An answer to that burning X-Ball question

[JustDoneRunThrough]

Baca Loco... I have indeed asked "Why us?" believe me, I've done a lot of thinking over the past week and I basically came to the conclusion, "Why not?" I'm well aware of the dynamics of sponsorship relative to the accomplishments of a team, etc., but for something as new as this, it could've been us or anybody else, we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I'll admit to the fact that a fair bit of dumb luck, coupled with a lot of hard work, mainly from Robert Ortiz (Rob Hawker... oh wait did you want me to divulge your name? Oh well!) is what got us our little piece of X-Ball pie. And I totally agree with you... the other teams involved, especially Amateur teams did get a royal screwing on account of us, and I apologize for that... but please, we're just players and teams, like you, and I hope all this X-Ball stuff doesn't permanently sour your opinion of college paintball. Trust me, it's getting better, bit by bit, and hopefully we can put on a show worthy of everybody's attention in Orlando.

Perhaps this is a good thing for us all, however... remember that other thread where Tyger was making almost the same points, talking about how X-Ball would be reserved only for the "good ol' boys" and would be an exclusive institution? Well... maybe the inclusion of a relatively new and obscure organization such as the NCPA in X-Ball plans might brighten the future of the rest of the non-pro paintball population. It's just that we got the luck of the draw, this time.

And Beaker, I've been doing a lot of research and putting a lot of thought into how the new X-Ball rules change the game, and I will almost certainly have some questions as to whether or not certain ideas floating around in my head would actually work. It's a whole new world out there!

Thanks for all your time everybody,
-Robert Rivera

 

[raehl]

Hey!

I resent the implication that we're obscure!


Regardless, the schedule had nothing to do with us. Us playing on Thurs->Sat could not logically have any bearing on moving the 10-man from Thursday to Saturday (as one would expect a movement AWAY from us, not towards), and even if it could, that had already been done PRIOR to the college xball tournament even being considerred. I don't know what the exact motivations behind the schedule change were, or who made the decision to change it, but I do know we didn't have anything to do with it whatsoever. Far be it from me to question the powers that be anyway.

- Chris

 

[Buddha 3]

Thanks for bringing this thread back in line guys. I appreciate it.

Beaker, you just know that you are just too friendly a guy for this big bad world, din't you?

 

[JustDoneRunThrough]

Hey Chris, I just said "obscure" because I have to explain the NCPA to everybody I know. We're not as well known as the NPPL, Millennium, Pan Am, or IAO, but hopefully the Cup will change all that

 

[Rob Hawker]

Alright, I stand corrected on a few things (Isn't the first time, won't be the last time). I was wrong on the whole scheduling thing, I mistook the way it was written out on some of the boards and discussion groups I had read.

As for ESPN I am surprised you haven't heard of it Chris. It might have been one of those facts that wasn't supposed to get out. I don't remember the exact place I saw it, but I read that an ESPN rep (Scott Dowman I think his name was) had come up to the WC committe and requested permission to have a crew of people review the events for footage (apparently they do it every year at WC and Skyball but it has never been enough to get ESPN to back it). The committe suggested the X-ball event and from what i know Mr. Dowman liked the idea enough to try and get a media spot for it.....how far he got is anyone's guess, as is how accurate the information is...I hope for sure it's accurate. It's wishfull thinking though.

 

[Baca Loco]

Thanks Chris & Robert

Originally posted by raehl
Regardless, the schedule had nothing to do with us. Us playing on Thurs->Sat could not logically have any bearing on moving the 10-man from Thursday to Saturday (as one would expect a movement AWAY from us, not towards), and even if it could, that had already been done PRIOR to the college xball tournament even being considerred Chris

So the basic summary is the college stuff came together after everything else was pretty much decided and we're taking space and time not used by anyone else, aside from making room for one college game on Sunday at Disney. Everything else is just "another event at World Cup".

If I gave the impression I was holding the "new" schedule etc. against college participation I didn't mean to nor do I.

The sort of thing I am interested in, in this regard, is why all the regular WC participants were told essentially that they had to be put out for "the good of paintball" and that Sunday was the only day the high profile venue would be available for the big show. Plainly that ain't true. And as the college teams inclusion came after the WC schedule was changed there's alot of things being left out of the story being given to the WC participants and I, for one, would appreciate something approximating the truth . . .

 

[raehl]

Well....

I think the venue availability thing may be accurate, as we're playing at the same location the 10-man is being held from Thursday->Saturday. No one plays at the Disney venue except on Sunday. So two xball fields are being set up, one at the NPPL/PSP 10-man location, and one at Disney. Best of both worlds I think.


As for ESPN, you're apparently more in the loop than I am, as I hadn't heard anything along those lines. All I know is we need to get there and play.

BTW, could you change your sig to something other than "NCPA Representative"? Maybe "NCPA Player" or "Penn State Paintball Association" or something? Had a couple people asking me why the NCPA is saying/knows what you are/do, and I'm like 'Uhm, NCPA representative? Where?'


Thanks,
Chris

 

[Beaker]

Originally posted by Buddha 3
Thanks for bringing this thread back in line guys. I appreciate it.

Beaker, you just know that you are just too friendly a guy for this big bad world, din't you?

Me...friendly.....don't start rumours now

The "problem" we had with Xball is that if you make just a few mistakes it can cost you dear. We did and so we lost the first game. With the double elimination format out backs were up against it and we obviously weren't favourites going into the Russia match.

Double elimination is harsh, you can't afford to make those first mistakes which were obviously the costly ones for us.

Xball rocks, it's great, I'm just trying to help the guys play as much of it as possible!

 

[Baca Loco]

Well....

Originally posted by raehl
I think the venue availability thing may be accurate, as we're playing at the same location the 10-man is being held from Thursday->Saturday. No one plays at the Disney venue except on Sunday. So two xball fields are being set up, one at the NPPL/PSP 10-man location, and one at Disney.

Whole other kettle of fish.

 

[Rob Hawker]

Once again, my bad on that one chris...maybe I should just keep my mouth shut and not get my foot stuck in it.

All I have to add is that I know the colleges are itching to go and play. I for one could care less how well my team does. If we take first, thats cool, if we get swamped, that is cool too. I am just going to have a ton of fun and I know we owe a ton of it to Chris for his hard work.

As for your questions as to why everyone else gets second run on X-ball. There are probably a ton of reasons that the committe is not releasing (One of which may or may not be the possible filming). I too would like to find out exactly what is going on but I am not much more then a player.

Chris, you keep listing a number of different places the NCPA will be playing. First its Disney, then no where near disney...I may just be dense (actually that is probably it) but where exactly are we playing. Disneys Wide World of Sports Areana?