The following content is taken from
the Friarbot.com stories page. I wasn't on the team when it happened, but by all accounts it was quite horrifying. See for yourself.
The following is a sad, sad story about Dan Pall's attempt at a pickup line at the 2003 Chesapeake Regional, related to us by Dan himself.
At FIRST Regional Competitions, certain teams are known to send around the cool, hip members of their teams on activities I like to call "spy runs." A spy run entails these cool people walking from table to table and prying scouting information about other teams' robots out of their competing teams. Of course, we Malvern roboticists are always happy to provide information in the spirit of Gracious Professionalism. Sometimes, though, we like to have a little fun...as evidenced by this exchange which took place at the 2003 Annapolis Regional with a couple of female scouts from another, nameless team...
Female Scout #1: So, can you tell us what your robot does?
THE John Kelly (speaking like a redneck) : Well, this here bot uses two drill motors to drive four same-size wheels. Each motor runs a shaft on each side of the bot; we go fast and we go straight. We herd boxes using this here cow prod, and we lay down the law, girls.
Female Scout #2: Um...that's nice. I guess (sideways look at her friend). Anyway, how fast does your robot go at max speed?"
Dan Pall: Well, girls, let's just say this: if you hear a sonic boom...that's our robot. (winks at Female Scout #2, who proceeds to glance at her friend, giggle a bit, and then run like a bat out of hell)
With this incredibly dorky attempt at a pick-up line, Dan Pall became one of the dorkiest geek-nerds in the history of nerd-dom. Several onlookers, including the late, great Alex Raynor, died of shock and awe on the spot, after viewing this pithy attempt to woo a woman. Attempts to measure his level of nerdity resulted in infinite readings on the patented Dork-O-Meter 6000. Attempts to charm girls since this fiasco have resulted in slaps to the face far too numerous to count.