victrussell

I am cheering on the Scouts and enjoying their show without obsessing about how they are slotted by DCI. I went through hell obsessing about that during the 90's and particularly in 2002, so I am trying to leave that kind of obsession behind! I am really looking forward to seeing the Scouts' show live tonight in Naperville. I enjoyed the web cast last night, but I don't think the live experience can be duplicated. Vic Russell

I would suggest a divorce by a really good Cadets drum corps from that stupid narration. Vic Russell

Cadets -- not my idea of Drum Corps!!!!! Vic Russell

WOW!!!! What a Show, Crown!!!! That is my idea of Drum Corps. Vic Russell

This has really been an entertaining show thus far. It is nice to see that all of the corps have put traditional drum corps shows on the field (so far, at least). I particuarly liked the Madison Scouts, Troopers, and Glassmen. I thought the Blue Stars and Spirit were less entertaining than the other corps. Vic Russell

I didn't think I would get to see the Scouts live this summer, but at the last minute, a friend (who is a Cavaliers fan) invited me to join him in traveling to Naperville tomorrow night for the Cavaliers home show. I would rather see them in Camp Randall, but I am just happy that I will see them live. I wonder if I will be able to pick up my Scouts booster pin at the Scouts Souvenir booth in Naperville. Vic Russell

I am sorry to see George leave. After all, he is the founder of this forum. Like many of us, he tends to get carried away from time to time. I hope my chiding him about his "just like the 90's" comment did not lead to his decision to leave. Just like many of us see things through Scouts-colored glasses, George sees everything through Cadets-colored glasses. I think it is fair to say that the Scouts fan base and the Cadets fan base tend to represent the two opposites of the drum corps world. Vic Russell

Yes, George, it is like the entire 90's all over again! The Scouts continue to have the largest, most dedicated and passionate fan base that is still the envy of others – like Cadet fans, for example. Concerning DCI's slotting process (mistakenly called "judging" by DCI), nothing has changed since I commented on the subject in 2002! Vic Russell

I watch ESPN2 all of the time, so I am aware that it is ESPN2's thing. I think the choice of ESPN to show a DCI program is a poor choice. I think the A&E network would be a better choice. Vic Russell

If the intent was to interest the "uninitiated" in drum corps, I would be surprised if the ESPN2 broadcast accomplished that goal. The show was a real snooze fest during the first hour. Also, the running of sports scores on the bottom crawl was a major distraction for this kind of programming. I spent a good part of my time hitting the mute button and listening to XM 188 where the Brewers were beating up on the Astros 14 - 2. Happily, I am a subscriber to DCI Season Pass, so I can watch the complete 2007 shows that I want to watch (Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown) whenever I choose. Vic Russell

Exactly! The slotting of corps is simply the practice of "judges" designated by DCI making decisions based upon their individual and/or collective biases and opinions. Nothing more -- nothing less. Vic Russell

I think virtually all of the top 14 shows were overrated, but I think Cavaliers, Blue Knights, and Academy were grossly overrated. I think the Madison Scouts were grossly underrated. Vic Russell

The crowd's response to corps at semifinals is available to platinum members as the performances are now archived on DCI's multimedia site. I just watch the Scouts and enjoyed the thrills and chills of the Scouts show all over again! The crowd response was huge -- and, remember, the Scouts performed early in the evening. I had earlier criticized DCI for the quality of the flash media archived shows. I am pleased to see that an upgraded version of flash media is now being used and it is very watchable. Thanks, DCI. I am looking forward to watching the archived shows over the next 8 months. Vic Russell

I think the Scouts and Crown had the most entertaining shows this year. Vic Russell

I note that every time someone starts a topic concerning the Madison Scouts, someone "consolidates" it into a catch-all Scouts topic. On the other hand, there are several topics concerning the Cadets and, yet, those topics continue to exist on the forum as individual topics. Can someone explain the difference in treatment? Vic Russell

To me, it was worth paying the $89 for the web casts just to see the Scouts show develop into the spectacular show they put on the field tonight. Too bad DCI isn't smart enough to share this show with the nation on ESPN 2. Vic Russell

However the Scouts place in accordance with DCI's slotting process, I think the Scouts have one of the two most entertaining shows this year. The other show I really like is Crown. The Scouts were slotted higher last year, but I thought the 2006 show was much less entertaining. So, to all of you slotting fans, I say, who cares how DCI decides to slot the Scouts? I am really looking forward to seeing the Scouts tomorrow night on the web cast!! Vic Russell

I think the Scouts have a great show right now. It is also a show that draws the audience in unlike most of the higher-slotted shows. As a web cast viewer, I was very taken by the crowd response at San Antonio. I am very proud of what the Scouts have accomplished on the field this year. Vic Russell

I watched all of the shows from San Antonio via web cast on Saturday. I thought the Scouts' show was easily the most entertaining show in the afternoon. I also enjoyed Crown's evening show. I have tried very hard not to rant this year about the nonsense otherwise known as DCI judging/slotting. I think the biggest downside to the judging debacle is that regional/national evening audiences don't get to enjoy the most entertaining shows and must sit though a lot of that boring techno-dissonant stuff. Vic Russell

I don't have any idea how the DCI judges will score this afternoon's show (DCI scoring doesn't make any sense to me), but I thought the most entertaining show -- by far -- was the Madison Scouts. Vic Russell

I am very disappointed in the Spirit’s show this year. Where is the Jazz???? This is just another boring techno-dissonant-sounding show that sounds like so many other corps. Vic Russell

I am surprised that you are surprised. Only the usual suspects (you know who you are) think that the DCI judging system makes any sense. It is nice to hear that there are still people who attend drum corps shows who can voice an opinion regarding the quality of a show without having been poisoned by the DCI judging system. Vic Russell

The biggest area of vulnerability for any drum corps is its long-term financial viability. I am very happy that the Scouts Board and corps leadership are emphasizing this issue. I do not consider a corps venerable because DCI judges are slotting their current show lower than I would like. I saw the Scouts live twice this season and I thought they put on a very enjoyable show. As a Scouts fan, that is all I ask. Vic Russell

I have many Irish relatives (ok, so they are only part Irish!) who live in Milwaukee. I really enjoyed the Pioneers show and the celtic music this year (ok, so I am part Irish too!). They had the classiest Color Guard of any corps I have seen at the two shows I attended this year. Vic Russell

I am a satisfied "Platinum" member so long as the live shows are available to view with the windows media player and not flash media. I don't watch the stored clips because they are stored with the inferior flash media. I would be a very satisfied customer if the stored clips could be viewed with windows media player (or real player or apple's quick-time player). Vic Russell