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Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/11/2000 7:25 PM MST



I readily admit that I am far from an unbiased observer, but given tha,t I have the following observations on this year's game.

#1: The game as played in the qualifying rounds is not very interesting to watch unless your fate is directly tied to the outcome. In fact, I would say that it is a pretty boring game.

#2: The game as played in the elimination rounds is the most exciting game FIRST has ever had. There are a number of strategies that teams can use. Most matches had an interesting start, an active middle, and an explosive and exciting ending. In short, first has managed to design its most interesting and least interesting game in the same year!

#3: The balls are far far far from being in spec.

#4: The qualifying point process was no where near as much of a random number generator as I thought it would be. In fact, I would say that it was considerably better than it was in past years. Of course there is still a huge luck factor and certain types of 'specialty' teams that turn out to be very valuable in the elimination matches do not have there true value reflected in the standings. Yet, even so, to my cursory look, it seemed like the correllation between the seeding position and the concensus view of a teams rank was certainly no worse than in past years and I would even say better than in past years.

#5: Many of Bill Beatty's predictions came true (including the #1 seed winning a regional).

Please share your thoughts & comments.

Joe J.