Do we really need to follow the yanks?

[Half-Pint]

This isn't a post that proclaims i have some magical insight or masterplan, it's merely a question.

Do we need to follow the yanks?

all i'm sayin is, is it that necessary that the european circuit account for them at every turn? i know as a sport, paintball is goin thru some developments, mostly on that side of the pond,
amongst them, the prospect of TV.

Do we need to follow their thinkin on tournaments and stuff, when surely if we have a sound (independant) tourney scene of our own, which attracts quality teams, it will be the europeans that acquire the breakthrough with regards to media exposure?

Just my 2p, your opinions please.....

Hp

 

[Tom Tom]

This is a much debated topic and with definite reason.

The yanks are leading the way and all the way at the moment. WIth X-Ball and Technology.

This does not mean that the europeans are behind but we do learn alot from the leaders.

Also playing style. The yanks do so much better than most european sides of similar playing levels. It just means that we have to work harder. They get deals meaning they can practice every evening or 4 times a week. We train less so it shows.

Just cause you play footy once a week does not mean you can play in the preimership. Its the same idea.

The technology side of things is the same. We could ignore the US and try to do it all alone but you are then disgarding all the good that comes from the US and you could use that to develop the next stage rather than get stuck and not realse how you could apply an idea you have.

I think we may not need to follow but it is stupid to ignore them.
We have to develop things they may start with. More European teams are making it into the top flight of paintball and that has only come from hard work developing their own style but I but they watched what the yanks did and said good idea why dont we try this........

 

[ices]

They think differently to us and they take it very seriously, more than most Euros.

Thats why the ruskies, combined with their training, can take the yanks on better than us, they TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

It shows in online games, i've seen american players prove to be the best in the world, although they are matched and beaten by euros.
The euros that do beat them are SERIOUS players.

I am one of those players, so i should know

I can other things but i wont.....yet

 

[Buddha 3]

Originally posted by Half-Pint

Do we need to follow their thinkin on tournaments and stuff, when surely if we have a sound (independant) tourney scene of our own, which attracts quality teams, it will be the europeans that acquire the breakthrough with regards to media exposure?

Please explain that to me.
We've had a sound independant tourney scene of our own, the Millennium Series. Yet the level of outside media interest has been poor to say the least.
It seems that the US side of paintball is starting to get it together. The grapevine says that X-ball may have some good television deals coming their way, and S7 looks to be the business too.
Don't forget that the US is the largest TV market in the world. Add to that the fact that it's also the largest paintball market in the world, and it's simple to see why anybody interested in televising paintball on a true sportsleague basis will be drawn Stateside.
If we as Europeans want a piece of the money pie that comes with television deals, we will HAVE to hitch a ride with our American cousins. That's where the money is, and for a long time will be. No European station will be interested in televising European paintball leagues for a long time coming, simply because the market for it is not there at this moment.
Also, it is safe to say that the best teams and players at the moment are predominantly American. Now they have set up a league in which (arguably) the best teams will compete. If we want to cut it at that level, we can't afford to let them gain a year's worth of experience more than us. Plus, keep in mind that if X-ball goes big, and money comes in, they might not be too interested in letting a bunch of Euros latch on, if they could just as easily set up another US based franchise, which will generate more income than a Euro one. Don't expect people to act out of the kindness of their hearts when the big money is on the line.
So in conclusion, I'd say that it's very important that we keep a VERY close eye on what the US boys are up to.

 

[paintballer ron]

straight from the horses mouth

well, i live here in the states, and i keep up with a few state forum boards and this euro one. i will tell you this: this board is better. and from what i hear, your tourneys are alot more organized and your refs are alot better as well. i dont know why americans are the leading teams in paintball, but i do have an idea.
when we start a new hobby, we get extremely obsessed. like someone said about the online games, there are thousands of video game junkies here. there are people that sit at home drinking red bull and sobe adrenalin rush (2 extremely highly caffinated energy drinks) and playing video games almost all day long. my point is that when we start something, we get so completely wrapped up in it that we cant help but be good at it after a while.

and what do you mean that we are the leaders in technology? arent yall the ones that came out with the angels?

 

[P8ntbllr99]

yes u do, yes u do

 

[SCRUB]

I dont know how much of the industry is based over here but doesnt that have something to do with everything? I would think that companys might be a little apreansive about sapporting a team that they might have some trouble keeping an eye on but i dont know.

 

[JoseDominguez]

It's a scale thing, we could easily have a national tournament here, most teams can walk to it. We need to watch how it's done in the US and learn from it, but we can't copy, we are the size of some states so it's got to be different. We've got no where near the space, but we are heavily populated, it's about time we had a big, publicised event, we only need a few mentions on national TV and everyone will see it...... we've only got five terrestrial channels after all.