IMO the names used are almost if not equally important as the teams behind the names. If we are going to field one or two EXL champions at the world X-ball championship, we need to have names that sound as big as the NXL city teams, and that is national teams. Just Ton Tons Flingueurs, Joy Division, The Ugly Ducklings, etc. sound too parochial. I'm not sure that something like "Team Sweden: Joy Division" or "The Danish Ugly Ducklings" or "The French team, Ton Tons Flingueurs" would work either. The main thing is to go for what is going to be most attractive to the public and therefore to the potential media customers. We gotta think big.
And even if there has been some fumbling around these issues we have to get behind the program, learn the X-ball game, make the best of this season and get geared up for 2004 when things are more sorted. Positive thinking and positive suggestions rather than lambasting what has gone down during these confusing times will take us far further towards a break-through in our sport.
IMHO.
Steve
D
duffistuta
Guest
I thought the main rationale
from the Millennium for doing it nations based was that that would make it more attractive to the media? If so, surely these teams have to be Team UK, Team France etc.
Seems to me that this is a curio - nothing more, nothing less, and of no more or less value than the old nations cup was.
IMHO.
from the Millennium for doing it nations based was that that would make it more attractive to the media? If so, surely these teams have to be Team UK, Team France etc.
Seems to me that this is a curio - nothing more, nothing less, and of no more or less value than the old nations cup was.
IMHO.
I thought the main rationale
This may not be the ideal circumstances but it is what we got and it is a chance to practice and play real X-ball and see where it takes us. And I believe it can be interesting, exciting and a path out to the sports media. Why not get with the program and send out some positive vibes instead of the sour grapes?
IMHO
Steve
With all respect, I can't understand the negativism I see here. This will be much more than what you're describing here depending on what the teams in question put into it. And I know that there are some teams that ARE going to put a lot into it. Unless the whole thing breaks apart (and I don't see any reason why it should) there will be a team or teams from the Millennium X-ball competition who will represent Europe at the world X-ball championship in conjunction with the World Cup.
This may not be the ideal circumstances but it is what we got and it is a chance to practice and play real X-ball and see where it takes us. And I believe it can be interesting, exciting and a path out to the sports media. Why not get with the program and send out some positive vibes instead of the sour grapes?
IMHO
Steve
Steve,
How many matches per Mil event will the participating teams play?
My guess is it won't be anything like what the NXL teams will play competitively much less practice (Shock and AA's have been in Florida to play Strange twice in the last 6 weeks) and I think that's the crux of the frustration being expressed. Regardless of what you call the team(s) that come from EXL to play in Orlando they won't be on anything like an equal competitive footing.
How many matches per Mil event will the participating teams play?
My guess is it won't be anything like what the NXL teams will play competitively much less practice (Shock and AA's have been in Florida to play Strange twice in the last 6 weeks) and I think that's the crux of the frustration being expressed. Regardless of what you call the team(s) that come from EXL to play in Orlando they won't be on anything like an equal competitive footing.
D
duffistuta
Guest
Exactimundo - no sour grapes here Steve, I just think it would be best for everyone if it were done right rather than as a bit of an afterthought, and an afterthought in which the rules seem to be changing every five minutes.
Mag - you are P8ntballer's face of the Millennium lately, what are the exact rules mate?
How many games per event? Are all the teams now solo outfits or is that at the discretion of the captains (in which case I guess they'll all be solo teams)? How much are teams paying for this?
Edit Add: As far as the PGI staff go, opinion is pretty much split. I'm of the opinion X-Ball is the way to go for the future, which is why I want Europe to do it right; Rancid thinks it's a flash in the pan that'll disappear and Pete's got mixed feelings since what he witnessed at Huntington Beach. Ant, meanwhile, believes 15-Man is the way to go and Joe didn't understand the question - so don't expect any consensus from us any time soon.
Mag - you are P8ntballer's face of the Millennium lately, what are the exact rules mate?
How many games per event? Are all the teams now solo outfits or is that at the discretion of the captains (in which case I guess they'll all be solo teams)? How much are teams paying for this?
Edit Add: As far as the PGI staff go, opinion is pretty much split. I'm of the opinion X-Ball is the way to go for the future, which is why I want Europe to do it right; Rancid thinks it's a flash in the pan that'll disappear and Pete's got mixed feelings since what he witnessed at Huntington Beach. Ant, meanwhile, believes 15-Man is the way to go and Joe didn't understand the question - so don't expect any consensus from us any time soon.
reply to Diffistuta(hope I spelled it right)
I would agree with those who say it is a flash in the overall history of the game. It has a lot of money behind it.........so it will go futher then Rollerball. However the format which is believed to be better for TV or live whatever is wrong.
Lets face it Paintball for all purposes is a Extreme Sport at best with a slight twist because unlike the other Extreme sports it is a tema game. There is no current Xtreme sport that is a live TV event. Not the X-games, Gravity games, or any other series is on live TV. So with that you don't need a format such a X-ball.
What you do need is more money from outside sponsors to pay for the right equipment to film the sport correctly. The most any production crew uses is two to three cameras. How about having
12 or more covering more angles and giving the post production crew more footage to use when editing the event. The Oln
production for those who saw it was a step in the right direction, however there are better groups out there but it will just take time. Paintball for the TV viewers will come down to Post production. Things like Chalk talk and the announcers of the sport will eventually make the difference to the viewing audience.
Again what we are looking for is the New consumer, the one that nows nothing about the sport. We don't need to sell the sport to those who already play.
Rodders
I would agree with those who say it is a flash in the overall history of the game. It has a lot of money behind it.........so it will go futher then Rollerball. However the format which is believed to be better for TV or live whatever is wrong.
Lets face it Paintball for all purposes is a Extreme Sport at best with a slight twist because unlike the other Extreme sports it is a tema game. There is no current Xtreme sport that is a live TV event. Not the X-games, Gravity games, or any other series is on live TV. So with that you don't need a format such a X-ball.
What you do need is more money from outside sponsors to pay for the right equipment to film the sport correctly. The most any production crew uses is two to three cameras. How about having
12 or more covering more angles and giving the post production crew more footage to use when editing the event. The Oln
production for those who saw it was a step in the right direction, however there are better groups out there but it will just take time. Paintball for the TV viewers will come down to Post production. Things like Chalk talk and the announcers of the sport will eventually make the difference to the viewing audience.
Again what we are looking for is the New consumer, the one that nows nothing about the sport. We don't need to sell the sport to those who already play.
Rodders
Just to make it clear: I'm speaking now as a PB enthusiast and not as a spokeperson for anyone.
I've asked the question before on other threads: what would be the right way to go about this that is at the same time realistic vis-à-vis the lack of funding in Europe? Maybe there have been some suggestions that I have missed. If so, bear with me and spell it out again.
There IS the opportunity for teams to do some serious X-ball practicing apart from the EXL. All that lacks is a will and perhaps money. I could imagine serious X-ball practices somewhere in Europe with the likes of Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team France, Team Denmark, Team UK, etc that would be on a par with what we've been hearing about from Florida.
And why do so many get the idea that if we Europeans don't have as tough a regimen as the Americans that we have forever missed the boat? That is a crock of rotten sushi IMO.
It's easy to criticize and ridicule policy. Let's hear some pro-active suggestions as to the way we should go.
Steve
I've asked the question before on other threads: what would be the right way to go about this that is at the same time realistic vis-à-vis the lack of funding in Europe? Maybe there have been some suggestions that I have missed. If so, bear with me and spell it out again.
There IS the opportunity for teams to do some serious X-ball practicing apart from the EXL. All that lacks is a will and perhaps money. I could imagine serious X-ball practices somewhere in Europe with the likes of Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team France, Team Denmark, Team UK, etc that would be on a par with what we've been hearing about from Florida.
And why do so many get the idea that if we Europeans don't have as tough a regimen as the Americans that we have forever missed the boat? That is a crock of rotten sushi IMO.
It's easy to criticize and ridicule policy. Let's hear some pro-active suggestions as to the way we should go.
Steve
reply to Diffistuta(hope I spelled it right)
Hey, I like this geezer. Rodders for Mod. Rodders for Mod. Rodders for Mod.
Hey, I like this geezer. Rodders for Mod. Rodders for Mod. Rodders for Mod.
STEVE
Or did a few top select teams have an unparralled opportunity to jump on the USA bandwagon and possibly get a lot of fame and fortune?
Please explain to me how that would have helped the rest of the European paintball, considering there is no media coverage to be based here, and correspondingly no huge money from sponsors able of supporting the format here?
Please tell me exactly how it would have benefitted the rest of European paintball apart from just a couple of teams at the top?
That is why I think it isn't working here yet. We need some people to help make such a system benefit all and matter to all.
p.s. I agree Rodders for mod... although he does seem to be making sense and being fair so maybe he is overqualified?
Did they?
Or did a few top select teams have an unparralled opportunity to jump on the USA bandwagon and possibly get a lot of fame and fortune?
Please explain to me how that would have helped the rest of the European paintball, considering there is no media coverage to be based here, and correspondingly no huge money from sponsors able of supporting the format here?
Please tell me exactly how it would have benefitted the rest of European paintball apart from just a couple of teams at the top?
That is why I think it isn't working here yet. We need some people to help make such a system benefit all and matter to all.
p.s. I agree Rodders for mod... although he does seem to be making sense and being fair so maybe he is overqualified?