[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by grstex

I'd like to make a really crazy suggestion here. What if, maybe, somehow, in some way, against all odds, this all works out for the better?

What if, maybe, increasing the percentage of teams going to champs is a GOOD thing?

What if, maybe, giving mid-tier teams, who aren't world famous, a chance to see and interact with elite teams, even if its just one, helps inspire them?

What if, maybe, those teams learn something from this interaction with even one elite team?

What if, maybe, those mid-tier teams act on this new knowledge and start to vastly improve?

What if, maybe, they become successful, and gain sponsors and support?

What if, maybe, they become the "new elites?"

And finally, what if, maybe, they become the new source of inspiration in FIRST?

Is such a thing even possible? Am I crazy for thinking that this WON'T "water down" championships? That the disparaging and disappointing remarks by some are short-sighted? That the "alarming" (trying to be polite) phone call to some low-level FIRST staffer just trying to help teams get to this year's championship was not necessary? Is it possible that this might actually help fulfill FIRST's mission (which, BTW, makes no mention of "robots" or "competition")?

It's possible that I wake up tomorrow and start shooting lightning from my hands and ride a unicorn to work. The idea that I think that would actually happen to me would probably cause a lot of people more experienced in biology and zoology who think otherwise to be very concerned for me and my mental faculties.

I'm not publicly advocating for holding one championships, two championships, or 422 championships, but there are people who have been in FIRST twice as long as I have that think this could not be a net benefit for teams.