i don't think its a case of settling for things, i am one of the most competitive people i know, and most on here who know me would say the same! However what i am is a realist!
Adam, If you a realist [and I'll take you at your word here] then it isn't coming across in what you post.
Realism has at its heart, a correct and proportionate appraisal [and expectation] of the state of UK ball both in terms of performance level and also [more importantly] our mindset.
I don't think you have shown this in what you write, not yet anyway.
To regularly go across the pond to play ball is a far flung dream for nearly everyone in English paintball, even European ball!
the sheer cost of flights and accomodation alone before you shoot a ball is far above what many can afford, especially playing domestically all year, or in europe.
100% agreed, it is a dream for most and it's a dream I also respect in our players but it seems you are not picking up on the distinction I am drawing between playing and competing.
Whilst we can all have aspirations to play in the US, it takes a certain mindset to wanna compete.
However, what you say is correct in the attendant expenses required but doesn't that then come down to dedication and commitment?
The past isn't always nostalgic for god's sake, its' there as a precedent for us all to reference if the need be.
It can serve as a guide if we so choose, it can also serve as a tutorial if we know how to interpret but to ignore it as that idiot Marco suggests is folly indeed.
That said, teams used to fund their own way across to the US; ask Twizz, he knows, the Tigers of yesteryear all paid their own way when they went Stateside, as did many other teams.
Just because it's expensive doesn't mean we are then precluded from ever going, it just makes it more difficult but then again, who said competing at the top, or at least aspiring to, was gonna be easy?
The few teams that have done it recently are all massively sponsored, and even those have been cut back on the extravagances!
Agreed again, even teams like Nexus have no real paint deal, they now have to buy their paint now [AFAIK], times have changed but why aren't people looking upon that as a leveler in that if teams like Nexus are having to pay, then why can't anybody else?
...but I do agree, it's difficult for sure but certainly not impossible as history as shown.
Prior to this era, ok days of old i can accept a couple of english team did ok out there, but for how long and how well did they really do?! In my honest opinion the level it was played at back 4-5 years ago has been surpassed by even some of the average teams in the uk!
The duration of their success is academic mate, the fact is, they went and did it ... nobody can undo that.
Success is fleeting for most people, you don't not compete just because your success might be short-lived ... come on Adam, that's not really a point that needs to be answered here.
As for comparing the playing level to 4 or 5 years ago?
First off, you are wrong, secondly, it's academic anyway.
The Nexus team of say 2003 would easily dispatch, and I mean easily beat any average teams ... that's not even up for debate.
I will concede however, that the average CPL team would beat the Nexus of 2003 and so in that sense, the playing level has improved but we are not talking about playing levels here, we are talking about aspirations to compete.
It's ludicrous to compare playing levels of yesteryear to another age anyway, it just serves no purpose because teams can only beat the teams in front of them at that time ....
The biggest comparison is the level between usa and the uk talent, however it is very relevant to the size of the talent pool available in the countries!
I think there are some really good players in the uk, that with the resources and coaching that only on or 2 english teams have right now, could easily rival the top european teams!
If you read this post I made in another thread [
this thread], then you will see that I agree with you, and that's the crying shame of it all ...
Nostalgia with old results of uk being on top gets us nowhere really, unless someone like yourself is willing to take a team and create what it is you want to see?
It's
NOT nostalgia mate, it's referencing an informational resource: if you have the necessary intellect and understanding of our sport, then you can use the past to better understand the present, and predict the future; this is not some convenient platitude here, it's my experience talking.
I've done an awful lot in this sport for the UK Adam and whilst that doesn't guarantee a coherent understanding, I have to marry my experience and whatever intellect I can summon to try and point us in the right direction.
Some people, won't ever be helped because they either have agendas outside of what's being discussed or are unable to summon up the necessary neuron firing that's required to understand.
Paintball at competition level has outpriced itself to almost all those except who the industry choose to really promote!
Ahhh, good point, a really good one, and it's not one I can argue with; my response is, I am gonna nod my head in agreement.
....but once again Adam, this doesn't make it impossible, it just makes it harder.
I hope this thread, regardless of what the thread subject initially started out as, has pricked people's mindsets .... in the thread I linked you to, I was pointing people toward the fact we have an untapped talent out there, I think from what I saw, that if I extrapolate correctly, we could service something like 7 or 8 teams that could easily survive in the CPL if trained correctly .. it would take 6 months at most.
THAT's what I wanna see !!!!!
And if a couple of idiots in this thread [not you Adam] could just see past their ignorance for one second, they would realise what I'm up to here .... but they can't and so I will concern myself with those who can understand and appreciate what I am talking about, and of course what I hope to achieve.
Good post Adam ... there's hope yet
