[WRRF]: Thank You to our 2006 Cal Games Volunteers

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Cory

Finally, thanks to Billfred for both flying out here on his own dime, and helping me load all of 254's extrmely heavy junk for the event into my car right after getting off a plane from the east coast

Psh, that was nothing. I was still fresh that day--all I'd accomplished that day on the east coast was cramming my clothes and such in a suitcase, driving up to Charlotte, eating, and getting through security.

I just realized that I hadn't done two things I had been meaning to do: post pictures on CD (c'mon, there's far more of them out there!) and say a few thank-yous of my own.

First off, thanks to Ken Leung and the entire WRRF for doing an amazing job with Cal Games this year. The amount of communication via CD and other means was the best I'd seen of any off-season I've been to, and quite possibly beats FIRST regionals. Now take all that praise and double it for taking a chance on a nut from South Carolina for one of the most visible positions on the field. It was a great time, one I hope to make again.

Further thanks to Mauri and Connie Laitinen of 115 for the place to stay during the event. When I was making plans to go, I was hopeful to find a couch somewhere out there. They certainly overdelivered on that, making me almost awake for the event. (Hey, all you East Coast folks--if you go out west, you feel like you're sleeping in even though it's normal time!)

Big props to Mark Leon for emceeing the event and handling Paly's attack gracefully. I'd met Mark before on Curie in 2005, but working together on the same field was a great experience. Mark really could do this job blindfolded. (Well, maybe not--but that's another story for another time.)

Further appreciation to David "sanddrag" Black for being a great partner on the microphone. Easy to work with, always willing to help, and really needs to come out East one of these days.

I'd be remiss to forget about Cory McBride for the lift from SFO, even if it scared me about as much as being in front of 604's shooter on the field. (I got the nickel tour of 254's shop as we loaded Cory's SUV up. It's a really great facility.)

Thanks to 968 for coming up from Los Angeles for the event. It was great meeting the whole crew--they're a world-class team.

I've also got to show my appreciation to 1351 for their performance in the last finals match. As you've probably read by now, 1351's alliance partners (192 and 840) didn't move for the whole match. They're pitted against 254, 968, and 1516, and they still put up 18 points single-bottedly. That never-say-die spirit is one of those reasons I love coming to these competitions.

Finally, thanks to Bill Gold and his entire family for hosting Ken and myself on Sunday afternoon following Cal Games. I might not have been the best conversationalist (as I was still recovering from the event and the time change the night before) while there, but the dinner was amazing. (The only down side was having to get back used to campus dining 24 hours later...but I can handle that. )

There's more people I probably should be thanking but have forgotten--you know who you are. Next year, it'll take something big to keep me from going back to Cal Games.