[Joe G.]

Originally Posted by TEAM1100soft506

I just want to say, as a member of a team who has been around for over 10 years now, the concept of a hall of fame is just plane rediculous. We are here to work and play and spread the message of FIRST. To me, the hall of fame recignizes the teams who have the most money and are able to do great extravagent things with it. Dont get me wrong, they worked hard to earn it, and I am most definitely not knocking philanthropy or the value of becoming a chairmans winning team, but the hall of fame shouldnt exist. It is not fair to have a team like mine who can barely keep afloat, is using old equipment for design, programming, and building our robot, to have to compete against a team like Ms. Daisy (no offence) who has multiple heavy hitter sponsors, is able to travel internationally to show off their robot in the United Kingdom, as well as other wonderfull things like that. I believe that yes these teams types of teams should be an example to others, But I do not believe that other teams should get less of a chance to compete due to financial reasons.

The presense of teams like 341 and 359 that have the funds to do absolutely mind-boggling things doesn't strike me as "unfair" in the slightest, it pushes me to keep going harder than ever. But what I find truly impressive about many hall of fame teams is not just what they are doing now, but what they grew from, and often some of the limitations that they face even today. No matter how hard you work at obtaining resources, it's always possible to sit on your hands and complain that you don't have enough to make a difference, or to win against those that are a little better off. But so many teams find a way to do incredible things despite this. Team 1100 has been an inspiration to myself and many other teams over the years, precisely because of the incredible things you do on and off the field despite sometimes limiting resources, and I hope you and your teammates will continue to inspire us rather than demand those above you be brought down a notch.

Besides, there's an R in FIRST. Recognition. Should we be recognizing teams that go above and beyond, making the most of resources that they've gained through a combination of hard work and being at the right place at the right time, and doing incredible things that we should all be striving to emulate and exceed? I would sure hope so.