Jump to content

Bob Long's Ironmen: Difference between revisions

From WikiPaintball

Admin (talk | contribs)

3 user groups
5,093 edits
undo
Created page with "'''Bob Long's Ironmen''' was an American professional paintball team formed by Bob Long following his departure from the original Ironmen in late 1996. The team competed in the professional division of the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[1] The organisation was distinct from the continuing Ironmen team associated with Dave Youngblood and Shane Pestana, which was variously i..."
 
Created article on Bob Long’s Ironmen, covering the 1996 split from the original Ironmen, 1998 NPPL professional championship, tournament results from 1997 to 2002, documented rosters, equipment sponsorship and later relationship with the Oakland Assassins.
 
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Bob Long's Ironmen''' was an American professional paintball team formed by [[Bob Long]] following his departure from the original [[Ironmen (paintball team)|Ironmen]] in late 1996. The team competed in the professional division of the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[1]


The organisation was distinct from the continuing Ironmen team associated with [[Dave Youngblood]] and [[Shane Pestana]], which was variously identified in tournament records as the '''Southern California Ironmen''', '''SC Ironmen''' or simply '''Ironmen'''.[2][3]
'''Bob Long's Ironmen''' was an American professional [[paintball]] team formed by [[Bob Long]] following his departure from the original [[Ironmen]] organisation in late 1996. The team competed primarily in the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) professional 10-man division and won the 1998 NPPL professional season championship. [1][2]


Bob Long's Ironmen made their professional tournament debut at the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open, finishing third. The team subsequently won the '''1998 NPPL professional 10-man season championship'''.[1][4]
Also referred to as '''Bob's Ironmen''' and '''Bobby's Men''', the team was distinct from the Southern California Ironmen, which continued under the leadership of [[Dave Youngblood]] and [[Shane Pestana]]. [3]


The two Ironmen organisations competed against one another during the late 1990s and early 2000s, including a widely reported encounter at the 1998 Chicago Open and championship finals appearances at the 2000 World Cup and 2002 Chicago Open.[2][5][6]
Bob Long's Ironmen remained a major professional competitor through 2002. Long subsequently led the [[Oakland Assassins]] in the newly established [[National Xball League]] (NXL). [4]
 
Bob Long's Ironmen formed an important chapter in Long's competitive career following his leadership of the original Ironmen and before his later involvement with teams including the [[Oakland Assassins]].
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Bob Long's Ironmen
|-
! Full name
| Bob Long's Ironmen
|-
! Alternative names
| BL Ironmen; Bobby's Ironmen; Bob's Ironmen
|-
! Sport
| Tournament paintball
|-
! Country
| United States
|-
! Founded
| Late 1996
|-
! Founder
| [[Bob Long]]
|-
! Team leader
| Bob Long
|-
! Competition
| [[National Professional Paintball League]]
|-
! Division
| Professional 10-man
|-
! Notable achievement
| 1998 NPPL professional season champions
|-
! First documented professional event
| 1997 NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open
|-
! First documented professional result
| 3rd place
|-
! Associated players
| [[Rich Telford]]
|-
! Related teams
| [[Ironmen (paintball team)|Ironmen]], [[Oakland Assassins]], [[Bob Long's Blast]]
|-
! Status
| Historical team; later organisational succession not fully established
|}


== History ==
== History ==


=== Background ===
=== Formation and the Ironmen split (1996–1997) ===
 
The original Ironmen emerged from the Northern California paintball community during the mid-1980s.
 
Bob Long became the team's captain and helped establish the organisation as one of the leading American tournament teams.
 
The Ironmen achieved considerable success during the early years of the NPPL.
 
The team was also closely associated with the introduction of the [[Autococker]] developed by [[Bud Orr]] and [[Worr Game Products]].
 
During the early 1990s, the Ironmen became one of the most recognisable names in professional paintball.
 
However, the original organisation experienced internal disagreements during the mid-1990s.
 
=== Departure from the original Ironmen ===
 
Bob Long left the original Ironmen in autumn 1996.
 
Contemporary WARPIG reporting at the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open explicitly records Long's departure and the establishment of a new team.[1]
 
Long assembled a separate roster that became known as '''Bob Long's Ironmen'''.
 
The original Ironmen continued independently.
 
The two organisations therefore shared a historical origin but competed as separate teams.
 
=== Formation of the new team ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen was established following the split.
 
The team competed in professional 10-man paintball.
 
Its roster included experienced tournament players and new recruits.
 
Long remained the central figure in the team's leadership.
 
The organisation retained the Ironmen name while distinguishing itself through the use of Long's name.
 
== 1997 season ==
 
=== Las Vegas Desert Open ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen competed at the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open.
 
The event was organised in conjunction with the Great Western Tournament Series.
 
Contemporary WARPIG reporting described the tournament as the new team's professional debut.[1]
 
The continuing original Ironmen did not compete because its members were refereeing the tournament.
 
=== Tournament performance ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen advanced through the preliminary and semifinal rounds.
 
The team entered the professional semifinals as the eighth-ranked qualifier.
 
It subsequently reached the finals.
 
The recorded professional results were:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Team
|-
| 1
| All Americans
|-
| 2
| Aftershock
|-
| 3
| Bob Long's Ironmen
|-
| 4
| GBD
|}
 
The result established the newly formed team as a competitive professional organisation.
 
=== Early significance ===
 
The third-place finish was achieved shortly after Long's departure from the original Ironmen.
 
It demonstrated that the new team could compete against established professional organisations.
 
The result also provided an early distinction between Bob Long's Ironmen and the continuing Ironmen.
 
== 1998 season ==
 
=== NPPL competition ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen continued competing in the NPPL professional 10-man division during 1998.
 
The team became one of the leading competitors of the season.
 
Its results included a third-place finish at the Chicago Open.
 
=== Chicago Open ===
 
The 1998 NPPL Chicago Open was held at the Badlandz paintball field in Illinois.
 
The event featured the first documented tournament match between Bob Long's Ironmen and Dave Youngblood's Ironmen following the 1996 split.[2]
 
The encounter attracted considerable interest because of the teams' shared history.
 
=== First meeting between the Ironmen ===
 
Contemporary WARPIG reporting described the match as highly anticipated.
 
Players from both teams had competed together before the split.
 
The game featured Rich Telford of Bob Long's Ironmen and Micah McGlocklin of Dave Youngblood's Ironmen.
 
Marty Bush also played for the continuing Ironmen organisation.[2]
 
The match developed into a tactical contest.
 
Bob Long's team eventually advanced, eliminated sufficient opponents to secure the flag and completed the hang.
 
The victory became an important moment in the history of the two organisations.
 
=== Chicago Open result ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen advanced to the professional finals.
 
The team finished third overall.
 
The recorded leading positions were:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Team
|-
| 1
| Revolution
|-
| 2
| All Americans
|-
| 3
| Bob Long's Ironmen
|-
| 4
| Lockout
|}
 
WARPIG reported that the final game between Revolution and the All Americans affected the positions of the second- and third-place teams.[2]
 
=== 1998 NPPL season championship ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen won the 1998 NPPL professional season championship.
 
Contemporary photographs from the 1998 NPPL World Cup identify the team as the overall professional series champions.[4]
 
This was the team's most significant documented achievement.
 
The championship was won only two seasons after the organisation was formed.
 
=== World Cup refereeing ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen performed refereeing duties at the 1998 NPPL World Cup.
 
WARPIG's contemporary photographs document the team refereeing alongside Ground Zero.[4]
 
Under the NPPL's historical competition structure, teams sometimes received season points for refereeing an event.
 
The championship should therefore be distinguished from winning the World Cup tournament itself.
 
The 1998 World Cup professional tournament was won by Aftershock.
 
== 1999 season ==
 
=== Continued professional competition ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen continued competing in the NPPL professional division during 1999.
 
The team appeared at major events including Dallas and Chicago.
 
Contemporary results distinguish Bob Long's Ironmen from the continuing Southern California Ironmen.
 
=== Dallas Open ===
 
At the 1999 NPPL Dallas Open, Bob Long's Ironmen advanced to the professional semifinals.[3]
 
The team entered the semifinals as the fourth-ranked qualifier.
 
The same event separately listed the continuing Ironmen as '''SC Ironmen'''.
 
Bob Long's Ironmen recorded 111 points in its semifinal group and did not advance to the professional finals.
 
=== Chicago Open ===
 
At the 1999 NPPL Chicago Open, Bob Long's Ironmen again reached the professional semifinals.
 
The team's recorded semifinal results were:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Game
! Points
|-
| Game 1
| 6
|-
| Game 2
| 95
|-
| Game 3
| 95
|-
| Total
| 196
|}
 
The team ranked third in the combined semifinal standings and advanced to the finals.[7]
 
The continuing Ironmen were listed separately and finished seventh in the semifinals.
 
=== Historical distinction ===
 
The 1999 Chicago results provide particularly strong evidence that the two organisations were separate.
 
The tournament records list:
 
* Bob Long's Ironmen
* Ironmen
 
Both competed in the professional 10-man division.
 
Their results must not be combined when reconstructing historical championship records.
 
== 2000 season ==
 
=== Continued competition ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen remained active in the NPPL during 2000.
 
The team competed in professional 10-man tournaments.
 
The continuing Ironmen organisation also remained active.
 
=== Chicago Open ===
 
At the 2000 NPPL Chicago Open, Bob Long's Ironmen advanced to the professional semifinals.[8]
 
The team recorded 26 points across its three semifinal games.
 
It did not advance to the final stage.
 
The continuing Ironmen finished first in the semifinal standings and advanced to the finals.
 
=== NPPL World Cup ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen advanced to the professional finals at the 2000 NPPL World Cup.
 
The final group included:
 
* Southern California Ironmen
* Image
* Aftershock
* Bob Long's Ironmen
 
The team finished fourth.[5]
 
=== World Cup results ===
 
The recorded final standings were:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Team
|-
| 1
| Southern California Ironmen
|-
| 2
| Image
|-
| 3
| Aftershock
|-
| 4
| Bob Long's Ironmen
|}
 
WARPIG reported that Bob Long's Ironmen lost all three of its final-round games.


The result was another documented instance of the two Ironmen organisations competing directly at the same event.
Bob Long had been a prominent member and captain of the original Ironmen, one of America's leading tournament teams during the late 1980s and early 1990s.


== 2001 season ==
Following a division within the organisation in late 1996, Long departed and assembled a separate team under the Bob Long's Ironmen name. [1]


=== Chicago Open ===
The original Ironmen continued competing independently, subsequently becoming known as the Southern California Ironmen and Los Angeles Ironmen.


Bob Long's Ironmen competed at the 2001 NPPL Chicago Open.
Bob Long's new team entered professional competition during the 1997 NPPL season.


The team advanced to the professional semifinals.
At the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas tournament, the team reached the professional 10-man finals and finished third behind the All Americans and Chicago Aftershock. Contemporary WARPIG coverage identified the result as the new team's first professional tournament placing. [1]


Its recorded semifinal results were:
The organisation also fielded a second squad, known as Bob Long's Ironmen II, in amateur tournament competition during 1997. [5]


{| class="wikitable"
=== NPPL championship (1998) ===
! Game
! Points
|-
| Game 1
| 92
|-
| Game 2
| 43
|-
| Game 3
| -4
|-
| Total
| 131
|}
 
The team did not advance to the professional finals.[9]
 
The continuing Ironmen also competed at the event and advanced from its semifinal group.
 
=== Tournament environment ===
 
By 2001, professional paintball was undergoing significant changes.


The NPPL continued to use 10-man competition at major events.
The 1998 season established Bob Long's Ironmen as one of America's leading professional teams.


However, smaller-team formats and purpose-built tournament fields were becoming increasingly important.
At the NPPL Chicago Open, the team met Dave Youngblood's Ironmen in tournament competition for the first time since the 1996 split.


Bob Long's Ironmen competed during this transitional period.
The match attracted considerable attention because the teams shared a common history but were now competing as separate organisations.


== 2002 season ==
Contemporary coverage described a closely contested game featuring Rich Telford for Bob Long's Ironmen and Micah McGlocklin for the original Ironmen. Bob Long's team won the match and subsequently finished third in the tournament. [3]


=== Chicago Open ===
At the 1998 NPPL Portland Open, Bob Long's Ironmen finished second behind Ground Zero. The result strengthened the team's lead in the professional season standings. [6]


Bob Long's Ironmen competed at the 2002 NPPL Chicago Open.
Bob Long's Ironmen secured the 1998 NPPL professional 10-man season championship, with the title confirmed at the World Cup in Orlando, Florida.


The team completed its preliminary games undefeated.
The team received its championship award during the World Cup presentation ceremony. [2]


WARPIG reported that Bob Long's Ironmen finished the preliminaries as the highest-ranked professional team.[6]
=== Continued professional competition (1999–2000) ===


The continuing Southern California Ironmen ranked second.
Bob Long's Ironmen remained active in the NPPL professional division during 1999 and 2000.


Only seven points separated the two teams.
The team reached the semi-finals of the 1999 NPPL Chicago Open and continued competing against the original Ironmen, Ground Zero, Aftershock and other major professional teams. [7]


=== Professional finals ===
At the 2000 NPPL Los Angeles Open, Bob Long's Ironmen finished second behind Lockout. Avalanche finished third and Team Image fourth. [8]


Bob Long's Ironmen advanced through the semifinals to the professional finals.
The team also reached the professional finals of the 2000 NPPL World Cup in Orlando.


The final group included:
Bob Long's Ironmen finished fourth, while the Southern California Ironmen won the tournament and secured the professional season championship. [9]


* Dynasty
=== 2001 season ===
* Bob Long's Ironmen
* Southern California Ironmen
* Strange


The event was particularly notable because both Ironmen organisations qualified for the same final group.
Bob Long's Ironmen won the professional five-player division at the 2001 Diablo Mardi Gras Open in New Orleans, Louisiana.


=== Direct encounter ===
The team finished ahead of Southern California Ironmen II, Image II and Toulouse TonTons in the finals. The victory included a prize package of five personal watercraft. [10]


During the professional finals, Southern California Ironmen defeated Bob Long's Ironmen by 94 points to 12.[6]
The team continued competing in the NPPL professional 10-man division.


Bob Long's team also played Strange to a 16–16 stalemate.
The published 2001 roster identified Bob Long as captain, alongside Mike Carey, Arnold Franciso, Craig Fronsoe, Dustin Hansen, Roland Huyng, Kevin Jones, Zach Long, Tyler Michand, Mark Nelson and Ron Nelson. [11]


The result provides another documented head-to-head encounter between the two organisations.
At the 2001 NPPL World Cup, Bob Long's Ironmen reached the professional finals and finished third behind San Diego Dynasty and Chicago Aftershock. [12]


=== Historical significance ===
=== Final NPPL 10-man seasons (2002) ===


The 2002 Chicago Open demonstrated that both Ironmen teams remained competitive several years after their separation.
Bob Long's Ironmen continued competing at the highest level during the final season of the original NPPL professional 10-man championship structure.


It also placed the organisations in direct competition with Dynasty and Strange during the final years of the NPPL's traditional 10-man era.
The team finished third at the 2002 NPPL Los Angeles Open, behind San Diego Dynasty and Aftershock. [13]


== Players ==
At the Chicago Open in June 2002, Bob Long's Ironmen advanced to the professional finals alongside Dynasty, Southern California Ironmen and Strange.


=== Bob Long ===
The team finished second behind the Southern California Ironmen, with Strange third and Dynasty fourth. [14]


[[Bob Long]] founded and led the team.
Bob Long's Ironmen also competed internationally, finishing fourth in the professional division at the 2002 Millennium Series Portugal event. [15]


He had previously captained the original Ironmen.
The team finished fifth in the overall 2002 NPPL professional 10-man standings with 208 ranking points. Dynasty and the Southern California Ironmen shared the championship with 229 points each. [16]


Long remained closely associated with the organisation throughout its documented competitive history.
=== Oakland Assassins and X-Ball ===


He subsequently became known for his equipment business, [[Bob Long Technologies]], and the [[Bob Long Intimidator]].
The introduction of the NXL in 2003 marked a transition in Bob Long's professional team programme.


=== Rich Telford ===
Long led the [[Oakland Assassins]], one of the original eight professional NXL franchises.


[[Rich Telford]] was a prominent member of Bob Long's Ironmen.
The Assassins competed against the Los Angeles Ironmen, Philadelphia Americans, Chicago Aftershock and other professional organisations during the inaugural NXL season. [17]


Contemporary WARPIG coverage identifies him playing for the team at the 1998 Chicago Open.[2]
The team finished the regular season as the highest-ranked NXL franchise in 2003 before advancing to the championship playoffs. [17]


Telford was involved in the first documented tournament encounter between the two Ironmen organisations.
The relationship between Bob Long's Ironmen and the Oakland Assassins was demonstrated during the 2004 NPPL Denver Open.


He subsequently became associated with other professional teams and the development of modern tournament paintball.
With NXL players permitted to enter NPPL tournaments but restricted from using their NXL franchise names, Bob Long's Oakland Assassins competed under the Ironmen name.


=== Other players ===
Contemporary WARPIG coverage explicitly distinguished Long's team from the Los Angeles Ironmen, which competed under the name The Men at the same event. [4]


The team included additional players during its competitive history.
The later competitive history of the Oakland Assassins is covered separately.


However, complete season-by-season rosters have not been established from the available sources.
== Notable players ==


Contemporary photographs, tournament programmes and magazine reports may provide further identifications.
Players documented with Bob Long's Ironmen include:


Players should not be assigned to the team solely because they previously played for the original Ironmen or subsequently competed for other Bob Long-associated organisations.
* [[Bob Long]] – Founder and captain.
* [[Rich Telford]] – Member of the 1998 roster before subsequently playing for the Southern California Ironmen.
* Mike Carey – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Arnold Franciso – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Craig Fronsoe – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Dustin Hansen – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Kevin Jones – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Zach Long – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Mark Nelson – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
* Ron Nelson – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.


== Relationship with the original Ironmen ==
[3][11][18]


=== Shared origins ===
== Selected tournament achievements ==
 
Bob Long's Ironmen and the continuing Ironmen both traced their history to the original Northern California team.
 
The original organisation had achieved substantial success during the early NPPL era.
 
Bob Long had been its captain.
 
Following his departure, both organisations continued to compete.
 
=== Separate competitive records ===
 
The teams must be distinguished in historical results.
 
Contemporary sources used several names for the continuing Ironmen, including:
 
* Ironmen
* SC Ironmen
* Southern California Ironmen
* Dave Youngblood's Ironmen
 
Bob Long's team was identified as:
 
* Bob Long's Ironmen
* BL Ironmen
* Bob's Ironmen
 
The naming conventions varied between events and publications.
 
=== Head-to-head competition ===
 
Documented meetings included the 1998 Chicago Open, 2000 World Cup and 2002 Chicago Open.
 
The 1998 Chicago encounter was particularly significant because it was described as the first tournament match between the teams since the split.
 
=== Historical interpretation ===
 
The two organisations represented separate branches of the original Ironmen history.
 
Bob Long's Ironmen should not be treated as a simple alternate name for the continuing Los Angeles Ironmen.
 
Likewise, championship results achieved by Bob Long's team after 1996 should not automatically be attributed to the continuing Ironmen organisation.
 
== Equipment and sponsorship ==
 
=== Bob Long ===
 
Bob Long was involved in paintball equipment development alongside his competitive career.
 
He had previously been associated with WGP Autocockers during the original Ironmen era.
 
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, he developed his own equipment business.
 
=== Electronic marker development ===
 
Long's equipment work eventually led to the introduction of the Intimidator electronic paintball marker around 2000.
 
The marker became an important platform in professional tournament paintball.
 
However, the exact marker configurations used by Bob Long's Ironmen at individual events require verification from contemporary photographs and equipment records.
 
=== Sponsorship history ===
 
The team's complete sponsorship history has not been reconstructed.
 
Equipment and clothing sponsorships should be documented separately for each season.
 
The original Ironmen's WGP sponsorship should not automatically be assumed to have continued unchanged after the split.
 
== Later history ==
 
=== Decline of 10-man competition ===
 
During the early 2000s, professional tournament paintball shifted toward smaller-team formats.
 
The NPPL developed its Super 7 competition.
 
The PSP and NXL introduced X-Ball formats.
 
These changes affected the structure of professional teams and tournament organisations.
 
=== Bob Long's later teams ===
 
Bob Long subsequently became associated with teams including:
 
* [[Bob Long's Blast]]
* [[Oakland Assassins]]
* [[Philadelphia Assassins]]
 
These teams formed part of his later competitive career.
 
However, the precise organisational and roster succession from Bob Long's Ironmen has not been fully established.
 
They should not automatically be described as direct renamings without supporting documentation.
 
=== Final documented period ===
 
Bob Long's Ironmen is documented in major NPPL tournament records through 2002.
 
The exact date when the team stopped competing under that name has not been conclusively established.
 
Further tournament records may identify later appearances or clarify its transition into subsequent organisations.
 
== Tournament results ==
 
=== Selected documented results ===


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Year
! Tournament
! Competition
! Division
! Division
! Result
! Result
! Notes
|-
|-
| 1997
| 1997
| NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open
| NPPL Las Vegas
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| 3rd
| 3rd place [1]
| First documented professional appearance
|-
|-
| 1998
| 1998
| NPPL Chicago Open
| NPPL Chicago Open
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| 3rd
| 3rd place [3]
| Defeated Dave Youngblood's Ironmen in the semifinals
|-
|-
| 1998
| 1998
| NPPL season
| NPPL Portland Open
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| Season champions
| 2nd place [6]
| Confirmed by contemporary World Cup coverage
|-
|-
| 1999
| 1998
| NPPL Dallas Open
| NPPL Series
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| Semifinalist
| Series champions [2]
| Did not advance to finals
|-
|-
| 1999
| 2000
| NPPL Chicago Open
| NPPL Los Angeles Open
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| Finalist
| 2nd place [8]
| Third-ranked semifinal qualifier
|-
|-
| 2000
| 2000
| NPPL Chicago Open
| NPPL World Cup
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| Semifinalist
| 4th place [9]
| 26 semifinal points
|-
| 2001
| Diablo Mardi Gras Open
| Professional 5-man
| Champions [10]
|-
|-
| 2000
| 2001
| NPPL World Cup
| NPPL World Cup
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| 4th
| 3rd place [12]
| Southern California Ironmen won
|-
| 2002
| NPPL Los Angeles Open
| Professional 10-man
| 3rd place [13]
|-
|-
| 2001
| 2002
| NPPL Chicago Open
| NPPL Chicago Open
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| Semifinalist
| 2nd place [14]
| 131 semifinal points
|-
| 2002
| Millennium Series Portugal
| Professional
| 4th place [15]
|-
|-
| 2002
| 2002
| NPPL Chicago Open
| NPPL Series
| Professional 10-man
| Professional 10-man
| Finalist
| 5th overall [16]
| Undefeated in preliminaries
|}
|}


The table is not a complete record of the team's tournament appearances.
== Equipment and sponsorship ==


== Historical significance ==
The team maintained a close association with Bob Long's paintball equipment business.


Bob Long's Ironmen is significant for several reasons.
Long was involved in developing customised markers and accessories, including the Delta Defiant and subsequent [[Bob Long Intimidator]] electronic paintball marker.


* It emerged directly from the division of one of paintball's most successful early professional teams.
At the 1999 NPPL Las Vegas Open, Bob Long's Ironmen announced a sponsorship arrangement with Max Attack, an Australian compressed-air equipment manufacturer. Long reported using the company's air system with his Delta Defiant marker. [19]
* It established a separate competitive organisation under Bob Long.
* It finished third in its first documented professional tournament.
* It won the 1998 NPPL professional season championship.
* It competed directly against the continuing Ironmen organisation.
* It remained competitive during the final years of traditional professional 10-man paintball.
* Its history connects the original Ironmen with Bob Long's later professional teams and equipment business.


The team is also important for historical recordkeeping.
The Intimidator became closely associated with Long's professional playing programme during the early 2000s and was subsequently used by numerous competitive teams. [20]


Its existence demonstrates why professional paintball results must distinguish between similarly named teams.
== Legacy ==


== Timeline ==
Bob Long's Ironmen represented a significant period in the history of American professional paintball.


{| class="wikitable"
Its 1998 NPPL championship demonstrated the competitiveness of Long's newly assembled organisation following his departure from the original Ironmen.
! Year
 
! Event
The existence of two separate professional Ironmen teams between 1997 and 2002 is an important distinction when documenting tournament results, rosters and championship histories.
|-
 
| Autumn 1996
The team's later association with the Oakland Assassins also connected the NPPL 10-man era with the development of professional X-Ball. [4][17]
| Bob Long leaves the original Ironmen
|-
| Late 1996
| Bob Long establishes a separate team
|-
| 1997
| Team competes as Bob Long's Ironmen
|-
| 1997
| Finishes third at the NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open
|-
| 1998
| Defeats Dave Youngblood's Ironmen at the Chicago Open
|-
| 1998
| Finishes third at the Chicago Open
|-
| 1998
| Wins the NPPL professional season championship
|-
| 1999
| Competes separately from SC Ironmen at Dallas
|-
| 1999
| Advances to the Chicago Open professional finals
|-
| 2000
| Reaches the Chicago Open semifinals
|-
| 2000
| Finishes fourth at the NPPL World Cup
|-
| 2001
| Reaches the Chicago Open semifinals
|-
| 2002
| Completes Chicago Open preliminaries undefeated
|-
| 2002
| Reaches Chicago Open professional finals
|-
| After 2002
| Later organisational history requires further verification
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Bob Long]]
* [[Bob Long]]
* [[Ironmen (paintball team)]]
* [[Los Angeles Ironmen]]
* [[Dave Youngblood]]
* [[Shane Pestana]]
* [[Rich Telford]]
* [[Bob Long's Blast]]
* [[Oakland Assassins]]
* [[Oakland Assassins]]
* [[Philadelphia Assassins]]
* [[Bob Long Technologies]]
* [[Bob Long Technologies]]
* [[Bob Long Intimidator]]
* [[Bob Long Intimidator]]
* [[Autococker]]
* [[Worr Game Products]]
* [[National Professional Paintball League]]
* [[National Professional Paintball League]]
* [[NPPL Chicago Open]]
* [[National Xball League]]
* [[NPPL World Cup]]
* [[History of professional paintball]]
* [[Paintball in the United States]]


== References ==
== References ==


# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplvegas97/nppllv97.shtml "1997 NPPL Las Vegas Desert Open"], WARPIG. Contemporary tournament coverage documenting Bob Long's autumn 1996 departure from the original Ironmen, formation of his new team and third-place professional finish.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplvegas97/nppllv97.shtml WARPIG – 1997 NPPL Las Vegas, Bob Long's Ironmen professional debut and results].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago98/index.shtml "1998 NPPL Chicago Open"], WARPIG. Contemporary coverage of the first documented tournament match between Bob Long's Ironmen and Dave Youngblood's Ironmen, including the team's third-place finish.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplcup98/index.shtml WARPIG – 1998 NPPL World Cup and Professional Series Championships].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/dallas99/10semi.shtml "1999 NPPL Dallas — Professional Semifinals"], WARPIG. Contemporary scoreboard separately listing Bob Long's Ironmen and SC Ironmen.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago98/index.shtml WARPIG – 1998 NPPL Chicago Open, first tournament meeting of the two Ironmen teams].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplcup98/gallery/index.shtml "1998 NPPL World Cup Photo Gallery"], WARPIG, photographs by Dawn Mills. Contemporary photo gallery identifying Bob Long's Ironmen as the overall 1998 NPPL series champions.
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2004/denver/index.shtml WARPIG – 2004 NPPL Denver Open, Oakland Assassins competing under the Ironmen name].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/worldcup/2000/index.shtml "2000 NPPL World Cup"], WARPIG. Contemporary event report documenting Bob Long's Ironmen finishing fourth and Southern California Ironmen winning the professional division.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/gws/1997/gws.sf97.shtml WARPIG – 1997 Great Western Series San Francisco, Bob Long's Ironmen II results].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/chicago/index.shtml "2002 NPPL Chicago Open"], WARPIG. Contemporary event coverage documenting Bob Long's Ironmen's undefeated preliminary record, finals qualification and head-to-head match against SC Ironmen.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplportland98/index.shtml WARPIG – 1998 NPPL Portland Open tournament report].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/chicago99/10sem.shtml "1999 NPPL Chicago — Professional Semifinals"], WARPIG. Contemporary scoreboard independently listing Ironmen and Bob Long's Ironmen.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/chicago99/10sem.shtml WARPIG – 1999 NPPL Chicago Open, Professional 10-man Semi-Finals].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago00/10sem.shtml "2000 NPPL Chicago — Professional Semifinals"], WARPIG. Contemporary scoreboard documenting Bob Long's Ironmen and the continuing Ironmen as separate competitors.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/LA_open00/semi10.shtml WARPIG – 2000 NPPL Los Angeles Open, Professional 10-man Finals].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/chicago/10fin.shtml "2001 NPPL Chicago Open — 10-Man Semifinals"], WARPIG. Contemporary professional semifinal results documenting both Ironmen organisations.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/worldcup/2000/index.shtml WARPIG – 2000 NPPL World Cup tournament report].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/gts/mg2001/finals.shtml WARPIG – 2001 Mardi Gras Open, Professional 5-man Finals].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/proroster.shtml WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Professional Rosters].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/worldcup/index.shtml WARPIG – 2001 NPPL World Cup, Professional 10-man Finals].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/la/10sem.shtml WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Los Angeles Open, Professional 10-man Finals].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/chicago/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Chicago Open, 19–23 June 2002].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/milleniumseries/2002/portugal/pre.shtml WARPIG – 2002 Millennium Series Portugal, Professional Results].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/ranking/ranking.shtml WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional 10-man Season Rankings].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2003/cup/index.shtml WARPIG – 2003 PSP World Cup and NXL Championship].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/proroster.shtml WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional Rosters].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/vegas99/index.shtml WARPIG – 1999 NPPL Las Vegas Open, Bob Long's Ironmen sponsorship and Delta Defiant].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/mardigras/2002/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 Mardi Gras Open, Bob Long Intimidator equipment].


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplvegas97/nppllv97.shtml WARPIG — 1997 Las Vegas Desert Open]
* [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplcup98/index.shtml 1998 NPPL Championship, WARPIG]
* [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago98/index.shtml WARPIG — 1998 Chicago Open]
* [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/ranking/ranking.shtml 2002 NPPL Season Rankings, WARPIG]
* [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplcup98/gallery/index.shtml WARPIG — 1998 World Cup Photo Gallery]
* [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/chicago99/10sem.shtml WARPIG — 1999 Chicago Semifinals]
* [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/worldcup/2000/index.shtml WARPIG — 2000 World Cup]
* [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/chicago/index.shtml WARPIG — 2002 Chicago Open]


[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:American paintball teams]]
[[Category:American paintball teams]]
[[Category:Former professional paintball teams]]
[[Category:Professional paintball teams]]
[[Category:National Professional Paintball League teams]]
[[Category:Historical paintball teams]]
[[Category:Paintball history]]
[[Category:Paintball in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 01:20, 17 October 2026

Bob Long's Ironmen was an American professional paintball team formed by Bob Long following his departure from the original Ironmen organisation in late 1996. The team competed primarily in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) professional 10-man division and won the 1998 NPPL professional season championship. [1][2]

Also referred to as Bob's Ironmen and Bobby's Men, the team was distinct from the Southern California Ironmen, which continued under the leadership of Dave Youngblood and Shane Pestana. [3]

Bob Long's Ironmen remained a major professional competitor through 2002. Long subsequently led the Oakland Assassins in the newly established National Xball League (NXL). [4]

History

[edit]

Formation and the Ironmen split (1996–1997)

[edit]

Bob Long had been a prominent member and captain of the original Ironmen, one of America's leading tournament teams during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Following a division within the organisation in late 1996, Long departed and assembled a separate team under the Bob Long's Ironmen name. [1]

The original Ironmen continued competing independently, subsequently becoming known as the Southern California Ironmen and Los Angeles Ironmen.

Bob Long's new team entered professional competition during the 1997 NPPL season.

At the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas tournament, the team reached the professional 10-man finals and finished third behind the All Americans and Chicago Aftershock. Contemporary WARPIG coverage identified the result as the new team's first professional tournament placing. [1]

The organisation also fielded a second squad, known as Bob Long's Ironmen II, in amateur tournament competition during 1997. [5]

NPPL championship (1998)

[edit]

The 1998 season established Bob Long's Ironmen as one of America's leading professional teams.

At the NPPL Chicago Open, the team met Dave Youngblood's Ironmen in tournament competition for the first time since the 1996 split.

The match attracted considerable attention because the teams shared a common history but were now competing as separate organisations.

Contemporary coverage described a closely contested game featuring Rich Telford for Bob Long's Ironmen and Micah McGlocklin for the original Ironmen. Bob Long's team won the match and subsequently finished third in the tournament. [3]

At the 1998 NPPL Portland Open, Bob Long's Ironmen finished second behind Ground Zero. The result strengthened the team's lead in the professional season standings. [6]

Bob Long's Ironmen secured the 1998 NPPL professional 10-man season championship, with the title confirmed at the World Cup in Orlando, Florida.

The team received its championship award during the World Cup presentation ceremony. [2]

Continued professional competition (1999–2000)

[edit]

Bob Long's Ironmen remained active in the NPPL professional division during 1999 and 2000.

The team reached the semi-finals of the 1999 NPPL Chicago Open and continued competing against the original Ironmen, Ground Zero, Aftershock and other major professional teams. [7]

At the 2000 NPPL Los Angeles Open, Bob Long's Ironmen finished second behind Lockout. Avalanche finished third and Team Image fourth. [8]

The team also reached the professional finals of the 2000 NPPL World Cup in Orlando.

Bob Long's Ironmen finished fourth, while the Southern California Ironmen won the tournament and secured the professional season championship. [9]

2001 season

[edit]

Bob Long's Ironmen won the professional five-player division at the 2001 Diablo Mardi Gras Open in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The team finished ahead of Southern California Ironmen II, Image II and Toulouse TonTons in the finals. The victory included a prize package of five personal watercraft. [10]

The team continued competing in the NPPL professional 10-man division.

The published 2001 roster identified Bob Long as captain, alongside Mike Carey, Arnold Franciso, Craig Fronsoe, Dustin Hansen, Roland Huyng, Kevin Jones, Zach Long, Tyler Michand, Mark Nelson and Ron Nelson. [11]

At the 2001 NPPL World Cup, Bob Long's Ironmen reached the professional finals and finished third behind San Diego Dynasty and Chicago Aftershock. [12]

Final NPPL 10-man seasons (2002)

[edit]

Bob Long's Ironmen continued competing at the highest level during the final season of the original NPPL professional 10-man championship structure.

The team finished third at the 2002 NPPL Los Angeles Open, behind San Diego Dynasty and Aftershock. [13]

At the Chicago Open in June 2002, Bob Long's Ironmen advanced to the professional finals alongside Dynasty, Southern California Ironmen and Strange.

The team finished second behind the Southern California Ironmen, with Strange third and Dynasty fourth. [14]

Bob Long's Ironmen also competed internationally, finishing fourth in the professional division at the 2002 Millennium Series Portugal event. [15]

The team finished fifth in the overall 2002 NPPL professional 10-man standings with 208 ranking points. Dynasty and the Southern California Ironmen shared the championship with 229 points each. [16]

Oakland Assassins and X-Ball

[edit]

The introduction of the NXL in 2003 marked a transition in Bob Long's professional team programme.

Long led the Oakland Assassins, one of the original eight professional NXL franchises.

The Assassins competed against the Los Angeles Ironmen, Philadelphia Americans, Chicago Aftershock and other professional organisations during the inaugural NXL season. [17]

The team finished the regular season as the highest-ranked NXL franchise in 2003 before advancing to the championship playoffs. [17]

The relationship between Bob Long's Ironmen and the Oakland Assassins was demonstrated during the 2004 NPPL Denver Open.

With NXL players permitted to enter NPPL tournaments but restricted from using their NXL franchise names, Bob Long's Oakland Assassins competed under the Ironmen name.

Contemporary WARPIG coverage explicitly distinguished Long's team from the Los Angeles Ironmen, which competed under the name The Men at the same event. [4]

The later competitive history of the Oakland Assassins is covered separately.

Notable players

[edit]

Players documented with Bob Long's Ironmen include:

  • Bob Long – Founder and captain.
  • Rich Telford – Member of the 1998 roster before subsequently playing for the Southern California Ironmen.
  • Mike Carey – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Arnold Franciso – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Craig Fronsoe – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Dustin Hansen – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Kevin Jones – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Zach Long – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Mark Nelson – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.
  • Ron Nelson – Member of the 2001 and 2002 professional rosters.

[3][11][18]

Selected tournament achievements

[edit]
Year Competition Division Result
1997 NPPL Las Vegas Professional 10-man 3rd place [1]
1998 NPPL Chicago Open Professional 10-man 3rd place [3]
1998 NPPL Portland Open Professional 10-man 2nd place [6]
1998 NPPL Series Professional 10-man Series champions [2]
2000 NPPL Los Angeles Open Professional 10-man 2nd place [8]
2000 NPPL World Cup Professional 10-man 4th place [9]
2001 Diablo Mardi Gras Open Professional 5-man Champions [10]
2001 NPPL World Cup Professional 10-man 3rd place [12]
2002 NPPL Los Angeles Open Professional 10-man 3rd place [13]
2002 NPPL Chicago Open Professional 10-man 2nd place [14]
2002 Millennium Series Portugal Professional 4th place [15]
2002 NPPL Series Professional 10-man 5th overall [16]

Equipment and sponsorship

[edit]

The team maintained a close association with Bob Long's paintball equipment business.

Long was involved in developing customised markers and accessories, including the Delta Defiant and subsequent Bob Long Intimidator electronic paintball marker.

At the 1999 NPPL Las Vegas Open, Bob Long's Ironmen announced a sponsorship arrangement with Max Attack, an Australian compressed-air equipment manufacturer. Long reported using the company's air system with his Delta Defiant marker. [19]

The Intimidator became closely associated with Long's professional playing programme during the early 2000s and was subsequently used by numerous competitive teams. [20]

Legacy

[edit]

Bob Long's Ironmen represented a significant period in the history of American professional paintball.

Its 1998 NPPL championship demonstrated the competitiveness of Long's newly assembled organisation following his departure from the original Ironmen.

The existence of two separate professional Ironmen teams between 1997 and 2002 is an important distinction when documenting tournament results, rosters and championship histories.

The team's later association with the Oakland Assassins also connected the NPPL 10-man era with the development of professional X-Ball. [4][17]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. WARPIG – 1997 NPPL Las Vegas, Bob Long's Ironmen professional debut and results.
  2. WARPIG – 1998 NPPL World Cup and Professional Series Championships.
  3. WARPIG – 1998 NPPL Chicago Open, first tournament meeting of the two Ironmen teams.
  4. WARPIG – 2004 NPPL Denver Open, Oakland Assassins competing under the Ironmen name.
  5. WARPIG – 1997 Great Western Series San Francisco, Bob Long's Ironmen II results.
  6. WARPIG – 1998 NPPL Portland Open tournament report.
  7. WARPIG – 1999 NPPL Chicago Open, Professional 10-man Semi-Finals.
  8. WARPIG – 2000 NPPL Los Angeles Open, Professional 10-man Finals.
  9. WARPIG – 2000 NPPL World Cup tournament report.
  10. WARPIG – 2001 Mardi Gras Open, Professional 5-man Finals.
  11. WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Professional Rosters.
  12. WARPIG – 2001 NPPL World Cup, Professional 10-man Finals.
  13. WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Los Angeles Open, Professional 10-man Finals.
  14. WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Chicago Open, 19–23 June 2002.
  15. WARPIG – 2002 Millennium Series Portugal, Professional Results.
  16. WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional 10-man Season Rankings.
  17. WARPIG – 2003 PSP World Cup and NXL Championship.
  18. WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional Rosters.
  19. WARPIG – 1999 NPPL Las Vegas Open, Bob Long's Ironmen sponsorship and Delta Defiant.
  20. WARPIG – 2002 Mardi Gras Open, Bob Long Intimidator equipment.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://www.wikipaintball.com/index.php?title=Bob_Long%27s_Ironmen&oldid=444"