EP League Bulldogs vs WASP - 5th June 2011

[Nibs]

Folks,

With respect to this particular match.  It was a good one.  As Gelp mentioned the 2nd half could have gone either way.

Now to the point of controversy.   Although it appears that this was a case of saying one thing and doing the other, it really wasn't.   

Prior to the match we (BD) knew we were going to be short.  Quite frankly we were having the equivalent of a "perfect storm" and up to 15 minutes before the match had only 4 pilots who could make it.   This is unlike our performance so far so you have to know that personal issues had taken precedence over this match.

I had previously PM'd Bonz to see how one goes about using non-competing pilots as substitutes.   In the course of those communications Bonz let me know he would talk with WASP about not flying with more pilots than BD.  My response was that it would be ok if they flew 7 as WASP shouldn't have to have pilots show up and then have to sit because BD couldn't get enough pilots.   I pointed out that we (BD and WASP) were going to have fun regardless of who wins or loses and that, that really is the important thing.

So please lets not lose sight on how this really was a very enjoyable and rewarding match for us BD pilots (and I hope for WASP also).   Being outnumbered gave us a chance to test how good we were at quickly changing our game plan and strategies along with using good communication and teamwork.   The second half is evidence of how we settled down and responded when put to this test.

And lets give Bonz his due credit for I know he tried his best to promote fairness on this match.

Nibs

[Mutley]

I don't normally like to get involved in these controversy Threads but on this occasion i have to say something......

Impeccable timing Gelp

[Tbar]

Suggestion:
This is a match post, why not take the 'problem area' to a post of its own.

[shrapnel]

I'm thinking I should maybe have given more thought to my last post on this subject (and the subject is the last match between WASP and BD) In fact I probably shouldn't have posted at all.  Still, the more I think about it the more angry I become.  Since this could well be the last thing I ever post in here I might as well be totally blunt.

Let those who are without sin cast the first stones and three stalwart members of the AA community have seen fit to cast their stones at WASP. Your indignation, Monsta rings hollow. No one wants to rehash old history about Thorn but suffice it to say that people in glass houses shouldn't throw  stones. And MajorPain, considering past behavior of  some of your squad members in matches,  you should refrain from hurling bricks around your particular glass house. I know little about FMJ or his squad but I'm willing to accept that he and his mates are perfect people and that he is, therefore, comfortable with his self righteousness.

In the end, all that needs to be said is that WASP did nothing illegal and followed the rules that almost all of you say are fair and reasonable. So even if any of you don't like what their CO posted in "Equal Power means Equal Sides" you have no reason to attack the entire squad for their behavior in their last match against BD. I know all the WASP pilots individually; all decent guys who want to do the right thing. I urge my old squad mates to hold their heads high, keep on fighting  and ignore irrelevancies. You have done nothing to be ashamed of.

[Monsta]

Shrap, I'm not sure what your aim is here but I'm not sure what you're trying to get at?  I'm not sure why you're bringing other squads in to this debate; Majorpain, I'm not sure what he has done, FMJ has been the epitome of fair play, he has capped [Tigers] alts against weaker squads as well as pilot numbers, and has even referred pilots who've asked to join Tigers to Thorn as they didn't need them, so accusing more people isn't the solution.....

Now, on to the subject of being angry, why is this the case?  You mention Thorn, yet I was not in charge at the time of their apparent indiscretions and so had no control of what went on within Thorn, I think you confuse the situation.  I only point out my opinions, there is no [Thorn] at the moment and so I speak for myself and what I believe is just.  Where did I call people out as unsportsmanlike or egotistical for not agreeing with my point of view, how did I say that everyone else was wrong and that if I was in control then AA wouldn't be run unfairly with uneven squad numbers? I can't understand how everyone else is getting the blame when I've merely pointed out that you guys are no different to everyone else in wanting to win as has been proved against BD!

The posts by Skullbonz insinuated (as can be seen from a previous quote) that the whole of WASP squad felt this way (equal power means equal power) and that everyone else was wrong in not flying equal numbers.  I agree, WASP didn't break the rules, I would've had no problems with the result if it wasn't for the manner in which much of the community was accused of unsporting behaviour by a member of your squad who was claiming to be acting on behalf of your squad.

[shrapnel]

OK, this is definitely my last word on the subject :) yeah I know.

Sorry Monsta and Major Pain but I had no desire to criticize either of you or your squads until you decided to pick on WASP. In fact my posts way back when Thorn was in the limelight were sympathetic to the members of that squad. All I'm saying is that it is unfair to attack an entire squad and hypocritical to think that its members are any worse than those in any other squad. None of us are perfect, not even me and sometimes that needs to be pointed out.

My references to other squads are simple meant, as I said already, to illustrate that all of us should be careful not to cast stones unless we ourselves can claim perfection. I know I can't. Can you? I'm not claiming to be representing any one other than myself. All I can do is appeal to everyone to exercise tolerance and to realize that no one can claim sole rights to the high road.

Perhaps all of us, including Skullbonz and myself should reflect on what all this has done to pilots' moral and the game we all love to play. Let's try and dig ourselves out of this pit of accusation and counter accusation. Peace.

[Rb_Tullamore-Dew]

If I´m allowed to add my portion of acid:

I really don´t see what´s the problem at all here: when you play in a league by rules and one rule says the required minimum of pilot numbers is 7, then you´ll need at least 7 pilots each sunday afternoon/ evening. If a squad really only has 7 members it requires them to be available each sunday, which for some probably is a tad bit hard. This is why a couple squads having 10 + pilots.

A C/o needs to know the availability of his pilots, before he signs up his squad for a league. Talking about myself again, this was one of the reasons I closed Rb-squad 2 seasons ago. Rb had only 4 pilots that would attend nearly each sunday, the other pilots not. Knowing that beforehand, I wouldn´t sign up for a league that requires a 7 pilots minimum because it was foreseeable that we would play most matches disadvantaged in regard to numbers.
(on the other hand it´s always a good excuse to say: we could´ve beaten them, if we only had the numbers.  )

I think it´s also unfair to other squads who show up with 7 + pilots and 2 or even 3 will have to sit out, which I think is exactly the reason Thorn withdrew from the current league.

Having said that, I fully understand why it is so hard to fold an existing squad and to join another squad. Especially when it is a very old established squad that exists 5 years and longer already.

But for younger, recent squads that would be surely a way to consider, even if it pushes the number of participating squads down. Better that, than bearing with the consequences that frustrated pilots quit playing.

I for one will play that damn game until either the server wents tits up or there is only 2 squads left in the game. But I want to have fun while playing, no matter if we win or lose.

Other than that, Temper hit the nail on its head with a single sentence:

Put simply: Equal Power means Equal Planes, not Equal Teams or Equal numbers.

P.S. don´t listen to Skullbonz. He´s a troublemaker. 


P.P.S. but a nice and funny guy.