[Mike Rush]

I've been at this for a while now. I started my FIRST "career" back in '97 -'98 as the lead mentor and coach of Team 64 - The Gila Monsters. I've been at many competitions pitted next to teams 68 - Truck Town Thunder, 67 - The HOT Team, 66 - The Flyers (although I don't remember them going by that name back them - I recall them having a Route 66 theme), and 65 - The Huskie Brigade and knew them all well.

Upon reading this thread I first though that Joel had (1) hit on a great topic and (2) plenty of guts to bring it up for discussion. After noticing he was from Ypsilanti, (I hate to admit it) but my initial thought was "it was the HOT Team" without any further inquiry. I admit I was initially a little biased but as it turned out, after the post by Adam (my compliments to you for your response) , I was correct.

The HOT Team is a great team and have been for a long time. They have the history to back up my assertion. Their accomplishments are impressive and I applaud their record. However, they also (and always have) acted as if they knew it. This is not a new impression for anyone who has been around a long time and was readily apparent from this fellow GM sponsored team member from a facility with close business relationships with the one sponsoring the HOT Team.

President Theodore Roosevelt made the proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick" notable during the first part of the 20th century. I suggest those words are just as poignant today... Let your record be your (really) big stick and your actions on and off the field speak softly.

I hope this thread and my admission of a long time impression of The HOT Team will help them to try to put forth a more softly spoken impression of themselves.