April Fools Day! 8 teams will no longer be sponsored by Splat Tag after this month!

[EZD]

8 teams will no longer be sponsored by Splat Tag after this month!

Any Team that wants to be sponsored by Splat Tag in 2008 please read!

Sorry guys but I got a call from my accountant and things do not look good. I gave away to many prizes in 2007.

I have to cut back on the sponsored teams. I have to cut down to only 2 sponsored teams.

I know this is going to piss a lot of people off but it's better then going out of business.

All 2007 Sponsorships will be honored through Arctic Blast Game March 30. But all Sponsorship are up April 1 and will be reviewed and re-newed on a team by team basis.

Splat Tag will only be sponsoring 2 teams this year.

To make it fare we will be holding a Potato Sack race at the Arctic Blast game to see who Splat Tag will be Sponsoring for the 2008 Season. I thought this would be a fun and fare way to pick the two teams that Splat Tag can afford to sponsor this year.

Any player can enter. If we have more them 20 people competing we will brake it down in to heats with a final race to decide first and second place.

New teams can compete as well. I am pulling no favorites.

Splat Tag sponsorships are private and will only be discussed face to face with team Captains. If anyone has questions please call me at 651-488-7700

Good luck to everyone.

Wish I could do more.

Thanks to all the great teams we Sponsored in 2007.

Teams Sponsored by Splat Tag:
Wild Bunch
Team Warfare
Pelican Brigade Paint Ball Club
MN Rebels
Farmland Paintball Club
MN Mayhem
MN Militia Paintball Team
MN Chain Gang
MN Terminators
Team Splat Tag Kids

[triggerhappyshawn]

a potato sack race???? ha ha ha ha ha thats awesome. gl wildbunch

[Kostohris]

i would be in TOTAL shock if wild bunch was not sponsored in 08 by splat tag, i doubt they have anything to worry about.

[EZD]

This is a very tough task I have in front of me, going from 11 sponsored teams down to 2.

Teams that play Nationally don't help me that much more then other local teams.

99% of the people that come to play at Splat Tag, Inc. come from with in 30 miles of my field.

The MOST important thing to me is HONEST players/teams. I don't care how big a teams is or even how good the team is!! I only want players that are friendly, honest and show up to play with a positive Attitude.

If anyone can think of a better way to decide the two teams, please let me know.

I Figure this is the best way so no one can be mad at me for picking two.
Each groups fate is in their hands. Good luck.

[xJTeigs10]

The MOST important thing to me is HONEST players/teams. I don't care how big a teams is or even how good the team is!! I only want players that are friendly, honest and show up to play with a positive Attitude.

If anyone can think of a better way to decide the two teams, please let me know.

I Figure this is the best way so no one can be mad at me for picking two.
Each groups fate is in their hands. Good luck.

If you are looking for a team that is honest etc. etc. Why not just choose the teams that act in such a manner?? That seems like a better way than a potato sack race...

I would be embarrassed to say my team got sponsored because we won a potato sack race...

uuugh, wuts this world coming to??

[Brent Kotchman]

If you are looking for a team that is honest etc. etc. Why not just choose the teams that act in such a manner?? That seems like a better way than a potato sack race...

I would be embarrassed to say my team got sponsored because we won a potato sack race...

uuugh, wuts this world coming to??

The paintball world is ending free hand-outs. From the top down.

Pay to play is back, now if they'd raise the age limit back up and deflate all the balloons....then we're getting somewhere.

We'll be back to the woods at a national level in 10 years. Straight jungle combat.

[EZD]

If you are looking for a team that is honest etc. etc. Why not just choose the teams that act in such a manner?? That seems like a better way than a potato sack race...

I already have 10 honest teams and have sponsored them for years.

Now I have to cut down to 2 of the 10 teams.

A sponsorship from Splat Tag is a great thing for a team to have. It could mean thousands of dollars in saving over a season.

A team should be embarrassed to say the only reason they are sponsored was they won a potato sack race!
Teams should be pround to be a honest team!

The two winning sponsored teams will be very proud to be sponsored for they now that they meet Splat Tag high standards and friendly, honest and show up to play with a positive Attitude.

March 30 is the race. :camouflage:

[Vander]

If you are looking for a team that is honest etc. etc. Why not just choose the teams that act in such a manner?? That seems like a better way than a potato sack race...

I would be embarrassed to say my team got sponsored because we won a potato sack race...

uuugh, wuts this world coming to??

I like the idea of the sack race. It's a fair way to pick teams from a pool of already respected and talented teams.

And you know what guys?
The honestly and courtesy should come into play when the sponsored teams realize that if they do not represent the sponsoring field in an honorable way, they can be "fired" and the remaining 10 teams will be considered to replace them.

I've seen some behaviors from sponsored teams during games that is pretty shameful, really. Winning at ALL costs is not a way for a sponsored team to conduct themselves. As I'm sure you all are aware, sponsored teams must be ambassadors to the sport AND their sponsors.... yelling a line of trash talk across the field that would make a sailor blush is poor representation.

The goal of a sponsored team should be the same as the field owner: Have the paying customers leave excited, happy (knowing that they had fun), and most importantly; wanting to return.

The tactics for crushing your opponents and leaving them feeling shamed and emasculated is just simply bad for business.... and bad for promoting the sport. Sometimes teams/players get caught up in the competition and forget how important good sportsmanship is.

And a LOOONNNG jump off of that soapbox... :)

[Delta Echo]

I like the idea of the sack race. It's a fair way to pick teams from a pool of already respected and talented teams.

And you know what guys?
The honestly and courtesy should come into play when the sponsored teams realize that if they do not represent the sponsoring field in an honorable way, they can be "fired" and the remaining 10 teams will be considered to replace them.

I've seen some behaviors from sponsored teams during games that is pretty shameful, really. Winning at ALL costs is not a way for a sponsored team to conduct themselves. As I'm sure you all are aware, sponsored teams must be ambassadors to the sport AND their sponsors.... yelling a line of trash talk across the field that would make a sailor blush is poor representation.

The goal of a sponsored team should be the same as the field owner: Have the paying customers leave excited, happy (knowing that they had fun), and most importantly; wanting to return.

The tactics for crushing your opponents and leaving them feeling shamed and emasculated is just simply bad for business.... and bad for promoting the sport. Sometimes teams/players get caught up in the competition and forget how important good sportsmanship is.

And a LOOONNNG jump off of that soapbox... :)

From what I understand this sponsorship cut back has nothing to do w/ sponsored teams being unsportsmanlike or as a punishment for any shortcomings of the currently sponsored teams you may perceive.

It is a business decision. While I disagree on the method being used, it is still Darrin's business decision. I pause to wonder if you were on a team that was currently sponsored by Splat Tag, if you would still like the idea of "potato sack victors take all" after you and your team worked hard for years to foster a good reputation, relationships w/ others in the paintball community, and promoting your sponsors to the best of your abilities. I highly doubt it, but take note that nearly no member of any sponsored team have publicly complained about it.

While I respect your opinion, I would like to point out that the majority of "problem players" I have witnessed seem to be players who are not affilated w/ any formal team. This includes willfully ignoring safety rules, and intentional playing on and overshooting, as well as foul language. One thing I have noticed is in the rare situations when a member of a sponsored team does act inappropriately, it is addressed and corrected immediately and decisively by that player's team. I think Darrin and most of his reffs would back me up on this.

Another thing, most of the sponsored teams wear jerseys, so if one player acts inappropriately, you are now assuming that the whole team is like that. Thats not really fair, as there is not a team the Darrin sponsors that I would consider disreputable or who didn't play fair. On the other hand, when a random walk on player acts inappropriatly, unless he/she gets caught by a ref, it tends to be forgotten as most players are hard to identify both on and off the field. I agree that sponsored teams should be held to a higher standard than the average walk-on player. And MOST of them work hard and strive to met that standard.

Now in response to your statement about "tactics for crushing your opponents...
When some of my teammates and I first started playing at Splat Tag and Special Forces, I can still remember our first experience w/ tanks. We got Crushed, but while we did not feel shame or emasculated, we DID feel like we got or A$$es kicked and had been schooled big time. Most importantly we learned, adapted, and evolved from those experiences. Since then paintball tanks, and "terminators" have become very prolific at both the national and local level, and unless you carry a LAW, you can't take them out. Do you feel shamed when getting shot out by one? At least when facing an aggressive team, you can shoot back and get opposing players out, unlike tanks or terminators that are brought in or included in games at the request of field owner. Why do field owners allow them? They bring in some excitement, something that is a challange and hard to overcome. Most of all just to spice things up a little. Good teams, properly used bring the same elements to a game, and field owners know it.

Paintball is a sport, and like most sports it is competitive. Competition breeds the desire to win. All of Splat Tag's sponsored teams like to, and want to win. Some are more aggressive, some are more tactical, some use superior numbers. But they all abide by the rules and more often that not show great sportsmanship whether they win or lose. Personally and most of my teammates would agree w/ me, I would rather learn from and lose to a really great team than win a game where I wasn't challanged or didn't learn anything.

The key is this though, paintball is a lot of fun regardless if a player is on a sponsored team or not, provided that everyone plays fair and honorably.

Not trying to start a flame war Vader, but I didn't feel you are giving Splat Tag's currently sponsored teams a fair shake.

[LoudThunder]

I like the idea of the sack race. It's a fair way to pick teams from a pool of already respected and talented teams.

And you know what guys?
The honestly and courtesy should come into play when the sponsored teams realize that if they do not represent the sponsoring field in an honorable way, they can be "fired" and the remaining 10 teams will be considered to replace them.

I've seen some behaviors from sponsored teams during games that is pretty shameful, really. Winning at ALL costs is not a way for a sponsored team to conduct themselves. As I'm sure you all are aware, sponsored teams must be ambassadors to the sport AND their sponsors.... yelling a line of trash talk across the field that would make a sailor blush is poor representation.

The goal of a sponsored team should be the same as the field owner: Have the paying customers leave excited, happy (knowing that they had fun), and most importantly; wanting to return.

The tactics for crushing your opponents and leaving them feeling shamed and emasculated is just simply bad for business.... and bad for promoting the sport. Sometimes teams/players get caught up in the competition and forget how important good sportsmanship is.

And a LOOONNNG jump off of that soapbox... :)

Ive seen a lot worse sportsmenship from non align/sponsered teams and players than I have from sponsered teams.
Good sportsmanship isnt only about winning gracefully, its also about losing gracefully. Good sporstmenship is going up and shaking the hand of the losing side and saying good game and mean it, not sitting back later and saying those guys are mean they "Crushed us" and complaining all over the place that the other team did this or did that and saying they followed the rules but it wasnt right that they beat us that bad so they had to be doing something wrong or was cheating is some kinda way.
Good sportsmanship is about taking your lumps learning from them and trying again.
Good sportsmanship isnt trying to take teams from the winning side (Side A) and putting them on the non winning side (Side B) even though it would give side b a huge numbers advantage, because side b cant seem to get anything done.
Ive been on both the winning and losing side of games, and Ive learned more from losing then I have from winning.

So basically I'm saying that sometimes your the dog, sometimes your the hydrant. That life.
:twocents:

[EZD]

I took Vandor comments as, teams he has seen everywhere he has played. All teams in general. Not an attack on Splat Tag sponsored teams.

One of the main issue at the monthly local paintball field/store owner meeting is creating a "Team Black List". If any team/player, woodsball or Airball does something bad at one field, that team/player could be added to the list and they would be bard from all fields in the area. Just talk at this point but from some of the stories I heard, if true, the list may be needed or something like it.

[Delta Echo]

I think thats a great idea. Problem is that some bad teams don't stick around as a team for very long, the undesirable players join or start other teams, and registering all players would be a HUGE logistical undertaking.

It is really nice to see field and shop owners acting proactively together to help ensure the survival and growth of our sport.

[Vander]

I took Vandor comments as, teams he has seen everywhere he has played. All teams in general. Not an attack on Splat Tag sponsored teams.

Thank you, Darrin. That's exactly what I am saying. I think that my first line was missed...

It's a fair way to pick teams from a pool of already respected and talented teams.

And to clarify my point about crushing opponents;

I envisioned woodsball players; new players and novice players (with rental markers) going up against experienced players (with 22 BPS)... This is where it's critical to show the "newbs" a good time... otherwise you'll chase them off of the sport. "Crushing" them is what I was talking about... I plan on running with a 8 shot T-8 EXPECTING to get crushed at Arctic Blast. I actually thought about challenging Wrecking Crew "one on one" with his doubles against my T-8 in a close quarter field just for giggles.

My point is merely cautionary not accusatory... I am a student of Business just making an observation.

Delta Echo? Loud Thunder? I was responding to the others talking about sponsorships... I was not picking on any specific team whatsoever (see my first line). I am sorry that you are asked to battle it out in a sack race to retain your sponsorship (looking at your current sponsor list I'd say you guys are doing just fine, though); but as you said Loud Thunder... sometimes you're the hydrant, right?

I'd love to chat with you guys at Arctic Blast to clarify this point in person... conveying a point in a forum is very difficult.

[Delta Echo]

Sorry. My misread then.
Its my one big compliant with the internet... with written text, you miss tone, inflection, and all the rest of the body language that makes up the majority of effective communication. Too easy to misunderstand or be misunderstood.
No hard feelings I hope.
Cya this Sun.

[Vander]

No hard feelings I hope.
Cya this Sun.

No way, man... no hard feeling at all!

That's my big complaint with forums too... It really is hard to convey a full message. Yep... I'll be there Sunday. I just bought a used 98 an hour ago so I'll at least be able to have something that works in the cold. I'm saving a T-8 for Wreck and his doubles, though! :) ha-ha!

[Brent Kotchman]

Why was my post deleted?

It wasn't offensive or degrading and it was honest.

Or has the censorship returned, comrades?

[Darrin]

I thought the post was provoking.

Keeping thread on topic.

8 teams will no longer be sponsored by Splat Tag after this month!

Any Team that wants to be sponsored by Splat Tag in 2008 please read!

[JT-ANNANDALEPAINTBALL]

Darrins comment about the black list is in effect as we speak. Field/store owners are building the list and it is being done by player not by team, to ensure MN paintball will not become a unwanted sport in a community.

[Brent Kotchman]

So was this an April Fools or not?

[Wreckingcrew]

No way, man... no hard feeling at all!

That's my big complaint with forums too... It really is hard to convey a full message. Yep... I'll be there Sunday. I just bought a used 98 an hour ago so I'll at least be able to have something that works in the cold. I'm saving a T-8 for Wreck and his doubles, though! :) ha-ha!


Well seeing as i dont use the Doubles that might be kinda hard :P I use a Angel 1 best marker in the world :):neener: You really cant hit much with the DT anyways i just keep peoples heads down and watch my teammates roll up the flanks :) But as people can attest I can really sling the paint with it over a case in less that 5 mins at a Ironman game :) Chased the entire Red Team over the hill on the tower field with it :) But yeah im sure you could give me a run for my money being a fast single shooter. Being in the Military you know what heavy weapons are for :)

But they sure are pretty wouldent you agree :)

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z319/WreckingCrew1/003-1.jpg

[Vander]

Wreck!
Yes... they are very pretty. I barely had a chance to chat with you guys... Now that the joke's been revealed it makes this thread SO dang funny to me.

I'd like a chance to throw some paint around with you guys, I was thinking the DT's against a T-8 would have been pretty funny. Who knows? I may have survived a wall of paint and broke through. You are right; speed is just as valuable as firepower... I agree.

Hope to see you guys again soon.

[Wreckingcrew]

Wreck!
Yes... they are very pretty. I barely had a chance to chat with you guys... Now that the joke's been revealed it makes this thread SO dang funny to me.

I'd like a chance to throw some paint around with you guys, I was thinking the DT's against a T-8 would have been pretty funny. Who knows? I may have survived a wall of paint and broke through. You are right; speed is just as valuable as firepower... I agree.

Hope to see you guys again soon.


You could also get sent home looking like you got Date Raped by an Octopus :thisissparta: hehe

[EZD]

Thanks to the 95+ people today that showed up and played some great games. Still a lot of Snow out at Splat Tag.

Only teams sponsored by Splat Tag for 2008 will be:

Team Wild Turkey
Team Guys Gone Wild

Just met these guys, but they played fare and man can they hop. ;)

Hope everyone liked the surprise Pizza Party after Arctic Blast Winter Game.
Close to 70 people show up. Thanks for a great 2007 and here's to a good 2008. :)

More Pizza parties to come. :pizza:

Darrin

[Vander]

You could also get sent home looking like you got Date Raped by an Octopus :thisissparta: hehe

Ha-ha! Very true... but at least worth the attempt.

And Darrin... Thanks for the pizza, man! Konoha had a real good time today.

[triggerhappyshawn]

was it a joke? lol

[stapes]

Congrats to "Wild Turkey" & "Guys gone wild"! I hope you have a wonderful year!
(PS. If "guys gone wild" want a sexy uniform, ask the Damage Inc guys where to get the cool leather ;) )

[Bryan]

Congrats to "Wild Turkey" & "Guys gone wild"! I hope you have a wonderful year!
(PS. If "guys gone wild" want a sexy uniform, ask the Damage Inc guys where to get the cool leather ;) )

Hahahaha.
Congratulations Wild Turkey and Guys Gone Wild.
Sorry I couldn't make it up yesterday, sounds like a blast.

[Wreckingcrew]

Congrats to "Wild Turkey" & "Guys gone wild"! I hope you have a wonderful year!
(PS. If "guys gone wild" want a sexy uniform, ask the Damage Inc guys where to get the cool leather ;) )




mmmmmmm Leather :thumb1:

[EZD]

Happy April Fools Day! :laola:

Splat Tag, Inc. had a great 2007 season.

2008 is going to be bigger and better!

Darrin

[paintballaddict15]

Wreck!
Yes... they are very pretty. I barely had a chance to chat with you guys... Now that the joke's been revealed it makes this thread SO dang funny to me.


So was the potato sack race a joke or whats going on here?

[pbpancho]

So was the potato sack race a joke or whats going on here?

Read what Darrin posted just above you... It was all a joke, he got everyone.

[Bryan]

Read what Darrin posted just above you... It was all a joke, he got everyone.

Are the two teams sponsered, or are all 8?
I am so confused about this whole thing.
Nice move Darrin.

[Darrin]

All 11 teams are still sponsored.

It was all a April Fools Day joke.

[MattL]

not that it affected me, but that was quite an evil joke :applaus:

[Wreckingcrew]

All 11 teams are still sponsored.

It was all a April Fools Day joke.


dc:) This whole thing was too funny dc:)

[CmdShorty]

I knew it was a joke right off the bat. A potato sack race?? I don't think any business would base their sponsorship decision on a sack race. Though I was in one of the races and I didn't do so good....only got a 1/4 of the sponsorship.

[Wreckingcrew]

I knew it was a joke right off the bat. A potato sack race?? I don't think any business would base their sponsorship decision on a sack race. Though I was in one of the races and I didn't do so good....only got a 1/4 of the sponsorship.


You must not talk to Darren on a regular basis if you did you would know that this was a very real possibility with him :bigarmy:

[paintballaddict15]

You must not talk to Darren on a regular basis if you did you would know that this was a very real possibility with him :bigarmy:

you must not talk to darrin much either since you spelt his name wrong.
:doh:

[Wreckingcrew]

you must not talk to darrin much either since you spelt his name wrong.
:doh:


Yeah busted my spelling sucks :help:

Hopefully Darrin will forgive me Where the heck did i beging to spell it with a "a" wow i must really be getting old

[Darrin]

No big deal Steve. :prop:

[Wreckingcrew]

No big deal Steve. :prop:


lol now thats funny