Mad75

Well, where has the the comfortable spread gone that Madison has had over the Cavies..."POOOOOF"! Some real hungry climbers below the Scouts! What does Madison have in the tank? Is there a stratagy? Big changes in the works? This Madison alumni can only hope and pray that we havent seen anything yet from the Men of Madison in regards to magic up the sleave!

It's more than a rumor...All current Scouts and "alumni" have been invited to participate together as one unit to march in the 2014 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's to early to know details regarding atire, etc, but mark the date!

Hey Vince, speaking of NYC, have you marked Macy's parade 2014 on your calendar as the date to slip the "Super Man Suit" on one more time?

Simple, the scores matter because it's a judged activity...In case you hadn't noticed, it's not an exhibition, it's a "competition". But to your point, yes, Madison's M.O. first and foremost is entertainment, and that's a wonderful thing. I can guarantee you though; you will not hear Chris Komnick or any of Madison's staff chime in with the course of "F" the scores. Nor would you have heard that philosophy espoused by our staff in 1975 when I marched in Madison's championship corps or in the years that followed up to my age out. As a matter of fact, I think you would find that with today's Scout leadership you'd hear that it's not an either or proposition. I believe you would be told that they strongly feel you can have both no-holds-barred entertainment along with success in the scoring ledger at the same time...At least that's the long term goal that's been laid out. Now, if you disagree with the winning thing all together or that one shouldn't have goals in the activity, then it's time to simply pull out the applause meter.

I haven't seen Madison yet or anyone else and wont until San Antonio, but I hope the following comments are completely wrong. From what I'm hearing, there are those who have seen Madison (fans of Madison) that believe they still lack the difficulty/design/writing/depth of show/talent, etc., etc., to crack into the top 6. These individuals tell me that Madison is once again highly entertaining and the show is very emotional, but that's about where it ends. I know there's time, but now days the season is so short. It would seem that Cavies closing the gap and overtaking some captions is reason for concern. This is why I never put any stock in early season hype, I.E, "Homerville". I know that there was disappointment already two years ago amongst Madison's staff that they had taken too much of a conservative approach in their "road map" back to power status and had wished that they had given the members more to work with. I for one am really hoping that the 75th anniversary show has leg's enough to take the Scouts somewhere special other than 7-10!

You obviously didn't read what I said...My point was that two nights ago in Mankato was a blatant, isolated incident that should have never occurred in light of the personal first hand accounts that surfaced regarding the considerable known horrible history of this aforementioned judges actions! How you came away with your, it's "Madison vs the world" view point of my comments is beyond me. Crucify?...No, torture would be a little extreme. Tar and feather...maybe.

I'm sure he's 102...Absolutely true, no joke!

So, what are we to make of the Scouts taking 1st in the Guard caption tonight but taking 3rd two nights ago to the Blue Stars guard taking 1st and the Crossman taking 2nd? And then tonight both of these aforementioned corps guards taking 4th and 5th in the guard caption? Tonight falls right back into the trend line prior to the "crock of bull" (in other words, the joke of a judge named B. Thomas!) of the anomaly that occurred two nights ago...and oddly enough was allowed to stand! This is proof positive DCI along with the prior first hand personal accounts of how horribly terrible judge Mr. B. Thomas is!...DCI, wake up! Mr. B. Thomas is a disaster and shouldn't be allowed to come within 100 miles of a drum corps show and should be immediately stripped of his credentials! DCI, how in good conscious can you ever again allow this man to be associated with you and to hold judgment on any drum corps?

Was Chris Thomsa running the horn line for the Colts at that time?

To get through the beginning of the season without any rain-outs would be a huge blessing! (We've had our share the past couple summers!)

20,000??...That's a maddening proposition. I have more than enough trouble sorting out 2-3 possibilities.

I cant disagree with your comment...I cant speak for other corps. I can only report on the sad history between the Czapinski's and the Scouts...It's tragic. Truth stranger then fiction kind of stuff!...That is all.

Simply hoping you caught the levity within my comments?...The thread of historical truth woven in though is that one does not have to contort to any great degree to find that the "House Of Czapinski" has not been kind towards the Madison Scouts for decades. It's happened with such regularity that it's truth stranger than fiction type stuff. If the Czapinski lunacy doesn't occur this evening, I can only assume that the prayers of the faithful have been answered, or a cosmic shift in the universe will have occurred. Take your pick.

This is great reason for concern!...Anytime the name "Czapinski" and the Madison Scouts are used in the same sentence, the outcome for the Scouts is usually very destructive in the scoring dept. Please fall to your knees and begin to pray for the Scouts NOW!...Perhaps the stone cold heart(s) of Mr. Czapinski (and Marie Czapinski) can be miraculously warmed towards the Scouts??...Nah, probably not, to big of a miracle! I should probably ask for something much easier like world peace and the end to all disease. On the flip-side, this is very good news for the other corps tonight.

Oh, oh...am I picking up a little hate vibe here? Why so angry?

Oh of course...It's that time of year where Madison starts going down hill every night. (Licks finger and puts in air)...yup, that time of year.

I think I saw the 3 Stooges and the Marx Bothers huddled around the tabulators table poking each other in the eyes, hitting each other over the head with huge plastic hammers and spraying each other in the face with their magic lapel water daisy's...And then Curly was overheard yelling into a colossal red phone receiver, "Is This DCI?...DCI, are you there?". Yup, No Lie!

Madison taking 4th to Blue Stars, Colts, and Troopers??...I don't think so. And, dropping 7-8 points...tabulators/judges/DCI, put down the crack pipe!

I asked Chris Komnick last summer in Round Rock, TX about this supposed "3 year" commitment by James Mason and MEG. And he told me flat out that he does not know where that rumor originated. He stated that there is not and never was a set time period put in place by Mr. Mason in which he or others would exit stage right. Chris left me with the impression that they've discussed show concepts well into the future. But of course, as is with life, everything can change tomorrow.

Simple!...Because that ONE MAN chooses to be highly annoying!

And man was it loud when we did it!...Couldn't hear each other...Couldn't hear a thing! You just hoped one end of the horn line finished playing the same time as the other end.

Yea...We called it "Small Corps". It was a blast!

Maybe we could all send happy thoughts and start this thing all over again...You know, a kinder, gentler direction with butterflies, unicorns and angelic visitations...Nah, what was I thinking!

Michael...red marks or not, your perspective and insight is invaluable. Keep the history and commentary coming. Now, carry on soldier! That is all...

Actually...Believe it or not, someone out there does have a half way decent video of the 75' Muchachos. I know this, because I've seen it! If memory serves me, it was a mid-season, day-time show. I say mid-season, because they seemed to be quite clean musically and visually, and they were performing the heck out of the show. It was in black-and-white, and somewhat grainy, but the sound came across well enough, and it was obviously taken from up in the stands by I'm guessing a fan, etc. Also, the person doing the recording is heard saying before the performance something like, "and here's the 1975 Muchachos"! I remember reacting to what I was watching as thinking, "wow, it's too bad, because these guys were quite good". Here's the problem though, I ran across this "missing link" by complete accident about a year ago and I was unsuccessful in grabbing it online. And then like a mirage, the following day it disappeared...It was like someone put it out there as a tease, and then removed it again from all existence. I searched and searched and never found it again. But, someone definitely has this recording. The conspiracy theorist would conclude that DCI caught wind of it and immediately "expunged" any evidence of the Muchachos 75' season from the public record. Like Ramses of Egypt declaring the name of Moses to be stricken from all recorded time and to speak the very name shall be punishable by death!...But, it’s out there. That’s what I know…