2009 New York City Regional

[Scoutin' Master]

A big congratulations to teams 56, 1807, and 1796!! Together you made an amazing alliance and one that we considered it a privilege to play against and be beat by! Also congrats to team 2344, you are amazing and deserving of the RCA! We had fun cheering for you and can't wait to see you in Atlanta!! Also congrats to all the finalists and all the award winners in NYC. Thank you to all the teams that competed, we had a lot of fun with you all!!

I would especially like to thank our alliance partners; teams 375 and 555. What can I say but that we were honored to be on your alliance and to play our hearts out for you! Keep pressing on with your teams and robots in the future! You both have great teams with high potential and don't let anyone (including yourselves) tell you otherwise! Especially 555, Montclair, you guys are a great team and you can't beat yourselves up for the mistakes that we all make at some point in our lives. It's inevitable, so if you want to be truly great you have to learn from your mistakes and move on! I think you guys proved that you are great by having a stellar performance in the second semi-final match! Keep on going both 375 and 555, you rock!

On a personal note I would like to thank team 56, Robbe Xtreme. When I watched your 2005 team video and drove your robots many times at "Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day" I was inspired! Your team ignited a passion for FIRST in our family and we owe you guys big time! I have to say that when your team picked 1807 (before you even picked your amazing 3rd partners) I said that would be a killer alliance and one that would be tough to beat. And it was nice to know that we were on the top of your list!

To the teams that declined during alliance selection:
I know it sounded like the crowd was "boooooooo"ing from where I was standing on the field, but I was told that actually most of them were just surprised and saying "Oooooohhhhhh" in a low voice. I know that I was clapping and other people were too. You had every right to make that move and everyone who was booing should be ashamed of themselves. Not only does declining show strategic thinking, but it shows that you have guts and aren't afraid to make your own decisions. You should be proud of yourselves!!

So, in conclusion, I want to say thank you to all the volunteers at the NYC competition: field managers, announcers, pit cue people, judges, and anyone else that I'm forgetting.
May the spirit of FIRST live on forever!