In 2001 Billy Bernacchia picked up a paintball gun for the first time behind his home in Milford, Connecticut. The thrill of winning was soon replaced by a desire to advance. Hard work, dedication, and a little luck have brought Billy into the spotlight as one of the top talents in paintball. Now in 2010, Billy Bernacchia is playing for Avalanche, a top powerhouse 7 man team, and also competing overseas with the Copenhagen Ducks. What is next for him? Read to find out……..
Billy Bernacchia
Age- 23 Hometown- Milford CT Teams- Avalanche 7 man, Copenhagen Ducks millenniumLet’s start at the beginning; can you tell us how you came to play with Vicious?
After 2009 my team (The NE Hurricanes) decided to drop from pro and play D1. I thought it would be best for me to stay in the pro league. Being a Planet Eclipse player and employee, I was looking for a Planet Eclipse team. When I heard Vicious was going pro, Jacko and I spoke about it and I then spoke directly with Greg Pauly and Carl Bortol and we agreed that I’d play the 2010 PSP season with Vicious.
You had played with the Canes for so long how hard was the off season when you heard the team was dropping down to D1?
Hearing that the canes were no longer going to play pro was pretty heartbreaking. This was the team I had gone pro with in 2005 and now in 2010 it was over. I did understand the reasons why Jeff decided this, the team lost a lot of heart, Son one of our original players lost faith in the team and left to play for philly. While that happened other players were also dropping because of this, like Rob Landry. Now Jeff is trying to build it back up with young new talented players, I hope to see the team back in pro soon.
So the first event with Vicious and you guys came in last place? What happened?
As for the event, It was the teams first pro event and being the new kids into the pro’s we had of course were given a tuff draw. We did however have 4 very close games with the top pro teams in the league, with one ending in overtime against shock.
Before the event I was personally concerned with how the team handled their pits and coaching. After speaking with Greg about it before the event and attending a couple of practices, I learned they handled their team alot different than any other pro teams I have played for in the past. One thing I felt we lacked was a pit coach. I think Greg was putting a lot on his shoulders being the sideline snake coach and also trying to do the pit coach job from the side lines. I truly believe our results would have been way different in our favor if we did have someone coaching the pit. However the team did manage to stay in games because of the talent we had on our roster, those kids do know how to play, but in order to get everything together and close out pro teams, I feel like you really need a one smart coach in the pits taking control, Like a Paul Richards or a Jason Trosan type job.
Did the results after the first event have an impact on your departure?
No, the results of the first event just made me want to work harder and get things evolving with the team.
After the event there was a lot of talk about you and Vicious parting ways, was it your decision to leave or was it mutual?
I think it was pretty mutual. There were big communications problems between me and team management – in the past I’ve had great relationships with my team owners and I talk to them pretty easily. Frank (Avalanche) and I talk every week. Jeff (Hurricanes) and I used to talk all the time, and same with Doc (Raiders). But for some reason, I didn’t feel like Vicious really cared what I had to say. They had their system, it worked great for them in D2 and D1 and Semi Pro, and they weren’t really interested in talking about how to change or improve things. So we stopped talking and the internet started talking for us. There was a ton of he said / she said crap going on. I’d read things on ProPaintball that people were saying and I’d wonder where it was coming from, but it sucked. I never say anything bad about anyone, so to read things that were being written about me, it was just uncalled for. Professional or not, we don’t get paid for this, so I don’t need to be in the public eye. I think both sides – me and Vicious – assumed things rather than talk to each other. I know they think I was out there talking about them. I wasn’t. I started hearing things from people on the team that were being said about me at practices by the owners after I had good conversations with them over the phone. Pat Roberts got cut and when Vicious picked up Gno Benedicto, in a way I was waiting for them to cut me as well. Pat and I being the two new pro’s they picked and from what it looked like they wanted to go back to their ways only not having outside players, which I understand. I didn’t expect them to pull that contract stuff that stopped me from playing Chicago. But whatever, I did sign the contract, so that’s a lesson for me to learn. I personally think the Vicious organization just wasn’t a good fit for me, and it was the right move for both of us to split ways. I just wish it happened faster and I wish outside people didn’t get get involved talking in OT forums and what not. What’s done is done, I wish Vicious the best of luck, I still have some players I am friends with on the team.
So what’s next for Billy B, do you have
another PSP team lined up?
Well, actually I just got picked up by Dynasty for the MAO, you can check out the full release at Planet Eclipses blog
http://eclipsehq.blogspot.com/
What are your future goals in paintball ?
My goals haven’t changed much; I still strive to get that championship. I love doing what I do when I go to my local fields and meet new people and change their outlooks on paintball. Clinics and lessons and people playing for their first time have always walked away with a smile. That’s what I like to do to help make paintball into a real professional sport.
Questions from the fans—
No Name- All the teams you have played for which one was your favorite and why ?
Hurricanes, Raiders, Aftermath, Avalanche
I would say the Hurricanes were my favorite because we were like a family and we worked very hard every weekend traveling where ever we had to for a good practice just to become a top 7 man team and we were successful.
Tippman98- What motivates you as a player? and who did you look up to when you were a up and coming player ?
I am just very competitive and being the best is very important to me so that pretty much motivated me every time I step in the field. I looked up to pretty much all the Dynasty guys
Billy Bernacchia
Thanks Billy for the taking to time to talk to us, and good luck with the new team!
Article courtesy of Rob Landry of Bonusballer.net Top and Bottom photos taken by Tom Tomcat Cunningham
