Words from a team least likely to have made a run to Einstein

[Metalcrafters]

I had the chance to view the champs from a different view this year; a view that most of us strive for just because this is a competition, we had a view from the field and not the stands. I will admit it changed my view in many different ways.

After a few months of coming off another robotics season (13) I am still at odds with my feelings. I am not sure if my feelings are negative but these feeling are definitely different from previous years.

I will start by saying that our robot did not “win” our way to the champs this year. We felt we earned a spot as a “team” with an award that we worked hard and long for. We ranked in LA on the bottom end of the spectrum as far as our robot. Our Robot was not much different than most of OUR other robots, it worked, it took a beating and it worked a little better.

Knowing that the champs represent all aspects of the world we made a mental decision to change our game. We wanted to become a competitive team on the field all knowing that much of the field is luck. We wanted to control the luck as much as possible so we focused on reliability and ability. We became a feeder bot regardless of a win or loss. This was in hopes of being a solid third bot on an alliance.

I need to say thank you to our alliance partners for offering a great ride. 233 & 987 are stellar teams and build amazing machines. It felt good to go out on the floor with such power houses, having only been in the division finals a few times prior I still consider us rookies. There was a great deal to be gained from sitting behind the field watching everyone work in a fury. Our division finals were hard fought at every match. It felt like a true showing of finals. Winning Curie, was and is a high for our team and my career with in FRC. It truly was a banner year for us.

Just making it to Einstein! We were part of the “Final 12,” What a feeling! What a view! Looking up and realizing that we were sitting on the floor waiting for our match to queue, we all witnessed what happened form here on out, all of us with a different view. Some of the final 12 might have felt confused, might have felt robbed, might have felt lucky, and might have felt excited, just like everyone in the stands.

There was a winner and the winner stands! So Congrats to TEAMS 16, 25 and 180 the 2012 World Champions.

I will fast forward to the report. I honestly do not understand all that has been written, but it was an honor that our team was asked to participate in the investigation. I am not sure I am qualified enough to speak about FIRST’s reaction to the issues found. It looks as if FIRST is doing the right thing but then again, it’s “my view.”

I find it hard to feel like our team was robbed, when you cannot rob of us something we never had. It was just a chance to play, to win or to lose. It would be nice to have a banner to mark the occasion because it was a unique occasion, one that we all hope will never repeat itself again!
The FINAL 12 of 2012

Thanks for letting me express our feelings. Now where is that game hint? Before we know it! It will start all over again! See ya next year!

Rolling Pink Metal

Lucas

[Brandon_L]

I feel as if this could be said no better. No matter what situation the 12 teams that made it to Einstein were in, I feel as if they should just stop and think for a moment.

You were/are in the final 12 teams of all of FRC. Of all 2,075 teams. You were the last 12. The final 0.5783132530120482%.

I would be thankful to just participate in champs, I would be happy with just that. In fact I was lucky enough to tag along with another team to St Louis this year, and I had a blast. Its a place I thought I'd never see.

With that said, congratulations to 25, 16, 180, and 2194, 118, 548, the EH team of 1114, 4334, 2056, and the alliance of 233, 207, 987. You've all gotten farther, seen more, and been through more then 90% of the FIRST community could even dream of.

It is completely fair for some angry at the results of the report, but your season isn't ruined from this. You've all already had the dream season. Chances are, if you made it here once, you'll be back.

[Don Wright]

These are nice posts and thanks...

But, please...everyone...stop trying to tell other teams how they should feel.

It's not helping.

[Denise Bohnsack]

In continuation of what I suggested earlier, and after the last two valuable and eloquent comments by Lucas P. and Brandon L., I visualize a banner coming together. One which is incredibly special, pays tribute to the teams in the Final 12, and a limited edition, one time beauty.


The Final 12 of 2012
the 0.578132530120482%

Maybe a light blue or metallic blue but something that sets it apart from all other banners past and future.

Any other comments plus or minus from the finalists regarding the banner? Or should I say from the 0.578132530120482%?

My earlier post was on the Einstein Problems Revealed thread, however, I wanted to address one of the comments above. Again, this idea for a special banner does in no way suggest that teams do not have a right to be angry or that this makes up for the situation, rather honors the teams who endured the finals and pays respect to their teams.

[Don Wright]

That is a sincere idea, but... Why?

To help soothe the teams that are not feeling great about how things turned out? I don't believe that it helps at all (if anything just reminds them more).

To diminish the achievement of the three teams that won by putting focus on the 12 teams in the finals?

And what about any other teams that could have been cheated out on the way to Einstein?

I'm trying to say that the teams that were affected by this, IMHO, aren't going to be healed by any of the feel good messages on CD, fancy special banners, etc...

[Denise Bohnsack]

No, absolutely not. Not to diminish the 2012 World Title Champions in any way. They continue to wear the crown. In fact, one of finalists, SPAM, is one of my favorite teams of all time,
Rather to honor teams, who were involved, in a special way.
Do all the memorials in Washington DC just serve as painful reminders? Perhaps the answer is yes, but they are also healing and respectful.
You make a valid argument, however, and I respect it. I would mostly be interested in how teams involved felt about this, and if they think it is a terrible idea, then in no way should it even be considered.
Thanks for your input.

[Ed Law]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

These are nice posts and thanks...

But, please...everyone...stop trying to tell other teams how they should feel.

It's not helping.

To add to what Don said, please do not tell the Einstein 12 teams that they should be happy just being there and they should celebrate because they had a great robot and a great season before Einstein. There are many many teams who may feel that way that if their team made it to Einstein, they don't really care how it turned out and they would be ecstatic. With that logic, there are many teams who very seldom got picked to play in elimination round will say that if they got to elimination round at a regional, they really don't care how far they advance and they would celebrate because they had a great season. I hope you see my point.

Some of these Einstein 12 teams are regulars on Einstein or really earned their way to Championship by winning regionals as Alliance Captains or first round picks. These teams are really competing at a different level. Their goals are different from many many teams. Just being in elimination round is not good enough. Just being on Einstein is not good enough. They want to be able to do the best their robot is capable of doing but they were robbed.

Just think of elite athletes in any sports. They trained very hard for many years. They have very high hopes, much higher than yours or mine. The Olympics is around the corner. Let's use that as an example. Let's use swimming. In each event, a country can only send two swimmers. As you know in many races, a 1/100th of a second is sometimes all there is between number two and number three. The number two will go to the olympics and number three will stay home. Let's say somebody jumped in 2/100th of a second too early but did not get caught for some reason or they did an illegal kick and didn't get caught. Go try and tell the swimmer who came in third that they should celerate just for being there and they are already swimming faster than 99.999% of the people in this world. That is extremely insensitive.

[FrankJ]

So why are you telling other people not to express an opinion? If you don't agree with, it ignore it. Or explain why you disagree. They are not telling you how to think or what you should feel. Like you have any control of what you feel since it is largely an emotion.

In the end this is a competition. To play at the level of Einstein takes skill, resources, work, competitive drive, & knowing how to play the game. To actually win takes an element of luck as well. If you don't like the word luck, Call it random chance. If your only measure of success is winning it all you missed the point.

To all the teams on Einstein & the 2012 winning Alliance. Congratulations, You earned it.

[George1902]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

But, please...everyone...stop trying to tell other teams how they should feel.

I don't see it as that at all. I see it as well-wishing.

If someone is sick and gets a "Get well soon" card, is the proper response an angry, "What? Do you think I'm trying to get sicker!?"

If you're down, friends will try to pick you up. Cheer up... There's plenty of fish in the sea... Look on the bright side... You'll get 'em next time... Platitudes? Yeah, probably. But they're also well-meaning forms of encouragement, not attempts at invalidating anyone's feelings.

I haven't heard anyone say anything to the effect of, "Quit yer mopin' and belly-achin'. Get back out there and I and R some S and T."

I have heard a lot of, "We get that you're hurt and angry. You have every right to feel hurt and angry. We wish you the best. You may not be ready to hear it right now, but we are all still in awe of your greatness and will continue to be inspired by what you do despite what happened. Take as much time as you need. We'll be here for you when you're ready."

[Anupam Goli]

This is the first time I'm replying to one of these threads, because I wanted the report to sink in.

From what I'm seeing, this report is REALLY doing a lot of harm (it's done loads of good things as well, but...) It's really pitting people against each other. I've seen a lot of nasty opinions and words thrown. I'm afraid it's going to tear the community apart. I think we all need to stop and just think. The affected teams have a right to be mad, and telling them to get over it is very ungracious. Try to be in their situation. It's going to take time. Don't force it on people. For those of us who weren't there, the best we can do is to support FIRST and the teams affected as they get through this.~

[Jeff Waegelin]

Alright everybody... I think this is another case where we all need to calm down. As Don said, these posts are not helping. Closed for now.