Miami Effect
Miami Effect was an American professional paintball team that competed in the original National Xball League (NXL) from 2003 to 2005. One of the league's eight founding franchises, Miami Effect was initially captained by Chris LaSoya and included several former Avalanche players.[1][2]
The team reached the semi-finals of the inaugural NXL championship in 2003. In May 2004, most of its original roster departed to establish Infamous, while Miami Effect continued competing under new ownership and with replacement players.[3][4]
History
[edit]Formation and inaugural NXL season (2003)
[edit]Miami Effect was established for the inaugural 2003 National Xball League season, which introduced a franchise-based professional competition using the X-Ball format.
The team's original roster brought together Chris LaSoya and several former Avalanche players, alongside other established professional competitors.[2]
Miami Effect participated in the NXL's opening tournament at the Mardi Gras Open in New Orleans, Louisiana, in February 2003.
On 20 February 2003, Miami Effect defeated Baltimore Trauma 11–9 in the first official NXL match.[1]
The team continued competing throughout the inaugural season, finishing with a record of 12 wins and 13 losses according to a retrospective published in Paintball 2Xtremes.[2]
At the 2003 World Cup in Orlando, Florida, Miami Effect defeated New York Xtreme in two consecutive quarter-final matches, winning 8–7 and 14–8.
The team advanced to the semi-finals against Oakland Assassins, losing 14–7 and 12–9.
The Assassins subsequently reached the championship final, where they were defeated by the Philadelphia Americans.[3]
Departure of the original roster (2004)
[edit]Miami Effect began the 2004 NXL season under Chris LaSoya's captaincy.
Following the PSP Orlando Open, LaSoya and the majority of the team's original roster left the NXL and established Infamous.
The departing players included LaSoya, Travis Lemanski, Andy Kopcok, Jon Richardson, Rusty Glaze, Gator Glaze and Steve Rabackoff.[2]
The decision was associated with dissatisfaction over restrictions preventing NXL players from competing in other leagues, together with delays to the league's proposed television coverage and player payments.
The new Infamous organisation entered the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) Super 7 tournament in Tampa, Florida, winning the professional division at its first event.[2][4]
Although the players had departed, the Miami Effect name and NXL franchise remained separate from Infamous.
New ownership and continued competition
[edit]Following the departure of the original roster, franchise owner Richmond Italia sold Miami Effect to William "Bill" Gardner Jr. of Smart Parts.
Gardner recruited a replacement roster associated with the All Americans organisation and appointed former Philadelphia Americans player Rowdy MacDonald to lead the team.[4][5]
Miami Effect continued competing in the NXL during the remainder of 2004.
The team finished fourth in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings and entered the World Cup playoffs against Philadelphia Americans.
Philadelphia won the two matches 14–8 and 12–9, eliminating Miami Effect from the championship.[5]
2005 season
[edit]Miami Effect returned for the 2005 NXL season with its reorganised roster.
The team struggled competitively, finishing the regular season without a victory.
According to contemporary WARPIG reporting, Miami Effect scored 66 points and conceded 154 during the regular season.[6]
At the 2005 World Cup, Miami Effect entered the NXL qualification round against Philadelphia Americans.
Philadelphia won the opening match 11–5 and the second match 9–7, eliminating Miami Effect from the championship.[7]
The team's competitive history after the 2005 season has not been conclusively established.
Notable players and personnel
[edit]Original roster
[edit]Players documented as members of Miami Effect before the 2004 departure included:
- Chris LaSoya – Original team captain.
- Travis Lemanski – Player who subsequently helped establish Infamous.
- Andy Kopcok – Professional player who joined Infamous.
- Jon Richardson – Member of the original Miami Effect roster.
- Rusty Glaze – Member of the original roster.
- Gator Glaze – Member of the original roster.
- Steve Rabackoff – Professional player who departed for Infamous.[2]
Ownership and management
[edit]- Richmond Italia – Original franchise owner.
- William "Bill" Gardner Jr. – Purchased the franchise in 2004.
- Rowdy MacDonald – Led the replacement roster following the ownership change.[4][5]
Selected tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament or series | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | NXL World Cup | Professional X-Ball | Semi-finalists [3] |
| 2004 | NXL World Cup | Professional X-Ball | Eliminated in opening playoff round [5] |
| 2005 | NXL regular season | Professional X-Ball | No victories [6] |
| 2005 | NXL World Cup | Professional X-Ball | Eliminated in qualification round [7] |
See also
[edit]- Infamous (paintball team)
- National Xball League
- Avalanche
- Oakland Assassins
- Philadelphia Americans
- List of historically significant paintball teams
References
[edit]- WARPIG – Mardi Gras Open 2003, National X-Ball League Debut, February 2003.
- Paintball 2Xtremes – 81 Moments That Shaped Paintball, June 2005, reproduced on Automags.org.
- WARPIG – PSP World Cup 2003, NXL Playoffs and Championship.
- WARPIG – NXL: Same Triggers, New Leagues, Bill Mills, 9 July 2004.
- WARPIG – PSP World Cup 2004, NXL Playoffs and Franchise Changes, October 2004.
- WARPIG – Road to World Cup 2005, NXL Regular Season Review, October 2005.
- WARPIG – PSP World Cup 2005, NXL Qualification Results, October 2005.