NPPL Welcome London Tigers

[JtJ]

Originally posted by Intheno

As for shenanigans Simon me old pal, I heard that Redz offered Arsenal a fully paid trip to Malaga if they go there and play as Redz Hurricanes, they would foot the entire bill just to get the points.....
Got any similarly desperate stories to tell?

Just saw this now and I want to say simply that it is completely and utterly false. We will be going to Malaga and competing under our own name.

We did talk to some players about having them come out and guest with us for a Euro event, but we would never pay another team's full way to represent us. We have enough pride in our own team and our own ability to do that.

jeff stein
Redz Hurricanes

 

[Intheno]

so, just a rumour then was it?

To stay on topic, I had also heard a rumour that the Redz Hurricanes name is in dispute, as in 'who owns the team?'.
The guy that just posted (Jeff Stein) claims ownership as he went off and registered a trademark or something, however Redz International's Carmen Borgia was always supposed to be the captain, and Redz pay all the x's and entries etc.
So don't ask me what the deal is there.
Its a real shame that a good young team have stuff like this to deal with they should just be able to concentrate on making the finals. My apologies if this info is inaccurate, although I don't believe it is...

Hear there are about 150 teams already in for Vegas now with 3 weeks to go, leaving 12 more spots up for grabs.

 

[JtJ]

It was just a rumor, pure and simple. I even know how it got started, but that's another topic for another time. The Hurricanes plan to be in Malaga Beach, and the only way that there will be guests on the roster is if some of the guys can't get the time off work and we have to fill in spots. We aren't shopping for hired guns and we certainly aren't looking to pay another team to pretend to be us. We seem to be doing well enough both in practice and in the prelims at events that we don't need to hit any panic buttons. We (that would be Carmen and Jeff Stein) have full confidence that, given time, everything'll come together and we'll have an impactful team for years to come. Thanks for your concern, though.

As for the trademark... I'm already on record in PB2X talking about how this was the first year I incorporated the team as a legally existing entity. All sorts of legal (and tax) issues that I never dealt with in the past. One of which is the protection of the team name. Hence, trademarking. Maybe at the end of the year I'll write a "how to" whitepaper for all the teams out there that haven't gone through this yet. Great tax savings for the team owner, but hidden expenses that I never expected, either.

jeff

 

[Intheno]

so Jeff, as a team looking to place in the top 18, what do you think about the mumblings on here that teams like Iron-Men and Russian Legion should be handed a 'back-door' into the pro bracket?
Also what do you think about the possibility that Teams coudl get into the top 18 and try to sell thier spot to a team that didn't make it?

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Intheno
so Jeff, as a team looking to place in the top 18, what do you think about the mumblings on here that teams like Iron-Men and Russian Legion should be handed a 'back-door' into the pro bracket?
Also what do you think about the possibility that Teams coudl get into the top 18 and try to sell thier spot to a team that didn't make it?

Intheno, I'd hardly call it a back door, it's a doorway yes, but nobody would ever force any team who did make it in to sell anytihng.
If they wanna stay in, then cool. but by allowing teams to be considered as franchises in the first year at least, it kills more than one bird, it legitmises the league, consolidates investments and makes it easier for sponsor deals.
We are enetering the realms of business here and if paintball is to ever make it, then we need to consider just such a strategy and posture for the setting up of the world's premier league.

 

[Baca Loco]

Originally posted by Intheno
so Jeff, as a team looking to place in the top 18, what do you think about the mumblings on here that teams like Iron-Men and Russian Legion should be handed a 'back-door' into the pro bracket?
Also what do you think about the possibility that Teams coudl get into the top 18 and try to sell thier spot to a team that didn't make it?

What the NPPL really needs is a Div 1 bracket with three or four teams like RL in it. That way you assure the "sanctity" of the Pro division and keep all the aspiring Div 1 teams happy whilst they go home event after event out of the money. And as an added bonus it will surely inspire the Div 2 teams to fight for the right to join Div 1 asap.
I think it's a brilliant scheme.

 

[JtJ]

Intheno,

Eeeek, that's a big question, and one that's coming to the minds and mouths of many many people of late. In fact, Tom Cole and I chatted a few times this weekend over practice about similar topics.

My thoughts, and here I am expressing my personal thoughts, not the 'official stance' of the Hurricanes and not the position of Redz Comfort:

1. as a team looking to place in the top 18, what do you think about the mumblings on here that teams like Iron-Men and Russian Legion should be handed a 'back-door' into the pro bracket?
I don't like any 'back door' at all, however I do think that its reasonable for the NPPL to expand from 18 teams in order to accomodate some of the newer pro teams joining the league. The idea, as I understood it, was not to force pro's out of the division, but to limit the division to the "true pro" teams; the elite. As such, since the edict was passed a number of teams that we'd all have to credit as true pros have joined the league. If the NPPL says, "Bob Long is in because, well, he's Bob Long" I'll be irate. However, if the league says, "instead of 18, we'll take 20 because of the expansion of the pro bracket with teams that have, predominantly, done very well." and one of those expanded spots happens to be Bob Long... I could accept that. Likewise, if the Hurricanes fail to make the cut because of all the new teams, well, that's competition, and I won't hold any grudges or cry foul.

1. what do you think about the possibility that Teams coudl get into the top 18 and try to sell thier spot to a team that didn't make it?
Going back to what I said before, as I understand it, the idea is to limit the pro division to the true elite. Selling a spot disvalidates that. The elite team is now back to D1 (if that would even be allowed) while some team with deep pockets, likely one who failed to make the cut on their own, is playing pro. I oppose selling spots. It'll make a mockery of the intent of the NPPL. There is already a bias in favor of the wealthy teams (because they can go over the pond more often to collect more points and try their hands at more events). That's enough of a slanted slope as it is.

I could go on and on. I drove almost 20 hours this weekend because of tire problems, and about 3/4 of it was spent mulling over these sorts of questions.

jeff

 

[shamu]

Originally posted by Baca Loco
What the NPPL really needs is a Div 1 bracket with three or four teams like RL in it. That way you assure the "sanctity" of the Pro division and keep all the aspiring Div 1 teams happy whilst they go home event after event out of the money. And as an added bonus it will surely inspire the Div 2 teams to fight for the right to join Div 1 asap.
I think it's a brilliant scheme.

Gosh, what league would ever want to do that?

 

[Intheno]

yeah Baca, thats really what the NPPL needs.

you really don't get the whole 'FA style' promotion and relegation thing do you comrade? I mean, what (exactly) is it that you are not happy with and how (exactly) would you choose to do it if the NPPL had the benefit of your wisdom and knowledge.
Or maybe you don't have an alternative viable plan? Maybe you are happier to write your conspiracy theories and wallow in your own pessimism? Please enlighten us all on how your Tournament Utopia would actually work....

I think Jeff has explained the position of a lot of teams out there, particularly the ones chasing a top 18 spot. You want it, you earn it!

On a side note. Did anyone hear whether the NPPL rules comitteee allowed Dye's padded jerseys or not. I heard they voted. I wonder if Dye's sponsorship of the NPPL 'convinced' them to change the ruling or not? Anyone want to guess?
A TRUE test of the NPPL's integrity coming up. Start working on a swipe at them now CBL, you don't want to miss the rush if they do a U-turn and allow padding.

 

[Craigy]

I heard

Did anyone hear whether the NPPL rules comitteee allowed Dye's padded jerseys or not.

that they will not be allowed. That was yesterday