MAXX

I wasn't planning on writing this post. Not when I first heard about the possibility of testing MAXX at MAO and not when I became peripherally involved in some of the discussion as it pertained to organizing the fields set aside for this and dealing with the refs and extra staffing. And when I say peripherally I mean tangentially. I didn't do any of the heavy lifting but contributed a thought or two. (And a press release.) That isn't to say for those wishing to assign blame (or sack Rome) that I don't share in the blame. The fact is I work for the PSP and support the PSP for the same reason--I think it delivers the best national and international level paintball available anywhere. So if you're of a mind to tear it all down and start over we're on opposite sides.
That said I'm not a big fan. Of the alternating matches formula. I've competed in the format and it really doesn't make a substantive difference from the players' side ... but even so. And for those mostly upset about the timing of the announcement I agree with you too. It was terrible timing and there's no way to put a happy face on any of it.
Of course I've been opposed to most of the changes the PSP has made in recent years and look where we are. The league is bigger and more popular than ever in the xball era. Shows what I know. Would I like more sense of stability and continuity? You bet and yet as I say that I've got a list of changes I want to make to the the rules. So when is change about just doing something different or doing something better? Depends, I suppose, on one's perspective.
There has also been a lot of talk about motivation. I don't have definitive answers but I do have an opinion. Based on personal knowledge of those involved. Dallas was a legit surprise. Going into the season event participation was projected in advance and Dallas blew those projections outta the water. Along comes MAO with a similar result--except there was no room to add more fields. Sometime after the potential scale of the MAO turnout was realized an effort was made to find a solution. MAXX was the result. Does that make the PSP greedy bottom feeders? I don't believe so but everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think a situation came up that put the league in a difficult spot and this was the path chosen.
Would I have done it differently? From where I'm sitting, probably, but neither you or I have the same view as the peeps making the final decision. Certainly this wasn't a public relations coup. To put it mildly. Win, lose or draw it will be considered a black mark against the league by some (players and observers) that will have to be overcome. And the effort to do that will begin next week at MAO.