[Joe Johnson]

There is just no pleasing us FIRST folks is there?

We complained about X, they make an attempt to try to address X and we complain about the fix.

While FIRST is a far from perfect organization, I am continually amazed at how well they adapt and improve.

If you really feel so strongly that Defense is THE KEY to the success of FIRST, perhaps you should start a letter writing campaign to Dean, Woodie, the FIRST board of directors, NASA, Delphi, DCX, GM, Baxter, Motorola, etc. insisting that FIRST change its name to FIRD (For Inspiration and Recognition of Defense, of course).

Think about it. FIRST's mission is not to make sure that defensive strategies are part of the game. Again, changing the culture is the name of the game.

For the first time since 2000, I am sure that my relatives are going to enjoy watching a FIRST tourney. I am preparing to plug the snot out of the Regional Season.

With this game and the economy poised to take off again, I predict that we all look back at 2004 as the Perfect Storm Year, when everything finally came together for FIRST to break into prime time.

I am just shaking my head at all the doom and gloomers out there who keep posting "the End is Near" messages on these boards.

Joe J.