Fran Haring

Crossmen... the year they wore those bizarre Latin-style uniforms.... sometime in the 1980's. Don't remember when.... trying to forget. Fran

I'll do my best. Fran

Sounds like a plan, Jeff....best of luck in '09! Fran

I vote for "all of them." Fran

Absolutely...... a great weekend coming up for DCA and the all-age activity, without question!!! Fran

This message brought to you by "The Coalition For Shooting the Messenger." Fran

I agree. Had a great time at the only junior shows I saw.... in Westminster, MD, and the "quarterfinals at the movies" show. I "got" most of the shows... certainly enjoyed most of them... and several just floored me, especially Phantom Regiment's program. That is on my short list of best shows I've ever seen. Sheer power and emotion. But the one rules change I have to wonder about is the one allowing miked brass. That, to me, has the potential to fundamentally alter that trademark "drum corps sound" that is unique to this activity. Plus, to be perfectly honest, at any of the band shows I've worked, when the woodwinds are miked for a solo or whatever, they've always sounded very tinny and thin to me. Not good, if this also happens with brass. A story for another thread, I suppose. Bottom line....I was very happy with the overall DCI product this year. Fran

Great news.... congrats to Mike and Alisha!!!!!!! Fran

So.... who's rehearsing where for Saturday's show in Scranton? Fran

The announcer. Fran

All of the above.... plus the fact that this show is also the American Legion national title contest for this year. And the fact that the Parade of Champions is one of the two longest-running shows on the DCA schedule... or in all of drum corps, for that matter. (Cabs' Drum Corps Grand Prix show is the other.) A lot of history at this show. Great venue... great lineup!! Fran

Great review....... thanks! Fran

This thread deserves a bump back to Page One. The DCI season is over....... the DCA season is heading for the home stretch, with the corps rounding into championship form. GREAT DCA show coming up Saturday in Scranton.... BE THERE!!!!!!! Fran

But only if the wheelchairs are designated as "DCA-approved instruments"!!!! LOL Fran

OK.... let's start the office pool as to when Pete gets banned from DCP. Fran

What Tom said!!!!!! Scranton is going to be one heckuva show. All the Eastern "big guns" in their final face-to-face meeting before DCA championships.... plus the fact that it is the American Legion national title show. Very much looking forward to our weekend in Scranton. Come out and join us!!!!! Fran

I'm a longtime Blue Devils fan.... but I gotta give it up to Phantom Regiment this year. They had one of the best shows I've ever seen in my 40-plus years of being around drum corps.... absolutely fantastic. A deserving champion, no doubt about it!!!!! Fran

Hata off to the Blue Stars for their achievement this year! It's great to see one of the original DCI stalwarts back in Finals. I hope they can continue to climb the competition ladder in the years to come!!! Fran

Getting the drum corps fix by checking DCP from time to time. And the non-drum corps fix by watching the Olympics tonight. Fran

Yeah... like a judge at the start of a show, I need to leave some room....... Fran

But first... at least for me.... the PGA Championship and the Olympics. Go Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff...our "hometown heroes." Bring home some gold for Baltimore!!!!!! Fran

On the money, Frank. Guys who were right around my age from Sunrisers.... Dennis Plante, Tony Cataneo, George Smith, Bobby Duncan.... all of 'em gone, at way too young an age. Also, friends from other corps. And family members who were drum corps fans: my in-laws, Fred and Lillian Mowbray. My old corps director from the Manville Crusaders, John Latko. Also the various DCA folks I've worked with or gotten to know better.... Mickey Petrone, Billie Jean Petrone, Bob Murray, Jim Costello, Vince Bruni, John Laskowski, among others. I miss them all. Fran

Jim, perhaps you and I and our wives can have a "wheelchair push-off" at the I&E show! Fran

I am holding off making any predictions until after Labor Day weekend. By then, I should have a pretty good idea of the winners and the finalists. Fran

I agree. In fact, he even said something to the effect that this was one of the best group of performers his corps has had for a while. Hardly an insult to the kids at all. I get the feeling that if, on a sunny day, George said "the sun is shining today".... some folks would attach some sinister meaning to those words, simply because it's George Hopkins saying the words. "How DARE he insult those of us who like cloudy days"......LOL Fran