Chicago- 4 in a row!

[Beaker]

Hmm, don't really buy that Baca me old mucka'

Look at just about every US team who have made the trip. They have dominated big stylee even on their first trip - plus they haven't had the run of form that Trauma have recently.

Plus it's generally accepted that the move down to 7 is (relatively) easy, and definately much easier than 7 to 10. On a purely practical level you just pick your 7 strongest players!

nah, there is a conspiracy here... I can smell it.... you are lacking behind....shame on you

 

[fierce]

If i remember Trauma at Maxs Masters they got something about 970-980 points after the prelims. So they even beat the Pro Teams. Bad luck for them was playing NBK in the semi-finals so they were out.

And playing in Amsterdam was "unusual". Then how many of the Top-Amateur-Teams you can count on to reach the finals even reach the finals?!

 

[Beaker]

But considering Trauma's run in teh US and the regularity they beat the US Pro's - I would expect them to cruise a Euro event.

 

[Baca Loco]

OK, Beakman

but now you're looking at a different kettle of fish.
On Euro events--who says they took their 7 or 8 best? They have quite a few young guys and despite their successes have a lot less total team experience than you might think.
As to bumping US Pros in NPPL's the seeding tends to match them up with lower ranked Pros--some of whom don't belong. Not to take anything away from Trauma as they are an excellent team--just pointing out things aren't always so cut and dried. For example, I heard the AA--Strange team at Amsterdam was actually all Strange players but not their 8 best and I know Strange was missing two regular starters in Chitown--yet they were back in the finals.
And, of course, I had to yank your chain a bit, too.

 

[LATHAM]

My man Dave.

How’s it going big man?
Good to see your boys rippin it up. Like Al said we just got the Mardi Gras 2k2 vid and even though it was five man the Trauma boys looked the shiznit.

I saw the new tops you've got as well on warpig. Lookin good. Almost as good as K2!

Speaking of the cup. 1 or 2 of us are coming over to soak up some world cup action but we ain't entering a team or anything. Think I'll be bringing my kit though, just incase someone needs a guest. Would be nice to hook up with you guys at a training day though and see how much new knowledge I can cram into this small brain of mine. Just don't ask me to remember more than 3 names at once!

Oh and just to put the sceptics right, did anyone see how these boys played in Amsterdamage. Frikin awesome is how I'd describe them. They look more Pro than half the Pro's do, and half of them are like 17 yrs old. I just think they need to get settled into the 7-man thing and then watch them ripp up 2k3. It'll be a massacre!

Later dudes

 

[Beaker]

No worries mate

I wasn't trying to bag on you or the Trauma guys, I just found it a little weird, especially as they did so well in prelims at both Max and Mayhem.

Perhaps it's also due to the semi format where they have to win the division (as I think there have been 16 Am semis at both). They are used to getting through in 2 of 4 in NPPL so that might be it too.