Euro Vs. USA
A "team" is no more than the organization behind the players. Therefore, USA "teams" is not the same as USA "players".
Joy are a good team because of their players, but essentially Joy is a good organization. An organization that can attract the best players.
There is no possible way to compare the two realities, for five reasons:
- First, there's a misleading argument being used here, which is the results of Euro Teams in the American Championships. There are more reasons than just being worst teams when Euros play in America. Two reasons come to mind: referees and distance/cost.
For the same reason that is expensive for USA teams to play entire championships in Europe, is at least as expensive (I would say more) for Euro teams to take consistent rosters to play in all the events in the USA. I don't think this explains the difference, I just think it's not a good argument.
- Second, there is no way we can measure up. Yes, we have a lot of good players, and many players are as good, if not better, than some american players. But that is beside the point. There are several reasons why American teams in general are better that Euro teams in general.
- Third, bigger player base: most players in the world live in the USA. They get to choose from the best players. These are young, fit, fast guys who have enough money to train as much as they want. If you take 1% of players stateside, and say that these are at pro level, how many people are we talking about? 5,000 players nationwide? That's enough to support a lot of teams... hence more competition for the top spots, hence better players at the top spots. The "creme de la creme".
- Fourth, better economic conditions: how many players in Europe think that it is feasible to live from playing paintball? And in percentage to the number of players in the "Pro" teams (and in Europe I use the term "pro" in the widest meaning possible)? How many teams live in "team-owned" houses and get paid to play all day, being flown across Europe to play other top teams?
- Fifth, they play more. They play more, in more events, against better teams (on average). They train more, with more shots fired, with more drills, for longer. They have coaches, houses, team transportation. Paintball is ON FREAKIN' TV for cryin' out loud. We are light years behind American paintball, in general, let alone in the quality of the teams.
This is logic in numbers. There is NO WAY we, as the general euro teams, can compete. Period.
Unless you do like the Russians. Get tons of money, get installed in the USA and play exclusively in the USA. Will that work? Yes, because an (I mean any given) European player is not, per se, any worst that an american player. It's the conditions that are widening the gap, not the players.
Some teams may get, in two years time, were the american team are NOW. But were will the american teams be then? My opinion: light years away.
Right now, in America, I bet you that there are teams pumping kids full of chemicals to make them faster, fitter, sharper, whatever it takes to win. Right now, I bet you this is happening. I don't have a molecule of proof, but I know this has to be happening. Because this is the nature of competition in America.
I'm an European, I love and support many European teams, but there is a brutal logic in numbers, than cannot be overulled by the warmest fan-base.
