[LeelandS]

I apologize if what I'm about to say comes off a little crass to much of the CD community.

Where to we get off telling those teams how they should handle the situation? None of us were in the position of the 12 Einstein teams during these events. None of us stood behind those alliance stations and watched as the clock ticked to to the end of a very special event in a team's career that MIGHT happen every few years, IF YOU'RE EXTREMELY LUCKY.

Dreams weren't torn from our hands like they were for those teams. People keep telling the Einstein teams to "chill out", try to get them to stop making such a big deal out of it. It is a big deal. Yes, FIRST isn't about the robots. It's about inspiring the students and building the future. But there are those of us whose passion for this organization runs blood deep. If I were in Tyler's, or Karthik's, or any of the Einstein team's position, I know I'd be furious. And I'd probably be extremely offended if someone were to tell we to "laugh it off" or "suck it up". Tyler has told us of how he had to stand in front of a room of students, parents and sponsors and tell them that all their hard work was for naught at the hands of someone who intentionally targeted their robot. I don't know what that would feel like. But I know I wouldn't be able to say it without tears in my eyes.

Those teams have had dreams stolen from them. IRI is a great place to compete, but it will no where near make up for the pain these teams have experienced. Dreams shattered. Spirits broken. Hopes smashed. How on Earth can anyone be justified in in telling them to not be upset at the situation?

Of course, I wasn't there either, so what do I know?