Acad Dad

When you say, "don't insult" can you give a range of what are you talking about? What if I just wanted Finals tickets?

Don't worry what other people think :P

You know, thanks for mentioning them. Nothing taken away from Mark or staff, but my son loves these guys and the way he is being taught to produce better music. We all should sign up for a membership in "The Breathing Gym" lol

OK.... (eyes rolling....sarcasm ON) Whatever! LOL

My avatar says it loud and proud!!! I'm a HOMER! d'ooooh

Here's the original post - Sorry if I upset anyone with this account of The Academy! Also, when my son was marching Esperanza, their truck broke down and they were without Uni's, pit equipment, and instruments. The SCV (Way to go, Vanguard!) stepped in and offered similar help and the show went on, in shorts and t-shirts! ------------------------ Dang Commemempho, beat me to it. Well, the SCV story is a nice one, too!

And your own water....it's been a tad dry this year!!! :P

I vote for the tiiiiiniest little bit of C-4 b**bs

Amen, bro. I think we know some of the same kids!! b**bs

First off, you are one heck of a classy guy to offer an apology. More like you are needed and, as a fan, I appreciate your intent and the sincerity behind it. Secondly, I posted in my review a comment on the comment by Pee Wee (absolutely valid point made by Pee Wee) but I thought the backstory would help explain the circumstances and that there was CLEARLY no disrespect intended to Impulse. see quote below from my post: (Note to Pee Wee from your review) I heard VK when they let out that cheer as well, and it was unfortunate it was during another corps performance and that it was somewhere that could be heard. However, the story behind the "roar" is this: When VK suffered from the infamous "trailer fire" incident at the Riverside show and Academy stepped up and gave them everything they needed to do their show (except for their tennis shoes) VK has been #1 on the Academy support team, cheering them whenever they perform or when they march by. It is a "thank you for helping in our time of need" that is quickly becoming a neat tradition between the two corps. Lord knows, we have enough people who view this as Hyper competitive and "bash" other corps. It is absolutely heart-warming to see the "friendship" that has developed this season between the two corps and the support VK has consistently given The Academy. The Academy drumline was marching to the staging area and as they went by VK, they gave a spontaneous cheer. I'm sure no malice was intended and unfortunately, it was a little too close to the open stadium. Dan, please let your corps know that the appreciation and comraderie VK shows to Academy does NOT go unnoticed, by the fans (I"m a VK fan simply because of your class...and because you put on one heck of a fun show!) or by the members of Academy. As I said above, this is a "corps friendship" that is sorely lacking as the "sport" becomes more competitive. I applaud your willingness to stand up and apologize and I applaud VK for being so wonderful about remembering a nice thing that was done for them. :)

Wow, now I'm speechless b**bs Thanks!

Well, thanks! I understand the humor in this and embrace it. However, evidence backs up facts and I think Homer's and Honks are differentiated by their actions, either at a show or in a public forum like DCP. Go read my reviews and comments. Definately Homer. There are others that everything comes out of their mouth is NOT open for debate, is the ONLY way it is, etc, etc. That, my friends, is a HONK! They should both survive....but it is fun to say HONK five times fast. honkhonkhonkhonkhonk :P

First off, nice review. Very complete, very down to earth w/o all the over the top stuff. You said why you liked what you did, and why you didn't like some stuff. Helps a newbie like me and kinda like my review of Ryan's review down in Long Beach. I'm sorry I missed last night's show. Second, sorry your "rehersal" didn't go as planned, but glad you got it in. Third, I'm sure the reluctance to comment comes from the flames pouring out from some other boards about these 3 Div 1 corps (I know, mostly about Academy, but they are taking their shots at PC and Mandarin too) about the ....well, you know what. Anyway, thanks for the review and the kind words on Academy...and PC and Mandarins. My feelings from Friday were both shows were vastly improved over the first time I saw them and PC was really selling the show. I totally felt it. Would it be unprecedented to have them finally get that the narration is superfluous and remove it entirely from the show? I wonder if anyone ever started with narration and ended without it. I think the improvement in the show over the last 3 weeks screams for them to just let the crowd understand they are in Vegas. The show tells itself very well. You guys looked great on Saturday. Go WEST COAST corps!!! Good luck in San Antonio!

Please read my earlier post as I think I have defined it, at least how I interpret it. Others, please either correct MY narrow definition of Honk (it's nothing I'd want on a t-shirt) as I think it has a more negative connotation than Homer does.

QUOTE(DCfan76 @ Jul 16 2007, 10:24 AM) Try as you may - the rest of the drum corps community is not going to fully embrace a group that has been home for weeks, sleeping in their own beds, enjoying their own bathroom and practicing all day, every day. ---------------------- You know, the first thing I think of, as I settle into my seat, anxious to see if this 135 person corps is going to show me brillinace on the field of competition, is if they have been ENJOYING their own bathroom, and what did that enjoyment entail. Geeeeeez :P Sarcasm is definately ON!!!

OK, on the humor side. I think I remember you saying that you loved the word "HONK" and that it made you laugh. So be it. Kind of like Will Ferrell in Elf. (Francisco, now THAT'S fun to say....Fraaaan Cissss Co) However, HONK actually isn't funny in what I feel it means vs. Homer which is much more light-hearted. Oh, Bill, stop being such a Homer for your team! So, I continue my argument and push for the Committee to abolish Homer and replace it with Honk to STOP THE MADNESS and realize they are two distinct words. Don't take away my HOMER!!! :)

OK. First off, I think I"m highly qualified to report on and form an opinion on this subject. Here is my presentation. First off, please see avatar! Secondly, please see screenname. Thirdly, please see signature file. So, this is the basis for my decision on this, most worthy, of topics. Scirbe too, I saw you on the "thread" that was the genesis for this one. (might I add a sidebar that this is a much more appropriate thread than that one) So, in my opinion, THAT guy is a HONK, albeit a NEGATIVE Honk, which is clearly possible. I, on the other hand, am a HOMER. Both in word, deed, and Avatar. A homer cheers on their corps, appreciates the activity, has room to accept valid and well-pointed criticism, and supports the heck out of their corp. A HONK blindly ...well....HONKS for his corps w/o respect or admiration for others, does so without ANY empirical backup and doesn't listen to REASON. So, you can't take me away. I'm a HOMER and will be. I intend to never be a HONK. They are two different things in my book and, with much respect to Bawker (see, I can give respect, but disagree) Honk is NOT the new Homer. What say you, Honk vs. Homer crowd??? D'oh!!!!! PS More than a little thought went into picking my Avatar, but mostly it was because I saw the humor in being a Drum Corps "Homer"....not Honk

Thought I heard there was a missing caption score or something for Dream last night and they scored in the 68 range. That would change things a bit, huh?

Fair enough. I'll take it!!! ;)

OK...lets say for a second that this point and the one above are true. More injuries during practice. More burned out during extended periods of practice. Personally, I would tend to agree. I played baseball up to a decent level. Practice sucked. Loved the games. But you have to practice. You have to put the time in. Games were the reward. What if a corps didn't get the reward they needed? What if they were lacking motivation? What if they were burning out because they didn't have enough to work for without the constant feedback of the shows night after night. Well, some corps may lose focus. Some may lose motivation. Some may come out and actually LOSE a place or two from their off time. Now, let's look at Academy and assume all the above is true. So, now what. After a 3 week layoff from competition? Grueling 12 hour rehersals in 115 degree heat (down to only 98 at 9:00 p.m) with many corps members sleeping on floors and mattresses in spare bedrooms because they are being housed for the summer, far away from their home (hmmm, kinda like tour) without the pull and excitement of the next show driving them onward. What could possibly motivate them to attain the perfection they strive for? Oh, I don't know, maybe an incredible sense of pride in what they do? Maybe they love the activity, and the scores are secondary. Maybe the love of learning how to play better music or how to march better. Pride in doing a job just for the sake of doing it? And, now, again assuming all the above is true, they go out on tour and start getting the benefits you describe. Judges feedback, crowd critique, the excitement and drive of the show, the "benefit" of sleeping on a high school gym floor and eating our of a tractor-trailer kitchen. The comraderie of being on "the tour" and seeing the bands they are competing against night after night. So lets assume they come out after this "horrible" layoff and score, say a 79.2, up from 71.05. Let's say that the "benefits" of the road begin to stack up and they begin to feel the "pressure" of the tour to score higher, to keep up with the "Jones'" and make the drive to Finals. Let's say that on top of all that internal drive that these kids have been feeding on, they reach down and find out that external drivers can be an extra motivation? You know what I think could happpen.....That a corps that followed an untraditional path (but entirely legal and legit) through their first Div 1 season could quite possibly make finals night. And wouldn't that be something. But you know what. If they don't, and I've said this before, you'll have kids that will be disappointed, but you will not have anyone that will question if they are in the right place and make a run for a higher level corps. They LOVE it at Academy. They'll suck it up and say they want to do better next year. If better next year still means they don't make finals, but they are better, they are ok with it. Because, you see, it isn't about the scores about Academy. It is about the growth. The scores just naturally follow. Now, of course all of this is just a big what if? But what if they DO make the finals this year??? I'm so proud of them. Their show looks wonderful, they worked their buns off for 3 weeks with no feedback, and here they are. Best of luck, Academy, in San Antonio. Go show 'em what you are made of....go give them a show that I KNOW the crowd will love. And the score.....well, we'll see, won't we? :)

Luckily, I'll be in the stands about the 40 yd line 73 rows up for Semi's . I was willing to make a bet The Academy would make Semi's so I chose that show to attend and chose Finals to help out and volunteer. So, I'll look up at you on Finals night and wave if you will do the same for me on Semi's.

Awesome. That's an opinion with a valid point That is fine and we'll see as the rest of the season plays out, won't we. That is a legitimate concern/argument and one that people are anxious to see the results of. But....come to me when you've logged 4,700 miles and then we'll talk... Puleeease!

I love ya, man

Kevin The best part about this is YOUR opinion doesn't matter to so many...and I could care less what matters to you. Legitimate gripe...let's hear it. However, the BS has to stop. 79.2 79.2 79.2 ^0^

Waiting (semi) patiently, for the review.