Put it on your calendars people, OSC #4 will be run on May 16th at Tombstone paintball Park.

So get your crews together, get your game plan together and hit the fields. So far this season has been just incredibly awesome! With yuma Rattlers leading the board, Special Ed in second and Flipped Out in third....

But the race is still wide open! so get with it!

Can't wait! This series is just too much fun! Great people to hang out with, great sports to play against.

I have been playing paintball since the mid-eighties and I have never been this excited to play. The OSC has brought back the love of the game for me in a big way!

Rexx - give the seething masses more info!! I wanted to put this on the calendar, but the Tombstone website was having a problem for the OSC info link.

Tombstone Paintball Park in Corona California
http://members.cox.net/tombstonepaintball/map.htm


Sunday May 16, 2004
3 Man Open Stock Class 40 round limited paint

The Current Standings
http://www.paintballhero.com/stand.htm

On;ine registration
http://www.paintballhero.com/payit.htm


Now, If I can get to my Bob Costas suit.


With May 16th just being a week before the NPPL Tampa event there may be some drain of players or teams like Hard Eight who play both the NPPL and OSC or the LA Explosion who may have players competing in the NPPL Tampa event. Either way, OSC 4 is on it's way!

With that being said if you look at the leader board it looks like it is open for the top 10 teams to start to pull ahead and make their mark to win this series. Rumor has it the Fish might be in this one as I do not believe they will be traveling to Tampa to compete, if they do, it will just add a sweet spice to this already well-prepared competition.

As of the writing of this post the Yuma Rattlers stand on top of the heap with a decent lead, but the pack is close, and a bad day for the Rattlers could drop them from the top in one tournament. Special Ed and Flipped Out are one point apart in second and third, with Swellfish in fourth just nine behind them. Closing up in the fifth and sixth place are Hard Eight and the Cali Kings, so looking at the top six this could still be anybodies race.

Now is the time for my expose' of what I think. (Chomp on the stogie)

I'm looking at this lineup and still think there is a lot of play in this season. There is no one team rolling up the field as a lot of the teams are now practicing two or even three times a week to perfect their play. I like SBD, they are underrated as a team but always seem to be close to the top, I think things could go their way this season.
I also like Flipped Out as a team. In an interview with Milo their team skipper, he points out that his team works hard, stays focused, and just plain plays hard. I agree, and Milo constantly reminds his players that they are surgeons, not butchers....I know personally about that, they have performed their surgery on me.

I also Like the Swell Fish. They are a clan of the Famous Blowfish and can really put on some seriously solid play. But coming in under the radar are a whole host of teams. I think Special Ed will remain in the top four, their style reminds me of an anaconda, slow, deliberate and purposeful. Hard Eight takes it to the field and are really great to watch play, their style is a mix of pure aggression and finding those deadly angles.

Flipped Out Too is not to be counted out, they are the sister team to Flipped Out and are serious players themselves and a crew that is not to be taken lightly. The Cali kings are my pick to make some great strides this year. They are a team of youths who work really hard to improve and do well in this competition and season.

But you cannot count out the Yuma Rattlers. These guys, both teams of them, have so much experience and skill between them that they are the Elder Statesmen of the game. Anyone who practices snap-shooting toothbrushes is no one you want to meet on the field.

OK. My guys got on my back last time so I have to give them a little something too. Rare Breed has just recruited a solid third player who brings maturity to a young team. Breeds players have only been playing paintball period for six months, and are learning quick. So for experience we had recruited a new guy, and he’s fitting in very well, I hope to see great things in the future from this crew. (there you guys I did it)

Rounding out the field is Strange Alien Brew, another team that I think is underrated and can come back and get you later, gotta keep your eyes on them. Also a new crew is FNA. These guys are new to the competition but if they stick with it they will go on to do great things.

Which brings me to my pick to take this season if they are there. I think of course your top four as described before, but watch THE WADAS!

This is a family team and they can play! You cannot discount this team at all.

Also the LA Explosion is back, after taking a hiatus from open stock play they come back in style and do well. LA Explosion also has a lot of players who play both OSC and Div 1 or Pro paintball.

So there is the flavor, a little taste… Actually there are more teams, I’m just tired of writing….

I've been out of the West Coast loop for a bit - what ever happened to Cobra Kai? I had the pleasure of playing with one of their guys, Micah, during the 2002 IAO. I haven't heard anything about them in some time.

After the 2003 Pam Am I think the Kai have kinda been off and on. They are solid players, butas a team I have not seen them all together. Cobra Kai together is a formidable crew, when they are competing.

getting close... Pre Tournament highlights to come when the lineup is complete

Register NOW

Here it comes (I know I am a OSC hore but...) get in on it!

Ok boys and girls the registration is closed and we have 21 teams ready to battle it out for OSC #4! Some of the teams I don't know much about so if I don't mention them it's just that I don't know them that well. Also, AnYTHING can happen in OSC- Top teams could choke, and no named newbys can come out and take the prize the play level is that good.

Well looking at the field it looks like a bunch of the old hands and a few new teams are in the mix. Of course both Yuma Rattlers crews will be on hand with Yuma I defending their lead in the points race for this season. You have got to keep your eyes on these guys, just like a snake, you think they are no problem and then they bite ya! But behind the Rattlers 1 team in second is Special Ed.

I like these guys, they don't play a spectacular physical game but they play a methodical game. A sure bet to be in the top points battle. As well as Flipped Out and Flipped Out Too!

These guys train and train and train, and it is paying off as they are in the hunt respectivly in Third place and ninth place points wise and are costantly improving their game. They study their game like a martial art and strive to improve it all the time. My money is on Flipped for this one...and I could be wrong concerning that when discussing Hard Eight!

Hard Eights two crews are also hard players. Walking in both the NPPL and OSC world they bring alot of great play, speed and experience to put them in the top positions, I put Hard Eight in a spoiler spot to take the tourney.

As well in the spoiler position I have to put a few crews. The Wadas for instance are a family team. Jack Wada and his sons come out and in their first tourney turn it up side down placing in the top six and commanding the fields. They bring alot of experience with some blazing speed and Jacks dead on shooting skill.

As well as the Cali Kings, a team of youths who placed fourth in OSC 3. This young team of players knows what they need to do and get it done, they play very well, move quick and are in my opinion destined to be a force in the future.

SDB or Silent but Deadly always seem to place themselves in the top 10. SDB plays a scrappy game, not the prettiest but they are tough on the field, usually playing in an underdog position they pull off stunning end game moves.

And Strange Alien Brew out of San Diego, these guys again are overlooked as a team, they can go toe to toe with the others an dish it out was well so you cannot just discount them.

One of my favorite teams out there is the Swellfish. one of the fish clan of teams they are coming along well and are a scrappy but smooth playing team. This crew is hard to get out of their bunkers once they are there and they like to close the gap making it a bit unnerving to their opponents.

Which brings me to Rare Breed, yeah they are my team, and I don't like to write about my own teams and such but I have to give them the credit they deserve. Breed has been pushing themselves to improve and working out with Flipped Out and some of the Blowfish, Swellfish and SBD players they are learning and improving. Now if we could just not make mistakes, maybe we'll place....

As for the rest, hope to meet up with ya at the tournament. and to everyone best of luck! This series could make it interesting....