[Joe Johnson]

I was dying last week with all the robots in action and my and mine on the sidelines. Worse yet, I was unable to see any of the regionals first hand. The only way I kept from going totally mad is that I have spies all around the country. I have heard from several folks from all the different regionals that played last weekend.

AND...

...I will be total honest with you, the opinions were quite mixed.

I won't go into a blow by blow description of what I have heard but I will say that the opinions fall more or less into 3 bins.

The largest two groups are about the same size and are diametrically opposed to eachother:
One group feels that this is a very exciting game with a lot of very exciting matches, especially in the Elimation Rounds.

The second, equally large group (who often who attended the SAME REGIONAL as folks from the first group -- go figure?) feel that the matches are mostly boring, the Elimination Round matches boring than ever if anything.

The third group of observers (much smaller) basically felt this year's game was about par for the course for a FIRST game -- not too boring but nothing that is going to interest a casual fan either.

I don't know how to square this circle.

I am an inspector and judge at the Great Lakes Regional this week, so I will have a chance to make my own mind up.

I am hopeful that the exciting matches camp are correct.

Time will tell...

Joe J.