ddoy42

All I know is once all of the corps outside of California spend a week in San Diego and absorb the beauty of the ocean, the 80 degree weather, and the cool breeze blowing from the west, organizations will beg DCI to make it a permanent championship site. :P

I have heard so many different takes on DCI's processes. Hey, DCI chooses the best system they can, and it's not going to make EVERYBODY happy. While some people are objective about the whole thing and can look at this as a fair system, or maybe come up with suggestions on how to improve it, others are just complaining way too much. Sure Southwind did four shows and Mandarins two. Some people think doing more shows benefits a corps. Others think a corps doing one show and beating another corps' average is not fair. So, the Mandarins did two shows and scored consistently in both, where Southwind had one bad show that seems to have sunk them. OH WELL, get over it. The system is not going to make EVERYBODY HAPPY!!!! Please move on and enjoy what I think will be a kick### championship week.

The show was "different" in 1993, BUT after seeing some of the stuff that corps are putting out during this post-amp, post-microphone era, Star 1993 was tame. It's still in my top 5 favorite shows ever.

Anyone who voted NO should be ashamed of yourself. I don't see how any real drum corps fan would not want a quality drum corps (or any old drum corps) to return to competition. <**>

All I can say is HAND OVER THE KEYS!!!

REWRITE, "water"...what's the difference. And YES, drum corps (even the big dawgs) WATER music and drill before championships...you call it rewrite, I called it quote-n-quote water...it's the same thing. If a corps still can't perform something two months into the season, you get rid of it and replace it with something else. Call it whatever you want - it's besides the point. I wasn't saying that they HAVE TO "water." ALL I'M SAYING IS if main instructors aren't there at practices to point things out (whether it's executing a drill set correctly or ensemble music stuff) and see what's working, how do you improve? Don't students usually learn the most from the best/most experienced teachers?

I had actually mentioned this in a past thread, very few instructors are touring with them right now, and none (or maybe one) of the caption heads. I think this is contributing to less productive practices, a loss of focus, and the inability to clean and "water" before the final push to Boston. The rest of the staff is supposedly joining the corps in Indy, so I am really hoping they get back on track. I know some of you think 75 is where they belong, but I really think they're just in a funk right now and will likely get out of it - I just hope sooner than later.

What was it - the disappearing corps trick or the floating Carmen? BTW, don't you miss all those "tricks" SCV used to put in their shows?

I just spoke to someone associated with the Mandarins and apparently they have very few instructors on the trip with them right now, which probably isn't helping the cause = less productive practices and inability to really fine tune the show. Keep the faith...once the rest of the staff join the corps next week, I hope they'll get back on track.

I'm pretty sure it's for going over the time limit too. I bought the audio and they were about 10 seconds over. I think they've been over at just about every show, so it looks like they'll have to keep speeding up those tempos. :P

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!! I bought the audio from San Antonio and can't stop listening to it. But I do have a question that I'm surprised I have not read in the forums yet (sorry if it has and I missed it)... Who else noticed that the Cadets play MEDEA at the end of the show (a la Star of Indiana 1993). As they play, it kicks into The Twilight Zone for a couple measures before the final notes. It's not that Medea doesn't fit this show, but I want to know if it's just a coincidence, a show of respect recognizing the absense of Star, or maybe a little sarcastic slap in the face (in a playful way, of course) since Cadets beat them that year. Does anyone know the significance, if any?

I agree that the mellos sound really good. BUT overall, the show was dirty...DIRTY...D-I-R-T-Y!!!!! I bought the ADP BECAUSE of this thread, thinking that they must have made huge strides since CA...I don't feel like they really did. I heard some breaks from breathing (uncalled for when you have 60 horns), bumpy marching (shouldn't happen, especially in San Antonio), and some really strange dynamics written in. You all can go ahead and flame me if you want because I love SCV and am in no way saying they suck. I'm just saying, without even listening to ALL of the ADP's, I'm not surprised this show got 9th.

MY FAVORITE SHOW!! I AM REALLY PULLING FOR THEM TO WIN!!!! Also, with all the talk about Kill Bill, the whistling in the beginning is from Kill Bill, when Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) is in the hospital to kill Kiddo (Uma)...I loved it!!! And have any of you noticed this (someone pointed this out to me) - the Cadets play Medea at the end of their show (a la Star 93). After they finish playing it, they kick into the Twilight Zone. Coincidence?

J.J. Pipitone gave the Mandarins a 14.8 in Walnut on July 9th - that's 2 weeks ago. Today he gives them second-to-last, only 2-tenths above Troopers? I don't get how that's possible.

"What the &^#% is this!!" ...followed by beer can thrown at television screen. BUT for those of you who have marched drum corps know that it is just as tough, or tougher, a physical activity as any sport out there. Why shouldn't it be considered a sport - golf is (although I consider it more a hobby). And ESPN2 broadcasts POOL for god's sake!!!!!!

This comment seems completely ridiculous. Drum corps, like any activity, can always use more fans and support. Getting ESPN to broadcast DCI in no way means the Blue Devils will start playing football in the middle of their show, or that winners will be measured by who marches across the field the fastest. I THINK (and I can be completely off track) having the support of a media giant like ESPN instead of PBS DOES mean they won't have to be as concerned with funding issues (like PBS seems to run into year after year), or long periods between performances with locals begging for donations to keep it afloat. Having the support of ESPN will broaden the fan base. Having the support of ESPN should result in all positives for the activity. Remember that Drum Corps International is a company. If it doesn't make money, it's gone (weren't we worried about that before Disney helped out). What is wrong with them trying to market its product to create more fans, and potentially, more revenue. Hopefully some of the funds will be put back into the activity, making it stronger and stronger.

You're asking the wrong guy to do that. Wasn't it Mr. Hopkins' bright idea to bring amps, microphones, clarinets, flutes, violins, and elephants into drum corps? <**>

It seems as if many of you cease to ask the most important question of all - is she hot?

How can you choose just one? Here are a few I would pick: Precision - 1986 & 1994 Blue Devils Passion - 1987 SCV Innovation - 1984 Garfield & 1993 Star Awesomation - 1990 Star That's it!!! :P

It will likely never happen...the judges do a decent job creating separation between corps, especially during DCI Championships. 1. 98-something 2. high 97 or low 98 3. low 97 or high 96 4 & 5. mid-90's 6 thru 8. low-90's 9 & 10. around 90 or high-80's 11 & 12. high to mid-80's ...or something like it. I know this seems technical and corny, but once you start plugging all the numbers, this is pretty much what it'll look like every year. :P

Star 90 is on my top 5 of all time...I still consider it one of the best brass performances ever and they dethroned BD for high brass.

1993 Cadets - they really should've won in 1992, so this was the make-up win.

Yes, they won with 10 horns in 1992 (they may have even won brass).

When I first got involved with drum corps in 1984, the Mandarins just returned to competition after two inactive years (they still had membership and did standstills and parades). In their first competitive show, they scored a 17.4 (or 17.2). Let me repeat that - THE MANDARINS SCORED A 17!!!!! In 1986, they returned to DCI in Madison and came in 10th. In 1987, they won the DCI A-60 Championship (now Div III), and they've won 7 more Div II & III titles thru 2001. What I'm trying to say is that I seriously hope people don't actually believe one season can make or break a drum corps. Give Jester a few more years to gain experience, learn from its peers, and build its membership and support. I'm sure they'll be just fine.

Phansouth: How'd SCV beat PR in brass? Any clue? I will tell you how SCV's brass beat PR in Stockton...Diane Wyant (whoever she is, I hope she doesn't quit her day job) has NO CLUE what she's doing. If you look at the sheets, she also had Cascades ONLY 0.6 behind PR (are you kidding?!?!?!?!), a point ahead of PC, and over 2 points ahead of the Mandarins. I think many people who attended the show will support this claim because the placements and spreads were off.