First off, I have to say Bash was one of the most purely fun competitions I've been to in ages.
I also got to see it from 2 totally different ends. For a few hours, I was one of the primary refs until called upon by my team for an extra hand. I've never been a ref before, and honestly, this was not the game I wanted to make my debut...it was simply too complicated! I have a very high respect now for the head ref at Bash, and all the other refs out there that had never even SEEN a FIRST competition before, and then had to ref this game.
My only problem that I had with Bash was that although there were a few small rules modifications - the refs were never given the same info packet that the teams were. I didn't learn about the balls out of the endzone change until I talked to team 237 just before the beginning of the competition. Though other than that, I think the competition ran quite smoothly and kudos to all who ran it.
I also got to see Bash from a team perspective when Tom came to steal me from refereeing
Outside of a crippled 'bot - that part was incredibly fun. Thanks so much to my boys on team 177 for even giving an old, rusty, retired driver one last chance behind the sticks
Oh and Tom? You and Eric make it look entirely TOO EASY!!
And the Bobcat knows who her drivers are - and she knew it wasn't me
Perhaps I would have better luck with Petunia
The autopairing of alliances was interesting to say the least. It seems the 2001 bots are really beginning to feel the season drag on, and it seems that almost everyone was having something break. So it wasn't really that. I didn't really like this mod on the game. True, it forced you to deal with what the cards dealt you - but for top seeded teams there was no "privilage" I guess, for getting that high. Though I do like the way it let everyone come into the elims without feeling like a last pick, or 5th wheel team that would never see the playing field again. So really perhaps for a comepetition as laid back as Bash, it was fitting
For me though, the highlight had to be the get together at the end. I'm paying for it now - but the v-ball game that got going was a ton of fun and I think a great example of FIRST spirit in action.
So here's to a good competition, great food, a Dew and some friends getting together for a summer Bash at the Beach
Next stop, River Rage!
Oh - and for those in the v-ball game after....anyone get the "Bash itch" from the ball flying into those bushes?
I survived it seems!