2008 Millennium Series Paris, Photos & text by Steve Wilson

The learning-the-hard-way tip of the month: If you’re traveling in a convoy and one of your cars has a satellite/navigation system, don't let the photographer who "knows the way," lead the way. Otherwise you might end up in northern France like we did. Okay I admit it… I was the one that “knew the way.”

Eventually we arrived at Euro Disney, basking in an unexpected autumn heat wave, which lasted all weekend. The site seemed a nit disconnected with Disney—stuck in the back overflow parking lots. Maybe the amount of paint in the Disney Village last year forced the change. Anyhow, once inside the venue it is well laid out and well attended by trade and media.

Looking around the trade show and registration areas will give you a real idea how important this event is. The number of big name players that have made the trip over the pond to this event was very evident. This is "crunch time." Anyway, my guys, the Tigers played well on Day One. By 10:31 in the morning we were already in the Sunday Club.

The marshalls were consistent in their harshness but as ever they were also on top of the action as well. In the CPL the first two teams out on Sunday were Consilium Dei and Influence. Menace did just enough to avoid the drop. At the top is was reigning Champs Joy and the new kids on the block Bullets. Joy did slip up in the end but they did make the final four, securing back-to-back Series titles. Well done Magued and the guys.

So after all these games it came down to Philly's v Nexus for the Disney French Open, and there wasn't a spare seat anywhere—luckily I get a ringside seat. As I watched the final unfold I kept wondering when the wheels were going to fall off the Nexus bandwagon. That's what was supposed to happen; that's what always happens against Philly, isn't it? If the Philly was waiting for fate to play its hand, they waited too long as Nexus took it to the Americans 5-1. In the end it was Nexus over Philly for the win. Well done by both teams.

In the SPL Instinct were the only usual suspects in the finals. Comin at Ya, Troja and Outrage were in the mix but no match for the Instinct guys. Outrage took second, Comin at ya third and Troja forth. So Instinct and SK join Joy, Nexus and the gang next year. And just when you got rid of one Instinct team, along comes another—their sister team who is joining the Copenhagen Ducks 2, Wing Wang Gang and Notorious Kids in the SPL.

So it's all over for another year, with some teams happy, some not. But it was a success, wasn't it? They did get a deal with Eurosport to cover this event, which is good for everyone. More interest = more money.

And finally Steve's last tip: When booking your team into a hotel that’s cheap, don't get cheap confused with nasty, drug-infested and miles from the site. Oh and don't take the room next to the two very nice looking… well, never mind. Sorry guys, The Hilton every event next year, okay?

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