From: awp24@cas.org (Alan Peacock)
Subject: Re: DCI Politics (I hate DCI Admin.)
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 12:30:24 GMT

In article <1992Aug16.203112.1@vax1.umkc.edu> cputnam@vax1.umkc.edu writes:
>
>I HATE THE DCI ADMINISTRATION AND THE JUDGES!!!!!!
>
>ESPECIALLY THE ADMINISTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Whew, had to get that off my chest.  Now, I'm not crying because the Devils
>didn't win, even though they should have.  I just thought that the Cavaliers
>show was about as boring as any drum corps show I've seen.  My opinion, and
>this is just my OPINION, is that there was a lot politics in this year's
>Finals.  Let me explain:
>
>First of all, has there (in recent memory) been this much changing of places
>from prelims to finals amongst the top 12.  In particular among the top 8?  I
>have a feeling that the adminiatration told the judges to mix it up a bit. 
>Make it more interesting.  I remember the past few years that NOBODY would
>change places from prelims to Finals.  Especially not the top 8.  Anyone want
>to comment in agreement or disagreement?

 The "changing of places" was a refreshing change for me.  I have been 
 following the World Championships since 1986 and I never liked the fact that
 the Semi placements dictated the Finals placements.  The shows for the corps
 will change from performace to performance.  A corps may have a bad night and
 that bad night may fall on the night of Finals.  Phantom's drop, however, was
 a shocker!

>
>Secondly, I think that the judges were told to make Cavies champions no matter
>what.  Again, it's not that the Devils didn't win.  I felt that it should have
>been between the Devils and Star.  The Cavies should have been fourth.  I'm not
>flaming the Cavies, I usually like their shows, I just felt that this was the
>worst show since I started watching drum corps in '88.  But, let's face it. 
>Star had 1.1 point lead over the Cavies 1 week before finals.  Star is not
>known for their easy shows and they did a LOT of work on their show between DCI
>Mid-America and Finals.  There is no way in the world the Cavies beat Star
>Semi's, or finals night.  I think that the Administration wanted to make the
>Cavies fans happy after all of that booing last year and told the judges that
>the Cavies were to win no matter what Star did.  I could of even handled the
>Cadets winning, but NOT the Cavies.

 I disagree.  I thought the Cavalier's show was exciting, thrilling, and well 
 executed.  I do not always agree with the judges.  In fact, in 1988 I was 
 sure that Madison Scouts should not have won.  Later, after studying the
 video tapes, I agreed with the judges.  A judge may see (or not see) something
 different than you do.

>
>Third: My brother made a good point that I believe Vince mentioned.  It was
>about the Crossmen not making the television show even though they were the
>true 6th place corps.  This may be a bit far fetched, but it does deserve some
>consideration.  Maybe the Admin. told the judges to keep Phantom in the top 6
>because Phantom has such a huge following around the country.  Much more so
>than the Crossmen.  It's an idea.

 Possible.

>
>Fourth: I don't see how thBlue Knights were 1.5 behind Phantom.  There is no
>way that that spread should have been so much.  The lue Knights are suffering,
>I think, from being a relatively new corps on the scene andthe judges won't let
>them break into the top corps until they've been there a while.  The Crossmen
>have been in DCI for a while now (I believe someone said they were as high as
>6th in '78?) so they haven't suffered as much.

 Well, I noticed in the Semi-finals and a friend of mine noticed in Finals 
 (without prompting) a member of the Blue Knights out of step.  One again, if
 the judge notices something that you don't...

>
>Well, maybe I've gone overboard on the politics of DCI and judging, but I do
>feel that it needs to be looked into.  Maybe I've seen a few too many JFK
>documentaries about the big conspiracy and all.  Please, give me your comments
>by email or, better yet, on the newsgroup.  As always, Flames will be returned
>with flames.

 All of these comments are my opinion.  I do agree that Blue Devils should have
 finished higher.  I think Star should have finished second and Cavaliers 
 first.  Am I a Cavaliers fan?  No.  I am a hard core Blue Devils fan.  If 
 anything, this year killed the political suspicions for me because the 
 placings changed from Semi-finals to Finals.

>
>IRC nick-BlueDevil  <----They'll win it next year.  DCI Politics say they have
>                         to.  It's them or Phantom.  :)
> 


-- 
             Alan W. Peacock: <awp24@cas.BITNET> or <awp24@cas.org>
                       Chemical Abstracts Service
                       PO Box 3012, Columbus, OH 43210