VOReason

Classic, I'm sure.

Certainly a plausible theory. And certainly more plausible than those homers who just think Cabs got jobbed. Only one problem with this theory. Prelims. The real problem the homers are having is with the first to third place flip-flop from Prelims to Finals. So unless they raised the field or lowered the seats during Prelims, this probably gives the homer little solace. This year was all about Cabs starting off the season with a show that they pretty much had under their legs and fingers from day one. The Bucs....not so much. Bucs were able to hang around due to the stregnth of their book and percussion, and being able to hang tough in brass in spite of an almost insanely difficult program for a weekend only. By Scranton, Bucs performance caught up to the book, and having seen this contest, Bucs should have passed the Cabs from that show on. But this was defintely a season of careful numbers management which carried over into prelims with the task of seeding MBI against the Cabs and Bucs who they have never met face to face during the regular season. Finals provided the opportunity to simply let the boys play and may the best corps win. And it would not have made any difference if the championships were contested in a major stadium or the Wildwood venue...the best corps won.

I would like to hear Hawthorne play La Fiesta Mexicana.

...and BTW, if anyone has a recording of Finals retreat and score announcements, could you please get me a copy. I would like to play it while I am in the shower singing the Reading corps song!

So iif you are admitting that Bucs were the better corps in Finals, why are you saying the Bucs should be happy you are not their judge? Isn't the best corps winning the result we all want to see? And BTW, saying the Bucs show has loads more content is not a silly comment. It is the truth.

So I'm not seeing things?

Where have I heard this before? But to be fair, in recent years past I've always felt as though the Cab's moved perhaps too much with limited effect, other than the effect it had on their horn score. Why do you think folks are saying that MBI's hornline ain't what it used to be?

We must be looking at different shows.

Agreed. Which is why I said if both corps PERFORM their show..

Reading had a load more content across all captions than did Hawthorne. And if both corps perform their shows, Reading wins based on strength of program. This is basically what happened. I found it amusing that someone on Facebook, a Cabs fan, offered up a suggestion to ensure that such a travesty of justice never happens again. Their suggestion was to have a quarter final, semi final and final similar to DCI. Anyone actually think that giving Bucs another 2 reps through their program would have helped the Cabs?

As if calling DCA's "a mess of a championship" and "the real champion gave the show of shows" doesn't label you as a homer? At least I give your team credit where credit is due. And to insinuate that the judges panel came into finals with a pre-determined plan? Can your IQ get any lower?

Not true. If that WERE the case then there would only be one point of view on DCP. But obviously (or perhaps not), there are many. BTW...what's YOUR point of view?

WOW! Sour grapes party of one, your table is ready! I saw both Cabs and Bucs in Scranton and thought Bucs should have won that show, although not by much. Cabs opener was great! Their original book was great! Their hornline sounded great! But NOBODY does the things Bucs do and actually DO it! NOBODY in the circuit would even put a show like this on paper. Can you imagine Cabs attempting a show like this? Sure Cabs hornline sounds great, but they are absolutely stagnant for a good quarter of their program. Percussion parks even more. Can you imaging how far behind the Bucs the Cabs percussion would be if they attempted to move half as much as Reading? And its not just movement for movements sake...Reading actually performs it! Just came across video of Reading and Cabs at Big Sounds. Bucs should have won there as well. Reading is a deserving champ and kudos to the Cabs for a GREAT year!

Who cares about the penalty? Did it decide the championship? Does anyone think Cabs would have felt better in second place? The real story here is what happens when the circuit carefully monitors numbers management during the season to foster competition, carry this practice into the prelims to rank/slot corps from outside the eastern region for the finals, and then just let the boys play in the finals, assign appropriate caption scores, and let the chips fall where they may.

Well, that was fun!

And here I thought I was the only one who noticed this! And yet they get the visual numbers. Go figure...

The real winner yesterday evening was numbers management!

I totally agree with Don. In fact, I would bet some of his paychecks on this as well! AND, while I am here...why does it seem like when somebody (me) insinuates that a corps visual content is somewhat lacking, someone always seems to bring up the Blue Devils. Have they seen this years Blue Devils? BD has done more at the halfway point of their show than anyone will see in the entire DCA circuit! Their visual content is insane! Comparing Cabs visual program to BD is like comparing apples to hand grenades!

Have you seen all the corps? And if so, what is your opinion? I am hoping to be in Scranton. Seems as though a lot of folks do not think Cabs show will have legs against a program that has more content. Saw Cabs show on video. Great opener, great original book. But the program just lays there for a good 4 minutes.

Geez, what do the Cabs have to do to get some respect! Well, at least nobody has them behind Fusion!

Not to mention the fact that in subsequent years Reading's program has become increasingly more...what's a good word?...difficult? And from what I've been told, and I will see for myself in Scranton, Readings 2014 program sort of pushes the envelope in terms of content for a weekends only drum corps. This, and obviously finances, probably plays a role in their decision to take additional weekends off. And it's bad for the circuit.

Or we could just have a clap show.

Your just not getting this...are you?

Perhaps you missed my point, which was to point out how ridiculous folks are being to imply that Bucs could not have improved "dramatically" simply because they only improved in score by 2.5. Does anyone actually believe that the Bucs have opened an over 2 point spread? Certainly not I. So, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, no need to feel sorry.