I smoke lots of crack....

[punkncat]

Thinking up a title that fits sux sometimes doesn't it?
I was really more wanting to inquire about something and see if its prevelent among other "team" players.


Since we all became a team and play in "real" tournaments, I have noticed this wierd political crap going on at fields and with other teams. Seems like every time we want to play against another team to scrimmage, or just even for the fun of it, some BS has got to arise and interfere. Its like there is nothing but drama in place of all the comraderie that used to be there between people you "played" against vs. people that you "compete" against. And whats funny is that most of the people are not even tourney players or even in the same league or division. Its SO retarded.

The past three times we have tried to scrimmage with or simply rec ball with any other team, there has been backlash either during or after the event. Accusations, allegations, arguments, bad sportsmanship...its unreal. And not JUST with other people, among our own as well.

How do any long term successful teams ever make it through all this crap?

Some time ago, we had an altercation with a local team which I detailed somewhat in a previous post. The end of it all was that we decided that we would not play them on their home field again, and were done with it. The showed up at another field we were scrimmaging the home team. The owner of that field prohibited them from playing for his own reasons, and we caught the blame. Then the home team goes and pulls off a bunch of less that honorable moves...anyway, we come out as the bad guys over a couple of different situations that amount to "crap" and everyone is all riled up over it again.
The same crap that got in heads and caused us the worst performance to date a couple months back. Does everyone deal with this?

People are nice on the phone or by email, you get on the field and its like someone is this or that, blah blah...can't simply just play a friendly game anymore.

I am at a point right now where I have already "tested waters" on selling all my gear and walking away. It blows me away to consider that after ten years of playing paintball that less than six months within the tourney scene has me thinking this way.
Whats really screwed up is that I really enjoy the tourneys. The reffing is good the competition is good, and everything seems to work out fine. Its just all the crap in between that is drving me crazy. What got left behind once we decided to step up?

[TippmannGuy]

I play on a "tournament" paintball on a team and can tell you the crap your encountering is common. I've played on this team for 4 years.The team has been playing since 2000. I seem to deal with the same frustrating issues.

Personally I love the caliber of competition but I hate the teams we scrimmage. The teams we scrimmage play the grey area and do whatever it takes to win. And its the Tournament side of this sport favors the grey areas. Its in the Grey that the sport beomes profoundly ugly. Playing on, wiping, overshooting, and verbal slander.

Teams we face cheat and play the grey to keep there "image" looking great. They'll cheat so heavily that our team will get rolled. Regardless of the fact that we can play the game better. And it's been proven by our team consistantly placing higher in the same tournaments. Yet if we scrimmage we'll lose 8-10 of our games. Not because we are inferior but we refuse to play in the grey.

But don't get discouraged over time our team has only grown stronger and some of the weak have been culled out.

What got left behind is the true love to keep the game honest and fun. Touranment paintball loses this where its still in the rec side of our sport. The win at whatever cost can get in the way of playing for the fun of it.

just my 2 cents

[JRingold]

Well, when not playing in organized events, I try to ensure that "teams" don't play against other "teams". Mix it up and ensure that there is a mix of players on each side. You will learn more about the other teams style of play, how they move, what they do that is successful and they will learn more from your team. If you want to be friends with other teams, you have to join them and not always be on the other side.

If you want to test out the "skills" you've learned, for one game and one game only at the end of the day, put your team against theirs.

[68magOwner]

What did we do to deal with this drama nonsense? No mandatory practices, no pressuring teammates to play paintball, go out together, to a club, whatever, just have fun. We just make sure we have fun with each other, then come game day, we are such a tight family that we pull each other through events and end up doing well pretty consistently.

People should really stop taking paintball so seriously, you got in it to have fun, keep it that way.

[buzzboy]

I smoke crack too!

We have found that when teams play together things need to be kept loose. You can't just play one team vs the other over and over. Do some fun or even stupid things. Last time we played we had 2 people per team with guns and the rest barrel tagged. It is still competitive but knowing it amounts to nothing you can relax and blow off some steam. Just keep it fun and then every few games play one serious and as you said, if a team doesn't want to be coool. Say screw it and play someone else.

[t0nnn]

What did we do to deal with this drama nonsense? No mandatory practices, no pressuring teammates to play paintball, go out together, to a club, whatever, just have fun. We just make sure we have fun with each other, then come game day, we are such a tight family that we pull each other through events and end up doing well pretty consistently.

People should really stop taking paintball so seriously, you got in it to have fun, keep it that way.

You're exactly right, a team should have respect for one another ...you will play better no doubt.


Not to hi-jack the thread, but how's your mini goin?

[punkncat]

You're exactly right, a team should have respect for one another ...you will play better no doubt.


Not to hi-jack the thread, but how's your mini goin?

The only problem I have run into is that the stock detents suck. Beyond that, it shoots well, has stayed operational, consistant....nothing more I could ask from a marker in its price range.

[Temo Vryce]

I used to play in a local series that was a 5 man league that played for Medals bragging rights. It was a lot of fun and the teams got along well for the most part. As the league grew bigger and bigger it became less and less fun. The biggest turning point was when it changed from a 5 man format to a 3 man format and the medal became prize money. A lot of the teams that I enjoyed playing with and against stopped coming to the events. The politics between the players was worse off the field than it was on the field, but the worst was the politics between the field owners. I would happily spend a little more money to play in a tournament that was just for bragging rights than play in tournament for money where just about everyone else will cheat.

[Ninjeff]

Its nothing new really. this attitude. Its why i quit playing competitively back in 01. same reasons.

Now im PROUD to just be a rec player. Laughing, having fun, being goofy, and helping out new players is TONS more gratifying than winning a tourney. Maybe thats just me. Who knows.

[warpig13]

Now im PROUD to just be a rec player. Laughing, having fun, being goofy, and helping out new players is TONS more gratifying than winning a tourney. Maybe thats just me. Who knows.

Not just you.

Everyone once and awhile i like to hit up a scenario, but im perfectly happy hanging around the regs, people i can gladly call family, at my home field and having alot of fun without all the little whiners being total idiots over a simple GAME.

Of course, I do love to hear em complain once I tag em with my phantom....that never gets old....

[TippmannGuy]

Speaking of a Tournament based for fun. My local field annually hosts what they call Battle for the Beef. All players are welcome teams are formed by lottery. All teams sport a Beef related name such as T- bone, Rump Roast, Cow Tongue, etc etc...

Once the teams are established they are then put into a bracket and battle for the beef.
If you take first place your eating steak. Second finishes with Pork Chops. Third gets chicken. And everyone else is served hot dogs and chips. Always a blast and most people who play spend about $60 for the entire day. Couldn't ask for more fun for less $.

[Ninjeff]

Thats the best idea ive heard all day.

Im playing for steak baby!

[68magOwner]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but how's your mini goin?

Mine is doing great, liking it more and more every time I use it, the shocker and timmy stayed in teh bag all last weekend, and the phantom and mini got the play time. Its a tiny little marker that I can manhandle around, shoots very consistently, with very little recoil, easy to shoot quick, hasnt given me ANY troubles so far. Id definatley reccomend it to anyone looking to pick up a new marker in that price range.

[t0nnn]

yeah i regret picking up a promaster over that, i've easily put more money into that gun already than if i just would've waited a month and bought the mini. I did get to shoot one about a month ago and was really really impressesd. All the kid had was a dye ultralite on it with a 45/45 ...ITS SO SMALL AND LIGHT ...and shot straight as hell ..even on psp.

Do you have any pics of it though, did you do anymore etching to it?

[68magOwner]

yes, i have done some more etching, and have pics, but, putfile seems to have been down for the last few days, so, i cant share