Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps
Subject: Re: Madison music
From: <MHUGHES@MIAMIU.BITNET>
Date: Friday, 20 Nov 1992 13:01:58 EST
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service

In article <1992Nov18.195206.14725@stortek.com>, pae@blackcat.stortek.com (Phil
Earnhardt) says:
>
>In article <92321.133532MHUGHES@MIAMIU.BITNET> <MHUGHES@MIAMIU.BITNET> writes:
>>In article <1e36s1INN8tg@early-bird.think.com>, fath@mbcrr.dfci.harvard.edu
>>(Michael Fath) says:
>>>After all, they did WIN in 1988 with Malaguena.
>>
>>And a highly questionable result it was, too.
>>
>>Mike Hughes
>
>Do you categorically dislike Madison, Mike, or do you just think they were
>scored too high in 1988?
 
Please, please, please don't misunderstand me.  I do NOT categorically
dislike Madison.  I have no problem with the kids who are in Madison.  I
have no problem with the fans who love Madison.  All I'm saying is that the
musical design staff should strive to be more creative within the context
of the Madison tradition, and I feel this mandates a little more exploration
into new music.
 
I believe that the best corps each year should win nationals, though this is
obviously not the case.  Apparently, as others have pointed out, you usually
win DCI the year after you deserved to.  With all the politics that goes on
(which I think no one denies) and the quality of shows in 1988, I'm saying
that I have to question the legitimacy of Madison's 1998 title.  Here are
a couple of reasons to ponder:
 
1. Were they clean?
 
 >1988 was a very interesting year. Scouts had taken several weeks off
 >for a tour of Europe. When they returned, one week before DCM
 >Championshiops, they clearly were off the pace of the other corps. I
 >believe that Scouts placed *5th* (at best, 4th) at the DCM
 >Championships. They did a huge amount of polishing and cleaning over
 >the 2nd tour...it did not look at all possible for Scouts to win DCI
 >that year.
 
 IMHO, it wasn't possible and it didn't happen.  Both BD and SCV had more
 musically challenging shows, that were executed noticably better.  Had the
 same been true of Scouts, I would have no trouble saying that they deserved
 the title.  But up to a week before championships, Madison was so far back
 of BD and SCV that any catchup would have been a miracle...a miracle that
 didn't happen.  The only way it could have happened at that point in the
 season, IMHO, would have been for BD and SCV to damn near stop practicing
 altogether.
 
2. Politics.
 
 No one has mentioned the *mystery-finals* of 1988.  This was the only year
 in the history of DCI (before OR since) where the relative placements of
 the top 5 remained anonymous until the announcement of scores Saturday
 night.  It was a highly questionable practice, and I don't remember hearing
 that finals were going to be run this way in advance (anyone who could shed
 some light on this, please do so).
 
 The group of friends who I was with that night at Arrowhead (including a die-
 hard Madison fan) was unanimous in feeling that SCV deserved the title.  When
 Madison was announced the winner, all our jaws dropped.  So did most of the
 jaws of people sitting around us.  The *hysteria* that Reliable Rondo said
 immediately erupted from the crowd was nowhere in evidence from where we
 were sitting.  Of course, there wasn't wholesale booing in poor taste like
 Star has received recently, but it SURE as hell was a surprise to all of us,
 all drum corps fans since the late 1970s.  I applauded the Scouts for their
 fine corps and wonderful performance, but strongly felt that SCV and BD had
 the proverbial sand kicked in their faces.
 
 This, coupled with the fact that Rondo kept dropping hints all night (i.e.,
 *there's a dark horse out there*, even though the scores were SUPPOSEDLY
 unknown to all but the judges and tabulators) as well as the fact that it
 was Madison's 50th anniversary (coincidence?) has to lead me to quote Jim
 Garrison:
 
  "If it looks like it, smells like it, and acts like it, you call it
   what it is." .... politics.
 
>They (Madison) entertained the fans all week, and it was appreciated.
 
I don't question this for a minute.  VK entertained the fans all week too,
but I don't think anyone reading this would say they deserved to win.
 
My hats off to Madison for their excellent 1988 show, which certainly deserved
a high placement at DCI.  My congratulations to the members of the 1988 BD and
SCV for all the work they did and acheivements they accomplished which, IMHO,
deserved more fair consideration.
 
(Here they come...(flame shield: on :))
 
-Mike Hughes
Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps