Wanderer

You don't go to finals do you?

I was at Finals in 2002 and the Cavies box was the big event and show of the night, no question. The next was the long-haired guard girls from BD. The Fireman and pledge was over the top for most (but that's the Cadets recently).

Maybe your "agree or shut up" attitude is why you don't know the real feelings of some of the members.

I don't think you can speak for all 135 members. Not everyone, even the members, agree with the current direction.

I was there and don't remember the delay. They were the first on after break and were ready to go for several minutes, so I'd be surprised if it was a time penalty. I was talking with people around us so I may have missed it.

A lot of times the judges confuse themselves with 'super directors' by telling the corps how they should redesign their show. If the corps don't agree to make the now required changes, they can create an enemy judge that can last for years. If you have some insight to how corps are judged, the corps know the judges that like them and those that don't. So, you work the politics to make more 'friends'. The current system started off ok, but it's a ridiculous system at this point and it has nothing to do with points. There's just zero judging accountability. The fact that Cavies lost Visual GE to Phantom and Phantom lost Music GE to the Cavies shows the complete lack of accountability.

DCI needs to find a way to better support the 13 - X place corps.

That's a cute bias, but not reality. So you're saying The Academy brass line would have EASILY beat Colts, Blue Stars, Crossmen and Capital Regiment would fit in somewhere with Carolina Crown, Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, Glassmen or Spirit from JSU? You see, it's that kind wacko thinking that gets these Div II corps into trouble. The reality is they would have been beat by all the semi-finalist and many (like Southwind) that didn't make semi's. That said, they had a great year for a Div II corps.

Great job, but Div I is filled with recent Div II corps that "could highly compete with any of the 8 - 12 place corps in Div I". The recent additions of Blue Stars (14th), Capital Regiment (16th), Mandarins (17th), Seattle Cascades (19th) and Esperanza (22nd) have made the non-finalist much stronger and more entertaining, but none have performed finals night. Capital Regiment felt they'd taste finals by now but they hit a wall with a 16th place finish. Many said Blue Stars were a lock for finals, but they'll be doing well to repeat at 14th next year. It seems to get harder for these corps, not easier. I'm sure all the rest were thinking finals as well. The fact is that the top 12 (even the top 17) corps are better than you think. Southwind couldn't make semi's and their brass line was much better than The Academy's. Of course, this never stops the latest Div II champion from feeling they're finals material. Nothing against the Academy, but my skepticism is based on historical reality.

Many of the members spoke loud enough when they quit Hopkins corps after winning a championship. I feel sorry for the group that stayed. I know someone that's been with the corps several years and I wish they had the courage to speak out. I would expect more to move on next year and fewer to try out. The sad part is what this has done to Crossmen.

I understand. I just think the problem is the judges not getting their current and obvious assigned tasks right (Cavies=V. GE & PR = M. GE). It's the people not the system. The current set of judges would screw up any system if they can't figure that much out.

If you trust the judges, his corps is no better than 5th.

Fantastic response.

I agree, but if they can't see the obvious they need to be fired.

I believe you're missing the point that "judges" either can't see or refuse to score what's already obvious to the rest of us. We don't need to change the scoring system, we just need intelligent and honest people using it.

It shows the arrogance in the DCI judges clique. They think if they tell us the Moon is the Sun and the Sun is the Moon, that we must accept it. No... let me take that back. They've shown they don't care what the fans or participants think. In their warped political minds everything is just as it should be.

DCI judging is probably the worst, most political, "competitive" environment ever seen. Southwind lost to Mandarin's on GE. Now almost everyone (but the judges) was saying how boring the Mandarin's show was, so I can only assume the GE judges didn't show up to actually watch the shows. A worse example was in finals. Whether you like Phantom or Cavies we all can see and hear, plain as day, that the Cavies had more Visual GE, but that Phantom's brass line was better. Unfortunately the DCI scores aren't based on evidence or facts. Therefore, the Cavies Visual GE finished 3rd, but they beat Phantoms brass line by .20. It's just plain embarrassing they continue to pretend the judges are actually paying attention. Who cares about amps or no amps when the judges are so bad? Is their any way to fire the whole embarrassing group?

1. Cavaliers 2. Phantom Regiment 3. Blue Devils 4. Bluecoats 5. Santa Clara Vanguard 6. Cadets 7. Carolina Crown 8. Blue Knights 9. Boston Crusaders 10. Madison Scouts 11. Glassmen 12. Spirit

Southwind got the big screw in Quarter's... who will it be tonight?

I believe it largely depends on how the director, staff and corps handle the success. Some corps have won and remain humble and respectful, so they remain popular. There's probably no quicker way to unpopularity in our culture than arrogant, condescending winners. That's where some directors and corps have run into problems.

Saturday judging seemed to be tougher overall than Friday's.

Troopers carry the US Flag on the field before the show.

Very close for semi's: 15 - 79.450 Blue Stars 16 - 78.700 Capital Regiment 17 - 78.600 Southwind 18 - 77.000 Seattle Cascades 19 - 75.000 Mandarins

The top corps are going to have less room for improvement while the mid-corps shows are just starting to kick in. Expect the scores to tighten up. Blue Stars show design may impair their ability to continue to grow this late in the year. It's going to be fun! 1 Phantom Regiment 93.40 to 93.200 - 0.200 2 Boston Crusaders 87.55 to 89.150 + 1.600 3 Blue Stars 78.20 to 79.450 + 1.250 4 Southwind 75.90 to 78.600 + 2.700 5 Seattle Cascades 74.70 to 77.000 + 2.300 6 The Magic 73.20 to 75.850 + 2.650 7 Esperanza 73.40 to 73.700 + 0.300

Here's my thought... Go Phantom!!!