Monday, July 9, 2012
PSP Venue Change!
Over at VFTD-FB on Saturday Mr. Curious let it be known he was knee deep in a big story and chances were it was breaking soon. Well, this is it. (Hit the post title for a link to the PSP page and all the available details.) What isn't there is the good stuff. The behind the scenes dirt. And Mr. C is up to his waders in it now. He has a few more details to pin down before he can reveal what precipitated this sudden change that is sure to rile up the PSP faithful--and a few who enjoy being riled up besides. Coming soon.
The Monday Poll: Superheroes Edition
This week's poll let's you pick the best--or your favorite--superhero flick franchise. Which comic book superhero is best on the big screen? Don't lie, you've seen them all and you'd sell your mother, or at least your girlfriend, to see 'The Dark Knight Rises' in IMAX 3D. You have an opinion so you might as well vote. It's free. It's easy and best of all--no embarrassment 'cus it's anonymous. Until you post a comment.
And here's a little summer something special 'cus I'm feeling generous--it's easy when you're giving away other peeps stuff--if, after you vote, you visit the Baddog Facebook page and "like" it you will automatically enter yourself for next week's random drawing in which BD will give away a free T-shirt. Let the Dog Days of Summer give you something cool 'cus I don't know about you but it's mighty hot where I am. (And, no, it's not hell, it's too humid to be hell. Hell is right around the corner and down a few flights of stairs.) On that happy note--you know what to do--vote.
EDIT ADDED: I know what you're gonna say. Forgetaboutit. It isn't comic book characters, it's superheroes. So while the Punisher is great (but not his movies) as is Hellboy they aren't superheroes. Daredevil is but the movie was so bad I left it off the list. Watchmen, Blade & Ghost Rider--comics, yes, superheroes, no. Same goes for the rest. Also no animated versions considered. Get over it and just pick one already.
Monday Poll in Review
Last week's poll wanted to know what your major league tourney priorities were. What makes (or breaks) the major league event experience? The poll provided 13 choices and each voter was asked to choose their top three in importance. The poll followed on the PSP Chicago event held at CPX Sports Park and VFTD had remarked on the generally poor condition of the playing surface--which, in fact, inspired the poll. Given the final results that may have also played a role in how the voting went. Although there is also anecdotal evidence that not all poll respondents compete and non-competitors very likely have different priorities. (As might competitors who have limited major league experience.)
Beginning from the least important to the most; stats was chosen by only 3% of the voters. (Probably pro players.) It's not really a measure of what people think of keeping stats generally but rather a reflection that the statistics aren't an integral part of the competition itself. Next was proximity at 9%. For purposes of the poll proximity referred to the distances between the parts of the venues; paint trucks from pits, parking lot to fields, etc. Since this has, on occasion, been a topic of contention I am inclined to think this result reflects the fact that most of the time the leagues do a satisfactory job. Tied with 13% shares are hospitality & vendors. (Hospitality is the availability of food and drinks on site.) The vendor number suggests most current participants have come to terms with a reduced vendor presence and that it isn't a big deal--at least in the overall perception of the event itself.
Here it might be worth mentioning that I think every item listed in the poll contributes something to the overall experience and that low numbers don't mean a particular feature isn't important or worth bothering with--only that in comparison with some of the other features one thing matters less than another.
Next up was profile at 19%; profile referring to the accessibility of the event to the non-paintball playing public. 1 in 5 voters considered it a top 3 choice but how many high profile events are there? Huntington Beach. What else? Vegas is spitting distance from The Strip but it's the northern anonymous part of The Strip and in the convention center parking lot the reality is nobody sees it and nobody, but the players, care. Historically much the same can be said about the NFL parking lots as well.
Accessibility was next with 21%. Accessibility referred to how easy the venue was to get to--typically from the local airport. Do you hop onto the freeway or does your GPS get lost in the backwoods.
Interestingly webcast came in next at 23%. In fact webcast probably shouldn't have been an option--even though it does have a physical presence on site--because it only impacts the event passively at best. But it has a much bigger impact on those who wanted to attend but couldn't or who follow competitive paintball. Consequently I'm inclined to think the votes largely reflects the value associated with the webcast by non-participants. Otherwise there are a lot of players who are very interested in the future of tourney ball--even to the exclusion of their immediate experience.
Taking a leap to 32% is infrastructure. From here on out at least a third of all voters considered the option(s) a top priority. Infrastructure referenced the supporting necessities of nearby hotels, restaurants, etc. Here we reach number 5 on the list with format at 36%. I'm a little surprised by the number in that I think most players make format a primary consideration when deciding what to play but at the same time the differences are closing and one format is clearly dominate--and there are other choices to consider. Like number 4--scheduling /logistics at 37% which references the daily operation of the event; is everything on time, etc. This result suggests my proximity result explanation may be wrong because one of the things all the major leagues do quite well is meet their schedules and maintain understandable well organized events. So if it isn't a problem why did so many peeps vote for it? Coming in at number 3 with 45% was playing surface. I'm nearly convinced Chicago influenced this result as the playing surfaces are frequently poor and nobody routinely complains about playing surface unless it's something extreme like the weather that the league(s) can't control for anyway. In second place with 46% was location. This refers to general area/region where the event is being held; like Galveston, Texas or Phoenix, Arizona. I'm also not sure I buy into the importance this number suggests. (Except when location means it's relatively close and we, as a tema, only play one or two events a year--then maybe location is that important. Otherwise participation numbers might suggest something different.) And numero uno was reffing at 70%. While some of the comments suggested that reffing be taken as a given I think it's a good reminder for the leagues to see how much weight the players put on the reffing relative to the other factors under consideration.
And here's a little summer something special 'cus I'm feeling generous--it's easy when you're giving away other peeps stuff--if, after you vote, you visit the Baddog Facebook page and "like" it you will automatically enter yourself for next week's random drawing in which BD will give away a free T-shirt. Let the Dog Days of Summer give you something cool 'cus I don't know about you but it's mighty hot where I am. (And, no, it's not hell, it's too humid to be hell. Hell is right around the corner and down a few flights of stairs.) On that happy note--you know what to do--vote.
EDIT ADDED: I know what you're gonna say. Forgetaboutit. It isn't comic book characters, it's superheroes. So while the Punisher is great (but not his movies) as is Hellboy they aren't superheroes. Daredevil is but the movie was so bad I left it off the list. Watchmen, Blade & Ghost Rider--comics, yes, superheroes, no. Same goes for the rest. Also no animated versions considered. Get over it and just pick one already.
Monday Poll in Review
Last week's poll wanted to know what your major league tourney priorities were. What makes (or breaks) the major league event experience? The poll provided 13 choices and each voter was asked to choose their top three in importance. The poll followed on the PSP Chicago event held at CPX Sports Park and VFTD had remarked on the generally poor condition of the playing surface--which, in fact, inspired the poll. Given the final results that may have also played a role in how the voting went. Although there is also anecdotal evidence that not all poll respondents compete and non-competitors very likely have different priorities. (As might competitors who have limited major league experience.)
Beginning from the least important to the most; stats was chosen by only 3% of the voters. (Probably pro players.) It's not really a measure of what people think of keeping stats generally but rather a reflection that the statistics aren't an integral part of the competition itself. Next was proximity at 9%. For purposes of the poll proximity referred to the distances between the parts of the venues; paint trucks from pits, parking lot to fields, etc. Since this has, on occasion, been a topic of contention I am inclined to think this result reflects the fact that most of the time the leagues do a satisfactory job. Tied with 13% shares are hospitality & vendors. (Hospitality is the availability of food and drinks on site.) The vendor number suggests most current participants have come to terms with a reduced vendor presence and that it isn't a big deal--at least in the overall perception of the event itself.
Here it might be worth mentioning that I think every item listed in the poll contributes something to the overall experience and that low numbers don't mean a particular feature isn't important or worth bothering with--only that in comparison with some of the other features one thing matters less than another.
Next up was profile at 19%; profile referring to the accessibility of the event to the non-paintball playing public. 1 in 5 voters considered it a top 3 choice but how many high profile events are there? Huntington Beach. What else? Vegas is spitting distance from The Strip but it's the northern anonymous part of The Strip and in the convention center parking lot the reality is nobody sees it and nobody, but the players, care. Historically much the same can be said about the NFL parking lots as well.
Accessibility was next with 21%. Accessibility referred to how easy the venue was to get to--typically from the local airport. Do you hop onto the freeway or does your GPS get lost in the backwoods.
Interestingly webcast came in next at 23%. In fact webcast probably shouldn't have been an option--even though it does have a physical presence on site--because it only impacts the event passively at best. But it has a much bigger impact on those who wanted to attend but couldn't or who follow competitive paintball. Consequently I'm inclined to think the votes largely reflects the value associated with the webcast by non-participants. Otherwise there are a lot of players who are very interested in the future of tourney ball--even to the exclusion of their immediate experience.
Taking a leap to 32% is infrastructure. From here on out at least a third of all voters considered the option(s) a top priority. Infrastructure referenced the supporting necessities of nearby hotels, restaurants, etc. Here we reach number 5 on the list with format at 36%. I'm a little surprised by the number in that I think most players make format a primary consideration when deciding what to play but at the same time the differences are closing and one format is clearly dominate--and there are other choices to consider. Like number 4--scheduling /logistics at 37% which references the daily operation of the event; is everything on time, etc. This result suggests my proximity result explanation may be wrong because one of the things all the major leagues do quite well is meet their schedules and maintain understandable well organized events. So if it isn't a problem why did so many peeps vote for it? Coming in at number 3 with 45% was playing surface. I'm nearly convinced Chicago influenced this result as the playing surfaces are frequently poor and nobody routinely complains about playing surface unless it's something extreme like the weather that the league(s) can't control for anyway. In second place with 46% was location. This refers to general area/region where the event is being held; like Galveston, Texas or Phoenix, Arizona. I'm also not sure I buy into the importance this number suggests. (Except when location means it's relatively close and we, as a tema, only play one or two events a year--then maybe location is that important. Otherwise participation numbers might suggest something different.) And numero uno was reffing at 70%. While some of the comments suggested that reffing be taken as a given I think it's a good reminder for the leagues to see how much weight the players put on the reffing relative to the other factors under consideration.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Not in the Paintball News
Is not exactly correct. Some of today's remarks are about items that are in the paintball news. Beginning with Facefull. You may remember the magazine of the same name (although back in the day I preferred calling it 'Rich Telford's Wide World of Paintball') It took a short nap and was reintroduced--last year? Checking out the website it hasn't been updated in months--despite the TonTons winning in Basildon recently--a French first!--and the last time this sorta thing happened ... well, it wasn't so good. Maybe they could publish in China at a slightly smaller scale; a more technical and efficient magazine. Just a thought.
Over at Paintball.com there's the Tiberius Arms press release which was posted as news. All well and good except for the closing editorialization. I know, it's not a big deal. Nobody even notices. Journalism isn't even about the news anymore, it's about shaping others' opinions, it's about what you want it to be. I get that but I'm Old Skool. You wanna editorialize? Cool. Just don't do it in the news.
Speaking of the Tiberius Arms press release--they bought Guerrilla Air--or at least claim they have. For all I know they have, whatever that means. All I really know is somebody (or some committee) sat down and figured out what they wanted to say (and not say) and worked out every detail including the made up quotes in order to convey as little as possible while still getting the message out, which admittedly is how the game is played. I guess the part that really annoys me is that about ten minutes later every moron and know-nothing jumps on the bandwagon like it's the Veteran's Day parade to offer their benedictions and banal happy thoughts. Isn't this the same Guerrilla Air mired in public controversy a few months ago. Does anybody care? No, it's all just fodder for the paintball gossip cycle.
The same goes for the latest presser, the announcement that a certain former All American and current owner of NE Avalanche has bought Vanguard. (I try not to use F the T's name as he doesn't like it when I do.) A sentence or two later the presser says he's purchased the assets of Vanguard. Well, those are potentially two different things. Just saying. The modern press release is designed not to say as much as possible. Which apparently works for all the old ladies on the forums. (Btw, for the comprehension impaired I hope all the business stuff works out for everybody involved. Not my point and I don't really care but I'm a little tired of the hate letter written in crayon about stuff I never actually said--or posted, as the case may be.)
Time for a NPPL & PSP update. Each league's next event is in August. Registration is slow over in NPPL land and uncertain in the PSP. Currently there's around 30 teams signed up for NPPL DC. There's still the better part of six (or seven) weeks so it's not critical just yet but it's also not very encouraging if you are a NPPL fan. PSP Jersey is coming up before that and their registrations are around 95. Here's where the rubber meets the road for the PSP in a return to a 5 event season. (NPPL cancelled Vancouver earlier in the year and remain at 4 events.) Traditionally the 4th event has always had the lowest turnout so it will be interesting to see how close Jersey is to the previous events team totals for 2012.
While I'm at it does anybody in the PSP want to take a guess on when the field layout for Jersey will be released? It's not at the top of prep priority list but it's still kinda important for scheduling practices. So how 'bout it?
There's plenty more but I'll save the rest of the 'Not in the Paintball News' list for next time.
Over at Paintball.com there's the Tiberius Arms press release which was posted as news. All well and good except for the closing editorialization. I know, it's not a big deal. Nobody even notices. Journalism isn't even about the news anymore, it's about shaping others' opinions, it's about what you want it to be. I get that but I'm Old Skool. You wanna editorialize? Cool. Just don't do it in the news.
Speaking of the Tiberius Arms press release--they bought Guerrilla Air--or at least claim they have. For all I know they have, whatever that means. All I really know is somebody (or some committee) sat down and figured out what they wanted to say (and not say) and worked out every detail including the made up quotes in order to convey as little as possible while still getting the message out, which admittedly is how the game is played. I guess the part that really annoys me is that about ten minutes later every moron and know-nothing jumps on the bandwagon like it's the Veteran's Day parade to offer their benedictions and banal happy thoughts. Isn't this the same Guerrilla Air mired in public controversy a few months ago. Does anybody care? No, it's all just fodder for the paintball gossip cycle.
The same goes for the latest presser, the announcement that a certain former All American and current owner of NE Avalanche has bought Vanguard. (I try not to use F the T's name as he doesn't like it when I do.) A sentence or two later the presser says he's purchased the assets of Vanguard. Well, those are potentially two different things. Just saying. The modern press release is designed not to say as much as possible. Which apparently works for all the old ladies on the forums. (Btw, for the comprehension impaired I hope all the business stuff works out for everybody involved. Not my point and I don't really care but I'm a little tired of the hate letter written in crayon about stuff I never actually said--or posted, as the case may be.)
Time for a NPPL & PSP update. Each league's next event is in August. Registration is slow over in NPPL land and uncertain in the PSP. Currently there's around 30 teams signed up for NPPL DC. There's still the better part of six (or seven) weeks so it's not critical just yet but it's also not very encouraging if you are a NPPL fan. PSP Jersey is coming up before that and their registrations are around 95. Here's where the rubber meets the road for the PSP in a return to a 5 event season. (NPPL cancelled Vancouver earlier in the year and remain at 4 events.) Traditionally the 4th event has always had the lowest turnout so it will be interesting to see how close Jersey is to the previous events team totals for 2012.
While I'm at it does anybody in the PSP want to take a guess on when the field layout for Jersey will be released? It's not at the top of prep priority list but it's still kinda important for scheduling practices. So how 'bout it?
There's plenty more but I'll save the rest of the 'Not in the Paintball News' list for next time.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ask the Coach Redux
Boy, it has been a long time. Shame on me. It's been so long a fair-sized minority of readers may not have ever seen an episode of Ask the Coach. For those of you clamoring for another (Mark) a new script is being prepared and a new episode should be released this weekend some time. In the meantime to catch up here's a link to the most recent episode, Grass Is Always Greener. It should be self-explanatory. The new episode is titled, The Tryout, in which Lil' Baller makes a less than triumphant return.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Quit Yammering About Heart ...
And demonstrate you got some. No, you can't pack and unpack real heart like the rest of the gear in your gearbag. Or show it by playing maybe 5 points in a match and then collapsing on the grass when it's over win or lose as if you've burned every ounce of energy in your body. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with bringing energy to the game but that ain't heart. That's just excess uncontrolled emotion like an old-fashioned tea kettle left on the boil steaming and whistling. Nobody needs heart to play the game. Playing is the fun part. Real heart is about your dedication to being the best you can be. Real heart is about the sacrifices you gladly make to reach your goals. Real heart is about the determination you show day in and day out, on the real grind. Real heart is about the effort you make to be the best player and teammate you can be. Real heart is about the hours and hours of practice you attack like a hungry pit bull. Real heart is about having the motivation to continually demand more and more of yourself. Real heart is about always being open to learn, to improve, burning with an unquenchable desire. Real heart is never satisfied with good enough. Real heart is who you are...not what you do. Get some.
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Mondy Poll
In the PSP Chitown wrap-up VFTD had a few unkind words for the CPX fields that had a surface fit only for reenactments of the Great War. It occurred to me at the time that it might be a good poll topic, or rather, what are your priorities for a major league tournament venue? If you go way back with VFTD you might recall I've already done a similar poll but that was then and this is now. Besides there's unlikely to be a (competitive paintball-oriented) poll topic VFTD hasn't done. I've even done a favorite gat poll that left me feeling dirty--but I kinda liked it.
Enough silliness, today's poll will list the features of a tournament and you will choose up to three features, the 3 features you consider most important, to a successful event. This way the leagues will get a sampling of your thoughts on the matter before they ignore you completely. (Just kidding. Or am I?) (I have had a brief convo with the PSP regarding the CPX grounds but I won't spoil your voting choices by filling you in just yet--other than to say the league apparently has not made an extended committment to use CPX as the Chicago venue but it is an option. And I don't know if it's been discussed formally yet or not.)
Many of the options, like "location" are open to fairly broad interpretation as is "accessibility." For the former think general area and take time of year, weather, etc. into your consideration and for the latter it's about how easily and/or quickly you can get to the venue. 10 minutes on a highway versus an hour of stop and go traffic kinda thing. "Public profile" covers an event/venues capacity to attract/interact with the non-paintballing public and choosing "public profile" would indicate you put a lot of stock into venues like HB for their potential to reach the public. "Proximity" refers to the venue design and layout. Preferably one that keeps all the elements relatively close together making it easy and quick to get around, collect paint, drag gearbags to the pits, etc. "Schedule/logistics" is the actual daily operation of the event; on time, with minimal interruptions or confusion, delays, etc. "Infrastructure" is all the off site necessities like decent hotels, restaurants, night spots, and so on all within a reasonable distance of the venue. And "hospitality" refers to on site food and drink availability and prices. I've purposefully left "cost" off the list as everyone would like competing to cost less but what the poll is really about is what matters most for what it does cost.
Remember, pick up to three options and let's see what y'all think is most important to a major league tournament's success.
Enough silliness, today's poll will list the features of a tournament and you will choose up to three features, the 3 features you consider most important, to a successful event. This way the leagues will get a sampling of your thoughts on the matter before they ignore you completely. (Just kidding. Or am I?) (I have had a brief convo with the PSP regarding the CPX grounds but I won't spoil your voting choices by filling you in just yet--other than to say the league apparently has not made an extended committment to use CPX as the Chicago venue but it is an option. And I don't know if it's been discussed formally yet or not.)
Many of the options, like "location" are open to fairly broad interpretation as is "accessibility." For the former think general area and take time of year, weather, etc. into your consideration and for the latter it's about how easily and/or quickly you can get to the venue. 10 minutes on a highway versus an hour of stop and go traffic kinda thing. "Public profile" covers an event/venues capacity to attract/interact with the non-paintballing public and choosing "public profile" would indicate you put a lot of stock into venues like HB for their potential to reach the public. "Proximity" refers to the venue design and layout. Preferably one that keeps all the elements relatively close together making it easy and quick to get around, collect paint, drag gearbags to the pits, etc. "Schedule/logistics" is the actual daily operation of the event; on time, with minimal interruptions or confusion, delays, etc. "Infrastructure" is all the off site necessities like decent hotels, restaurants, night spots, and so on all within a reasonable distance of the venue. And "hospitality" refers to on site food and drink availability and prices. I've purposefully left "cost" off the list as everyone would like competing to cost less but what the poll is really about is what matters most for what it does cost.
Remember, pick up to three options and let's see what y'all think is most important to a major league tournament's success.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
A Sunday Meme
Theft is the sincerest form of flattery. Saw this on FB and couldn't resist. Kudos to whoever made it.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Money Fixes Everything
I want to revisit Thursday's post and expand the scope of the commentary. It has long (for paintball) been an article of faith that money will fix everything. While it's certainly true that money would fix a few of paintball's problems no one seems to have given much thought to what new problems would arise--and there will be plenty--if significant amounts of money enter the world of competitive paintball. And I don't mean a resurgent player base that starts buying truckloads of new gear. That's just business and while it would benefit the industry it's not what people mean when they imagine the mainstreaming of competitive paintball and the cascade of accompanying cash.
Let's begin with divisional tourney ball. Cui bono? (Who benefits?) Not them. Let's say the league begins to generate some outside of the paintball industry revenues; nothing spectacular but a sufficient wedge of cheese that it eases the necessity for the industry to sponsor the league. While that is good for the league and potentially good for the independence of the sport there is no guaranteed trickle down to the divisions. And for those of you who prefer your abstractions as concrete as possible let's assume we're discussing the PSP for example. A modest outside revenue source stabilizes the league so that's a positive for everyone competing and intending to compete in the future--you have a somewhat more secure place to compete. And if you favor the working plan to regionalize much of divisional play over the longer term via the affiliates network and streamline the national circuit you might consider that a divisional benefit. (The VFTD non-official understanding of the concept regionalizes say D3 [or even D2] down so that each region contributes its top teams to World Cup each year for a true championship. Of course the affiliate program isn't restricted to North America so it is conceivable that teams representing all parts of the world may one day compete.) While the league has gone forward laying the foundation for the affiliates the problem, revenue-wise, of how the league gets from its current model to the modified model has limited progress. The new plan with PBAccess offers the possibility of a solution.
In one scenario there's enough outside money to advance the plan to build a real grassroots to World Cup unified competitive paintball as sport, but what if a lot more money than expected were to begin rolling in? Does the plan move forward or does the deadweight get discarded and left to others to reorganize? (This is, btw, the same question I asked in the early days of NPPL 1.0. If the league had successfully brought pro paintball to TV why would they keep running tournaments for all the other divisions? If TV or anything like it ever works who doesn't follow the money and focus on keeping it coming? Under any circumstances a change in fortune for the league makes no promises to the divisional ranks.
But what about the featured teams? Surely this is would be good for them, right? Maybe, maybe not. Let's start again with the modest revenue stream that reduces or obviates the need for industry sponsorship. Again, it's good for the league and its indepenence, but... Back in the days of the NPPL 1.0 when everyone was convinced the mainstream (and all its perks) were right around the corner that league touted success for the teams in terms of the opportunities exposure would bring. Being on TV would allow them to go out and develop their own portfolio of sponsors and income. Which doesn't sound half bad until you realize that as a team you are not only competing against the other teams for those sponsor dollars you're also competing against your own league for sponsor dollars. And that no agreements exist aimed at maintaining league parity or stability. Or that once the contract is signed by the league your individual team becomes superfluous. (Before the deal is done it's the teams that validate the league but after the deal is done it's the league that validates the teams.) So imagine here we are with the PSP seeing a modest revenue trickle beginning to come in from the PBAccess webcast. Perhaps at first everyone is happy and supportive. But it won't last. It can't last. At some point the featured teams will begin to ask, What about us? And that day everything changes.
Maybe the league says, we're not making much or say what about you? We're the ones who made this happen, invested the time and money, took the risk and the reward for success should be ours. And if they were selling cupcakes or car parts I would agree unreservedly but they aren't. They're selling competition between an inclusive group of teams who can make the case that some part of the league's success accrues to them because they are the ones drawing the audience--and the audience is everything. And the teams will also say we have spent years of our lives, made sacrifices and spent plenty of money as well. How and when is that impasse resolved? Odds are (should it ever come to pass) that it won't be solved any more than mainstream sports have ever solved their conflicts but some sort of temporary agreements will have to be made and the window in which to make them opens when outside money starts to arrive and closes once the league de facto controls the identity of competitive paintball as sport.
The object of raising today's hypotheticals is simply to remind the (seeming) majority that more money in paintball isn't likely to be the universal panacea they seem to think if for no other reason than human nature.
Let's begin with divisional tourney ball. Cui bono? (Who benefits?) Not them. Let's say the league begins to generate some outside of the paintball industry revenues; nothing spectacular but a sufficient wedge of cheese that it eases the necessity for the industry to sponsor the league. While that is good for the league and potentially good for the independence of the sport there is no guaranteed trickle down to the divisions. And for those of you who prefer your abstractions as concrete as possible let's assume we're discussing the PSP for example. A modest outside revenue source stabilizes the league so that's a positive for everyone competing and intending to compete in the future--you have a somewhat more secure place to compete. And if you favor the working plan to regionalize much of divisional play over the longer term via the affiliates network and streamline the national circuit you might consider that a divisional benefit. (The VFTD non-official understanding of the concept regionalizes say D3 [or even D2] down so that each region contributes its top teams to World Cup each year for a true championship. Of course the affiliate program isn't restricted to North America so it is conceivable that teams representing all parts of the world may one day compete.) While the league has gone forward laying the foundation for the affiliates the problem, revenue-wise, of how the league gets from its current model to the modified model has limited progress. The new plan with PBAccess offers the possibility of a solution.
In one scenario there's enough outside money to advance the plan to build a real grassroots to World Cup unified competitive paintball as sport, but what if a lot more money than expected were to begin rolling in? Does the plan move forward or does the deadweight get discarded and left to others to reorganize? (This is, btw, the same question I asked in the early days of NPPL 1.0. If the league had successfully brought pro paintball to TV why would they keep running tournaments for all the other divisions? If TV or anything like it ever works who doesn't follow the money and focus on keeping it coming? Under any circumstances a change in fortune for the league makes no promises to the divisional ranks.
But what about the featured teams? Surely this is would be good for them, right? Maybe, maybe not. Let's start again with the modest revenue stream that reduces or obviates the need for industry sponsorship. Again, it's good for the league and its indepenence, but... Back in the days of the NPPL 1.0 when everyone was convinced the mainstream (and all its perks) were right around the corner that league touted success for the teams in terms of the opportunities exposure would bring. Being on TV would allow them to go out and develop their own portfolio of sponsors and income. Which doesn't sound half bad until you realize that as a team you are not only competing against the other teams for those sponsor dollars you're also competing against your own league for sponsor dollars. And that no agreements exist aimed at maintaining league parity or stability. Or that once the contract is signed by the league your individual team becomes superfluous. (Before the deal is done it's the teams that validate the league but after the deal is done it's the league that validates the teams.) So imagine here we are with the PSP seeing a modest revenue trickle beginning to come in from the PBAccess webcast. Perhaps at first everyone is happy and supportive. But it won't last. It can't last. At some point the featured teams will begin to ask, What about us? And that day everything changes.
Maybe the league says, we're not making much or say what about you? We're the ones who made this happen, invested the time and money, took the risk and the reward for success should be ours. And if they were selling cupcakes or car parts I would agree unreservedly but they aren't. They're selling competition between an inclusive group of teams who can make the case that some part of the league's success accrues to them because they are the ones drawing the audience--and the audience is everything. And the teams will also say we have spent years of our lives, made sacrifices and spent plenty of money as well. How and when is that impasse resolved? Odds are (should it ever come to pass) that it won't be solved any more than mainstream sports have ever solved their conflicts but some sort of temporary agreements will have to be made and the window in which to make them opens when outside money starts to arrive and closes once the league de facto controls the identity of competitive paintball as sport.
The object of raising today's hypotheticals is simply to remind the (seeming) majority that more money in paintball isn't likely to be the universal panacea they seem to think if for no other reason than human nature.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Great Image Debate
Over the last couple of years both the NPPL and the PSP have changed their policy when it comes to photographers, on field photography and event imagery whether it's stills or video. The flap those changes caused was largely about the rights of the photogs versus the leagues and what was fair and what wasn't. And there was some utterly ineffective pushback from the photogs. (It's not that there weren't some legitmate issues put forth by the photographers because there were--and are--the problem was one of numbers. There were, and perhaps still are, more photographers than the environment and economics of tourney paintball could support and that drove the value of the images and the photographers in general down.) But all of that is small potatoes compared to the potential for future problems when it comes to the images and video of league events.
Interestingly this is one area where NPPL 3.0 might have an advantage over the PSP--if in fact the NPPL 3.0 is an actual legal entity. (And there are good and substantive reasons to wonder.) Back in the first seasons of the original NXL the owners understood what was at stake they just didn't handle it very well. Given that they were operating on the assumption that the NXL would go mainstream, or something quite like it, at any moment they forbade any and all unauthorised images of the league, its teams and players from being published and for two years didn't allow any video at all. The idea was that the images, if not super valuable just that minute would soon be valuable and they didn't want to dilute that value. Of course the whole thing fell apart and instead of preserving value they diminished the value of some of the teams because nobody had seen them in two years except at the events and in a few photographs in the magazines. Meanwhile there was truckloads of video available that only enhanced the popularity of teams like Dynasty, XSV & Infamous after they left Miami Effect.
Which brings us, if not to the present day, a day that is coming if any (or all) of the power players in big time competitive paintball have their way. Here's where that hypothetical NPPL advantage exists. Many (but not all) of the impacted NPPL teams, ignoring that of the teams for the teams nonsense, are also shareholders. If so it will make things easier if the images of the league actually acquire real value. What am I talking about? Let's use the PSP and PBAccess to explain. The PSP provides the league structure and events for competition. It also controls who will be and won't be a pro team. PBAccess is in business to provide a webcast of the PSP Pro division that will, in time, build a sufficient audience to attract advertising revenues. One supposes PBAccess and the PSP have some sort of contractual arrangement or agreement prepared for that day. But what about the teams? The day the first advertising contract is signed those images have value. Advertisers aren't paying for the league, the webcast or the teams; they are paying for the audience but the audience is there because of the quality of the competition and the teams competing. And when that day arrives, if it does, that is the day the debate begins in earnest over the value (and potential value) of those images.
Today no agreements exist. No dialogue over the possibility has occurred (that I'm aware of.) No working principles are in place to guide a future deal. And maybe they won't be needed. No agreement exists today that gives the PSP the teams' permission to broadcast the events. Probably because it's in everyone's interest right now to do so; to be on the webcast and be seen. But none of that changes where this could be headed. Can you say players union or association of pro teams?
Interestingly this is one area where NPPL 3.0 might have an advantage over the PSP--if in fact the NPPL 3.0 is an actual legal entity. (And there are good and substantive reasons to wonder.) Back in the first seasons of the original NXL the owners understood what was at stake they just didn't handle it very well. Given that they were operating on the assumption that the NXL would go mainstream, or something quite like it, at any moment they forbade any and all unauthorised images of the league, its teams and players from being published and for two years didn't allow any video at all. The idea was that the images, if not super valuable just that minute would soon be valuable and they didn't want to dilute that value. Of course the whole thing fell apart and instead of preserving value they diminished the value of some of the teams because nobody had seen them in two years except at the events and in a few photographs in the magazines. Meanwhile there was truckloads of video available that only enhanced the popularity of teams like Dynasty, XSV & Infamous after they left Miami Effect.
Which brings us, if not to the present day, a day that is coming if any (or all) of the power players in big time competitive paintball have their way. Here's where that hypothetical NPPL advantage exists. Many (but not all) of the impacted NPPL teams, ignoring that of the teams for the teams nonsense, are also shareholders. If so it will make things easier if the images of the league actually acquire real value. What am I talking about? Let's use the PSP and PBAccess to explain. The PSP provides the league structure and events for competition. It also controls who will be and won't be a pro team. PBAccess is in business to provide a webcast of the PSP Pro division that will, in time, build a sufficient audience to attract advertising revenues. One supposes PBAccess and the PSP have some sort of contractual arrangement or agreement prepared for that day. But what about the teams? The day the first advertising contract is signed those images have value. Advertisers aren't paying for the league, the webcast or the teams; they are paying for the audience but the audience is there because of the quality of the competition and the teams competing. And when that day arrives, if it does, that is the day the debate begins in earnest over the value (and potential value) of those images.
Today no agreements exist. No dialogue over the possibility has occurred (that I'm aware of.) No working principles are in place to guide a future deal. And maybe they won't be needed. No agreement exists today that gives the PSP the teams' permission to broadcast the events. Probably because it's in everyone's interest right now to do so; to be on the webcast and be seen. But none of that changes where this could be headed. Can you say players union or association of pro teams?
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Mind Game
One of the things sports is full of is excuses. Not only does nobody want to be responsible for failure there is a laundry list of expressions to explain away losing. The team/player looked tired out there today. Didn't have their A game. Turns out this was a trap game for (X) this afternoon. Maybe they were overlooking this opponent. The team looked uncharacteristically lost/unprepared out there today. He was half a step slow out there. Players looked tight. They played with tired legs. It's a young team and they haven't been here before. They were in uncharted territory ...
Sometimes teams and/or players really are physically worn out and unable to perform to their true ability but more often than not the litany of excuses refer to breakdowns in a team's or player's mental game. Barring injury nothing has more of an impact on a contest's outcome than the mental state of the competitors. At the peak of sport, any sport, the competitors are all highly skilled, well trained, physically capable and have years of experience. The dividing line between winning and losing becomes razor thin and more often than you might imagine the difference isn't a matter of excellence but the ability to play up to your normal standard in unusual high pressure situations; the mind game.
Case in point: Tampa Bay Damage. Going into Day 2 in Phoenix Damage was 19-1 in its previous 20 matches and that string included three wins with a World Cup sandwiched in the middle. On Day 1 the team won 2 matches by identical 7-1 scores. On Day 2 the wheels came off. [In no way should these comments be construed as suggesting anything negative about our opponents who did what they needed to do to win. My only point is that Damage had routinely demonstrated the capacity to perform better than the team did to close out Phoenix and in Chicago.] So what happened? Did a championship caliber team suddenly forget how to play? The answer is of course not so the problem lies elsewhere. First we lost the mind game then we lost the match(es).
Why does it happen? I don't know. How does it happen? Sometimes it begins with a single player and single negative comment. Depends on the team and depends on the players. Sometimes it begins with a bad point. An outburst in the pits. An argument that escalates into a shouting match in the middle of a paintball match. And sometimes it's as seemingly benign as coming out flat, starting slow--having tired legs. There is no single cause or cure. It is least well understood or controllable element of the group dynamic. But happen it does.
I am inclined to think that at its core its a failure to deal with pressure; the pressure to succeed, to perform and the bigger the moment or the greater the expectation the more the pressure mounts. That still doesn't explain why it happens to players and teams when it does but I don't think there is just one explanation.
The more important question for the competitor is: How do I fix it?
I wish I knew.
Okay I have a few ideas. (Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to write this post.) Change the focus and control what you can control and ignore the rest. When I say 'change the focus' what I really mean is stop focusing on winning. Don't get me wrong--winning is the bottom line and I'm all about winning. You can take that to the track and bet the trifecta on it but--the first goal for every team is to focus on playing your best game. You have no control over winning. All you can do is your best and believe that today it is enough to bring home the victory. For good teams the pressure to win is always there anyway but the only thing under your control is how you perform. Stop thinking and simply start doing. And to do that the team must focus on the things under its control. Preparation. Repetition with purpose. (By that I mean not simply going through the motions but making the effort to learn from mistakes as a player and a team in the process preparing to compete.) Clearly defined roles. (When players know their roles they play within the concept of the team and focus on their job.) Execution of the game plan, point by point. (Staying focused on executing the game plan puts the bigger picture out of mind and helps to remind the player he is part of a larger whole.) Play in the moment. (Do your job, trust your teammates to do their's and play as a unit by executing the game plan.) Do all that effectively and success will follow. Fingers crossed.
Sometimes teams and/or players really are physically worn out and unable to perform to their true ability but more often than not the litany of excuses refer to breakdowns in a team's or player's mental game. Barring injury nothing has more of an impact on a contest's outcome than the mental state of the competitors. At the peak of sport, any sport, the competitors are all highly skilled, well trained, physically capable and have years of experience. The dividing line between winning and losing becomes razor thin and more often than you might imagine the difference isn't a matter of excellence but the ability to play up to your normal standard in unusual high pressure situations; the mind game.
Case in point: Tampa Bay Damage. Going into Day 2 in Phoenix Damage was 19-1 in its previous 20 matches and that string included three wins with a World Cup sandwiched in the middle. On Day 1 the team won 2 matches by identical 7-1 scores. On Day 2 the wheels came off. [In no way should these comments be construed as suggesting anything negative about our opponents who did what they needed to do to win. My only point is that Damage had routinely demonstrated the capacity to perform better than the team did to close out Phoenix and in Chicago.] So what happened? Did a championship caliber team suddenly forget how to play? The answer is of course not so the problem lies elsewhere. First we lost the mind game then we lost the match(es).
Why does it happen? I don't know. How does it happen? Sometimes it begins with a single player and single negative comment. Depends on the team and depends on the players. Sometimes it begins with a bad point. An outburst in the pits. An argument that escalates into a shouting match in the middle of a paintball match. And sometimes it's as seemingly benign as coming out flat, starting slow--having tired legs. There is no single cause or cure. It is least well understood or controllable element of the group dynamic. But happen it does.
I am inclined to think that at its core its a failure to deal with pressure; the pressure to succeed, to perform and the bigger the moment or the greater the expectation the more the pressure mounts. That still doesn't explain why it happens to players and teams when it does but I don't think there is just one explanation.
The more important question for the competitor is: How do I fix it?
I wish I knew.
Okay I have a few ideas. (Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to write this post.) Change the focus and control what you can control and ignore the rest. When I say 'change the focus' what I really mean is stop focusing on winning. Don't get me wrong--winning is the bottom line and I'm all about winning. You can take that to the track and bet the trifecta on it but--the first goal for every team is to focus on playing your best game. You have no control over winning. All you can do is your best and believe that today it is enough to bring home the victory. For good teams the pressure to win is always there anyway but the only thing under your control is how you perform. Stop thinking and simply start doing. And to do that the team must focus on the things under its control. Preparation. Repetition with purpose. (By that I mean not simply going through the motions but making the effort to learn from mistakes as a player and a team in the process preparing to compete.) Clearly defined roles. (When players know their roles they play within the concept of the team and focus on their job.) Execution of the game plan, point by point. (Staying focused on executing the game plan puts the bigger picture out of mind and helps to remind the player he is part of a larger whole.) Play in the moment. (Do your job, trust your teammates to do their's and play as a unit by executing the game plan.) Do all that effectively and success will follow. Fingers crossed.
Monday, June 25, 2012
PSP Chicago wrap-up
Sunday
By now you already know the scores--and hopefully took some time yesterday to watch some of the matches on the webcast--so I won't belabor them other than to say congrats to all the teams that won and finished on the podium especially Infamous on the win and Russian Legion for their consistency and the outstanding job done in rebuilding the team. Heck, congrats to the rest as well and I hope everyone enjoyed the event. I'm also not going to belabor the struggle on Sunday to maintain the schedule. As it turned out everything went mostly according to schedule but there was a fair amount of unusual chaos behind the scenes. Not sure what happened because it was also an unusual state of affairs for the PSP.
Damage ran hot & cold this event opening on Friday like we finished in Phoenix only to turn it around for the rest of prelims. Sunday saw the team struggle in both the win over Heat and the loss to the Russian Legion. While third place isn't a bad result the way we achieved it was. I have talked about this sorta thing before and will again (in tomorrow's post.) For young teams the issues are often technical and about learning the game, both as individuals and as a group working together. More mature teams have to deal with the same concerns (to one degree or another) plus issues with execution, strategy and tactics. And then there's winning. One of the truisms of sport is the notion of learning how to win. There is something to that but the broader issue is the mental game, the psychology of competing and how each player responds to the pressures involved.
CPX
As a place to play paintball CPX is awesome. As a place to host a world class scenario game CPX is awesome. As a venue for world class tournament paintball it leaves a lot to be desired. It's not too far from two major airports and the highway system offers easy, if sometimes slow, access. There's plenty of accommodations, restaurants, etc. within minutes despite the rural location. Lots of parking. Nope, the issue is the field of grass used by both the NPPL & the PSP. It's inadequate. It's very rough and that's putting it mildly. I realize everyone is economizing and I appreciate the need but the playing surface is a critical element when playing the game. The PSP is strongly committed to playing on real grass. Under almost any circumstance I think that's better than carpet over asphalt but those aren't the only choices that exist. The best grass either league has played on is in Phoenix and it isn't a coincidence that it's also about the most expensive venue too. (And the best turf is DC.) I don't want to make a huge deal over this but I think if asked the majority would rate the playing surface a higher priority than some of the other factors the leagues have to take into consideration when choosing their venues.
Over at VFTD (Facebook) I had a bit of fun with some of the lingo used by the PBAccess commentators. While insisting I would never say "clutch" and other commenters picked on their least favorite expressions like "feasting" there is a serious aspect to the language used on the webcast. In an emerging sport or technology there is a language that develops around it that expresses the unique qualities and characteristics on display. Competitive paintball is in that position today. As an emerging sport there is both the need and the opportunity to describe our game the way we see it. And for right now the webcast delivered by PBAccess is the voice of competitive paintball. It is our voice whether we like it or not. It is the voice that may describe competitive paintball for the foreseeable future and shape the language that people know our game by. Considered like that it's also a responsibility. Too often in the past paintball has appropriated the idioms of other fringe and/or emerging sports or cultural niches. What competitive paintball needs is its own terms and expressions--and it will have them one way or another.
And for those of you who may have noticed but were too polite to comment; yes, I had a big gap in my teeth at the event but it doesn't mean I'm goin' all hillbilly on y'all. I will not be wearing denim coveralls, going barefoot, gigging for frogs or smoking a corn cob pipe anytime soon. (Lots of people make moonshine, you bigot.) I broke a bridge that couldn't be repaired in time for the tourney. Hopefully there aren't any pictures out there. That's all I need.
By now you already know the scores--and hopefully took some time yesterday to watch some of the matches on the webcast--so I won't belabor them other than to say congrats to all the teams that won and finished on the podium especially Infamous on the win and Russian Legion for their consistency and the outstanding job done in rebuilding the team. Heck, congrats to the rest as well and I hope everyone enjoyed the event. I'm also not going to belabor the struggle on Sunday to maintain the schedule. As it turned out everything went mostly according to schedule but there was a fair amount of unusual chaos behind the scenes. Not sure what happened because it was also an unusual state of affairs for the PSP.
Damage ran hot & cold this event opening on Friday like we finished in Phoenix only to turn it around for the rest of prelims. Sunday saw the team struggle in both the win over Heat and the loss to the Russian Legion. While third place isn't a bad result the way we achieved it was. I have talked about this sorta thing before and will again (in tomorrow's post.) For young teams the issues are often technical and about learning the game, both as individuals and as a group working together. More mature teams have to deal with the same concerns (to one degree or another) plus issues with execution, strategy and tactics. And then there's winning. One of the truisms of sport is the notion of learning how to win. There is something to that but the broader issue is the mental game, the psychology of competing and how each player responds to the pressures involved.
CPX
As a place to play paintball CPX is awesome. As a place to host a world class scenario game CPX is awesome. As a venue for world class tournament paintball it leaves a lot to be desired. It's not too far from two major airports and the highway system offers easy, if sometimes slow, access. There's plenty of accommodations, restaurants, etc. within minutes despite the rural location. Lots of parking. Nope, the issue is the field of grass used by both the NPPL & the PSP. It's inadequate. It's very rough and that's putting it mildly. I realize everyone is economizing and I appreciate the need but the playing surface is a critical element when playing the game. The PSP is strongly committed to playing on real grass. Under almost any circumstance I think that's better than carpet over asphalt but those aren't the only choices that exist. The best grass either league has played on is in Phoenix and it isn't a coincidence that it's also about the most expensive venue too. (And the best turf is DC.) I don't want to make a huge deal over this but I think if asked the majority would rate the playing surface a higher priority than some of the other factors the leagues have to take into consideration when choosing their venues.
Over at VFTD (Facebook) I had a bit of fun with some of the lingo used by the PBAccess commentators. While insisting I would never say "clutch" and other commenters picked on their least favorite expressions like "feasting" there is a serious aspect to the language used on the webcast. In an emerging sport or technology there is a language that develops around it that expresses the unique qualities and characteristics on display. Competitive paintball is in that position today. As an emerging sport there is both the need and the opportunity to describe our game the way we see it. And for right now the webcast delivered by PBAccess is the voice of competitive paintball. It is our voice whether we like it or not. It is the voice that may describe competitive paintball for the foreseeable future and shape the language that people know our game by. Considered like that it's also a responsibility. Too often in the past paintball has appropriated the idioms of other fringe and/or emerging sports or cultural niches. What competitive paintball needs is its own terms and expressions--and it will have them one way or another.
And for those of you who may have noticed but were too polite to comment; yes, I had a big gap in my teeth at the event but it doesn't mean I'm goin' all hillbilly on y'all. I will not be wearing denim coveralls, going barefoot, gigging for frogs or smoking a corn cob pipe anytime soon. (Lots of people make moonshine, you bigot.) I broke a bridge that couldn't be repaired in time for the tourney. Hopefully there aren't any pictures out there. That's all I need.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
PSP Chicago: Day 2
I had hoped to do some of my morning bracket scouting via webcast this morning. No joy for me mostly because the hotel internet is so slow I can't even get the low res version to stream live on my laptop or pad. So much for the tech revolution. Say hello to the bleachers. Fortunately, like yesterday it wasn't too hot--not PSP Chicago hot anyway--and in the afternoon there were extended stretches of overcast or maybe it was thick haze. Whatever it was it kept the temperatures mild and produced a magnificent corona around the diffused sun. (Anybody get a picture?)
Dynasty overcame their early loss to the Russians by beating the Heat today and closing out the prelims at 3-1. It was the Heat's only loss so it didn't keep them out of Sunday either as they too went 3-1. Shock gave the Legion a tough game early Saturday but eventually fell. Vicious, after a solid Phoenix, went 1-3 as did Thunder. In their final match-up with Houston Vicious had an opportunity but eventually fell in a tough 3-5 game. A win would have seen them go 2-2 and win the head-to-head with Houston and play on Sunday. So while 1-3 doesn't sound good the margin between success and failure for Vicious this weekend was 2 points.
In the afternoon bracket Infamous began the day in the driver's seat with all the Sunday spots up for grabs. Everybody else finished Saturday 1-1 except for 0-2 CEP. The Ironmen, like Dynasty, took an unexpected big loss on Friday versus Upton 187. They opened today with a grueling war with Infamous and came out short by a single point. Going into their final prelim match the Ironmen were 1-2 against a 2-1 X-Factor but as it turned out the winner would go through to Sunday while the loser went home. In an overtime thriller the Ironmen pulled it out 4-3. Again the margin for error was razor thin. Damage continued the improved play they displayed in their second match Friday by rolling through CEP and Upton 187 today to earn a Sunday spot along with Infamous and the Ironmen.
There have been some unexpected and exciting matches and Sunday should up the ante as we're playing for the trophy now.
Since the situation came up today in the Ironmen/X-Factor match I'd like to go on the record and suggest the swing point rule be abolished--at least in the pro bracket. I've never liked it much and the last time I was part of a rules revision I tried to get it removed--to no avail. I understand that some peeps are concerned that in close, tense scenarios with little time left on the clock that the threat of a penalty may not be much of a deterrent. I get that. My view is that the appropriate penalty is the one in the rulebook as it applies to the rest of the match and that in effect altering the call's impact isn't good paintball. Does my way potentially make it hard on the refs? Maybe but I think they ought to be up for it. And now that the pro game has "unlimited" overtime there is no rational for a swing point to be awarded in an overtime period. Let the players win or lose the games.
So far so good. Tomorrow will be a long day so don't look for the wrap-up until Monday.
Dynasty overcame their early loss to the Russians by beating the Heat today and closing out the prelims at 3-1. It was the Heat's only loss so it didn't keep them out of Sunday either as they too went 3-1. Shock gave the Legion a tough game early Saturday but eventually fell. Vicious, after a solid Phoenix, went 1-3 as did Thunder. In their final match-up with Houston Vicious had an opportunity but eventually fell in a tough 3-5 game. A win would have seen them go 2-2 and win the head-to-head with Houston and play on Sunday. So while 1-3 doesn't sound good the margin between success and failure for Vicious this weekend was 2 points.
In the afternoon bracket Infamous began the day in the driver's seat with all the Sunday spots up for grabs. Everybody else finished Saturday 1-1 except for 0-2 CEP. The Ironmen, like Dynasty, took an unexpected big loss on Friday versus Upton 187. They opened today with a grueling war with Infamous and came out short by a single point. Going into their final prelim match the Ironmen were 1-2 against a 2-1 X-Factor but as it turned out the winner would go through to Sunday while the loser went home. In an overtime thriller the Ironmen pulled it out 4-3. Again the margin for error was razor thin. Damage continued the improved play they displayed in their second match Friday by rolling through CEP and Upton 187 today to earn a Sunday spot along with Infamous and the Ironmen.
There have been some unexpected and exciting matches and Sunday should up the ante as we're playing for the trophy now.
Since the situation came up today in the Ironmen/X-Factor match I'd like to go on the record and suggest the swing point rule be abolished--at least in the pro bracket. I've never liked it much and the last time I was part of a rules revision I tried to get it removed--to no avail. I understand that some peeps are concerned that in close, tense scenarios with little time left on the clock that the threat of a penalty may not be much of a deterrent. I get that. My view is that the appropriate penalty is the one in the rulebook as it applies to the rest of the match and that in effect altering the call's impact isn't good paintball. Does my way potentially make it hard on the refs? Maybe but I think they ought to be up for it. And now that the pro game has "unlimited" overtime there is no rational for a swing point to be awarded in an overtime period. Let the players win or lose the games.
So far so good. Tomorrow will be a long day so don't look for the wrap-up until Monday.
Friday, June 22, 2012
PSP Chicago: Day 1
Or Day 2 if you were playing some upper division Race 2. The D1, D2 & D3 prelims are complete. Playoff rounds will begin tomorrow to get the divisions down to the semis for Sunday. (I think.) The brackets are posted. I'm not 100% positive because I only got involved at all when some D1 match-ups were apparently posted either prematurely or inaccurately--or both. It took a couple of text messages and a couple of phone calls to get everything straight. In hindsight it made sense but my excuse is it was late and I was tired and it was all raehl's fault. (Okay, it really wasn't Chris's fault but he is a convenient scapegoat.) Sac Damage missed moving on because of total match time; tie-breaker number 4. Sucks but there it is. The kids played well in a tough bracket and even without a Sunday spot this event continued the process of overall improvement. Anyway, the confusion arose mostly because of the way teams are ranked after the fact. In Damage's group Distortion was ranked above them because of head-to-head but in comparing the two prelim scores Distortion was listed as ranked 11 with a margin difference of -1 while Damage was ranked 7 with a margin difference of 0. For those of you used to this I suppose it's clear that all of those numbers are more or less irrelevant for determining who moves on and who doesn't--at least as it turned out this time. However, that said, the rules are in black & white and once understood there was no margin for error or favoritism.
On the pro field today it was another trip to bizzaro world--which you should have seen on the webcast--and if you didn't where were you? Don't say work. Or school. Or any of that kinda lame excuse. You know where you belong. In the morning session the Russians flushed Dynasty 7-0 and then took Viscious 5-4 in OT. Upton put the wood to the Ironmen then got smacked down by X-Factor. Infamous was strong as was Heat who both or their matches for the day. We opened with Infamous (followed by X-Factor) in a replay of Saturday afternoon in Phoenix. Which could either be a nightmare recreation of our unexpected failure that day or a chance to put it behind us. The Infamous match was Phoenix all over again after a solid start. For whatever reason all the positive work in practice evaporated along with our faith in each other and our ability to execute our game. It would prove to be either a wake up call or Phoenix al over. Fortunately, unlike Phoenix our post Infamous loss team talk cleared our heads and we got back on track against X-Factor 7-2. From here on out it's one match at a time and even one point at a time and until we're back playing on Sunday nothing has been resolved just yet.
Btw, for whatever reason--I an't really pin one down in my mind--the venue reminds me of Rennaissance fair. It doesn't make any sense at all, evn to me, but that's the vibe I got. Compared to last year I think the whole block of fields has been further away from CPX with the vendors mostly arrayed along the gravel track that winds past the overflow parking lots.
The weather today was exceptional with a forecast that, fingers crossed, should match it tomorrow. More of a general overview tomorrow--so stay tuned.
On the pro field today it was another trip to bizzaro world--which you should have seen on the webcast--and if you didn't where were you? Don't say work. Or school. Or any of that kinda lame excuse. You know where you belong. In the morning session the Russians flushed Dynasty 7-0 and then took Viscious 5-4 in OT. Upton put the wood to the Ironmen then got smacked down by X-Factor. Infamous was strong as was Heat who both or their matches for the day. We opened with Infamous (followed by X-Factor) in a replay of Saturday afternoon in Phoenix. Which could either be a nightmare recreation of our unexpected failure that day or a chance to put it behind us. The Infamous match was Phoenix all over again after a solid start. For whatever reason all the positive work in practice evaporated along with our faith in each other and our ability to execute our game. It would prove to be either a wake up call or Phoenix al over. Fortunately, unlike Phoenix our post Infamous loss team talk cleared our heads and we got back on track against X-Factor 7-2. From here on out it's one match at a time and even one point at a time and until we're back playing on Sunday nothing has been resolved just yet.
Btw, for whatever reason--I an't really pin one down in my mind--the venue reminds me of Rennaissance fair. It doesn't make any sense at all, evn to me, but that's the vibe I got. Compared to last year I think the whole block of fields has been further away from CPX with the vendors mostly arrayed along the gravel track that winds past the overflow parking lots.
The weather today was exceptional with a forecast that, fingers crossed, should match it tomorrow. More of a general overview tomorrow--so stay tuned.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
PSP Chicago: Travel Day
What's there to say? You pack, go to the airport, collect your boarding pass, get groped because we're all terrorists now and eventually wedged into an airplane like a cattle car in the sky and off to your event destination--or at least the nearest airport to your destination--where you rent a car (SUV, minivan, van) at a confiscatory daily rate and drive off to the venue (or hotel depending on the time of day.) Not very exciting but there you go. And in about 90 minutes there I go--off to Chitown.
Mostly this post is an excuse to toss in a few odds & ends--yes, just like in 'Not In The Paintball News' but I didn't want to do another one so soon. First I wanted to thank the latest recruits to the Deadbox Puppet Army--Sakari Koskinen, Josh Cumberland, Forca PSI & Trokla--and remind the growing DPA cadre to remain vigilant. The day is coming. World domination is just around the corner. Thanks too for all the new Facebook likes and friend requests. Apparently the MS announcement hit a nerve with more than a few of you. And if you missed it I announced yesterday on VFTD--the Facebook page--that TBD would no longer be representing GI Montreal in the Millennium's CPL. While news to the paintball public it wasn't news to either our sponsor or the league.
[EDIT ADDED: Baca taken to woodshed over VFTD-FB remarks. See follow-up for apology and link to official team statement.]
I will try to post daily updates from the tournament over the weekend but no promises. Meanwhile get your fix starting tomorrow morning with the webcast via PBAccess and lots of updates from the kids at Social. I'm also considering using the Chicago event and layout to do some post-event instruction posts.
Finally a reminder and encouragement to any and all divisional participants who would like to review their divisional results post-Chicago VFTD will be happy to post them. So don't wuss out, get 'er done.
Mostly this post is an excuse to toss in a few odds & ends--yes, just like in 'Not In The Paintball News' but I didn't want to do another one so soon. First I wanted to thank the latest recruits to the Deadbox Puppet Army--Sakari Koskinen, Josh Cumberland, Forca PSI & Trokla--and remind the growing DPA cadre to remain vigilant. The day is coming. World domination is just around the corner. Thanks too for all the new Facebook likes and friend requests. Apparently the MS announcement hit a nerve with more than a few of you. And if you missed it I announced yesterday on VFTD--the Facebook page--that TBD would no longer be representing GI Montreal in the Millennium's CPL. While news to the paintball public it wasn't news to either our sponsor or the league.
[EDIT ADDED: Baca taken to woodshed over VFTD-FB remarks. See follow-up for apology and link to official team statement.]
I will try to post daily updates from the tournament over the weekend but no promises. Meanwhile get your fix starting tomorrow morning with the webcast via PBAccess and lots of updates from the kids at Social. I'm also considering using the Chicago event and layout to do some post-event instruction posts.
Finally a reminder and encouragement to any and all divisional participants who would like to review their divisional results post-Chicago VFTD will be happy to post them. So don't wuss out, get 'er done.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
NPPL All Star Voting Begins
Normally this wouldn't have rated its own post--perhaps a mention in an upcoming 'Not In The Paintball News'--but I noticed a couple of amusing factoids and it's been a slow week. First, in an only from the NPPL comes this statement with regards voting for the league/team All Stars; "The best pro paintballers in the world are going to be teaming up and hitting the field at the upcoming NPPL DC Challenge on August 24th - 26th and you get to pick the teams! That's right, the rosters for the 3rd annual NPPL All Star Game will be partially decided on by you the players!" Did you catch it? First it's 'you get to pick the teams!' and in the very next sentence it's "the rosters ...will be partially decided on by you ..." Classic NPPL. You gotta love it.
And among the candidates listed (what appear to be the team rosters from Chicago) are a couple of misspelled names in the Eastern Conference listing. (I didn't look at the West.) The more egregious is Chad Bueder (according to the NPPL) of Tampa Bay Damage who is actually Chad Busiere. I checked Virtue's ROF-fi site to see if they had it right or wrong and they had it right so I don't know where Bueder came from but it's pretty funny. Gee, I hope his ID card is accurate.
The other thing I noticed is that Legend has at least 3 Infamous guys. Okay, they were Legend before they were Infamous but the point is has the NPPL considered how to handle a prelim match-up between the two teams? It hasn't happened yet--but if it does, then what?
Anyway make sure you drop by the NPPL website and partially vote for your favorite players--or is that vote partially? Now that I think about it I wonder how much the public votes really will count. 50%? More? Less? If we see a bunch of team owners chosen again you'll know your vote didn't count for much. Vote early, vote often, it probably doesn't much matter.
And among the candidates listed (what appear to be the team rosters from Chicago) are a couple of misspelled names in the Eastern Conference listing. (I didn't look at the West.) The more egregious is Chad Bueder (according to the NPPL) of Tampa Bay Damage who is actually Chad Busiere. I checked Virtue's ROF-fi site to see if they had it right or wrong and they had it right so I don't know where Bueder came from but it's pretty funny. Gee, I hope his ID card is accurate.
The other thing I noticed is that Legend has at least 3 Infamous guys. Okay, they were Legend before they were Infamous but the point is has the NPPL considered how to handle a prelim match-up between the two teams? It hasn't happened yet--but if it does, then what?
Anyway make sure you drop by the NPPL website and partially vote for your favorite players--or is that vote partially? Now that I think about it I wonder how much the public votes really will count. 50%? More? Less? If we see a bunch of team owners chosen again you'll know your vote didn't count for much. Vote early, vote often, it probably doesn't much matter.
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