OK, having started a little discussion on the case against teams, much of it as a devil's advocate. let's look at the case
FOR teams.
Others have said on the other thread, the best thing is the cameraderie and the sense of belonging.
However, as poker players, it can be more than that. Can any of us say that we have improved as players from being in teams?
I suspect for a great many of us the answer is "yes". Discussing hands, and even "holding hands" whether figuratively or literally is a great way to improve ones game, and to learn from players who are (if not better) more developed in their play.
Ask me if I'd have ever even thought of entering a UKIPT event a couple of years ago, and I'd have said "you what?", but last year 7 of us from a single team went to Marbella and played that event and some sides. One team member won the high roller event (Neil Strike - Joesman to us) for a cool 35,000 Euro and another came 3rd in the turbo side event (Those of us who know Ulrich - Giant are still wondering how the heck that can happen) - the team spirit was great, and we all got a slap up meal on the last night courtesy of Neil!
I love being part of a team, as well as part of a community of teams - long may it continue.
Anyone for the EPT Barcelona this year?
Comments
In a strange comment upon the times we live in, the case AGAINST the Teams rattled up 39 replies in no time, much of it was not very pleasant reading, & we saw some people being proper nasty & snidey to each other. We seem to like nasty & snidey.
Then the same guy - Graham - starts another thread, the case FOR Teams, & 14 hours later, it's Tumbleweed City. Maybe Nicey Wicey is out of fashion.
Much to absorb for students of human behaviour.
Have a good weekend.
And as per it will be a constructive reply unlike some others I have seen.
I never see the need to shoot people who just want a constructive debate, but like you say that just seams to be the nature of the beast these days.
Being a member of a team has been a great experience for me in may ways, firstly from a poker point of view it helped me bring on my game a massive amount, it's great to have like minded people around you who you can bounce ideas off of and get help with problem areas of your game. There have been 2 or 3 occasions when I've really struggled with certain aspects of my game and it's always been my HitSquad team mates that have helped me work them out. If I hadn't joined a team, I may still have been playing poker now but I'm pretty sure my game would not have progressed anywhere near as far as it has now.
Also, my live poker experience, I've been lucky enough to have some great results live and some fantastic experiences travelling around the country to various tournaments, a lot of the time with my trusty HitSquad team mates. I'm 100% this would not have happened had I not joined a team and subsequently become desperate to play in an SPT, making the trip up to Newcastle in 2012 (I think) for my first one where I was welcomed with open arms by my team mates (whom I had never met before) and being introduced to the famous and fantastic Sky Poker Community.
Personally, being in a team has been great for me too, I've met a lot of great people who I now consider real friends and when I've had tough times personally I've had a bunch of support from some really good people in the team.
Yeah, there are trials and tribulations, there are ups and downs and the inevitable bickering and ridiculous politics every now and again. But for me the benefits MASSIVELY outweigh the negatives.
Excellent Post too Trev, ......again, +1 to that...
Little Point... just to add to this case that i had already made in first thread!!
A POSITIVE PIECE OF EVIDENCE!!
Forum DTD Battle Tonight!!
There will Probably be Record Numbers in DTD 1,2,3 due to the Fact the Forum DTD Team League is set for its Closest Finish Ever with FOUR Teams Capable of Snatching Jan Title... Dragons, Outlaws, Hitsquad & Poker Titans...
The Threads & Forums are Buzzing withg this Possibility, Many players are playing DTD tonight, for the First Time for a long time or Debuting because of this!!
Well Done to Jono, Dragons, for taking over The Team League i starting & Freshening it Up with a New Structure!
In fact, I feel, The Forum DTD & ALL Teams are in a New Fresh Era!!
I do agree that Disputes aired Publically are Bad for Team Publicity, we in HitSquad strive to keep issues sorted fairly in-house, as I KNOW others do, but sometimes this proves impossible, fact of Cyber Life!
Good Luck ALL Teams, Live Long & Prosper..[Team Klingon taught me that, but they can be Dirty, Skiddy sods]
GL ALL TEAMS TONIGHT!!
X
My case for the teams................
1. It promotes a safe social environment for online players old & new.
2. It reduces the probability of chatbox or forum abuse. We see very few isolated incidents these days compared to two or three years ago as most team players comply to the rules.
3. Players have a social group of like minded friends who can support them in improving their game or supporting them with issues of a more personal nature.
4. It gives players a chance to compete & play poker at almost every level, not just as individuals but as a group of friends or team mates for a chance to earn bragging rights or a bit of pride & glory.
5. Teams have a vast experience in all levels & aspects of poker from S&Gs, DYMs, MTTs & Cash games. Team mates always try to offer help & advice to others to help improve their game.
6. Fun & Banter.....Lots of Fun & Banter.
7. Live events are always a factor in the teams too - I have see many team players make arrangements with other team players who may not yet have attended a live event & feel a little out of their depth, but teams are a way to break these barriers & give other players who may well not have even contemplated playing in a live event a chance to experience it for themselves. It's so much easier to go and do when you know there are others who will help you out & take you under their wing.
8. Monday nights are like having a get together down our local - I look forward to it every week.
9. Teams promote all what is good about the Sky Poker Platform and encourages more people to come & play & join the site. OK it can also have the opposite affect as has been seen in the past, but this is always down to a small minority of narrow minded individuals who lets face it, probably would never be happy even if they won the lotto.
I could go on with the positives but I think you get my jist
All in all I think the teams and the players that are in these teams, many of them who spend a lot of their own personal time promoting tournaments, running leagues, updating league tables such as DTD, Friday Orfordable 2.20@2.20, Team leagues etc etc, have had a positive impact in many ways and made the site a much more enjoyable experience imo.
Boom!!!
What HE SAID!!!
...but better than I Did!!
just for the Kids..
"RESPECT TREV, YOU DA MAN!!!"
LOL!! X
I don't have a lot more to add to what the op, trev, slykilist(greatname), and the rest have already said, and said very well. but felt compelled to add my voice to the 'nicey wicey' or decent folk count, maybe we are just more passive and, in my case anyway, will read a lot more than we post, could it be that we out weigh the 'trolls' but as the bile in their bellies spews out onto numorous posts it can cloud our general view of the forum 'population'.
Having recently started reading various diaries and such it struck me, as with all the teams pages, how many people come forward to wish well, congratulate or indeed console through various trials and tribulations on and off the felt, in my humble opinion id say the vast majority of people here are kind decent folk, as for the rest of them, may I compare them to clouds, when they f off it turns into a nice day!!