a successful team are skills, leadership, chemistry, consistency and heart, not necessarily in that order. Beyond that all competitive teams are like sharks, they need to be moving all the time, in fact, they are moving all the time and if it isn't moving forward it is going backwards whether anyone is aware of it or not in that moment. It is the unavoidable fact of competitive life; there is no standing still.
A failure or breakdown in any one area can frequently be overcome or made up for but as soon as two or more areas are in flux it is almost always a problem, and often a big problem. And in competitive paintball it is hard to sustain a team under any circumstances, even a good team and in the current environment there are a number of factors conspiring to make it more difficult that usual. If you've played tourney ball for any length of time it's easy to tick off the names of teams that have come and gone. The list of teams that have come and stayed is a very short one.
Right now one of the bigger issues impacting the pro game is practice--or the lack thereof because of reduced resources. Less paint, less practice. No paint, no practice. No practice and the edges start to dull. The commitment required doesn't have a direction. The desire and motivation to keep grinding and grinding with a purpose is frustrated. And before long the team, any team, begins to break down.
Even in the best of times things happen; players get jobs, go to school, lose motivation after they succeed. Team relationships and dynamics change and the reality is the difference between success and failure is often hard to impossible to define in the first place much less diagnose with the intention to try and fix. Most of the time the best anyone can do is focus on the essentials and hope the pieces fall into place. And when they do, take every advantage because chances are it won't last all that long.
Today some people see teams like X-Factor and Impact uncharacteristically struggling compared to where they were before and they are ready to write them off or diminish real past accomplishments in light of current difficulties and that's just plain stupid. Btw, I'm not suggesting everyone who runs down a pro team or player (or a rival team or player) should maybe have a little more respect or think before they yap. There are, after all, limits to what even VFTD can accomplish but I am suggesting there is a lot of sense in the old adage that it's better to remain silent and be taken for a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Major League Paintball Held Hostage: Weekly Update
Over in Euroland the Grand Tour's Warsaw event is less than two weeks out and there are currently 40 teams registered. This is an improvement over last week but still probably a disappointing turnout for the new league. However, if they do a bang up job, coupled with the MS's recent woes, who knows what the turnout might be at future events? Interestingly, 6 of the 9 teams in the pro division are MS pro & semi-pro teams. (Hey, maybe more, my eyes aren't what they used to be.)
Btw, if anyone takes any pictures of the event VFTD would like to see them.
Staying in Euroland the only official word from the MS so far seems to be Mr. Barry Fuggle's statement brushing off any league culpability for the Fiasco in Malaga while assuring one and all that the new inflatable fields were the greatest things since the Euro. (Okay, maybe not better than the Euro, but close for sure.) (If your sarcasm alert went off it is in perfect working order. If not you might want to have it checked.) No telling how Malaga will impact future events but the Bitburg event is scheduled for the weekend of May 29-31 which is less than a month away. The locked division team numbers are set (although D1 is down one to 27) and so far D2 & M5 (D3) each have 4 teams registered. If registration lags (Is Bitburg usually the least will attended anyway?) will it be because of Malaga?
Rumors of a national 7-man league in the U.S. were apparently exaggerated. (That was more irony, I think, than sarcasm.) The USPL wisely put off the DC Challenge but in the process have put themselves in a virtual make or break situation when it comes to the upcoming but unofficially unannounced as of yet San Jose or Bay City Open. (And if you are wondering how it's possible to name an unannounced event, it's not easy, but here at VFTD the impossible just takes a little longer.) With a revised schedule of 4 national events and the new 2nd event of the season in Cali this event will need to be both a paintball and financial success. So far the league's website offers no additional information about the proposed venue or date. (But it's gotta be June, doesn't it? And doesn't that cause pro teams in both leagues some concerns? It does me. Fortunately, I'm not running a national league.) (For those scoring at home that was flippant.)
UPDATE: USPL announces second event date of July 24-26 at SC Village in Corona Cali. Apparently, it didn't have to be in June but I confess I'm now scratching my head over when the third event will be now--the rescheduled DC Challenge.
The USPL is also starting to toss around the old NPPL brand name perhaps to see if it still has any traction with the tourney community. It looks more like a lodestone to me but you could reasonably (not really) see things differently.
Meanwhile, the PSP just completed what must be considered a successful event at the MAO despite the fact total team numbers were down over last year and the vendor presence continues to be thin--though that is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future. MAO '09 numbers were a match for Phoenix '09 numbers. Overall Phoenix was up over '08, MAO was down but only by about 10%. The last couple of Chitown events have been 230+ teams. So far only the PSP appears to be on track although there have been rumors swirling around about the lack of a date and location for World Cup which has, in recent years, been a Disney and central Florida autumn staple. Regardless the PSP stands today as the only solid international league. Putting the PSP head and shoulders above the rest is the amazing quality and professionalism of the webcast project. (The Eurokids might object and claim their TV show is superior because of its reach and that's a fair point. The question is though will the webcast or the show eventually prove the more effective vehicle for promoting and mainstreaming paintball.)
Being a glass half empty kind of guy I'm not seeing the major league season as being a rousing success just yet. In fact, it's staggering like a Brit kicked out of the last bar of the night too drunk to fall into the curb. Okay, maybe not quite that bad but come on, you can't say things are going swimmingly. Still, they're going and that's something. Right?
Btw, if anyone takes any pictures of the event VFTD would like to see them.
Staying in Euroland the only official word from the MS so far seems to be Mr. Barry Fuggle's statement brushing off any league culpability for the Fiasco in Malaga while assuring one and all that the new inflatable fields were the greatest things since the Euro. (Okay, maybe not better than the Euro, but close for sure.) (If your sarcasm alert went off it is in perfect working order. If not you might want to have it checked.) No telling how Malaga will impact future events but the Bitburg event is scheduled for the weekend of May 29-31 which is less than a month away. The locked division team numbers are set (although D1 is down one to 27) and so far D2 & M5 (D3) each have 4 teams registered. If registration lags (Is Bitburg usually the least will attended anyway?) will it be because of Malaga?
Rumors of a national 7-man league in the U.S. were apparently exaggerated. (That was more irony, I think, than sarcasm.) The USPL wisely put off the DC Challenge but in the process have put themselves in a virtual make or break situation when it comes to the upcoming but unofficially unannounced as of yet San Jose or Bay City Open. (And if you are wondering how it's possible to name an unannounced event, it's not easy, but here at VFTD the impossible just takes a little longer.) With a revised schedule of 4 national events and the new 2nd event of the season in Cali this event will need to be both a paintball and financial success. So far the league's website offers no additional information about the proposed venue or date. (But it's gotta be June, doesn't it? And doesn't that cause pro teams in both leagues some concerns? It does me. Fortunately, I'm not running a national league.) (For those scoring at home that was flippant.)
UPDATE: USPL announces second event date of July 24-26 at SC Village in Corona Cali. Apparently, it didn't have to be in June but I confess I'm now scratching my head over when the third event will be now--the rescheduled DC Challenge.
The USPL is also starting to toss around the old NPPL brand name perhaps to see if it still has any traction with the tourney community. It looks more like a lodestone to me but you could reasonably (not really) see things differently.
Meanwhile, the PSP just completed what must be considered a successful event at the MAO despite the fact total team numbers were down over last year and the vendor presence continues to be thin--though that is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future. MAO '09 numbers were a match for Phoenix '09 numbers. Overall Phoenix was up over '08, MAO was down but only by about 10%. The last couple of Chitown events have been 230+ teams. So far only the PSP appears to be on track although there have been rumors swirling around about the lack of a date and location for World Cup which has, in recent years, been a Disney and central Florida autumn staple. Regardless the PSP stands today as the only solid international league. Putting the PSP head and shoulders above the rest is the amazing quality and professionalism of the webcast project. (The Eurokids might object and claim their TV show is superior because of its reach and that's a fair point. The question is though will the webcast or the show eventually prove the more effective vehicle for promoting and mainstreaming paintball.)
Being a glass half empty kind of guy I'm not seeing the major league season as being a rousing success just yet. In fact, it's staggering like a Brit kicked out of the last bar of the night too drunk to fall into the curb. Okay, maybe not quite that bad but come on, you can't say things are going swimmingly. Still, they're going and that's something. Right?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Paintball Preview
Hey kids, it's still Monday in a few parts of the world. And since it's Monday that means a new piece has been posted at Baca's Blog over on the Big Bullet. (Bobcat, please disregard this notification.) Today's post is a little rumination on cheating and the hypocrisy of most ballers, and in this case, the holier-than-thou woods types who would sooner sacrifice their first born than play on. Not that I'm a big fan of cheating, I'm just a realist. After all, refs exist for a reason. Come to think of it that's probably the best reason not to cheat. Quit cheating, put a worthless ref out of a job. (Not that all refs are worthless but seriously, the minimum standard ought to be knowledge of the rules.)
Tomorrow's MLP Held Hostage will be the last three events in review as well as the latest from Warsaw.
Also, along with the promised posts from last week that I haven't posted yet there will be the next Xball: Play of the Game post on laning later this week along with another Ask the Coach; Episode 2--Shooting with Either Hand. And adding to the queue will be posts entitled, The X-Factor (about the lifecycle of a pro team) and, Left Coast Bias (which I hope to post shortly.)
Housekeeping. No new recruits enlisted into the DPA last week so no enlistments post. *hint, hint*
Also, if anyone has any questions about the MAO I'd be willing to take a shot at answering so post them in comments. Otherwise, my final remarks will appear in tomorrow's MLP post.
Tomorrow's MLP Held Hostage will be the last three events in review as well as the latest from Warsaw.
Also, along with the promised posts from last week that I haven't posted yet there will be the next Xball: Play of the Game post on laning later this week along with another Ask the Coach; Episode 2--Shooting with Either Hand. And adding to the queue will be posts entitled, The X-Factor (about the lifecycle of a pro team) and, Left Coast Bias (which I hope to post shortly.)
Housekeeping. No new recruits enlisted into the DPA last week so no enlistments post. *hint, hint*
Also, if anyone has any questions about the MAO I'd be willing to take a shot at answering so post them in comments. Otherwise, my final remarks will appear in tomorrow's MLP post.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
MAO Day 3
You can thank me for the good weather here in Rock Hill. I carried my umbrella with me all day long and as long as I'm prepared it ain't gonna rain. Not that I'm superstitious or anything. (And yes, it came close to raining but took pity on us poor paintballers which kept your webcast immaculate. Again, no need to thank me but donations are gladly accepted.)
Did today's webcast live up to the hype? Damn right it did--and I only saw the Legion / Philly match back at the hotel.
While they didn't make to Sunday it was a treat to see the Trauma kids playing paintball again and even better to see them all together just hanging out. Too often it's easy to forget how transitory this life usually is and too often we take too much of it for granted.
If there were any justice in paintball (or common sense) somebody would make Lu (Lucian Blackburn) Paintball's poster child. I'm just saying.
No photos. That's it. I didn't take any but there are probably millions of them soon to be posted online anyway. It's been a long event all ready and fortunately we ain't done yet. I've still got work to do tonight so I's gonna cut this short. Besides, if you're not watching you don't really care so why should I bother?
Gotta love Sunday. Sunday means winning is within reach. Sunday is what most teams play for. Sunday is when the tournament really starts.
Did today's webcast live up to the hype? Damn right it did--and I only saw the Legion / Philly match back at the hotel.
While they didn't make to Sunday it was a treat to see the Trauma kids playing paintball again and even better to see them all together just hanging out. Too often it's easy to forget how transitory this life usually is and too often we take too much of it for granted.
If there were any justice in paintball (or common sense) somebody would make Lu (Lucian Blackburn) Paintball's poster child. I'm just saying.
No photos. That's it. I didn't take any but there are probably millions of them soon to be posted online anyway. It's been a long event all ready and fortunately we ain't done yet. I've still got work to do tonight so I's gonna cut this short. Besides, if you're not watching you don't really care so why should I bother?
Gotta love Sunday. Sunday means winning is within reach. Sunday is what most teams play for. Sunday is when the tournament really starts.
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