Is this fair?

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Wow, I don't see why you guys are giving Sagar (it was in the AKA?) such tough love. Its easy to say these things sitting behind a computer screen, but I would really like to think that if you were put in this situation, getting kicked from a match for a reason that was in no way your fault, your attitude would be a little bit different. I know I would feel a bit disheartened.

Yes, it isnt right to "blame" FIRST, and yes, ranking doesnt really matter. But, at the end of the day, no matter how they place in the event, this team is going to have a bad taste in their mouth. I have met plenty a team who refuses to go to a certain regional based on how they were treated in the past. Does this make them a poor sport or lacking "gracious professionalism"? No, I don't think so at all. We are all professionals, and part of that is having the ability to chose where to put our resources. I know I certainly wouldnt put down 5 grand to go to an event where I feel I got treated unfairly.