A little story about sanbagging for Magued...

[duffistuta]

I really don't see the Dynastys, Stranges, Russian Legions, etc. of the world having enough faith in Millennium (yet) to make such commitments. Sorry 'bout that.

>>>Honestly, I think NXL is the way to go in terms of a model. You invite the 8 Euro teams in you want, if one says no, next on the list gets their invite. NXL did not have the best 8 teams in the US, still doesn't. As for the US tie-in, I honestly believe we are going to see a greatly reduced US presence in Europe next season. Greatly reduced, for reasons I've mentioned to Niall. I think it's time Europe forged its own destiny.


Concerning D-day: you're absolutely right. I just fear that some of the decisions could end up half baked.

>>>You think?

I wish that a group of PB thinkers could be invited to a "summit" real soon to hash out (no pun intended) the ideas. (And I would want to be part of that even though I don't even trust myself.)

>>>It's too late for that now; most of the people you or I would invite to that meeting have already made their views crystal clear to Laurent and Niall over the past few days, weeks, and months - it's in their hands now.

I would like to see some serious trials run too.

>>>Me too, but again, it's too late for that now. It's bull by horns time.

Richmond has to be applauded because he went the whole way with X Ball. Millennium mustn't do this thing half way or it's doomed from the git-go.

>>>Damn straight.

The Millennium has one major luxury - it is the only game in town, and it can do what it wants.

 

[Wadidiz]

Originally posted by duffistuta
...I think NXL is the way to go in terms of a model. You invite the 8 Euro teams in you want, if one says no, next on the list gets their invite. NXL did not have the best 8 teams in the US, still doesn't.

I think an essential difference here is that at least they had the IAO in Pittsburg to do a massive trial run, during which they presented the format, got a great deal of the most important players in the world giving it a go and after whcih they made some adjustments.

Maybe Mil will be open to some fine-tuning after the first run at Joy Masters.

Steve

PS. But Millennium doesn't have to make the mistake of locking in players to only playing the new format.

SM

 

[duffistuta]

With regards to US involvement, obviously IF NPPL adopts the superleague game for its own upper league, and IF they also allow a league of X teams to play in that league, then there will be no real problem in those teams coming to Europe and playing Superleague games.

Similarly, US teams could come across and play in 'standard' divisions should they choose to. In that sense, nothing much would change. However, I think Europe's choices should not be predicated on America's, or be reliant on the attendance of US teams in any way.

 

[duffistuta]

>>>I think an essential difference here is that at least they had the IAO in Pittsburg to do a massive trial run, during which they presented the format, got a great deal of the most important players in the world giving it a go and after whcih they made some adjustments.

True, but time is a luxury the Millennium doesn't have, unless

A - It sticks with standard 7-Man for another season
B - They adopt XBall, in which case they don't need more time

And both of those remain options, don't they?

 

[DMZ Hasse]

>>>Right, let's say there's an 8 team superleague, then Divisions 1 -4. New team starts in Div 4. If they finish in the top 4 overall after a season then they get promoted to Division 3, if they don't, they don't.

OK. So this then means (like I wrote before) that if Nexus would have been formed in 2005, they would have to play in lower divisions for three years before playing Super League.

So what it really means is that we don't need any more teams, and that teams have to merge or become feeder teams to the top teams, because there is no way in hell that a team of good painball players would waste three years of their life playing against crap teams before they get to play their peers.

>>>At the moment, the NXL is 8 teams in size. The reason that so many other teams are professionalising, getting themselves organised, training, bringing on new players etc., is to try and force their way into the NXL as they perceive that it, like other American sports, will expand into a city-by-city or maybe state-by-stae organisation. They all want to become one of those teams and live the dream. That is what the NXL represents to US Paintball at the moment.

I don't see that happening. Is that a dream, vision, plan or reality? What would happen with the expensive NXL franchises if some other team from your state would win the state finals and take your place in the NXL? That is hardly the way it is set up today is it?

 

[Wadidiz]

Originally posted by duffistuta
...time is a luxury the Millennium doesn't have, unless

A - It sticks with standard 7-Man for another season
B - They adopt XBall, in which case they don't need more time

And both of those remain options, don't they?

I'm not enough in the loop to know but I doubt number 2 would be seriously considered again even though I think that would be a good option also (I'm personally balanced between X Ball and the format I hope they are considering.)

And for reasons you've already mentioned in the thread I think it would be a collosal mistake to go on with the status quo, which is already status past IMO.

Steve

 

[duffistuta]

OK. So this then means (like I wrote before) that if Nexus would have been formed in 2005, they would have to play in lower divisions for three years before playing Super League.

>>>aha, sorry, see where the error is now. My bad. Yes, that's exactly what it means.

So what it really means is that we don't need any more teams, and that teams have to merge or become feeder teams to the top teams, because there is no way in hell that a team of good painball players would waste three years of their life playing against crap teams before they get to play their peers.

>>>Yes, in the same way that the English football league has 92 teams (at least it did...), and each team has reserve squads, junior teams, scouting programmes etc. Yes, I believe that that is the goal we should be aiming for. As Nick B says, Paintball teams become Paintball clubs in the manner f your local football, rugby, or cricket club.


I don't see that happening. Is that a dream, vision, plan or reality? What would happen with the expensive NXL franchises if some other team from your state would win the state finals and take your place in the NXL? That is hardly the way it is set up today is it?

>>>The NXL, in becoming a professional league, would set itself outside of that. It doesn't matter which team wins the Manchester 11-a-side district finals, they don't replace Man Utd in the Premiership.

If what you are saying is 'I don't believe Paintball will ever be a professional sport', then you may well be right. However, a lot of people in the indsutry think differently and are doing things to try and make it a reality. Laurent is certainly one of them.

 

[ThunderCat]

Originally posted by Buddha 3
Word! Preach on my brotha!

Amen!! Hallelujah!!

 

[duffistuta]

Amen Brother Nick.

 

[DMZ Hasse]

Originally posted by duffistuta

>>>Yes, in the same way that the English football league has 92 teams (at least it did...), and each team has reserve squads, junior teams, scouting programmes etc. Yes, I believe that that is the goal we should be aiming for. As Nick B says, Paintball teams become Paintball clubs in the manner f your local football, rugby, or cricket club.

If what you are saying is 'I don't believe Paintball will ever be a professional sport', then you may well be right. However, a lot of people in the indsutry think differently and are doing things to try and make it a reality. Laurent is certainly one of them.

Ok, now at least we have come so far as to agree on what we can agree to disagree about

I just think it will take a little longer than you do. Maybe, just maybe, if the Millennium said this year "we will be a closed league in 2006, start investing in your teams for this is going to be huge" and have someone with the cash to back such a long term commitment. Then, maybe, it could work. But one year is too soon I think, but I am always prepared to let people convince me of the otherwise (dunno if that is proper english).

The Millennium is perceived too much to live from hand-to-mouth. As an investor (i.e. making an investment in a team) I would not be prepared to make a long term commitment without some kind of long term plan and backing from and for the MS