As usual I've gotta step in and clue everyone into reality, so let me take this one foot [in mouth] at a time [share]...
Let me state as a disclaimer that I have not bothered to wade through every post here but have scanned through the previous five and a half pages and focused on some key things, so I may have missed a couple of bits and I'm not on any hater club, haven't seen any video, and know only fifth-hand info which is worth a bucket of warm spit in my mind. That being said...
If pete asked an official if he could take to the field after the game, I see absolutely nothing wrong with this unless it is specifically disallowed by the rules (which I don't know and don't care to look up at the moment). I have, in my time, asked refs on several occasions if I could hit the field after a game and in many events the coach/captain is specifically allowed to do so as the only player/person allowed to protest or discuss a call. This is all "if, if" but that's my view on Pete going on the field.
If there was any sort of altercation involving physical force on a Paintball field, I whole-heartedly support MAJOR, and I do mean MAJOR penalties for all involved unless it can be absolutely demonstrated that one party was acting in PURE AND ABSOLUTE SELF-DEFENSE. ANY instigation or aggression that leads either or both parties into such action negates such a distinction in my mind, whether it be symbolic, verbal, etc. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I would support such a major penalty against the parties involved and this is my unbiased opinion, given even in the consideration that one of the persons involved is my friend Pete Robinson. As for the issue of multiple on single fighters...yeah I know Pete is a big guy but if any weenie out there decides to get all badass on anyone and isn't man enough to do it mono e mono then they have issues and that's putting it kindly.
>>>>In paintball, there is very little difference between going on the field during a game and after the game.<<<<
I disagree with this statement.
>>>> You missed the point - in ANY sport - you won't see anyone from the league but the officials on the field until the game is done<<<<
That's not true either. I have been glued to the TV for the last several weeks watching [American] football and there is tons of "lobbying" happening on-field both by players, coaches, and (when the refs find themselves near or around) fans. And MOST of it is intra-game (xcept for the fans part), and plenty of it gets the job done.
>>>> And yes, ideally, Robbo would stop writing articles, Goose would either not play or turn the EPA over to someone else, Ant would be an editor or a player but not both, and Laurent wouldn't be with the TonTons.<<<<
I disagree with all of this as well. There are many players and ex-players in the more mainstream sports that are given avenues for venting and commenting such as magazine and/or newspaper columnists and/or commentators. I don't think playing necessitates silencing one's self from things such as writing articles, editing a magazine, etc. Usually it's the issue of time rather than rules to the contrary that dictate what a player can and can't do, and the public at large perceives NO conflict of interest...quite the contrary, actually, as those individuals who are involved in the sport are most often times the most knowledgeable and the most entertaining to hear and read. The whole nature of press tends to balance itself out...after all, PGI is not the only magazine out there and even with all its players as editors and such, they are highly, highly regarded both for views and for information. As for being on the rules committee and also being on a team, at this point I think it is fine but I'm not going to go into that in great detail. I can see a time in the future where (when it is possible) you would want to avoid that appearance of conflict-of-interest but in the meantime I have not seen, myself, a great deal that would push me to see it as a current problem. Checks and balances are the real key...if you want to look at a good real-life example, look at the coaches' poll and AP poll in College sports rankings. 'nuff said.
As for Robbo:
I am pleased that my friend is OK. All you guys from Nexus, let him know that if he'd like some fighting pointers, I'll be happy to give him some free lessons next time I see him. I'm sure he remembers the last three whoopins I've given him.
As for this time around, if indeed he did get swamped by multiple attackers then he should take it as a compliment that those individuals, in sizing up their likelihood of overtaking him, considered it an impossible feat for any of them to accomplish mono e mono.
Lotsa love to all,
~J~
