Category Archives: Rumor Reports

AprilFools_Merger

Rumor: PSP and NPPL Settle Differences, Plan For Merger

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AprilFools_Merger

In a bizarre turn of events, it’s rumored that the higher-ups of both the PSP and the NPPL have settled on mutually agreeable terms that will result in a mid-season merger! Earlier today representatives of each league took part in a video conference (complete with all the typical scents of morning business meetings thanks to Google Nose BETA, i.e., coffee breath, stale gas, powdered eggs, excessive perfume) and landed on a few necessary changes to play that satisfied both parties.

We’ve got wind of a few of them:

  • League name will be the N.P.A.D.T.G.T.S.T.T.X. (National Paintball Association Dedicated To Getting The Sport To The X-Games)
  • 10-man and woodsball will be the only offered formats (all players must complete in both)
  • Gillie Suits are the only approved on-field attire
  • All divisions (d5-Pro) will be merged into one unified bracket called “Pro-Am”, and who you play will be determined completely at random by APPA software
  • All guns must run original NXL software (15bps ramping full-auto), though “cheater” boards are not completely discouraged (see below for exception to this rule)
  • Any player with a current ranking of Pro must complete with a JT SplatMaster indefinitely
  • The PaintballAccess webcast anchor booth, with Matty, T-Money, and Lasoya, will now be located on-field at the 50 as a playable bunker (best way to amp up the energy of the broadcast)
  • Sup’Air has agreed to produce visually-detailed bunkers to match the literal descriptions of commonly used on-field “call-signs” (Cali, Obama, Snake, Car Wash, Tombstone, Command Center, Money)
  • A dynamic-meteorological-technology-system will be utilized to schedule events, continually predicting and pinpointing the worst weather in the country and rescheduling tournament stops (up to the day before) to that location (if adverse weather cannot be located, the event will be canceled morning of [refunds for entry will not be delivered])

This is all we could get leaked.. As we know more, so will you.

MAO2012_COPTYRIGHTGARYBAUM

PSP Event 2 Location – CONFIRMED

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Update: The PSP has confirmed the location of event 2. As earlier rumored on ProPaintball, PSP Event 2 will be held at OXCC in Chesapeake City, MD.

 

[Featured Image Photo Credit: Gary Baum / Paintball Photography.com]

PSP Event #2 is scheduled for May 3rd-5th, less than two months from today. Is it a surprise the venue hasn’t been officially designated yet? Maybe two or three weeks ago it was surprising, but with all of the league’s time and resources invested into producing a quality first event at Dallas, I wouldn’t expect dropping a OCXX_RumorMAOlocale for #2 has moved UP in their pressing priorities. I think it’s logical to anticipate an announcement either at Dallas or in the immediate days following. For now, let PROpaintball.com appease your venue needs with a solid rumor.

All of the speculation lands on one venue: OXCC. The Chesapeake City, MD paintball park played host to Event #4 in 2012 after NJO crumbled in a messy organizational blunder. Thankfully, OXCC proved to be more than sufficient as an alternative to TopGun, providing the playing-grounds for a well produced event.

Who wants to see this rumor become reality? Are there any venue alternatives that you were banking on? How did you think OXCC fared as host to last years MAO?

 

NPPL_bunkerexample

Rumored Changes to NPPL Layout Dimensions and Bunker Selection

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NPPL LOGO

Churned up from the depths of the rumor mill, we’ve got some very interesting information on planned changes to the NPPL field layout dimensions and bunker scheme. Sources indicate a potential shrinking of the playing area from 180 feet x 100 feet to 170 feet x 100 feet. Compare this to the move made by the PSP to reduce their field size to 150 feet x 120 feet for 2013, reversing the expansion to 170 feet x 120 feet made two seasons ago . The benefits of a smaller field are obvious. An accelerated NPPL_Fieldviewpace of play makes for a more engaging spectator experience. Closer combat also means less margin for error in on-field performance, thus pushing players to elevate their game. From an operational standpoint at events, less room is required when choosing a host venue and more free space is available to fit in other necessary elements on the tournament grounds. Now for “the big one”. It’s rumored that the NPPL will be adopting the same bunker set used by the PSP for 2013, with the only variance being the center-50 piece. All bunkers will be the Race-To models, including the snake. Condolences to those that will miss the “wedges” and “car washes”. What do you think the NPPL will decide on as a center-piece “50″ bunker? Establishing a shared bunker set is a huge move towards standardizing tournament paintball under one universal format. If this actually goes down, the benefit for player, field owner, and industry will be huge. Time will tell.

So that’s what we’ve got. With the PSP set to release their layout for Dallas later in the evening, we figured it was an appropriate time to drop these rumors.

 

WARPIG_NPPLTAMPA07

NPPL Returns to Tampa? And Other Venue Hoopla

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Location, location, location! Historically, NPPL has it most of the time; PSP dabbles with it some of the time. As stated in the title, we’ve got our mitts on a one-off rumor from the inside that the NPPL will be returning to the Gulf Coast in the 2013 season. Sources indicate discussion between the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and the NPPL to land an event at Raymond James Stadium, home of the [hurting] Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as either the 2nd or 3rd stop. This relationship is not new; NPPL held events in ‘06 and ‘07 in the grass tailgating lots surrounding the NFL stadium. This idea is not new; high profile venues thrived in the mid-2000’s and still dot the yearly tours of both NPPL and PSP series. What might be new is a growing skepticism amongst the players; an inferior league could net three big’uns in ’13 (HB, RayJay, Bellagio) while the premier league deals with cow pastures and comp’d local Sunday spots (credit due to Phoenix in the Cards’ lots).

Photo Cred: GARY BAUM PaintballPhotography.com

See the contrasts? Where is the major disconnect here? PSP has the superior product, uncontested advantage in player support, obvious no-contest in industry backing, and a media presence far outweighing the other league. Yet, their championship venue would make a fitting set for a B-rate remake of Deliverance. My finger pointing is best illustrated metaphorically: the PSP has a chiseled chest, buff arms and legs, the sharpest haircut, but it’s jumbled between the ears. Its flaws lie upstairs. Post-economy tank, the PSP organization has underachieved and under-delivered in getting the good word of paintball outside of our little industry; the “holy grail” needed to reach the next level. Relative to the external “inputs” fed into its “business machine”, things just don’t match up and not enough is being done to hold those at the top accountable. Okay, enough of that.. Instead of rubbing salt in obvious wounds (cough.. the 2012 NJO/MAO logistical debacle), I’ll lay down some constructive journalism as food for thought and a wrap on the Tampa “rumor”. Small business succeeds by seeking out viable opportunities and creating lucrative mini-relationships–better than the next guy. Here is a little spiel from the aforementioned TBSC’s mission statement:

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is a private, non-profit, 501c3, charitable corporation
that serves the entire Tampa Bay area as the lead organization for bidding on and
hosting major amateur sporting events. Our mission is to attract, promote and/or
organize major amateur sporting events, and grassroots youth sports programs, that
foster the ongoing development and quality of life for the entire Tampa Bay area.

This non-profit exists to FACILITATE “alternative” sporting events in the Tampa Bay area (Red Bull’s Wakeboarding Open was killer last spring). They actually WANT the event to come to town for the economic and social benefits that come with hosting, and are willing to pay for it. They sweeten the pot to make sure the tournament lands in Tampa and not elsewhere. See? It’s as simple as right place, right time.. or as frustrating as wrong place, wrong time (Cup chased out of Wide World of Sports by.. was it an equestrian event?).

So, what’s your take on this whole thing? Let out a rant on anything. Celebrate if you’re a Florida kid. Damn the NPPL, damn the PSP. Whatever. Just lay it out in the comments.

NPPL Paintball Rumor Report, pt 2.

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The NPPL has moved the event back to the North side of the pier and the Surf City open is starting to take shape. Read on for the latest paintball news and rumors from the event.

All Girls Paintball Team

Poison Ivy all girls paintball team - Camera: HybridFoto

  • Bea Youngs, Kat Secor, and Katie Kelly of Destiny are making their return at NPPL HB. They will be joining the girls from Poison Ivy in division 1. We watched Poison Ivy compete at the Malaysia World Cup and were very impressed with the level of play. They should do very well in the NPPL format. Good luck Girls!

Infamous to play NPPL

  • Last week we dropped word that Infamous might be making a late entry  into the NPPL. ProPaintball insiders confirmed that this is the case. According to sources, Infamous will have Travis Lemanski, Kali Rudolph, Bobby Aviles, Nicky Cuba, Drew Templeton, Zack Patient and Greg Siewers rostered at NPPL HB.

Portland Uprising Pick ups

Portland Uprising Paintball Team

  • Portland Uprising made several last minute adjustments to the roster. According to ProPaintball insiders, the team will feature Ryan Tucker, Tommy Tucker, Aaron Ormrod, Nicholas Omrod, Blake Bearham, Johnny Grier, Ryan Martin and Jimmy Hickey. The guys will be shooting MacDev Clone GT’s and sporting head to toe PBRack paintball gear.

Pro Paintball Warm up

  • Sounds like a few pro teams will be getting in a last minute grind at Whittier on Thursday morning. Word is LA Critical, Portland Uprising, and Texas Storm are doing a bit of warm up before they walk the fields later in the afternoon.

HK ARMY blows it, picks a new name.

HK Army Paintball team prepares to breakout

  • HK Army decided to play Division 1 instead of making the leap to pro. The guys will be playing as Giant HK and will probably show up to one or two events max. So much for the dream of one day having a pro team.

Stay tuned for more paintball news and rumors as they develop. Like ProPaintball on facebook!

NPPL Pro Paintball Rumor Report

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This weeks pro paintball rumor report focuses in on the National Professional Paintball League. Read on for the latest paintball rumors from HK Army, Infamous, Mutiny and more.

  • Pro Paintball insiders tell mentioned that Infamous MIGHT be competing at the NPPL Surf City Open. After an off-season full of rumors that Infamous had left the NPPL to focus on the Race-To format, word is they might be coming back for one event or the entire series. Infamous players Damian Ryan and Brad McCurly play with Chicago Legend while Kali is rumored to be playing with DC Arsenal. The big holdup appears to be filling the Infamous roster with talented players for the event.
  • Paul “P4″ Katic (ret. Arsenal) is rumored to be playing with Hollywood HK. Also in the mix is Mark Lack (ret. Entourage/Dynasty). Lack took a break from the pro field to refocus on his college education and is said to have the paintball itch. Word is both P4 and Lack will be joining HK on the pro field at NPPL Huntington Beach next week.
  • Rumors ran back and forth about the future of the Indianapolis Mutiny program after the teams no-show at NPPL Las Vegas last season. According to ProPaintball Insiders, Tommy’O and the gang will be back on the pro field at the Surf City Open.
  • Patrick Hughes (ret. Aftermath) is said to be making a come back in time for NPPL HB. No word yet as to what team he will be playing with.
  • Over the weekend several pro teams converged on Camp Pendleton Paintball Park in Southern California to practice for NPPL HB. XSV, Impact, Dynasty, and Critical were mixing it up. Unfortunately for them, mother nature made things “interesting” by dumping a ton of rain on the park.
XSV Paintball team practices in the rain

XSV Paintball team practices in the rain

  • Stoned Assassins are said to be returning. The team played the D-League (RPL) trying to get back in the groove. Whether they will be a one hit wonder, or play out the entire season remains to be seen.
  • Last but not least, registration to NPPL Surf City Open is open for a few more hours. If you are planning on playing be sure to visit the NPPL.com website and sign up now!

What news and or rumors have you heard about the NPPL Huntington Beach Open? Share your thoughts and comments below!