---Disclaimer---
I hold the Thunder Chickens in the highest regard and don't think anything malicious happened.
---Disclaimer---
I've read some of the really hateful and sarcastic posts, as well as Paul's explaining the situation.
The only question I have left is why, if 217 was so disabled that they were telling teams explicitly not to pick them, why then did they not decline the selection? What they did in the pits was tantamount to the same thing as declining during selections so if they were willing to essentially decline, why did they not actually? The assumed (assumptions make an $@#$@#$@# out of u and me) conclusion is that either of their two alliance partners had some inside knowledge that no one else in the division knew that led to these two picking them.
I think the most likely explanation is that they didn't think they would get their robot working and made some miraculous repairs, which coincided with the alliance captain either choosing foolishly or bravely. But it has to be admitted that it leaves some very interesting questions.