year1buick

Heh, had to bring that up, dintcha? (The topic, I mean. :P ) Well, if you insist... I think it'll be big, loud and a helluva lot of fun to watch. (Very deep, I know...) At first, I thought "Please, not another 92." (We visited a previous theme that year too...) Then I thought, "Who cares about placement, they're bringing back freakin Spartacus!" This is a decade later, with a staff and corps that is consistently coming up with great things--this will be too, I'm sure.

No problem--I feel the same way. It's just a matter if differing perspectives sometimes. I think this activity (and forum) could be so much more fun if more people concentrated on what they like, and worried less about what other people like. I don't necessarily mean we should take away the sense of competition (or good-natured, rivalry) but, at the same time, there comes a point where it just sucks the fun right out it. (For me, at least.)

You've said before that, "Reading comprehension is a beautiful thing." I have to agree. Did I say that my response was because he "wasn't supportive?" Other people had already voiced misgivings about the choice of theme. That was never the issue--it was the fact that he took his dislike for it (or the corps, more likely) and used it as an excuse to bash (ahem--"lambast") other people because they did like it. This is what I was responding to. Similarly, I said nothing to your propensity (or reasons) to like or dislike Cadets shows. Read it again. My point was that when someone either bashes The Cadets, or its supporters, simply because they are fans of the corps or its shows, you jump to their defense. As a fan, that makes sense. As you've said, "I will not apologize for being a Cadets fan and responding to people who speak negatively about them, so move on." I'm not arguing that you shouldn't. What I don't understand, and so I'll ask again, is how was my response (or motive) any different than your past responses to similar situations? You've either missed this point or chosen to ignore it. If someone accused you of being a "Cadets Fanboy" because you said you thought an announced Cadets show sounded good, you wouldn't take offense?

Sigh. All roads lead to Rome...ahem, The Cadets, don't they? Michael, you're the first one out of the gate anytime someone takes a similar tack with them. (You're even proactive, taking pre-emptive strikes like this, even when there's a hint--real or imagined-- of a future Cadet threat...) Substitute "The Cadets" in your statement, and it works equally well. If all he'd done was say that he thought it was a redundant or boring show concept, I wouldn't have responded at all. (How many times have I responded to yours, or anyone else's, opinion on Regiment's style, etc. It's no secret that their style hasn't been one of your favorites. Have I ever taken issue with that?) I responded because of the condescending attitude and hypocrisy of his remarks. ("Boy, you Phantom Phanboys really are something!") Are you going to tell me you wouldn't have responded similarly if someone had said the same thing about "Cadet fanboys?" He also threw down the "bias" card, (Another kind of "label," wouldn't you agree?), even though it's plainly obvious he's biased towards SCV as well. As I said before, this is totally fine--we all have personal biases towards our favorite corps, even you. The problem is when people use this as an excuse to bag on others, simply because they're hyped or excited about their own favorite. Haven't you said almost the same thing before? I've certainly seen you have similar reactions in Cadets threads. I don't understand why you insist on making this distinction between your own defense of The Cadets and what you see as a "love it or hate it" attitude with Regiment fans. Why the double standard?

LOL, what a joke. SVC could come out playing Wii themes on kazoos (with a mix of pan flute) and you'd be drooling, issuing OMG and "HOLY CRAP!!" and so on... Granted, there's nothing wrong with that--being a drum corps homer is kinda fun. (And, FWIW, I dig several corps, including SCV.) But you sound pretty silly when you make posts like your last two. Pot, meet Kettle.

Same here.

I''ve been asking Santa for one, but haven't had any luck. :) Besides, my HDTV is only 34", so it wouldn't make that drastic of a difference. (It would still look better, but not $300-$1000 better). I'm waiting till I can afford a 60" Pioneer plasma to pair with it. (Which, the way things are going, should be about a month or two after Hell freezes over...)

To hell with HD, let's petition DCI to shoot Finals in IMAX 3-D. On 65mm film. Spare no expense. (They'll need some heavy camera coverage and some ###### AC's--I think those mags only hold about a minute of film...) Maybe they can offer James Cameron enough money to stop work on Avatar long enough to shoot it. (Again, money talks...) :P

Had I not watched the preview, I would have guessed that the encore was taped with an HD handycam. However, the clip on BD's website is from a switched, multicamera setup--had to have been the same used for the broadcast. (I doubt there would have been two camera runs.) There were a couple of high cams, a medium wide (side), field level and backfield (no jib arm, that I noticed). Wierd. Maybe it costs more on ESPN's end if you want to actually show it in HD? edit--I just saw the note: "This video is 960x540" That's an odd resolution. So... is this just progressive scan, slightly upscaled SD or downscaled HD?

For all we could know, Phantom Regiment could have the equivalent of a Tony Romo in the works. There 's a guy who went undrafted and was given low expectations (by many) because he didn't have the proven pedigree. Now he's playing lights-out and looking very well like he could be the next franchise quarterback for The Cowboys. The folks on staff at Regiment are smart and don't make decisions like this by the flip of the coin. (Ouija board :P ) Tom and Nikk are right--he deserves a chance to show his stuff. As before, I wish him and the corps the best of luck and look forward to seeing a great show next summer.

Maybe they're doing a tribute to Kurosawa and The Seven Samurai? (Then they could do a western-themed show the following summer with The Magnificent Seven.) Actually, this could be a pretty cool show. A Kodo percussion feature could be very cool.

What a load of tripe. Not only is that exactly what you're doing, it's exactly what you intended to do (and not for the first time.) I'm all for rooting for your favorite corps, no matter who it is. And I don't care in the slightest if Regiment isn't one of your favorites, or even if you don't like their style at all. No biggie. However, I do mind when people like you try use this as an excuse to bash the corps. (Or any corps, for that matter.)

How 'bout something from this soundtrack?

Yeah, no kidding. What a gig! Definitely want to offer congrats and wish him and the corps good luck. (I'm sure we'll see great things)

Just got an email from the corps re this new press release. Here's a snippet: Alumnus Nick Scotella Joins 2008 Design Team ROCKFORD (Oct. 2, 2007) - Phantom Regiment is pleased to announce the hiring of Nick Scotella as drill writer for the 2008 season. Scotella, 28, has been involved in the drum and bugle corps activity for more than 10 years as a marching member, instructor and now designer. He marched with Phantom Regiment as a mellophone player from 1997 to 2001 and was a member leader of the world-renowned hornline as horn sergeant in 2000 and 2001. He was a member of the visual staff in 2005 and 2007.

Crap! I screwed it up... (I'll Fix it)

Agreed. I rarely get upset because someone says they thought Regiment should have placed lower than X or Y corps, or they thought they were boring, too loud, too soft, not as good and so and so forth on ("and such as"). Whatever. People are going to think what they're going to think, no matter what. About the only time I'll jump into an argument is if I think someone is blatantly slandering/bashing the corps. Otherwise, people can favor whatever corps they want, for pretty much whatever reason they want. (Excepting the above caveat) I don't really care. I've got my favorites, for my own reasons, too. There have been many years where I've played a bottom six corps more than any of the top ones combined. In fact, my favortes are rarely clustered at the top. Scoring and competition can be entertaining, to a point, but after a while, the petty bickering it engenders just sucks the fun right out of this.

"Just don't taser me, bro!"

Well, since the OP only offers the choices of "yes" or "no" (not one show from any corps, any year), I chose the latter. The rest was simply what I would do, if possible.

No. I would either take them to a show or lend them a copy of the DCI broadcast. (For newbie indoctrination...ahem, introduction, the shorter format is probably more beneficial.) The more examples they can see, the better.

Enough is enough. Reported and ignored. (First on my list, to be exact.)

Yes, I have the "gall." Do you SERIOUSLY think the "struggle" involved within a summer of drum corps competition equates to people dying in a war? Do you think your grandfather would say the same? My grandfather fought in WWII as well. He would think comparing drum corps to his experiences to be completely asinine. Furthermore, your examples of people buying commemorative 9-11 stamps make no sense, whatsoever. (Unless they've got football players portraying FDNY rescuers, which I've yet to see...)

You've entirely missed the point. People are offended because you're trivializing the photo (and what it represents). To equate what goes on in a summer of drum corps to what took place during that war (or the terrorist attacks of 9-11) shows an immense lack of respect and maturity. People have every right (and reason) to be offended. This doesn't mean you have no right to do what you're doing-- just understand that people will respond with their opinions.

Non sequitur. It has nothing to do with the Iwo Jima picture or religion.

Fixed :)