but you have no problem putting the outlaws and the lasers in the same sentence ...?
I am not affiliate with any organization any more. One of my daughter's played with the Lasers Aqua back in the day before I left Ohio (and moved to Illinois)
But to me, most of the nonsense (or entertainment) on this board seems to be a: Lasers vs. (teams outside of Ohio) OR Lasers vs. (anyone inside of Ohio who tries to "move up the ranks" as you put it) OR whatever parent is pissed that their kid isn't part of the above!
BUT- At the end of the day, its supposed to be about the girls right? does it matter if their jersey says "LASERS" or "BANDITS" or "OUTLAWS"?? or, are you THAT opposed to anyone else possibly being viewed as "entering" into the upper echilon so you cannot dare put OUTLAWS in that group now right? Let me ask you -does this (the Outlaws being put in the same group as the Lasers) detract from the fact that your daughter is on the Lasers? does that detract from her prestige?
There are other dynamics at play too- and this is what i see:
Some parents/coaches (for reasons i don't understand) don't like when the "good'" players leave "Ohio" and play for good organizations outside of Ohio such as the Beverly Bandits (Demarini or Premier); Chill (although i'm not sure Gerry even has any Ohio kids on his roster anymore- he prefers not to grow); Indiana Magic Gold; Indi Dreams, Indi Prospects, Louisville Lady Sluggers, Birmingham Thunderboltz, NJ Intensity, NJ Cheetahs etc. so they bash these teams because either (a) they think Ohio Lasers is the end all and no need to go outside of Ohio and/or (b) there kid can't make a team like that so well, you know.
Now, recently PGF has spread in the Midwest. With PGF comes a network of State Directors that meet in California during nationals and "talk" and set agendas, agree to send their "top teams" to each others showcases to ensure good talent at these showcases etc. etc. and yes, Ohio's State Director is Warren and he runs that Outlaws. to me, it seems that some people don't like this "band of brothers" for whatever reason. (i'm not going to debate softball politics, asa/pgf right now) They (Outlaws) have affiliated themselves with some of the best softball minds out there and in turn, put themeselves in a position to get their gold/premier/elite players recruited...thats a good thing right?
Others seem to take issue that the organization isn't 100% gold- that they offer both. I can't speak for the Outlaws but I do know the Outlaws has "gold/premier/elite" teams that compete in top showcases and they also have other teams that are geared towards D2/D3.
TO THIS i'd say, they are not the only organization that does this- a good example would be New Jersey Intensity. The KOD teams are the top teams (gold), and yes he has a couple other teams that are good too (equivalent to premier/elite), but and yes he has others that are not at that level. Not sure that is a bad thing either?
I'd ALSO ADD- the Lasers motto back in the day used to be 'age group' and you had one at each age group maybe 2 at most. 1993,1994,1995 (yeah i'm taking us way back)
Well, the Lasers went through a period where they added more teams (we all remember the fun on here during the OLD Lasers red days right?) and i'm sure that bothered people that they expanded and some thought well if you call yourself "elite" you can't expand so teams were axed and some of you might recall that the 1998 Lasers Green was axed a few years ago and this year the 1999 Lasers Silver was axed
You know whoelse has "multiple" teams and not all are premier? Alabama Thunderboltz AND the EC Bullets- to each their own right?