Rage (paintball team)

Rage, later known as Miami Rage, was an American professional paintball team based in Florida. Formed in 1994 from members of the Florida Annihilators and Brush Bandits, the team became a leading competitor in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) during the 1990s and 2000s.[1]

Rage won the professional 10-man division at the 1998 NPPL Las Vegas Open and the professional seven-player division at the 2006 NPPL Boston Open. The team also achieved several World Cup podium finishes, including third place in 1998.[2][3][4]

History

Formation (1994)

Rage was formed following the April 1994 NPPL Dallas Open, when members of the Florida Annihilators and Brush Bandits reorganised into a new professional team.

According to former player Joe Gorcsos, the Brush Bandits had been practising with the Florida Annihilators during 1993. Several players subsequently joined the Annihilators, who were sponsored by Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI).

The team experienced difficulties competing against leading professional organisations while using PMI-sponsored equipment.

Following the 1994 Dallas tournament, the remaining players established Rage, electing Todd Adamson as captain and ending their PMI equipment agreement.[1]

The team subsequently obtained sponsorship from RP Scherer and adopted Airgun Designs Automags and Worr Game Products Autocockers.[1]

Early professional competition (1995–1997)

Rage entered the NPPL professional circuit during 1995.

The team developed into an established competitor against leading American organisations, including Chicago Aftershock, All Americans and the Southern California Ironmen.

At the 1996 NPPL World Cup in Orlando, Florida, Rage finished fourth in the professional 10-man division.[5]

The team also competed internationally in Australia during 1996.

Captained by Todd Adamson, Rage participated in the Australian Masters at Helensburgh, New South Wales. Adamson was interviewed at the tournament for Australian Paintballer magazine, discussing the team's playing style and its use of compressed-air Automags.[6]

Following the 1996 season, several original Rage players retired. The remaining organisation incorporated players from the Florida Terminators.

Joe Gorcsos identified this period as the beginning of the team's transition towards the later Miami Rage organisation.[1]

NPPL Las Vegas championship (1998)

Rage achieved one of its most significant victories at the 1998 NPPL Las Vegas Open.

The team reached the professional 10-man final alongside Aftershock, Bob Long's Ironmen and Avalanche.

Rage finished first with 198 points, narrowly defeating Aftershock, which scored 190. Bob Long's Ironmen finished third and Avalanche fourth.

The result is documented in the contemporary WARPIG tournament scoreboard.[2]

Later that year, Rage finished third in the professional 10-man division at the NPPL World Cup.

Aftershock won the tournament, followed by Lockout, Rage and Team Image.[4]

Continued competition (1999–2002)

Rage remained a regular professional contender during the final years of the NPPL 10-man era.

At the 2000 NPPL Chicago Open, Rage reached the professional finals and finished third behind the Southern California Ironmen and Team Image.[7]

The team also reached the final four at the 2000 Nashville tournament, finishing fourth.[8]

Rage continued competing professionally in 2001.

The official NPPL professional roster for that season included Tommy Alvarez, Peter Bofill, Danny Bonura, Chino Carbajal, Blaine Fernandes, Albert Fernandez, Angel Fernandez, Jesse Fernandez, Rico Fernandez, Matt Helgeson, Andy Lageyre, Tony Mineo and Nilo Sierra.[9]

In 2002, Rage finished ninth in the NPPL professional 10-man season standings with 139 ranking points.[10]

NPPL Super 7 competition (2003–2005)

Rage continued competing in the NPPL following the introduction of the Super 7 professional format in 2003.

The organisation competed under the Miami Rage name during this period.

At the 2003 NPPL New Jersey tournament, Rage qualified for the professional quarter-finals after losing only one preliminary match.[11]

The team also competed at the season-ending Commander's Cup in Miami, where contemporary coverage documented its matches against other professional organisations, including San Diego Dynasty.[12]

Rage remained an established professional competitor during the following seasons.

Boston championship (2006)

Miami Rage won the professional division at the NPPL Boston Open, held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, from 21 to 23 July 2006.

The team qualified for the professional elimination rounds and defeated Stockholm Joy Division in the semi-finals.

Rage faced the Naughty Dogs in the championship match.

After a tied opening game and a second-game defeat, Rage won the deciding game 95–15 to secure the tournament championship.

The victory was the organisation's first NPPL event win since the 1998 Las Vegas Open.[3]

Miami Rage remained competitive during the rest of the 2006 season, reaching the professional semi-finals at the San Diego event.

The team finished fourth in San Diego after losing the third-place playoff to Dynasty.[13]

Later competition

Miami Rage continued competing in the NPPL professional division during 2007.

At the final tournament of the season in San Diego, the team finished eighteenth in the professional division, placing it among the teams facing relegation from professional competition.[14]

The organisation also fielded a squad identified as Miami Rage D2, which won Division 2 at the 2007 NPPL Tampa event.[15]

The later history of the organisation and the date on which its original professional programme ceased competing have not been conclusively established.

Notable personnel

Todd Adamson – Founding captain of Rage following its formation in 1994.
Joe Gorcsos – Former Brush Bandits and Florida Annihilators player who participated in the formation of Rage.
Michael "Foxy" Fox – Original team member who played for Rage until 1999.
Chino Carbajal – Professional player associated with Rage during its later 10-man period.[1][9]

Selected tournament results

Year	Tournament	Division	Result
1996	NPPL World Cup, Orlando	Professional 10-man	4th [5]
1998	NPPL Las Vegas Open	Professional 10-man	1st [2]
1998	NPPL World Cup	Professional 10-man	3rd [4]
2000	NPPL Chicago Open	Professional 10-man	3rd [7]
2000	NPPL Nashville	Professional 10-man	4th [8]
2002	NPPL season standings	Professional 10-man	9th overall [10]
2006	NPPL Boston Open	Professional 7-man	1st [3]
2006	NPPL San Diego	Professional 7-man	4th [13]
2007	NPPL Tampa	Division 2 (Miami Rage D2)	1st [15]

References

External links