THE FLYING BLONSKIS, BART and MATT, Russian Legion/Jersey Authority

When did you guys begin playing – did you start out together?

Bart: When I started playing competitively, we were together.

Matt: At first we just played with our friends, but when we got on a team it was together, and it’s been that way ever since.

On what team did you first get to play side-by-side?

Bart: I think it was Juvenile. It was all a bunch of young kids, which was dope too.

Matt: It was just a bunch of kids that saw us play at a tournament and asked us to join. We ran it ourselves and ranked up some podium finishes in Novice, I think.

When did you both finally get to compete at the professional level?

Bart: When we got onto Ground Zero, when it was still 10-Man.

Matt: It was in ’01, I think, after playing for Boston Factory, all in 10-Man.

Do you find yourselves contending for bunkerings, straight-out eliminations or the like? Maybe even for style points?

Bart: Yeah, in the NPPL I’ll get a one-for-one for not even being shot at, and then Matt has to go and top it with a three-for-one when no one even knows he’s there in the 50.

Have you ever frightened teammates by getting into a ‘brotherly disagreement?’

Bart: When we do argue it’ll sometimes get ugly. You never know when Matt’s gonna pull out a trident. He’s a violent fuck.

Matt: It’s all a brother thing. People know we’re brothers, and when people know you’re family they don’t take fights as serious.

Ever gone out of your way to pay back an opponent (or heck, even a teammate) for the sake of something they may have done to your bro?

Bart: Yeah, we’re pretty good at that. I don’t know what it is. It’s like when we were young playing that Ninja Turtle arcade game on co-op mode. It feels good to have each other’s backs, and no matter what people say, revenge is a beautiful thing.

Matt: Yeah, it’s basically how we began in Pro paintball. We were taught to be mean and angry, and many people have felt that anger. I once shot a poor Miami Effect player to the ground until he was crying Hellfire, but that wasn’t my fault, I swear.

How does it feel playing beside your brother – is there an added confidence knowing he’s on the field with you?

Bart: Yeah, Matt always plays well and he’s always consistent, so that’s always there.

Matt: I just hide and let Bart shoot people, then I run past him and grab the flag.

OK, now for the biggie: Who’s the better player?

Bart: Matt’s been playing well way more consistently all season.

Matt: Bart is one of the best front players in the world. I just hide.

Yeah, but who’s the most popular with the ladies when you’re on the road?

Bart: Matt loves lavishly/loosely with the ladies.

Matt: There are many stories but none that are even close to PG-13. A lot include other Pro players and I don’t want to get them arrested.

And to end, what’s the best story you guys have to share from the road?

Bart: There was this one time at a practice against infamous when X-Ball was still young. We used to hate Lasoya, now he’s cool, we actually like him, but back then we hated his ass. Plus, we were little fuckers too. So in between games, like before the breakout, I would be lying down, sniper style, shooting under the net at Chris’ rims.

Sorry dude! It seemed funny at the time… actually, it’s still funny. I just feel a little sorry for it now. Anyway, on the drive back to NY I asked Matt how paint kept getting on the back rim too, and, of course, it was him, doing the same shit. I just didn’t see him. I got out-sniped.

Matt: On the ride to the same practice Bart mentioned, we were caught in sick traffic going to Virginia and decided to make a sign saying “Fuck traffic, show us your tits!” After having it out for about 10 minutes, we rolled up on a car of girls going to the beach, and to say the least, we saw some things. It didn’t work too well after that and we only got angry Guidos going to the Jersey shore.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ROCKY and RAYMOND KNUTH, The Naughty Dogs of Seattle

When did you guys begin playing? Did you start out together?

Rocky: It was either 1996 or 1997. We pretty much started playing paintball together.

On what team did you first get to play side-by-side?

Rocky: A local team called Outrage. We played our first tournament together.

When did you both finally get to compete at the professional level?

Rocky: We both turned Pro in 2003.

Do you find yourselves contending for bunkering, straight-out eliminations or the like? Maybe even for style points?

Not really. Raymond is usually alive at the end of the games. I’m more of the guy that goes out, tries to make something happen and he’s more part of the clean up crew. As far as style points, that would go to me, Raymond plays real ugly, [Laughs] but gets the job done.

Have you ever frightened teammates by getting into a ‘brotherly disagreement?’

Rocky: OOOHHH yeah, we have been in many arguments. Adam Gardner was at our place coaching Philly at a scrimmage and Raymond and I got in a little disagreement. After it was all done Adam came up to me said, “You guys are a lot like Billy and me,” and started laughing.

Ever gone out of your way to pay back an opponent (or heck, even a teammate) for the sake of something they may have done to your bro’?

Rocky: One time I got bunkered ugly by a team we were playing in X-Ball and Raymond went out the next point and returned the favor, and came back to the pits and told me. I thought it was pretty cool. If someone overshoots one our guys or gets real ugly we return the favor for any one of our teammates.

How does it feel playing beside your brother? Is there an added confidence knowing he’s on the field with you?

Rocky: It’s one of the best feelings in the world – wouldn’t trade it for anything. Raymond and I train every day together in the gym so it’s not only on the field but off the field also. My confidence is super high with Raymond. I know how hard he works between tournaments and he is always going to go on the field prepared.

OK, now for the biggie: Who’s the better player?

Rocky: I think I’m probably the better all-around player. Raymond is better at some things. He usually stays alive and is alive at the end of the games. He is one of the best laners in the league. I know my line has a hard time making bunkers running to his side of the field when we practice X-Ball.

Raymond: That’s a tough one because we are different types of players. Rocky is more aggressive and a break-open type player and I’m more conservative and finish games. Ask Rocky who has hung more flags…

Rocky: True!

Raymond: But it’s probably Rocky.

Yeah, but who’s the most popular with the ladies when you’re on the road?

Rocky: No Comment. We are both married and our LOVELY wives read PGi religiously.

And to end, what’s the best story you guys have to share from the road?

Rocky: It’s really hard for the best story because every tournament has its own twist. I will say one thing, though – we have won four 5-Man World Cup Championships together, three of them in a row. Won five jets skis, won the ESPN TV World Championship, won at least one professional tournament in any format together, X-Ball, 7-Man, 10-Man, et cetera. I mean, how many brothers can say that?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Zach and Zane Yachimec, Edmonton Impact

When did you guys begin playing, did you start out together?

Zane: We started playing a lot in 2000 at a local field just outside of Edmonton with my dad and cousin every weekend. We just got hooked and kept coming back and playing better players then eventually joined the local tournament scene.

Zack: We first started playing paintball about 6 years ago while on vacation in Hawaii! We convinced Bart (my father) to let us go play paintball for the first time. By the time we were done the locals thought Bart was in the Army! From there on we were all hooked.

On what team did you first get to play side-by-side?

Zane: We’ve always played side by side; in 2007 when he played NXL with dynasty was the first time we didn’t play on the same team. We have been on Impact for life.

Zack: We both have played on one team our entire paintball career and that is Impact.

When did you both finally get to compete at the professional level?

Zane: Our first pro event was Huntington Beach 07’ after earning our pro spot in 06.

Zack: Last year as Impact we were playing semi-pro in the NPPL, and to guarantee a pro spot we had to place in the top 3 at the end of the year. We placed top 3 securing our spot in the pro ranks for 2007!

Do you find yourselves contending for bunkerings, straight-out eliminations or the like? Maybe even for style points?

Zane: It’s always a competition on the field between us but we play different positions so there’s no real way to compare us with stats

Zack: We both play different positions on the field so that gives one the advantage more than the other but I I think in the end we both just do our jobs. We are team players and that it why we have been so successful in the past.

Have you ever frightened teammates by getting into a “brotherly disagreement?”

Zane: There have been tons of fights between us but the guys on the team are so used to it they barely even pay attention anymore.

Zack: On our team we are all brothers! We have our moment but it usually just gets a good laugh from the rest of the teammates!

Ever gone out of your way to pay back an opponent (or heck, even a teammate) for the sake of something they may have done to your bro’?

Zane: There have been a few guys who have been a bother but I’d never really go out of my way to pay back anyone especially playing Pro where you need to be on your toes the whole time.

Zack: Never. Anything he does is his problem. I would stand up for him if he needed it but I don’t think I would help him get revenge!

How does it feel playing beside your brother, is there an added confidence knowing he’s on the field with you?

Zane: It’s nice because we have played together for so long we definitely know how to play off one another. Playing with him is definitely a confidence booster in my mind

Zack: There is added confidence because we play off each other so well. The thing is with our team we are all confident in each other and we all can play off each other equally.

Okay, now for the biggie: Who’s the better player?

Zane: I’d have to say were both better than each other at the positions we play. Playing up in the middle is a lot different than insert or a front tape.

Zack: I'm going to be modest and say that we both have our strengths and weaknesses on the field.

Yeah, but who’s the most popular with the ladies when you’re on the road?

Zack: Well you can ask Zane that!

Zane: We don’t spend a lot of time on that on the road (being underage sucks!) but at home it’s a different story

And to end, what’s the best story you guys have to share from the road?

Zane: I’d say it would be the drag race we had on the beach with pedal bikes in HB. Zack took a pretty brutal wipeout just before the NPPL Kansas event. He ended up dislocating his shoulder and scraping up his arms and legs and even his chin.

Zack: Watching the whole thing as my brother ran down two people in the snake then turning and shooting two more for a win in our semi Pro season. It was a great feeling to see him break open a game like that. In the end it wouldn’t be the same without Zano!