Tampa Bay Damage, winners of the 2011 PSP World Cup, have taken a crucial element of the Russian Legion’s starting line. Only minutes ago, Tampa Bay Damage and Justin Rabackoff inked a deal for the 2012 pro paintball season. Prior to signing his deal with Damage, J-Rab played with PSP World Cup runners up, the Russian Legion. ProPaintball insiders speculate that once the Russians learn of J-Rab’s departure, the team will rapidly look to fill the void.

Justin Rabackoff signs with Tampa Bay Damage

In 2010, Justin Rabackoff was selected as SplatMagazine’s paintball player of the year. In recent years J-Rab has split his time between two teams. In the PSP, he competes with the Russian Legion. In the NPPL, with DC Arsenal. ProPaintball has confirmed that Justin Rabackoff will play exclusively with Tampa Bay Damage in both the NPPL and PSP series throughout the 2012 paintball season.

Justin Rabackoff has left the Russians

This won’t be Justin’s first time playing with Tampa Bay Damage. In 2010, J-Rab joined the team to compete in the NPPL and contributed to the teams win in Chicago, Vegas, and the NPPL 2010 Series title.

Tampa Bay Damage is a DYE Precision paintball team. As such, Justin Rabackoff will be wearing head to toe DYE paintball gear and shooting a DYE Damage DM12 paintball gun.

Damage was already a great team and this pick up only makes them stronger. Will Tampa Bay Damage take the 2012 Paintball Series?

The paintball world cup was an amazing success. Over 270 paintball teams converged in Polk City, Florida to compete against the best 5 man teams in the world. According to the PSP, event spectating was at an all time high with all 1900 grand stand seats sold out and fans from across the world tuned in to the free paintball webcast. After four days of competition and an entire season of preperation, the 2011 PSP World Cup Results are in.

Professional Paintball
1st Tampa Bay Damage
2nd Russia Boston Red Legion 3rd Dynasty
4th Vicious

Division 1
1st Upton 187 cRew 2nd T1 Topgun Union
3rd VCK
4th New Jersey Jesters

Division 2 RaceTo-5
1st Distortion
2nd Boom
3rd Grad Moscow
4th Static

Division 3 RaceTo-4
1st Revo
2nd PR1ME
3rd Atlanta Breakout
4th Royalty

Division 4 RaceTo-4
1st Revo II
2nd Central Florida Paintball
3rd Imperial
4th PG Rise

Division 2/3 RaceTo-2
1st PR Crew
2nd CCS Fusion
3rd New Jersey Jesters Silver
4th Infusion

Division 3 RaceTo-2
1st Lastcall
2nd Plan B
3rd Gainesville Gridiron
4th Seek and Destroy

Division 4 RaceTo-2
1st TKO Blackout
2nd 406s Finest
3rd POSTAL
4th DBS Supersonics

Division 5 RaceTo-2
1st Sick n Twisted
2nd CPz!
3rd Average Joes Blues
4th Edge Army II

Masters
1st Fluffy Bunnies
2nd Capital Edge Hitters

Pro paintball player Alex Spence of Tampa Bay Damage has been sitting out the 2011 season while he recovers from cancer. Alex discovered that he had Acute Myeloid Leukemia shortly after he and Tampa Bay Damage won the World Series Championship. Spence shared an update today on his recovery.

I am sorry I have left many of you in the dark about my health, I got a little side tracked since I am doing much better and able to enjoy life a little more again. I have greatly improved and am starting to be my normal self again. Although I am still on several meds and have a few procedures left (mostly biopsies and things like that) my life has started to return to how it used to be. I am very thankful of my girl friend, Alex Fuller, who has been a major force in my recovery along with my family. I didn’t want to post anything due to the fact that I didn’t want to jinx anything but about two months ago the doctors let me move back to my house. This dilemma has tested Alex and I’s relationship again and again and since we have prevailed so much we decided to move in together with my brother and his girl friend which has been amazing. I am still on several meds and have to return to Moffitt every other week but things are going much better with every visit. I have started riding my bike to gain strength back and will begin practicing to rejoin my paintball team for next season soon.

I would like to thank every one that has helped me, prayed for me, and has stuck by my side, you have all saved my life. I am greatly in debt to you all. Thank you so much and everything you have done for me is greatly appreciated.

Alex Spence

As you can tell this is very positive news. Everyone at ProPaintball wishes Spence a quick and speedy recovery. Hope to see you on the pro field soon Spence!

The Chicago pickem and the Pro Paintball poll (right hand side of the page) have opened up for you to place your bets on the winners and losers of the PSP 2011 Chicago Open. Cade Coleman, the PSP score keeper and ProPaintball are proud to share several data points for your consideration and general paintball knowledge. Hopefully these data points will help you increase your odds of winning the PB Pickem grand prize. Study up and place your picks!

Data is based on PSP Pro Paintball matches between 2007 to 2011

PSP 2011 Chicago Open Stats:

• 2007 – Largest Margin of Victory: Legion (23) vs. Ultimate (1)
• 2007 – Finals: X-Factor (7) vs. Ironmen (6)
• 2008 – Finals: Damage (5) vs. Aftermath (3)
• 2009 – Finals: Legion (7) vs. Aftermath (1)
• 2010 – Finals: Infamous (7) vs. Damage (5)

PSP Pro Paintball Team Facts and Win / Loss Records:

Chicago Aftershock:

• 31 Wins (36%) / 56 Losses (64%)
• Looking for their first Pro win of the 2011 season, shut out 0-4 at the 2011 Texas Open.

Chattanooga CEP (PSP Pro since 2011):

• 0 Wins (0%) / 4 Losses (100%)
• Looking for their first Pro win ever, also shut out 0-4 at the 2011 Texas Open.

Tampa Bay Damage (PSP Pro since 2008):

• 51 Wins (61%) / 32 Losses (39%)
• Wins and 1 OT Loss during the Texas Open, they were knocked out by Legion (2-4) in the Semis.

San Diego Dynasty:

• 59 Wins (58%) / 43 Losses (42%)
• 3 Wins (7-0, 7-1, 7-1) and 1 Loss (Legion) during the Texas Prelims, beat Infamous in the Semis, and Legion (7-2) in the Finals.

Edmonton Impact (PSP Pro since 2008):

• 38 Wins (52%) / 35 Losses (48%)
• 2 Wins (both 5-4) and 2 Losses (both 1-7), looking to advance out of the Prelims in 2011.

LA Infamous:

• 49 Wins (51%) / 47 Losses (49%)
• 3 Wins (2OT) and 1 Loss during the Texas Prelims, they were knocked out by Dynasty (2-5) in the Semis.

Los Angeles Ironmen:

• 70 Wins (65%) / 38 Losses (35%)
• 2 Wins (1OT) and 2 Losses in Texas, looking to advance out of the Prelims in 2011.

Boston Red Legion:

• 82 Wins (75%) / 28 Losses (25%)
• 3 Wins and 1 Loss (OT Loss, Ironmen), beat Damage in the Semis and Lost to Dynasty (2-7) in the Finals.

Omaha Vicious (PSP Pro since 2010):

• 7 Wins (37%) / 12 Losses (63%)
• 2 Wins (1OT, both 6-5) and 2 Losses (1OT) in Texas, looking to advance out of the Prelims in 2011.

San Antonio X-Factor:

• 44 Wins (49%) / 46 Losses (51%)
• 2 Wins (7-3, 7-2) and 2 Losses in Texas, looking to advance out of the Prelims in 2011.

Does the Win and Loss record effect your loyalty to your favorite pro paintball team? Or, is there more to a pro team than winning? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Tampa Bay Rays closing pitcher Kyle Farnsworth took time off from tacking up K’s on the mound to see how many G’s he could rack up on the field. Accompanied by an extensive television crew from FSN’s Florida station, Farnsworth took to the fields of Blitzkrieg Paintball in Tampa, Florida to run through a couple points with his local team, the Predators.

Along with a mix-up of local players, Tampa Bay Damage heavy hitters Mike Carthy, Timmy Propst and Chad Busiere were all in attendance to play with and against Farnsworth’s squad. Paintball has been a hobby for both Farnsworth and his young son, and they seemed to be relatively versed in all the basic strategy and mechanics of X-Ball play. Filming of this took place on May 26^th and it is to be used for an upcoming episode of Inside the Rays, a television show aired throughout Florida that focuses on the current happening of Tampa Bay Rays players. Paintball’s presence in Florida is particularly strong, and this is just a testament to that. For any players living in Florida who want to catch it, the production crew estimated that the episode should be shown sometime around June 16^th on Fox Sports Florida (Sun Sports).

Tampa Bay Damage and DYE Precision are hosting an autograph signing today at 12 noon. They will be giving away 50 free Damage tee’s! This is a great opportunity to meet the one of the best teams in Paintball. This signing will be at the DYE trailer at CPX Sports paintball park in Joliet, Illinois.

According to ProPaintball insiders, Jason “Fat Kid” Edwards of Tampa Bay Damage recently joined the police force and missed the first two events due to work. Although he missed HB and Galveston, Jason will be returning to the pro field for the Chicago paintball tournaments and playing the rest of the season with Tampa Bay Damage. Scott Kemp of the Los Angeles Ironmen filled in for Jason at Huntington Beach and will continue playing 7-man with Tampa Bay Damage.

ProPaintball caught up with Jason who had this to say;

“I’ll be coming back as sweet as ever, missing those events was more fuel for the fire, and bringing TBD back to the podium wont be a issue.”

Jason Edwards playing pro paintball - Photo by Jeff Stinson

Be sure to check out Jason Edwards paintball PRO*File.

Cassidy Sanders from Pbfashion / Channel H recently Mic’d up pro paintball player Tyler Harmon of Tampa Bay Damage at PSP Galveston. This video provides an opportunity to watch and listen as Tyler raps his way through the prelims. According to the video notes, this was video was a test and more player perspectives are planned in the future.

Click here to view the embedded video.

A few weeks back we posted an update from pro paintball player Alex Spence of Tampa Bay Damage regarding his battle with cancer. Joey Blute of Tampa Bay Damage has provided a bit of background and an update on Alex’s fight.

Towards the end of November 2010 original Tampa Bay Damage team member Alex Spence was diagnosed with AML (a type of leukemia) due to complications arising from the removal of his wisdom teeth. Efforts to respond to failed antibiotics and other symptoms eventually resulted in the completely unexpected diagnosis that doctors later said probably saved Alex’s life. 

Over the next two months Alex made progress though the results were sometimes up and down. The Moffitt Cancer Center has the reputation of being a preeminent institution for the treatment of cancers. Christmas in the hospital came and went. As did New Years. Early in January he began another round of chemo. By late in the month Alex wasn’t fully in remission but the numbers were getting close. Once again doctors told him he might soon be able to go home for a time at least. And this time they were right.

Alex was able to go home on Feb 1, 2011. Despite that there was more chemo ahead and the effort to find a bone marrow donor began in earnest. On the 24th Alex posted that a donor had been found. And on the Feb, 27th Alex was able to join his teammates for a short visit during practice out at Central Florida Paintball.

The process remains ongoing. The next major step will be the BMT (bone marrow transplant.) Before that can happen there are extensive batteries of additional tests to be done and his doctors are focused on creating the ideal conditions before giving the tranplant the go-ahead. Throughout, Alex has remained strong and with the continued efforts of his doctors and love, friendship and prayers of his family and friends we know he will beat this and soon be home where he belongs.

Thanks for the outpouring of support. Alex and his family appreciate the offers for donations, but that isn’t needed. If you want to donate money to help cancer survivors or research, there are lots of great places to do so already. Let’s keep this about Alex please.

Update 3/7/11: Late last week Alex took a turn for the worse he has started to turn the corner again but is not out of the woods. Please keep him in your prayers.

Tampa Bay Damage 2011 Tryouts

Tampa Bay Damage, the 2010 Pro Paintball Series Champions, have announced the team will be holding tryouts for the Damage 2011 pro paintball team. This is an amazing opportunity to play with some of the best players and coaches in the business.

We will be holding an invitation only tryout. To be invited, you will need to provide answers for the questions listed below. If I respond to your email, you will be given the date and time where to be for the tryout. If you cannot commit to practicing 3 weekends a month at Central Florida Paintball park, please do not apply. If you cannot make all 4 NPPL and 4 PSP events, please do not apply. You must have 1 year of national paintball experience and you must live in the state of Florida.
This is an opportunity to play with a top level, professional paintball team. It takes a lot of time and commitment. While we want to have fun, we also work hard to be the best. Please respect the requirements listed above. Do not apply if you cannot meet the time requirements.

1. Name
2. Age
3. Active APPA number
4. What position do you currently play?
5. What can you offer Tampa Bay Damage?

Please email your responses to Joey – tbdcrew@gmail.com. Do not PM your responses. Your ability to follow directions is crucial.

It goes without saying that the spots are extremely limited. We suggest interested parties apply quickly for consideration. Best of luck!

Tampa Bay Damage may have changed paint sponsorship, jumping over to GI Sports, but their sponsorship with Dye has not changed. Another thing that has not changed is Dye’s ability to do amazing print anodizing on their markers! We here at ProPaintball have got an exclusive peak at the new Damage NT-11.