johnnytata

First of all the Rochester has always been a great venue for a DCA Championship weekend. Crowds are always huge and compared to INDY the cost of rooms and great food is at least one third less, and you don't have to drive 35 mile's from your hotel to the stadium. From every suburb of Rochester you are no more than 15 or 20 minute drive. Also the Dinosaur BBQ is NOT the only good place to eat, there is an abundance of great family restaurant's in every suburb and I'm not talking about " GARBAGE PLATES" either. Plus you have a built in fan base second to none even though we don't have any competing corps anymore. Forget Kodak and all the others you mentioned going bad because you forgot about Paychex and the University of Rochester Medical Center and many more high tec. companies that are moving to this area because were are rated as in the top 100 places in America to live. No competing corps, for now it's the truth, but we have is not only the amazing DCA Champion GHOST RIDERS DRUM CORPS we also have THE EDGE and the HITMEN and what about PRIME TIME BRASS ( I have to admit I might just be a little biased ) so does anyone want to say something about there horn lines and percussion? Also if you think David Bruni is not using his knowledge to bring a little something special forward I would think again. If you don't want to come here to Rochester than just don't come because there will a lot of others to fill the seat you give up. Just my opinion.

First of all saying "maybe we should let EMPIRE win" was just a real stupid statement and as an an alumni I took that as an insult, the EMPIRE STATESMEN has never needed help from anyone to be champion in DCA or anywhere else. This is still Mr.B's drum corps's and his vision of what EMPIRE should be will always make them champion's no matter what the score they get. Second if EMPIRE does leave DCA I really hope that the CABS will still go out and play to the crowd like they always have and at least they will be one "GOOSE BUMP" corps left. If I wanted to watch a "machine" as some of you keep on calling certain corps in DCA than I'll go go to a local factory and watch and save my $50 for a ticket. DCI is shrinking fast and DCA will follow because why now it's not about entertaining the crowd, having a blast playing your show and having people go home excited and looking were the next show is but playing to the judge's. I can remember there being 10,000 people just at prelims and sold out show's at night, but wait a minute I'm a dinosaur from year's past and I'm not in tune with the new drum corps'so my answer to your original question wouldn't matter anyway.

The company front by 1972 CRUSADERS after marching backfield turning coming back at the crowd with the girl on the shield on 2 guy's shoulders holding up the American flag while played loud than louder than louder.......

Boomer and I just came back from visiting with Ron and I think he look's great for what he just went through. Boomer got Ron laughing like he does everybody and Ron promised us he would do whatever it takes to make sure this will never happen again. We told him that all his extended family was praying for and he was very grateful and surprised by everyone's support. Ron is a great person and has a great family and we all know he's a great horn player, and I want my cooking buddy to recover as fast as he can.

First just let me say that MB did deserve to win and yes the BUCS have been the corps to beat and they have been the ONE of the best ever in DCA history BUT to say they have raised the bar and only MB tried raised to there level is wrong. How easy you forget about 95 CABS, 96 WESTSHORE, 97 and 98 ES, and of course those great BRIGS corps, how can you say there 91 show would have not been just as competitive? It's real easy to insult everyone else for not raising the "BAR", that's just BS and it's that attitude that hurts DCA, unlike you I want to thank all the corps and every marching member that gave all they had to give not ONLY for the judges and what they want but actually played to those people in the stands that wanted "goose bump" moments and were waiting to give those standing ovations, and before you have a chance to say it I will this post is directed to DCI elitist and the those judge's believe DCA should be just an extension of DCI, This is just my opinion and if you don't like it I could care less.

It just amazing to me that anyone in any position of authority in DCA or knows anything about DCA verses DCI, and by the way who really cares about WGI, takes this attitude about it's all about getting more fans in the seats. But at what expense? Also who in DCA really cares about the size of DCI stadium's and the size of there crowds. The music thing about new or not is even more garbage, does it really matter? Did the BRIGGS not win with really old re-played music and set the fan's on fire? DCI is a different animal than DCA, thank the lord, and comparing the two is just foolish. By the way would anybody on the DCA board actually not give those people at CADETS/2 what they want, and take of the chance of pissing them off, give me a break. MBI and BUCS are as junior as you can get in DCA and still have the type of entertainment SOME of us that are still SENIOR corps fans enjoy. DCA made this all age and the CADETS/2 have every right to come here with any age corps and kick ### all they want and yes they will put fans in the seats and I'll be one of them, but if someone actually believes that this will not change DCA forever than than you also must believe that M&M's judge's score in 1972(had to get that in here somehow), oh by the way I have this bridge I want to sell you to. Like I posted before i really hope what I think will happen is wrong and this a great success, But that's just mu opinion.

There will never be a time when I won't be "DRUM CORPS FAN", but do you think it won't change DCA, and just as you stated this new class of corps, "2" , may spread to other DCI members as a great alternate way to promote there own corps. Now with that being said, putting "fans in seats" is very important and every DCA member corps needs fans to survive, but they also need members to compete. As a retired marching member in 2003 and having competed in my first show in 1961, I understand the staying in shape argument, but explain to me when the CADETS/2 arrive at DCA with members of 16 to 22 in age how a senior, sorry I mean "all age" corps will have the stamina and endurance to be at a par level with them. Also do you really believe it would take 3yrs to win DCA, or "if" they would make finals the first year? Are you serious? I hope this will make other age out DCI members to consider joining established DCA CORPS, and this actually makes DCA bigger and stronger. Again this is MY opinion, DRUM CORPS has been great to me and for me and what ever it takes to make it healthy and stronger I'm all for it.

Quite awhile ago when STAR came to "ALL AGE" DCA MINI CORPS and began there string of victories with no end in sight, it was my personal opinion that there talent level was far beyond anything SENIOR CORPS at that time could compete with, and I still stand by that today. Of course I was broad-sided by at great number of people saying how wrong my attitude was and that STAR have every right to compete and we just have to raise our level of performance to match them,and they were right that STAR did have every right to compete and they are amazing every year and deserve to win, they have a great many fans and I have become one of them. "ALL AGE" DCA has made it quite clear that the CADETS/2 will be a welcome addition and they should be. I have always been a CADET fan and is there any doubt about the level of performance and talent they will bring to "ALL AGE" DCA. In my original post years ago there was one gentleman who didn't blast me but asked those who did, what if a top junior corps decided to come to DCA (he did mention a certain corps I can't remember who) how would BUCS or CABS or ES or HURCS and now MB, deal with it, I guess now we will find out. Please remember this is just my opinion, not intended to disrespect anyone or any corps.

Well what I've said all along is that 1972 was the best year ever in DCA and I don't care how complex and how many diminished chords or overtones or what ever they want to call today's version of DCA, except for 1995 CABS, 1997 and 1998 EMPIRE and BRIGS there hasn't been a great "GOOSE BUMP" moments in any of the DCA's I've gone to. I was with CRU in 1972 so I'm biased, but it's not just the corps names I remember so well it was those song's we played with such a passion and spirit and so intense! When SKY came off the line and then "Traffic JAM'. are you kidding is there any thing in 2010 that compared to that?!!!!! Or JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR we played at concert or IRONSIDES off the field and HURCS with MAG-7 and CABS at concert, look today's corps are amazing with what they play and how they march, FOR THE JUDGE"S, but 1972 it was for those maniac's in RACINE in the stands and for that crowd in NEW JERSEY, so If I had a wish were I'd could have marched, in the 2010 BUCS or any of those corps in 1972, well you figure it out.

A number of weeks ago in one of the threads on " WHO GOING TO TAKE SECOND" I posted that all you DCI/DCA the" BUCS can't lose, they are just to good, ........." fans were going to be very surprised at prelims, now I'll say it again I believe that there will be at least 3 if not 4 corps less than point from each other, and I'll even predict this. ES will win BRASS. MINN will win PERCUSSION, BUS will win VISUAl, leaving COLOR GUARD and GE scores the main factor, and I don't think the winner of the show will win both of those. Now before you flame me, yes I played for ES, and yes I'm DCA fan, play to the crowd not the judges, goose-bump, blow me away, and make me give you 2,3,or 4 standing O's during and after the show type of guy. Those of you that enjoy a DCI type show , more power to you and I have all the respect in the world for your opinion and DCI corps are are freaking amazing, but this is not DCI its DCA . From the first DCA I played in 1966 with the CRUSADERS, than with PHOENIX in the 70's, and my last DCA with ES in 2003, I've learned one thing ( remember 1972 DCA ), it's not over until it's over, just my opinion.

I am proud to say that my brother TOM DEFAZIO was a baritone player in 65 CRU and still marched 7 mile parades with me this year at the MARDI GRAS in NEW ORLEANS with PRIME TIME BRASS, and lets not start about bad judges in DCA, as a member of 1972 CRUSADERS I could ask about a certain MM judge with a SKYLINER background stuck it to us.

I truly believe that at prelims BUCS won't have the point spread that makes them champions before finals, and finals will finally be the dog fight it used to be, just my gut feeling after seeing how much other corps scores changed from the week before.

I truly believe that at prelims BUCS won't have the point spread that makes them champions before finals, and finals will finally be the dog fight it used to be, just my gut feeling after seeing how much other corps scores changed from the week before.

I was not at any shows this year and this is not a comment about who should win or last years scores decide this years scores, BUT, if your show is that complicated and all corps were "running out of gas" and "were not as clean as..." mabey someone can explain to a a guy who march his first DCA in 1966 and his last in 2003 how the scores every year start higher and ALWAYS jump the same every week for every corps. How can you statrt at an 80 or higher first show if you have so many problems on the field and I don't care if if it's the BUCS or anyone else. Okay someone educate me.