The gun was borrowed from an ex-Hurricane player, currently on an NXL team.
The gun was a backup. Just something to have if we needed it. Every game we brought 2 extra markers to the field and since the team has 6 kids whose gun-care skills are, shall we say, dubious, the backups ended up on the field a lot. The DM4 ended up getting used 2 times, I believe, when markers went down at the chrony. One game the marker was used by one player. The second time by a different player. The first player never said anything about ramp, neither did the player who borrowed the marker, so I never thought anything of it.
That said, the rule is very clear and the DQ was the appropriate action for the NPPL and Phil Dominguez to take. Intentional or otherwise, the responsibility lies with the player and the team. Even if we didn't know that there was ramp (and what I am saying above is that we didn't), it was our responsibility to know. We screw the pooch, we pay the price. Let me be the first to state that this is one of the things that makes the NPPL as great as it is. Phil is an ex-team mate of mine, and a friend, and he looked me in the eye and sent me home. And while I didn't like it, I accept it and I respect that the league in didn't allow me to sweet talk, bully or bribe my way out of it.
So, in short, what I am 'alleging' (btw, that doesn't require quotes) is:
1. We borrowed the marker and did not realize there was ramp.
2. It doesn't matter that we borrowed the marker and did not realize there was ramp.
3. The NPPL followed their rulebook to the letter of the law, and assessed the penalty in accordance with the rules despite any league sponsorship or personal ties and affiliations between the involved parties. As long as that same level of diligence is applied evenly to all cases, then the NPPL is doing their job with excellence.
I didn't know when making my first post, but funny how this ties into recent discussions huh?
