Hey, kids, guess what? I’m gonna take a contrary position, quel surprise!
Can we all agree that KC was a debacle? Can we agree on the reasons why? Maybe, maybe not. At one level KC (at least the Joy part) was just another screw-up by the refs. But was that all it was? I’d say no. I’d say the institution (the owner/promoter) is really responsible because real problems are addressed and it seems apparent to me, perhaps uncharitably, that the institution doesn’t really assign a particularly high priority to on field issues. The NPPL has always been more concerned with image and its other goals than with the actual on field competition and in that regard the evidence says nothing has changed.
Bottom line, who is responsible for the officials and the officiating and the enforcement of the rules? The buck’s gotta stop somewhere and it’s clear it doesn’t stop with the on field ultimate. And if it hasn’t been addressed yet why should anyone assume it will be this time? What is critical mass on treating the game you’re supposed to be promoting with respect and integrity? Or is that too harsh and is everyone just incompetent?
7-man is dangerously close to professional wrestling status when the rules aren’t really the rules and teams get to tell the league what they will and won’t do in the course of the competition. While I’ve nothing against either the Men or Impact the combined action of all the participants, including the refs, league officials and teams was appalling and made a mockery of paintball as legitimate sport.
Okay, here’s where I’m moving into contrary territory–or maybe I’ve already crossed that line–and it is with regard the super-secret might be coming unified league (or whatever it really is). While I can understand the idea that such a move might be necessary in the current environment I can’t for the life of me see why it’s the best answer particularly if some of the same peeps who currently treat paintball as sport with such disdain are gonna be in charge.
Maybe it’s just me but what’s the point of running top tier world class pro paintball events if your principle commitment isn’t to the game? It might as well be badminton or croquet because the game itself doesn’t matter when it’s only a vehicle to some other purpose. I’m not suggesting there shouldn’t be consideration for a viable financial plan and model but the game can’t be a side issue. And if the future new unified league isn’t about promoting paintball as sport with respect and integrity everything else it’s trying to accomplish will fail too for the simple reason that who will care about some fringe sport if the people responsible for it don’t?
Baca, I agree 100% with the first part of your post in assigning the major part of any blame firmly at the feet of the organizers,
IF it unfolded in the way it's been reported.
As for the second part of your post?
I don't wanna repeat myself too much in restating part of what I said to Chris in that,
'Is what we are doing now, the right way to go about it'?
I think we both know the answer to that one.
And so, assuming a major part of any new regime will host the individuals responsible for our present state of affairs, it's fair to ask, 'so what's gonna change'?
My answer would have to center on this being a new initiative and with anything new, it increases the opportunity for change.
If the new combine is set up, they will all realize that whatever model they have been aligned with in the past hasn't worked, it is self-evident things have got to change and so this
should provide the necessary springboard.
Of course you will now counter with, 'Well Pete, that's all well and good but what gives you the idea they know what to do considering they have already proved they had little clue before'?
I think this is where a dominant personality comes into play, and Paul, me and you both know who that has to be, and necessarily so.
The industry is now faced with an acute contraction problem and if faced with the prospect of going it alone in terms of league promotion as against aligning themselves with a new kid on the block, I think financial pressures will tend to nudge these guys towards alignment.
I could well be wrong in thinking these guys aren't soo entrenched and they elect to resist commonsense and only time will tell.
My points can be distilled as such:-
a) The industry needs to change tack.
b) Integration makes financial sense in terms of team and vendor presence
c) Integration provides an opportunity for change
d) We have a guy who is willing to talk and has a proven track record of good business decisions and is perceived as a relative neutral
e) The timing is excellent considering we are nearing end of year for both leagues
I realize cynicism has got you by the bollocks mate and I can't blame you for being that way inclined because, like you, I have been a cynic for way too long but there comes a point when you just have to put all the cr@p on the back burner and go for it, mainly because there is no other option.
