[Treebeard]

Hello Adam,

I almost never use Chief Delphi, but I heard that you had responded to the rumors of sandbagging by your team and read your comprehensive response above. I am the teacher advisor and founder of team 1671, and I would first like to congratulate you and your team on your amazing, hard fought victory yesterday. We wanted so badly to win, especially on our home turf with our friends from Madera and Duncan, and especially against teams like yours and 254's that carry such stellar reputations and history. Second, I would like to agree with you that anyone who posts a serious allegation like was made against your team team, and does so anonymously, should keep their conspiracy theories to themselves. It was a low blow and an ugly thing to do. I hope whoever Bitbucket99 is will read these words and refrain from such despicable behavior in the future.

I must say, in all honesty, that I was suspicious of the situation, but I think if you put yourself in my shoes, you'll understand why. In our qualifying match where we were alliance partners against 254 there were times when your defense against 254 seemed ineffective. Later in the tournament, we were in a qualifying match against you and the defense your bot put on ours was brutal, to the point of heavy penalty points made against your alliance, and we were concerned for the safety of our bot. Then, the Poofs picked you and you went on to beat us in the finals. Hey... there were dots there that, if one were angry and disappointed, one could put together.

But then, on the other hand, I remember seeing your team huddled around your bot on the field late Saturday night, trying to figure out your problems. That certainly doesn't fit a sandbagging theory. I talked to one of your team moms, and she was so anxious about all the problems you guys were fighting through. And then, I read your passionate and obviously honest defense of the honor of your team.

So let me apologize for my suspicious thoughts. You should rename your robot: "The Phoenix." Honestly, I have no idea who Bitbucket99 is; I only hope it's no one from our team. The Bird Brains strive to live up to the core values of FIRST... co-opertition and gracious professionalism. But we are, after all, human (not birds)... prone to see the worst in our competitors (until they become our allies).

Finally, let me say how proud I am of our team and our Central Valley alliance. Perhaps irrationally, we in the Central Valley sometimes feel forgotten or disrespected by our neighbors on the coast. But there are smart, hard working young people here... and we aim to compete with anyone, anytime, anywhere. Sic 'em, DOC.

Sincerely,

Paul Lake
Teacher Advisor
Team 1671 "The Bird Brains"