goalieguy

FACTS...We don't need no steenking FACTS!!! Booyah! Pat

Maybe took the dive off the 495 Twin Bridges - in order to avoid the inevitable ... After seeing the pictures on Facebook - I saw only ONE person from the Great White North at the meeting, and that was the DCA official from here.. Guess I'll have to consider the opportunity to go to finals this summer - since there are no DCI shows in Minne this summer - NONE !!! Pat BIG TIME OOOPS , YALL - it looks like the DCI Blue Star show in Rochester, will be returning, as will Mankato's Thunder of Drums - but no Open class show and the show they moved to Menominee has moved to Lacrosse.

I know they were setting up a "home" at Inver Hills CC - with some kind of connection to the Arts programs there. Haven't heard much other than MBI Winterguard is at one facility in the northern suburbs, and the winter drum is at yet another facility - Totino-Grace HS in Fridley...

Wish I had better news from my end, Fran. Last snippits I hear is MBI is going to do Soundsport again this summer. I was hoping they'd look into Winds for the winter, both as a marketing tool and to get something to restart interest in the hornline.. Can't speak for Chops, Govies, or the Mad Plaid.. I've been 'thrown to the curb' like a number of us - I CAN tell you that a new color guard is forming locally - featuring some old MBI alumni and past junior corps alums on staff and they have been doing fundraising, soooooo.... Here's hoping ! Pat

Jeffe - the only shows I remember All-Age being judged on DII/III sheets MIGHT have been the year that DCI "ran" the circuit. Prior to and afterward, All-age were judged on the SAME sheets as the big boys - until DCM was dissolved.That's how it took "DCA conversion table " to guesstimate the spread between our DCI/ DCM scores and the prevailing DCA values..

I could see scores being a bit higher in some cases.. BITD when MBI and the other Midwest all-age corps competed in DCM - ON THE D-1 SHEETS - the All-agers could count on being between 8-to 15 points back of the DCI caliber corps up to the DCM Championships weekend - As Brass got bigger, that's what made competing with the 'hotshots' more fun..I can attest to that route providing the competitive jumpstart to MBI's rise to DCA's upper echelon in the mid 80's and beyond..I can recall us giving a brief scare to some of the other D-1 groups in scores at DeKalb more than once - I still remember the stunned reaction when MBI beat the Troopers at a DCM show in St. Peter on the 4th of July..You shoulda heard Jim Jones rake his kids over the coals for losing to "a senior corps" - he hated us from then till his passing. Pat

Hey Jimbo ! The DCA -Central corps used to be in a number of the local DCI shows - partly due to co-sponsorship or co-ownership. Now that only the Govies is a legit field corps, it makes it tough to justify putting the other units into those shows.. Pat

We thought so too, my friend! It's part of our "9-11" history (that most of us geezers take pride in) - much like CV's old motto..."We finish 9th so YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!!"

You know as well as I do, Fran - the "crap shoot" has been a point of regular debate here in Minne.. We've been luckier than others - but we're not immune.. We've had more than one trip out East that has been victim to Mother Nature - I think most of my family here look at it as part of the experience - or RE-paying our dues to the circuit.. I've always looked at it as 'Character Building' as a group - and in those days - it just made us tougher - (in addition to that well-known Midwest masochism we were known for)

77, 78 and 79 as well, my jeffe! BTW - we made finals in '89 - even had best soloist that year.. Pat

you're just PO'd because MBI came out and YOU had already bought tickets for Allentown... Time to call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAMbulance, Jeff! Pat

Hey y'all - not too long ago DCA had the Minnesota Weekend - it started with a Saturday/Sunday combo - then it went to Friday/Saturday with MBI and Govies and the rest of DCA Central..I can guarantee you that Patrick's saw a bunch of new patrons in those years...Isuspect that until MBI gets a full corps back on the field - you won't see that anytime soon..I know from chats with the judges that I drove from St. Paul to St. Peter and back - that weekend was in demand for assignments.. Pat

And you liked THAT over Bonnie & Clyde??? - dude - you needed to see how hard it was to build that car - and to get Roger to learn how to shoot straight. Personally - MBI's '13 show should have won! Guess I'm a bit biased.. Pat

If I could be there, I would...My only way out would to bus it with the "Gang of Green" - and I be too old to do the 20+ hour bus ride, especially with the Green Bus ...Take both an MBI and Cru shirts - two of my faves.. Pat

Not the last WHAT, Jeffe? Pat

Hey folks - having been at the meeting on said Saturday, I can only say that most of last year's membership issues continue..That being Brass numbers.. I have been away from active involvement due to a number of semi-serious health issues over the last 6 months - and after 40+ years of observation, Minnesota must not have any more brass players or converts that have an interest in the program, or would rather go out of town to march... I'm waiting to hear about their next situation decision, because we should already have 1/2 of the drill taught already.. Hoping to hear soon.. BTW - anyone who cares about the unit, past present or future - has a stake in MBI Pat

HEY YOU GUYS !!!!!~ My gang takes a year off and all y'all give them the kiss of death.. So, is everybody writing them off?? I can't say what looms ahead, other than unless the new honchos here decide to collapse like a house of cards - they should be back this summer.. Lots of changes, but I think that you should know better than to give them the death knell - YET... All kidding aside - I'm like most of us old folks just waiting to hear what's next, and which way they're going.. I WILL concur the two names have been the most innovative units over the last 20+ years, but the red-headed step-children from the great white north has done a few things themselves - mostly with locals and by spending a boatload more just to play.. Just gripin! my 2 pfennings! Pat

I guess I haven't joined the 21st yet - only seen 1 show indoors - back in the old RCA dome in Indy when MBI went down for a show a few years ago.. I suspect it's OK, just hard to split the old ear drums indoors, Brian.. I miss the old 2-day prelims getting roasted !

I guess I wouldn't mind if that happened - although with the size of the crowd, they may see if the Vikings might consider allowing them to use the new mini-stadium at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan..not downtown, but closer to the airport, M-O-A, and less susceptible to the ongoing freeway issues we always have downtown. - It has a capacity of around 10K , and is open air. Much more intimate IMHO.. Pat

Go get 'em, Gang of Green!!!! Pat

Just a friendly SHOT across the bow here Smoothie - but even if there were 3 times the corps - you have close to 10 X the bodies! I've always thought it would never come to this, but I cannot 'come out of retirement' to do my part to field a corps...The age difference and philosophy of the creative 'experts' in our area have taken the corps in a different direction my brother. Not too involved, but you know how that's worked for me the last few years.. The numbers alone will make it easier, until local bands start dropping the programs. Gotta see if I can get to Williamsport or elsewhere. will keep you posted, buddy! Pat

Thanks for the props, Dubya.. I'm still sitting here trying to wrap my head around this..For the 'centuries' I've been around MBI - I guess I'm trying to sort out my instinctive feelings and my emotional feelings about this. My head slapper is how a group as sound and stable with it's incredible longevity of excellence (and YOU know as well as anybody that the brass caption was what the identity of the group until the late 90's) can have the anemic recruiting draw that is what is causing MBI to go inactive. I think your idea of the vets 'just getting older' is a big part of it...or there may be other things causing the discord of interest. It looks as though my return to DCA may be unfortunately sidetracked for this Labor Day. I'm looking forward to making more inquiries to the group of alums and vets to see if an unbiased idea or remedy can be found. Pat

RH - I was at the humble adobe watching with the wife and sister - I WAS a bit concerned with 26 horns - but more concerned that if they try to keep the books as is - they will hurt more than their scores..You and I both know the history going back to the late 70's and early 80's - I'm hopeful that our family leaders can make the decision to adapt the package - or we might see another "meeting at Earl Orf's house". Sorry for you fans and friends - it's an inside joke among MBI dinosaurs Pat

Hey Rookie - you just decided to be REAL for a season - can't say I blame you, brother...It's just taken since 80,81 and 82 for the corps to shrink this far..It doesn't matter how much money you spend on the program, travel, world class arrangements or hoity-toity uniforms and equipment...If you ain't got the horses - it ain't gonna happen...gotta work with what you got, and make it the best you can.. BEEN THERE - SEEN AND DONE that!!! Pat

W - IMO "sub-optimal" is being kind to the old Tromboniums.. I played one that MBI got from Madison during winter rehearsals and even with my Bach 2G Bass bone mouthpiece(given to me by Dan Groth before he left MN) it was like trying to force air through a cotton wad at the end of the lead pipe. Pitch centering (even with a smaller mouthpiece) was "fun"... We shipped them to the Jesse James Gang corps from Northfield(yeah, THAT Northfield) and they found a couple of folks that managed to get a decent amount of sound from them, although I can't imagine how. Pat