Salm Speaks Out!

[Collier]

Reply from Carmen:

I played in this game and it was by far the most F'd Up thing I have ever experienced in paintball !!! A couple of things I want to address.... the first thing is it is NOT JUST A GAME to me and my X teammates when you sacrafice years of practice and dedication to compete at the highest level with tens of thousands of dollars and sponsorship on the line... If they would of beat us that way and that was the game that kept us out of the semi's and finals that's a huge Crime!!! Secondly I know Jeremy did not act on his own !!! You don't have to be six foot to figure that one out !!! Third, I have forgiven Jeremy 100% for his actions it's the guys that looked me straight in the eyes and said sorry bro I didn't know anything about it...I feel really bad. You are ones that will have to face me for the rest of your paintball careers and wonder what I'm thinking of you (remember people I am Italian I can forgive but NEVER forget) . Like we say in South Philly (HereYar) You soprano fans will get it... I agree with greg pauly and rocky knuth, jeremy stay in the game bro you have so much to give to the game and the next generation to come.Teach them to play smart, tough and dedicated but you need to instill their integrity to always do the right thing.You will overcome this and it will make you a better person. Jeremy I know you wish you could take it back but on the other hand if it would of went unnoticed I feel that ground zero gold would of been the butt of that joke for years to come.Ready for this or not what hurt me the Most was having to see ROCKY (a very good friend of mine) have to confront me in tears, so upset he couldn't even function.Right before the game him and I were joking about how good a game it's gonna be and the TV camera for the paintball world cup show that just aired started out by him and I having a stare off ( who knew what was about to take place) I know I am a Mother F'er on the field and run my mouth but that's my game and it works for me but when I have to walk away from my team and staging area and just breakdown over seeing him like that well it just plain sucks.I am not sure you know how close you came to bodily harm from our team, some players had to be restrained from hurting you. The reason you were spared is because it was the RIGHT thing to do.Pretty funny hearing that from GZ huh !! Jeremy when it's all said and done I would play with you anyday bro. Do your time, stay focused and positive for yourself,the young and new and things will go your way........ Peace out !!

 

[knobbs]

Originally posted by Tyger
Anyone else find it odd that Salm is flying Avalanche colors in those pictures? (look at the headband)

Just a little?

-Tyger

Not at all actually. I'm sure the guy isn't exactly getting free stuff thrown at him anymore, and why would he go out and buy all new stuff just to avoid playing with Avalanche's colors?

I'm sure he just used what he had. Heck, Lasoya was playing in Avalanche colors and at that time I am pretty sure it was a foregone conclusion that he was leaving the team.

 

[Burb]

and salms bit please??

 

[Collier]

Jeremy Salm Speaks Out!

Denver, Colorado
by Sara Duckwall


Jeremy Salm
At the age of 30 he has gained notoriety. He was the player that got caught at the 2002 World Cup tournament shooting from out of bounds. Performing a stupid act has led to him paying greatly with a suspension and bad reputation. Why did he do it? What are his thoughts on it and where does his future lie? We caught up with Jeremy Salm at the Mountain State Tournament Series (MSTS) finals in Denver, Colorado, where he played his first tournament since World Cup, to find out about not only the incident, but also to learn more about the history of this professional player and where he sees his place in the sport.

How did you first get into paintball?

I started playing paintball in Bellevue, Washington at an indoor field named Bill and Jims at the age of 19. I went out with a bunch of friends to try a game where we could shoot each other. I tried it out and played 4 times a week for the next 2 months. After that, I only played 2 months of rec ball and then went straight to tournament ball
Salm Played With Avalanche for 4 Years
and we formed the team Washington Reign.

As Washington Reign the team played and competed in the Amateur and Pro levels of the NPPL, placing at the top levels each year. After playing at the Pro level with Washington Reign for 3 years, I moved to Avalanche, where I played with them for 4 years.

As a back player, what tips can you provide for others playing your position?

Learn to be patient. Know how to play one- on-one. You have to learn to play the front to finish the game. Most importantly, don’t try to be an all-star; you have to be a team player.


"Todd Adamson Is A Clutch Player"
If you could play a one-on-one match with anybody who would you choose?

Todd Adamson [Aftershock]. He is a clutch player and he knows when he has to play good. He picks it up when he has to.

What are your goals over the next year during your NPPL suspension?


Salm & Avalanche
Mardi Gras Open
I plan to do a lot of training to get myself in better shape. When I went pro, like many other pros, I stopped working on the little things. I want to do more drilling and work on these things, going back to the roots of paintball.

Got some tips for drills to work on?

1. I put a hopper on top of a bunker and practiced shooting it.
2. Playing limited paint games.
3. Playing entire games left-handed.

Basically I practiced a lot of situational stuff. Every Pro player had their own version of drills to get good. We used to joke and call them “Pie plate drills”.

What do you have to say about the incident at World Cup?


"I don't know why I did it; it was a moment of being out of control."
Honestly after the whole situation that happened at Cup I just want to go back to the same love I used to have for paintball. Before I couldn’t sleep for 4 days before a tournament, and now I can sleep fine. I still love paintball, but I am not in love with it right now. It became a job, and I want to go back and find the love. The situation at Cup gave me momentum to go back to my roots. In the caging area after the incident happened I had a lot of time to think. I don’t know why I did it; it was a moment of being out of control. I had a moment of clarity afterwards and had to question: Do I still love paintball? Can I give something back to it?

What do you feel you have to give back to paintball?


Playing With Podbitch Factory Team
The main reason I came to the MSTS tournament wasn’t to play, it was to help Snowslide, a team that is only 6 months old. They don’t know how to walk fields or read scoreboards. The kids asked me to come to help walk fields, indirectly like a coach. I want to give the experience that I have gained over the last 10 years back to the youth. I don’t hate paintball, and I still want to promote the sport.

What will you be doing next year?

I have no idea what I will be doing in a year. My initial reaction was that I was done in paintball. But, my friends like
Snowslide
Greg Pauley and Rocky Knuth have kept me positive and make me want to stay in the sport. Rocky said he didn’t want to see me leave the sport.

Editor’s Note: Later, after this interview was complete, I was informed that Salm was hired on for the 2003 season to coach Snowslide in all the NPPL Super 7 tournament series.

Any final thoughts?


Reloading in the Back
I acknowledge and I agree I made a mistake and the punishment is fair. I have learned from my mistake. I’m not laughing about it, it was a major mistake. I wish I could take it back, it was bad for our sponsors and it gave my teammates a black eye. I apologize to my friends and to my sponsors. Anything people say are justified to be said. I don’t blame them for cracking on me.