[Arefin Bari]

We can go on and on about who had the best robot in 2006, because it is our opinion. So, I will go ahead and list a number of teams who I think performed the best.

1) Team 25 - Undefeated for 2 regionals? Championship finalist? If you haven't stopped by their pit and stared at their robot for half an hour straight you have missed out big time.

2) Team 254/968 - These two teams have amazed me over the years. I wish if I had the resources to build a chassis like them. Get them up on that ramp, you are done for the match.

3) Team 1114/1503/1680 - Known as the triplets, these 3 Canadian teams are my role models when it comes to collaboration, team organization and teamwork.

4) Team 217 - Thursday at championship when I walked into their pit, Paul and the students were on the ground working on the robot, the turret+shooter was off the robot. But, it only took them a day to snatch the championship gold away from everyone. What else does this team need? They already have the national Woodie flowers, and Championship gold under their belt. One of these days we will watch them get the championship chairmans.

5) Team 111 - I participated with a Motorola team (108) for 4 years as a high school student. During the process, I was introduced to many engineers and students on team 111. They never stop amazing me. I haven't been able to find a weld that looks nasty on that robot since 2003 (2003 was the first time, I looked at their robots in person). I appreciate the fact that engineers like Al, Dan take their time out and talks to me about FIRST, team organization. That is how a mentor should be.

6) Team 233 - Do I even have to say anything about the pink machine? Not only they have amazing robots every year, their members are very friendly. Mrs. P and the crew has never refused to take Tytus and I along anywhere they go. It was fun hanging out with you guys all 3 nights at the championship.

7) Team 1902 - A little history behind this team. Team 1083 (Emoticons) fell apart after 2004. The mentors (George Wallace, Dan Richardson, Mike Walker) was starving to taste the competition and hence the birth of team 1902. Not only they had a very good robot that dominated during the competition, they were the Florida Regional Finalist, went undefeated at lonestar Regional in Houston (Thanks Matt for correcting me), and were the Archimedes Division Finalist at the championship.

... I am sure I forget a lot of things I wanted to point out... wait no I didn't...

8) Every single FIRST team that participated this past season had the best robot. Every one of them spent 6 weeks to keep the team together and build a robot to compete. They gave their best to it. So take a moment to congratulate yourself and thank your team members.