From: dowzycki@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Ken Dowzycki)
Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps
Subject: Re: LOSE THE POLITICS
Date: 18 Aug 92 20:42:29 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

streuer_d@cubldr.colorado.edu writes:

>All this talk of 'fix' and bias judging for the finals is very perplexing.
>I'm under the assumption that the posts are coming from individuals that
>have had the opportunity to see a majority of these corps more than once
>and, of course, have some history to speak from in regards to consistency
>with each corp.

>From earlier posts, I could see discussion of 'X-Corp' improving or 
>'Y-Corp' needs to fill holes or change this or that.  Sure, this means that
>each corp is in a state of transition hoping that their Finals show will
>be letter perfect.  No doubt, Judges see this shaping taking place also and
>also get an idea of which corp continues to improve or maintain their
>quality.  With this in mind, I believe a trained viewer could just about
>'predict' (with all things considered over the season) which corp COULD 
>bring in the solid performance.

>In lieu of the above, and having not seen any of the competitors except
>Blue Devils in person, I believe that the Cavaliers gave the best performance
>for THIS competition.  It's no different than being an athlete, ie. girl's
>gymnastics.  They do the same thing over and over and practice and practice
>and judges know who is doing well.  But when it comes to the Olympics, it's
>the one who did what had to be done at the time who wins, speculation aside.

>So please, remove the paranoia from this and give credit where credit is due.



    Well I feel that too many things have happened over the years to
dismiss the "political aspect" of this activity.  I have gone to 
bars or clubs after shows and actually talked to and eavsdropped on
some conversations about performances, who does what better than who,
etc.  from the horses mouths, the judges.  

    A veteran member of the Blue Devils organization has told me that
Jay Kennedy (DCI chief judge) hates the Blue Devils and that they will
never win again even if they deserve to.  Now I am not clear on whether
Mr. Kennedy has a problem with the corps (style) or more likely, the
staff (adminsitration).  This was told to me while Mike Moxley was
still Director, I think that is who the problem was determined.  Does
anyone know why he left besides taking a job at Jerry Seawrights firm?
Now one can believe this or not?  I personally thought they should have
won in '88?  But hey, it did not happen, yet I have this in the back of
my head.

    I have a real problem with the Dutch Boy being put in 13th in '89
before they were "LET IN".  In '90 it was the Blue Knights 13th, then 
were put "in".   In the end of July a friend of mine told me after I 
passed ALL of the comments from this newsgroup over to him that 
"you know the Glassmen are going to be 13th, don't you?"  and VOILA!
There it is!   Thanks to George Rapp's posting of the breakdown from
Semi's we can all see that glaring 7.5 for the Glassmen's field
percussion score that was nearly a full point under everyone else
above them, yet only a tenth behind in ensemble percusssion? That
did it?  It only takes one judge?  Why is he so out of sync with 
all of the other Glassmen's scores across the board?

    I would really like to know who judged best guard for '92?
Was it George Oliviero?  I know from my days back in winter guard
that he and Scott Chandler are very tight.  I am pretty sure that
Oliviero gave out best guard in '90 as well and BD won that year, yet
as much as I love the Devils I don't think that the guard was the
best one that year.  Some of the other years, yes.

  These are just a few examples of the role I think politics plays
in drum corps.  Why not?  Since sports were brought up look at how
judges differ (because of personal bias, politics, whatever) in 
let's say figure skating or where any mark is given out.

   Politics is everywhere, in our jobs, neighborhoods, religious
communities, why not in drum corps and color guard?

  Some times it works in another direction.  For instance, in '89
no one touched SCV and when they did not do their best performance
in finals some might say that they still won because of politics?
Maybe it's nice to see it work in reverse for a change (rare).
I personally enjoyed their show more than Phantom's that year so
I was not terribly upset to see that they took home the bacon.  I
found them to be incredible the week before in Allentown and fully
expected them to win.  In '88 BD was undefeated going into to KC.
How much desruction did it cause them to experiment with numbers
in a hat for finals positions.  The Blue Devils went on as if
they finished 5th in prelims.  They were 2nd.  You can't say that
this did not cost them, as the judges had to leave room at the top?
Four more corps had to compete.  They (DCI) gave that up in a hurry.

  Just some thoughts.
Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps