Originally posted by Nick Brockdorff
I honestly don't really see why we need to?
If PP and PSP end up with a compromise and a format the majority of Europeans feel is "stupid" - why on earth would we back it?
It's not like the paintball industry will stop marketing itself in Europe, just because the major European cirquit is not part of the major US one.... Europe is an altogether different market, and European events will still get the same number of teams, the same media exposure and the same sponsorships..... in fact, if the US leagues unify, it will free up budget for all the companies that want a bigger presence in Europe, but have so far not been able to find the budget for it.
I firmly believe we should in Europe focus on making a format that is "right" for media, players, logistics, etc. - and not give a damn about all the politics involved with the unifications talks in the US.
How many european teams does it REALLY concern what happens with the NPPL, the PSP or the NXL - except for mild curiosity? - 4-5??
I understand it concerns you Pete - and Laurent, and Sergey, and Magued - and a few others.... for obvious reasons..... but for european paintball as a whole? - I don't see it?!
Where exactly is the benefit for European paintball in being part of a unified league?
Obviously - if PP and PSP come up with something ingenious (and I hope they do) - there is no real reason for us to turn it down either.... but people should realise that unification is not all that important to the european teams at this stage.
It might be in 1 or 2 years - but right now - I am yet to hear a valid argument for it being important to us?
Let's not - once again - jump onboard with something that we are not really all that sure will work - that is hastily put together and decided upon... we did that at the start of last year, and it proved to be the wrong decision.
I for one call on the principals of the MS to keep a cool head, and possibly enter into dialogue with the european player base on what WE want, before making any rash decisions.
Nick
Nick, in the sense you imply, this is not self interest on my part affecting my opinion because if you think about it; it matters not what the Millennium does for Nexus and Joy (and maybe Ton Tons and Tigers) because I will probably be playing in whatever comes out the end of any unification talks between the PSP and NPPL.
And this pretty much looks like some sort of World Paintball League based upon the existing NPPL pro league, and therefore I won’t be playing in the Millennium.
And so the Millennium’s decision is academic to me in that sense.
My concern is for Europe and closer to home, UK Ball.
I think if we do not align ourselves at the front end of this opportunity (if it happens) then all it does is put us even further behind the world scene and thus makes it even harder to evolve.
We cannot evolve as a stand alone nation !
One of the major re-shapes for next season being considered by the Millennium was adopting XBall Lite and this was just one part of a radical overhaul in the way these guys did things.
I think Baldwin, Niall, Laurent, Manfred and even Pedro have all had a wake up call and responded well to the changing environment of tourney ball and its consequent demands.
But if we go it alone and adopt differing formats, rules and book of requirements (standards of tournaments) then it would be disastrous to turn our backs on the rest of the world, or more accurately, the US.
As things stand right now, I agree with you in it not affecting that many teams but that’s because of the many disparities that affect Euro teams in regard to their Yank counterparts but Nick, we need to think past next week mate, we need to align now and not have to play catch up in two years time when conditions change more favorably toward Euro teams maturing into international animals.
There has to be a route for teams like yourselves, Menace etc who are at the top of the Euro pile to progress if they nail the required sponsor package.
I know you Nick, and I know Christian pretty well, both of you are highly competitive and it would serve no purpose whatsoever to big a big fish in a small pond when the call of the real competition and real validation would be just a matter of stepping up.
This option would not be possible if we do not align now.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
