Oh, sorry, kids. That should'a been 'Lane Wright talks ON smack(talk)
The post discusses the prospects for the survival of 10-man tourney ball among other things.
But what I wanna know, Lane, is how come you think Smacktalkers are worth responding to but we can't get you to say "boo" around here.
Btw, I re-posted this cus it's a good read and helps explain the PSP's thinking and if they ain't gonna get the word out, I'll help 'em.
I have spent the last couple of days reading various posts around the Internet with regard to the “demise” of the 10-man format. I want to assure everyone that PSP has no intention of doing away with 10-man so long as there are enough teams wanting to participate to justify the format.
Obviously PSP is excited about the possibilities the X-Ball format offers. We have made more progress in the past 6 months, in terms of outside industry interest, with X-Ball than we had in the previous 10 years with other formats. There are no signed deals. There are no guarantees. But the future of the format looks to be very bright.
With that said, I will reiterate our intentions to offer the player the CHOICE of which format they wish to participate. PSP consists of Dave Youngblood, Renick Miller, Jerry Braun, Billy & Adam Gardner, Paul Sattler Gino Postorivo, Richmond Italia, Rosie, Bill Cookston, and myself. With the exception of Adam, none of us has ever played X-Ball. Each of us gained our passion for tournament paintball through the 5 and 10-man formats. We have no less interest in 10-man than we have had in the past. We do, however, accept the fact that larger companies, including television production companies, are far more interested in what the X-Ball format holds for non-playing spectators than they are in what 5 man, 10 man, or for that matter 7 man, offer. This is not PSP’s decision. This is the decision of several companies who specialize in taking concepts to mainstream media. We are not making the decision for them. We are simply listening to and acting upon what the experts have to say.
With that in mind, we have every intention of continuing our efforts in X-Ball. It is our belief that it offers the brightest future for tournament paintball. We are not doing this at the detriment of 10-man. We are doing it separately, and in addition to the 5 & 10-man format.
The NXL is not PSP. But it is what the outside business world is interested in. Division 1 & 2 X-Ball are PSP events. Our aim is to allow teams the opportunity to play the format that seems to be headed to the bright lights. So far, the majority of teams and players who have experienced the format are very excited about it. But it remains quite simply a choice for the players. Teams can choose which format they prefer.
Efforts were made to offer 10 man players the grass playing fields that they wanted, individualized staging areas that they wanted, immediate access to fields that they wanted, a more secure staging area, a better run schedule, and an increased prize package. Based on my first hand conversations on site in Vegas, the majority of the teams and players seemed to have recognized and appreciated these facts. I spoke to countless players in Vegas. The comments were overwhelmingly positive. It is frustrating and confusing to come home to read the comments made by anonymous posters on various message boards about Vegas. I can’t help but believe that these comments are coming from a very few people who post under many different names, coming from people who didn’t actually attend the event, or from people who have agendas which preclude them rational opinion. I simply find it hard to see how so many people can say that they are impressed with the improvements in person, yet “so many” chose to spread the hateful comments found on these boards when they are anonymous.
PSP will continue our efforts to improve on all aspects of our events. PSP will continue to listen to players who actually play our events, intend on playing our events, and who believe enough in what they think to properly address issues in a mature manner. In other words, I will continue to listen to players and teams who have the capacity, forethought, and integrity to discuss things in a respectable manner, and I will continue to ignore anonymous comments posted by nameless, faceless (and for all I know) players who have no real idea what is going on at our events.
PSP events will continue to offer players a choice in formats. As long as there are enough teams wanting to play the 10-man format, we will have 10 man events. If at some point, there are too few teams wanting to play 10-man to justify its existence, we will make changes. Any changes made will be based entirely on what the market place dictates. I have watched tournament paintball go from 20-acre fields with 45 minute time limits to 5 acre fields with 20 minute time limits to 1-acre fields with 12 minute time limits. I’ve watched the game evolve from stock to pump to semi to the 15 balls per second equipment of today. I have been here for the transition from the woods to Hyper-ball to Air Ball. With each step in evolution, there have been those who say it will be the death of the sport. Paintball in general, and tournament paintball in particular is alive and thriving today. Not in spite of the changes, but because of them. X-Ball appears to be just another step in the process of getting paintball to the place most want it to be. It will not be an immediate end to any other style of paintball. PSP certainly has no intention of pushing things in that direction. X-Ball is a choice. It is a format that seems capable of taking the sport to a level of recognition none of us have experienced in the past. PSP will make every effort to see this through, but the market (teams and players) will certainly dictate our plans.
In short, PSP has no plans, intentions, or desires to do away with the 10-man format. If, over the next few years, paintball is lucky enough to get into mainstream TV (a situation that looks more likely everyday), and if X-Ball is the format chosen to broadcast, it seems logical that other formats will begin to have less and less appeal to the players. If at some point there are only a handful of teams interested in playing other formats, PSP will make a decision based on that fact. But as of today, and based on the fact that most 10 man teams are still very interested in playing 5 & 10 man, we will continue to offer those options to the teams.
PSP offers more choices to the players than all other major tournament series combined. Until there are no longer enough teams interested in other formats (be that 5-man, 10-man, or X-Ball), this will remain the case.
I would like to address the reffing option briefly. Teams and players who are obviously not pleased with reffing have the option to step in and show how it should be done. PSP pays more for a day’s reffing than our competition. Teams are the best refs. Teams have the option of reffing and setting a precedent for others to follow. Adam Gardner (Smart Parts) is the person in charge of getting referees for the events. Rather than post on Smack Talk about how it should be done, why not give Adam a call and show everyone that you are willing to put your actions in place of words.
To all of those who attended the 2003 Las Vegas event, I give you my thanks as well as my congratulations. Obviously last years Las Vegas event was not a bright spot in tournament paintball. This years event was held at a great playing venue, the schedule was consistently 30 minutes ahead, and the teams who brought their A-game were rewarded with prize packages second to no other major series in the world.
Thank you for your support, and as always, I am always interested in hearing from the players with any reasonable and rational ideas for improvements.
Lane Wright
Director of Operations
Paintball Sports Promotions
770-466-5558
The post discusses the prospects for the survival of 10-man tourney ball among other things.
But what I wanna know, Lane, is how come you think Smacktalkers are worth responding to but we can't get you to say "boo" around here.
Btw, I re-posted this cus it's a good read and helps explain the PSP's thinking and if they ain't gonna get the word out, I'll help 'em.
I have spent the last couple of days reading various posts around the Internet with regard to the “demise” of the 10-man format. I want to assure everyone that PSP has no intention of doing away with 10-man so long as there are enough teams wanting to participate to justify the format.
Obviously PSP is excited about the possibilities the X-Ball format offers. We have made more progress in the past 6 months, in terms of outside industry interest, with X-Ball than we had in the previous 10 years with other formats. There are no signed deals. There are no guarantees. But the future of the format looks to be very bright.
With that said, I will reiterate our intentions to offer the player the CHOICE of which format they wish to participate. PSP consists of Dave Youngblood, Renick Miller, Jerry Braun, Billy & Adam Gardner, Paul Sattler Gino Postorivo, Richmond Italia, Rosie, Bill Cookston, and myself. With the exception of Adam, none of us has ever played X-Ball. Each of us gained our passion for tournament paintball through the 5 and 10-man formats. We have no less interest in 10-man than we have had in the past. We do, however, accept the fact that larger companies, including television production companies, are far more interested in what the X-Ball format holds for non-playing spectators than they are in what 5 man, 10 man, or for that matter 7 man, offer. This is not PSP’s decision. This is the decision of several companies who specialize in taking concepts to mainstream media. We are not making the decision for them. We are simply listening to and acting upon what the experts have to say.
With that in mind, we have every intention of continuing our efforts in X-Ball. It is our belief that it offers the brightest future for tournament paintball. We are not doing this at the detriment of 10-man. We are doing it separately, and in addition to the 5 & 10-man format.
The NXL is not PSP. But it is what the outside business world is interested in. Division 1 & 2 X-Ball are PSP events. Our aim is to allow teams the opportunity to play the format that seems to be headed to the bright lights. So far, the majority of teams and players who have experienced the format are very excited about it. But it remains quite simply a choice for the players. Teams can choose which format they prefer.
Efforts were made to offer 10 man players the grass playing fields that they wanted, individualized staging areas that they wanted, immediate access to fields that they wanted, a more secure staging area, a better run schedule, and an increased prize package. Based on my first hand conversations on site in Vegas, the majority of the teams and players seemed to have recognized and appreciated these facts. I spoke to countless players in Vegas. The comments were overwhelmingly positive. It is frustrating and confusing to come home to read the comments made by anonymous posters on various message boards about Vegas. I can’t help but believe that these comments are coming from a very few people who post under many different names, coming from people who didn’t actually attend the event, or from people who have agendas which preclude them rational opinion. I simply find it hard to see how so many people can say that they are impressed with the improvements in person, yet “so many” chose to spread the hateful comments found on these boards when they are anonymous.
PSP will continue our efforts to improve on all aspects of our events. PSP will continue to listen to players who actually play our events, intend on playing our events, and who believe enough in what they think to properly address issues in a mature manner. In other words, I will continue to listen to players and teams who have the capacity, forethought, and integrity to discuss things in a respectable manner, and I will continue to ignore anonymous comments posted by nameless, faceless (and for all I know) players who have no real idea what is going on at our events.
PSP events will continue to offer players a choice in formats. As long as there are enough teams wanting to play the 10-man format, we will have 10 man events. If at some point, there are too few teams wanting to play 10-man to justify its existence, we will make changes. Any changes made will be based entirely on what the market place dictates. I have watched tournament paintball go from 20-acre fields with 45 minute time limits to 5 acre fields with 20 minute time limits to 1-acre fields with 12 minute time limits. I’ve watched the game evolve from stock to pump to semi to the 15 balls per second equipment of today. I have been here for the transition from the woods to Hyper-ball to Air Ball. With each step in evolution, there have been those who say it will be the death of the sport. Paintball in general, and tournament paintball in particular is alive and thriving today. Not in spite of the changes, but because of them. X-Ball appears to be just another step in the process of getting paintball to the place most want it to be. It will not be an immediate end to any other style of paintball. PSP certainly has no intention of pushing things in that direction. X-Ball is a choice. It is a format that seems capable of taking the sport to a level of recognition none of us have experienced in the past. PSP will make every effort to see this through, but the market (teams and players) will certainly dictate our plans.
In short, PSP has no plans, intentions, or desires to do away with the 10-man format. If, over the next few years, paintball is lucky enough to get into mainstream TV (a situation that looks more likely everyday), and if X-Ball is the format chosen to broadcast, it seems logical that other formats will begin to have less and less appeal to the players. If at some point there are only a handful of teams interested in playing other formats, PSP will make a decision based on that fact. But as of today, and based on the fact that most 10 man teams are still very interested in playing 5 & 10 man, we will continue to offer those options to the teams.
PSP offers more choices to the players than all other major tournament series combined. Until there are no longer enough teams interested in other formats (be that 5-man, 10-man, or X-Ball), this will remain the case.
I would like to address the reffing option briefly. Teams and players who are obviously not pleased with reffing have the option to step in and show how it should be done. PSP pays more for a day’s reffing than our competition. Teams are the best refs. Teams have the option of reffing and setting a precedent for others to follow. Adam Gardner (Smart Parts) is the person in charge of getting referees for the events. Rather than post on Smack Talk about how it should be done, why not give Adam a call and show everyone that you are willing to put your actions in place of words.
To all of those who attended the 2003 Las Vegas event, I give you my thanks as well as my congratulations. Obviously last years Las Vegas event was not a bright spot in tournament paintball. This years event was held at a great playing venue, the schedule was consistently 30 minutes ahead, and the teams who brought their A-game were rewarded with prize packages second to no other major series in the world.
Thank you for your support, and as always, I am always interested in hearing from the players with any reasonable and rational ideas for improvements.
Lane Wright
Director of Operations
Paintball Sports Promotions
770-466-5558
