Buddyscudder

Now Ray, you know you love Cakes just as much as the rest of us.

Not for nothing, winning a championship(s) does not make anyone have a better position on an opinion(s). It's like you think that your fellow competitors didn't try just as hard as you did, whether past, present or future. We all busted our butts in our time, and walked away proud that we did our best. Most of the posters on DCP are probably losers, based on score. I'll continue to treat their opinions equal to yours, though I may not agree with them or yours. Bottom line is we all love D&B, though we may not always be happy with the results. I've played soccer, basketball, football, baseball and tennis at high levels. I've taught tennis for 35 years. DCA is still my favorite sport. Never marched DCI. That would be tied for 1st.

Sormie Hurc and Ray, You are "right on" with your assessments of Jeff Smith's and the NHS Marching Band's past accomplishments as well as this year's future. I was knocked out by the herald trumpets and everything that followed. I don't think I've ever seen them this poised and ready to repeat as MAC Champions. BTW, you know this show will not look the same come November. You can put your house on it. Heck, put my house on it! Oops, I don't own a house. Either way my money is on Norwalk. As an aside, Ray, I didn't know you worked with NHS. I knew Dougie, Bernie, Tim, Phil, Vinny C. and Rich M. worked with them and I'm sure I'm missing a few more. I'm certain you were a great role model.

My sincerest apopologies to Norwalk HS Marching Band. My daughter was Guard Captain in 2001-2002 and my son was a trumpet in 2002, then Tuba from 2002 - 2005. I personally was the announer for 10 years for Norwalk's Cavalcade of Bands. I was so focused on the D&B aspect of this show I totally left out Norwalk's performance. They finished their 2 week band camp Friday night and preformed an entire show on Saturday. They were amazing and should be commended for their performance. Hopefully, Mr. Smith will accept my faux pas and I will still stand in his good graces as well as those of the NHS Band members.

The crowd in Bridgeport got treated to a great show with no rain. Also, let me remind you I am a Hurricane alum, '04-'07. The former DCA Soloist of the year and recording artist Ritchee Price played a great National Anthem to open the show. Very jazzy and well done. P.A.L. Buccaneers Jr. D&B Corps - These kids, about 17 all together, played a standstill called "Songs of Sailor and Sea", including a medly of Anchors Away, Portsmith and Under The Sea, One Eyed Sailor and Russian Sailors Dance. The audience was very appreciative of their efforts and gave them a standing O. Bridgemen Alumni Corps - "Yes, we have some bananas!" was how the MC introduced this step back to the days I loved as a kid and still do. DM Jimmy Jordan was energized and electric as they moved through Pagliacci, which featured a great soprano solo. I'm guessing they're playing G bugles here. Big Noise From Winnetka, Hymn To The Last Whale, Sambe De Renee, Spanish Dreams were followed by an enthusiastic standing O from the savvy as always Bridgeport fans. JJ asked the crowd if they wanted to hear one more? And, you already know the answer. Goosebumps and hair-raising was the norm as The William Tell Overture blasted the stands. At this point I was ready to go home. Except, I came to see a competion. Great job Bridgemen! Brigadiers - This Central Ny corps has really come a long way since I saw them in the same stadium during the Barnum Festival's Parade of Champions. Their 31 brass members played as an ensemble and I was impressed with the volumn level when called upon. I'm a horn guy so I don't even try to talk percussion. I felt they blended well as an overall ensemble and visually they were entertaining. My only knock is on the use of props. Four big canvases of colors just don't do it for me. I know their show is "Pictures......", but that's how I feel. I had them 4th. Bushwackers - Again, as above, this is the first time since Bridgeport that I've seen Bush. Originally, I thought Oh my god, what was that? Man, was I pleasantly surprised. Right from the start, entering the field, they're performimg. They may have revoutionized the "flying start". Psycotic is a more than an appropriate word, in a good way, to describe this crazy, dark ride. Their 29 horns really impressed me with their contolled volumn and tone. Their guard, as usual, was amazing and their drums meshed well. Visually, they marched and played well, at the same time, might I add. You all know what I mean. Overall I loved their show and was happy to see how wrong I was about their chances of recovering after the Barnum show. I had them 3rd. Empire Statesmen - DM David Bruni brought his usual "Statemen's style" to the podium and his corps responded. Let me just say that I am a veteran and am active in my local American Legion Post. I appreciate the attempt at being patriotic, and the music did that for me, and quite well. However, I don't need the "Pledge of Allegience" recited. This was the only part of their performance I didn't appreciate. I Loved the Sing, Sang, Sung/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy segment. Their percussion added to the total ensemble as did the color guard. The hornline of 51, if I counted right, really brought it tonight. I had them 2nd. Hurricanes - I was fortunate enough to see their run-through. And then I got nervous. When I performed it seemed we always left our best performance on the practice field. This is a new Huricanes, and their performance tonight proved that. Other than one cover issue in a fast moving block from left to right, their visual performance was awesome. Musically, their 49 horns blended as an ensemble and they marched and played well. No park and barks allowed. The young drum line stood out, in my opnion, when all the others hadn't. Their guard just seems to keep getting better. I loved their pass throughs with the horn line and their sabre/rifle work was superb. I had them 1st. Connecticut Alumni - Good old-time D&B. They were greeted enthusiastically and they responded with a strong performance that of course ended with the drum corps anthem Hang'em High/Magnificent 7. Great job by all of my fellow alumni. Park City Pride - Once again this popular corps delivered. Their signatute I'll Be Seeing You was followed by a visual and musical salute to the men and women serving in our armed forces, featuring the color guard. As usual "Pride", well done. Well, that's it. I'm really looking forward to Rochester and it just might be the best finals ever. regardless of who wins it all. See you there!

Let's hope that Hurricane Danny doesn't affect the Hurricanes' fanfare on Saturday. Brigs, Bush, Empire and the Hurcs could all lose out on improving their seeding in Rochester. Not sure how Danny will affect the Buc's show, if at all. That being said, I'll never forget performing during Ernesto's run through Rochester in'06.

I, personally, have no problem with going to Lucky's in Madison for 9 years.

I'm pretty sure that BD's success and acheivement has not gone overlooked by the drum corps community through the years. In fact they have motivated all the other corps to acheive at a consistently high level as well. Congrats to BD for their 2009 World Championship!

Sorry it took so long to weigh in on this. If you use the "if not for the .025 margin BD would have 3-peated" argument, how many other finals would that affect? How about '06 in Madison? Cavs beat Phantom by .03. If not for that, PR would have 2 out of 3. That being said, if you were there do you recall PR turning to the Cavvies and serenading them with a victory song? Now that's class and what we should expect from our kids. It made me very proud that my son was part of that Contra line and a great drum corps. As for '09, I'll have to wait for the DVD as I missed the quarters in the theater. One thing though. These kids, all of these kids, put their heart and soul into this activity. They don't write the books and they don't set the scores. What they do do is entertain us for 50 days every summer.

One thing I forgot. The encore! Now I know that every corps sounds great in the arc, read as not running baskward or sideways or even forward at 180, but we really got to hear what the Hurcs will sound like on the field in the very near future. They opened with "Mariah" then followed with the full show. No running out of gas here. What a delight! Then the contras, all ten, came forward and then "boom-boom, boom-boom-boom", unfortunately on bass 4 due to a broken bass 5. The crowd already on it's feet seemed to grow taller as they anticipated their beloved "Mag 7". The contras reinforced their anticipation with their opening notes and the mello line played the "Hang 'em High" solo en masse. I was really looking forward to hearing Pete Prophe alone, but it still gave me goosebumps. Thomas Greenhalgh delivered the trumpet solo and the crowd went crazy! Kate Soccia, who took top DM, looked great as did the guard performing behind the corps. Also, kudos to the percussion line, who took top honors as well. My one chance to play a victory encore came in Maryland in 2006. Unfortunately, there were thunder and lightening storms, hmmm, sounds failiar, so we performed to an empty parking lot and the heavens. Still a great feeling! Hopefully there are many more ahead for the Hurcs. Walk proud and think of thunder!

Kamaraq, Thanks for bringing me up to speed (said with a red face). The crowd certainly did enjoy Teal Sound's sound, as well as the overall performance. Good luck to your corps this season.

yes, i was there. To start out let me say I marched mellophone with the Hurcs '04-'07. DCI corps Teal Sound from Jacksonville, Fla opened the show in exhibition. Their show was "The Velvet Rope" using modern pop. Very entertaining and enjoyable. They used amplification with 2 guitars and a bass guitar plus a trap drum set. Other than backing the Tubas with the bass; which in my opinion was not necessary; the amplification brought nothing to the table. Not a top ten corps this year. Please understand that I don't usually do reviews and have no notes and it was a great day on the boat on Long Island Sound today (Sunday) if you know what mean. 5th. 60.913 Rochester Crusaders were very small, 18 brass?, due to graduation as announced by the announcer. Long way to go to make top 10, 11, 12.... you get my meaning. 4th. 68.4 Bushwackers were small also, 24/26 brass, though I know they tend to keep holes for returning DCI brass in August. Challenging book, don't know if they can acheive it in time. Should still make top 10, just due to their past history. 3rd. 70.363 Corps Vets were awesome for this time of year. Great sound, very clean, great sound and balance, still some visual problems, but the crowd loved the southern style, especially "Geogia On My Mind". Definite top 10 this year, maybe top 6, IMO. 2nd. 75.9 Caballeros very predictable "spanish" show with very predictable lack of movement. They did take top brass, by .5, but see my first sentence. As usual, you know they will be contenders, but come on guys, you have to start marching. 1st. 77.525 Hurricanes. Not what I expected to see this early. Wow what a show! Talk about velocity, their opener is amazing! Great show concept carrying forth from their journey West from last year. Unbelievable dark sound from the low brass (think Phantom Regiment, with apologies, afterall I am biased) which features 10 contras with a "Teddy feature" , which all of you DCA vets should understand. Overall the brass was balanced throughout, though they ran out of gas at the beginning of the closer. However, they reached back and finished strong. A great sign for any corps. They took top guard, percussion amd visual. This was the first time they won the Parade of Champions since 1982 but I have feeling the drought is over for the future. Hurcs, Cabs and Corps Vets were all very entertaining and I look forward to seeing them in the future and to seeing their improvement, which of course is a certainty.

Ray, You are so right. The last 4 years we were never taken seriously. But, we never stopped believing. And, we never stopped working. 7th last year was a joke. Just read all the posts. Lots of people had us 5th. I'm not able to march this year, but I am so proud of what the Hurcs have accomplished so far this season. They, as well as the Cabs and Empire have closed the "gap' with the Bucs. This really isn't going to be over 'til it's over. (Thank you Yogi.) I was hoping to make it to Lawrence, but will not be able to. Good luck Hurcs and as always........ WALK PROUD AND THINK OF THUNDER!!!! The Captain

Yes. I help to line the CT Hurricanes practice fields. 1. After you establish your sideline, we go out to the 10 yard line (a total of 240 ft), you need to mark where your 50 yard line is and measure/mark left and right all your yard lines. 2. Stake a rope on each of the the 40's. The rope needs to be at least 40 yds(120 feet) long with a tape wrap at the center. We have one marked special just for this part. 3. Walk out from the 50 with a stake and place it where the taped center is when pulled tight. 4. Now stake a rope(at least 170 feet) on the sideline at the 50 and pull it across until it lines up straight with the stake in the center of the field when pulled tight. (We eyeball this but it's always been successful.) Place a stake at 160 ft. At this time you can mark the college hashes front = (60feet), center X = (80 ft)and back = (100 ft) from the front sideline. 5. Stake a rope at the end of the front sideline. The rope has to be at least 290 ft long. Mark it at 160 ft and 280 ft and stake the 280 at the 50 yd line on the back sideline. Now pull tight to establish the corner at 160 ft. 6. Repeat from the other end of the front sideline. You now have a square field. :) Good Luck