Todd Martinez, Coach of LA Infamous, broke the news this week that Zack Wake, snake player for Infamous, had left the team. According to sources there are a handful of teams looking to pick him up. Pro Paintball insiders named local Tennessee pro team CEP, as well as Tampa Bay Damage and Dynasty as possibilities for 2012.
Ryan Martin of Pro Paintball team Sacramento XSV
Insiders say that Ryan Martin has left both Top Gun Union, whom he played PSP with, and Sacramento XSV, who he played NPPL with. Initially it was thought Ryan was leaving Top Gun to compete with Sacramento XSV in the PSP pro division. However, recent intel suggests he has left the XSV ranks as well. Leaving both teams frees Martin up to play either or both NPPL and PSP in 2012. Pro Paintball insiders point to Ironmen, Infamous, or Dynasty (all Southern California pro teams) as possibilities for 2012.
Where do you think these players will end up? Which teams could best utilize their talents?
Meat what? The Meat Hammers you say? And they are making a come back? Whats going on now?
The internet is full of buzz with the entry of the Meat Hammers in the 2011 NPPL Las Vegas Championships. ProPaintball insiders tipped us off at Cup that a huge come back featuring the “whos-who” of retired paintball players will be making their way onto the field next weekend. We heard that Todd Martinez was involved in spear heading the effort and caught up with him for the official scoop.
Word started going around that there was a possible league merger in the mix and perhaps the last 7 man after NPPL Las Vegas. The idea randomly got tossed around about how much fun it would be to put a throw together team in with a bunch of guys that dont play paintball anymore just to go have a good time in Vegas. Davey Williamson, the new west coast sales rep for Valken, proposed the idea to the company and they were gracious enough to give their full support to the team.
A few years back when pro players from Dynasty, XSV, and the Ironmen all lived in San Diego, we had a wednesday night softball team called the Meat Hammers. We had to be one of the worst softball teams to ever step on the diamond, but definitely had more fun than anyone could imagine. Every week was a different excitement. It was literally like playing for the bad news bears. So in the spirit of good times and good friends, the Meat Hammers are going to come have some fun and cause some ruckus in Las Vegas. Few of the players have even played paintball in a couple years since retirement and a no practice rule has been instated. We come to have a good time together and bring some excitement to the teams in division one.
Big thanks to Valken for making this all happen for us. Get your official Meat Hammers jerseys at RAZAlife.com, and Meat Hammer HPA tanks by Crossfire.
Our roster is as follows. Batting first…
Brian Cole
Matty Marshall
Opie Loughran
Johnny Perchak
Angel Fragoza
Todd Martinez
Adam Johnson
Alex Savino
Might bring in a center fielder and a clean-up hitter.
What are your thoughts on the Meat Hammers roster? How will the team do in division 1 against the likes of Impact Echo and Dynasty 2?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Ed note: Special thanks to RazaLife for helping put this story together.
Raza has announced that new paintball gear will be unveiled at the 2011 PSP World Cup. To start things off, Raza has announced new paintball gloves, known officially as “Whip Grips”.
Here are a few words from the money man Todd Martinez himself;
HANDS EVERYWHERE ARE CLAPPING!!!!!!!
RAZA is excited to announce the release of our new paintball gloves. Comfort, fit, and protection are the top reasons why you will enjoy Whip Grips. However, we wanted to add a little flash and a little funk to your fingertips as well.
Players across the country are preparing to compete in the upcoming NPPL, PSP, and PALS World Cup paintball series championships. Rumors are flowing that teams are preparing for hard battles to the podium. Read on for the latest paintball news and rumors in division 1 paintball.
D1 Paintball Rumors
upTon 187 and Top Gun D1 are debating a move to Pro or Semi pro in 2012. ProPaintball insiders tell us that they will compete in whatever division the other team agrees on so that they have the opportunity to practice against another equally ranked team throughout the 2012 season.
upTon 187′s Dan Zaleski is rumored to have torn his MCL and won’t be able to compete at cup.
The Meat Hammers are coming to NPPL Vegas and word is that several pro legends will be rostered. ProPaintball insiders suggest Brian Cole (ret. Dynasty), Todd Martinez (Infamous), Matty Marshall (ret. XSV) and others will be playing at the 2011 NPPL Vegas Championship.
TKO has called it quits. According to TKO’s Coach Ron Smarac mentioned that the division 1 team just didn’t have the drive anymore. Some players will be playing with RNT AllStarz at PSP World Cup. Sorry to hear the team is done.
RNT All Starz will be headed up by Jerry Desvarieux and is said to be a last hurrah. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for those guys.
Seattle Thunder is rumored to be adding a D-1 team to the program for 2012.
Thomas Mantoni from New England Hurricanes may not be making it to World Cup due to other commitments.
HK Army is rumored to be competing at NPPL Vegas as well. Rumors suggest Raney Stanzack, Kenny Rosenberg, and several others may be returning to the paintball field to compete against the meat hammers.
Cross Eyed Paintball‘s D2 team will be making their debut at World Cup. Sources suggest if all goes well the team will be moving to Division 1 in 2012.
We were only able to touch on a few of the divisional paintball rumors floating around. What rumors can you add to the list? Share yours in the comments below.
Empire Paintball and DerDer are back with a new 250 cal paintball video. This time around, pro paintball player Todd Martinez from LA Infamous shares a few tips and tactics in eliminating the opposing team.
In this 250 Cal video Todd Martinez teaches you how to deal with a player in the snake.
With 250 Cal you can take care of not one, but multiple players with strategically placed 250 Cal paintballs. Watch as Todd shows you the way to play 250 Cal.
Mike Hinman lives and breathes professional paintball. Hinman started his pro paintball career with the Bushwackers playing alongside veterans Mike Paxson, Ron Kilbourne, LJ Marquez, Fish, and others. Later he moved to Chicago Aftershock with his friend Todd Martinez and eventually found himself playing with San Diego Dynasty. While playing with Dynasty, Mike started working with a young and up coming team known as Thunderkids. Thunderkids had a short but successful run and many of the players joined a team known by many as Aftermath. Mike hand picked several then-undiscovered players including Alex Goldman (Dynasty), Marcello Margott (Infamous), Ronnie Filippone (Entourage), Raney Stanczak (Entourage), Dalton Vanderbyl (Dynasty), and together they rose through the ranks, winning several divisional series titles and ultimately made a successful jump into the Pro paintball division under the name San Diego Aftermath. Most recently Mike Hinman launched the West Coast Paintball Players League, an immensely successful divisional paintball league. When not running the WCPPL, Mike coaches paintball super team San Diego Dynasty. Between Mike’s coaching and several solid pick ups including Alex Goldman, Ollie Lang, and Dalton Vanderbyl, Dynasty has been on a winning streak taking first place in the NPPL, PSP and Millennium Series season openers.
This is your opportunity to pick Mike’s brain. Feel free to ask him your questions relating to game of paintball. One question per post please. ProPaintball moderators will send the best questions to Hinman and we will post his answers as soon as he gets them back to us.
In 2006, Ollie Lang (website) announced a sudden departure from his friends on San Diego Dynasty. Ollie had inked a deal with the Los Angeles Ironmen that set the record for the highest salary paid to a professional player. Since then, Dynasty fans and players have dreamt of the day that Ollie and fellow Dynasty players Yosh Rau, Alex Fraige and Ryan Greenspan would re-unite and return to the top. Just last week, Ollie Lang set headlines across the world when ProPaintball announced that Lang had returned to San Diego Dynasty. Today we present to you an exclusive interview with one of paintball’s most celebrated players and insight on the race back to the top with his friends on San Diego Dynasty.
1) Oliver — tell us about your move back to Dynasty. Was it an easy decision?
Ollie Lang: It was not an easy decision at all and probably an even harder decision than my departure in 2006. When I left in ’06, it all happened within one week. I have been stressing over this decision since October. I never really let things weigh me down but I was in a funk for the past few months debating over my options. I really wanted to follow my heart but I love both of these teams, so it was a major mental and internal debate.
2) How do you feel about this being a “New” Dynasty? No Brian Cole, Johnny Perchak, Angel Fragoza, or Todd Martinez? Do you think the new players can/have filled their places?
Ollie Lang: I’m not going to lie, I am very excited about these new kids on the team. Our old core was unique but there were a lot of hot heads and opinions back in the day. It wasn’t easy when we were our own coach and had to choose who to play and who to sit. Back then we were young and lucky, now we have to work even harder and these new kids are ready to do that as the face of dynasty changes.
It’s about gearing up for the future and I’m more than excited to be a part of the team with these new kids who want to listen and learn from the world’s best players.
3) On Ironmen you were not only the captain, but the leader. Dynasty has had Fraige and Greenspan holding the reigns for the past 4 seasons. What is your attitude going into the 2011 season in regards to your role on dynasty? Will you share the leadership and key decisions with Fraige and Greenspan, again?
Ollie Lang: This team has and always will be a democracy. It’s an even scale of paintball brilliance across the board. We fight and argue but at the end we have the best answers and results. We are all equals and we will work together to become the best team to ever play the game again.
4) At the height of Dynasty’s “reign,” there were moments of complacency amongst members of the team, guys that felt there wasn’t enough of a challenge when all of you were together. Is the rise of Dynasty back to the top your new challenge?
Ollie Lang: The challenge is to come back and do it all over again! We want to triple stamp the double stamp Dynasty as the best team in the world hands down bar none! Dynasty wants to enlighten new kids with skills and proper professionalism that will propel the longevity of our sport.
5) Will your move back to Dynasty affect your relationship with Dave Youngblood or those with your friends on the Ironmen?
Ollie Lang: The Ironmen were my friends but not more than teammate friends. When I lost nicky I had no one else that was my age and a close companion or friend. That’s important to have. I cherished all of my relationships with teammates; Brandon Short, Mike Paxson, and Mikko Huttunen were some of my closest friends but nothing compared to Alex Fraige, Ryan Greenspan or Yosh Rau who I have 15 years of history with.
Dave Youngblood was one of my best friends and I considered him my brother. I could speak for hours upon hours to Dave about everything and anything which is a special thing that I only have with a few people. Dave and DYE were really the only things that would have kept me on the Ironmen. I believe in him and his brand more than anything and I will miss all the time spent with him. We will still continue our friendship but my transfer will hinder all the time we used to spend together, which is what builds friendships.
6) What will happen to your position at DYE? Will you continue to travel abroad; representing your sponsors and speaking at seminars?
Ollie Lang: Unfortunately it will be terminated. Hopefully one day I can again work with Dave and DYE Precision.
7) You have had the opportunity to travel the world through paintball. What is your most favorable travel memory, non-paintball field related?
Ollie Lang: That question is impossible to answer, because it is not yet over. In fact, it is just getting started. Any moment spent with great people is what my favorite memories consist of and I have shared many with incredible people over the years.
8) You started a paintball team with your friends Ryan Greenspan, Alex Fraige, and Yosh Rau, have won several world championships, and are now returning to play with your friends and build another championship team. With that in mind, what advice can you share to young players and their teams?
Ollie Lang: Really we started playing paintball because it was fun. The illusion of fame and money corrupted a lot of younger players after my generation. People changed and acted differently. They tarnished the sport, their teams, and themselves.
Be yourself. Be the best you can be. Be a role model for the sport. Build the sport. Reflect positively on others as you grow in this sport.
Paintball is filled with great people in every corner of the world, but there is a lot of greed out there and selfishness. I try not to follow that road. Nobody likes arrogance or shitty punk attitudes. Play paintball because you love it, not for what your get out of it. Greed and arrogance should not be the driving force behind any decision.
9) Will 2011 be the year of the dragon?
Ollie Lang: Will it? Well then it only makes sense. I did notice the paintball gods have been very happy with this transition. I expect clear sky’s at 90% of the events, great attendance, and the highest level of play that the paintball world has seen to date.
ProPaintball would like to thank Ollie Lang (website) and photographer Brandon Showers (website) for making this interview possible. Thanks guys!
Traumahead Sportz sat down with Todd Martinez in San Deigo, CA at his store and shot a little interview. Todd Martinez, definitely has one the biggest personality in pro paintball today. Along with being loud and crazy off the field, he is also know for being a top pro on the field playing with teams like Dynasty and Avalanche Todd is now continuing his pro career with Los Angeles Infamous. Listen to Todd as he tells some stories from his early paintball days and how it all got started.
Do you have $1250 burning a hole in your pocket? Are you a super HK fan? If you do you should go to the epic Crash at the Coast clinic this July 5th – 11th. With that $1250 you will get feed, a place to stay, paintballs for the whole week, $200 in HK gear, and training from the pros. Some of top players from the NPPL and PSP will be on hand to help out all week. Brandon Short, and Scott Kemp of the Los Angeles Ironmen will be their, along with Ryan Greenspan, Tyler Harmon, Todd Martinez,and Bear D’Egidio.
Just received this to my mailbox seconds ago from none other then Todd “Cash Money” Martinez himself. Below you will find his official statement as to his plans for the PSP World Cup 2009.
Thanks Todd for sending this our way as we know all the readers have been wondering just where you might end up for the final event of the PSP season. Without further adieu, Todds words.
PLAYER OPINIONS