Der ehemalige Avalanche Spieler Tony Perez wird ab der Saison 2006 für das UK Proteam Nexus spielen. Damit ist er der erste US ProSpieler der einen festen Vertrag bei einem europäischem Team hat. Die PGI hat dazu einen Artikel verfasst, in dem Tony Perez und Pete Robbo Robinson ein kurzes Statement dazu abgeben:
Nexus – first Euro Pro team to sign up American player
Nexus have signed up Tony Perez, ex Avalanche, for the coming 2006 season which is a first for any European team in signing up an American player as a permanent member of their squad.
Who better to find out more of what went down and why, here's Robbo and Perez to give their side of the story :-
Tony Perez : The idea originally came up in Amsterdam while I was guesting for Team Blackout. It was started as a joke between Jack Wood and Nicky Truter and then we quickly thought about the possibility. At the time I was still playing for Avalanche and had firm commitments there through the end of 2005. Things had been changing for a while in the Avalanche camp and I saw myself growing further and further apart very quickly. So in July I ended my 3-year career with Lanche.
Now for 2006 I wanted to set my career back in the Pro Scene again. Who better to do it with then my favorite European Pro Team.
Nexus have always been hugely popular over here in the US so it's a great opportunity to join their squad.
If you ever meet anyone on Nexus, these guys are totally down to earth and a bunch of great guys. Pros tend to be a part of the stigma that they are not friendly and un-approachable. Well if you want to see for yourself, I challenge you to walk up to any Nexus player and see about the response you will get. The other reason is if I was to re-commit to another pro-team, I wanted to be a part of a group that was either as or more serious about the game then I was. Playing well in pro Paintball is not just a title. In order to be successful, it requires lots of training, exercise, dedication and most of all, heart. All qualities of which Team Nexus has… This is why I hope to be a good fit and help the team for years to come.
Then I was asked by Robbo in San Diego after he had watched me to play the 2006 season in the light of Ledz's departure at the end of this season.
He made me an offer I couldn't really refuse.
Robbo then told me he wanted me to fill Ledz's shoes and had identified me as one of only three players he would have considered to do that job with Todd Adamson and Rich Telford being the other two, that's some pretty cool company right there so I did feel kinda flattered.
I am really excited but equally eager to put in the hard work and dedication to help lead Nexus into the finals consistently.
Robbo Tony is a class act that's for sure and we are gonna need his skill and experience for 2006 in what is proving to be the highest standard paintball league in the world.
Tony has always been close to the guys on the team and his mum, Dianne being one of Nexus's most loyal fans, it was a done deal as soon as Ledz made his decision to leave and Tony became available.
I am absolutely convinced Tony is gonna bring some much needed experience and skills to Nexus and I'm equally convinced we are gonna do a lot better next season.
Signing up a top class pro like Tony is always gonna prove expensive, but this guy is worth every single cent to us…..and then some.