Posted by Anton Abaya.
Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks.
Posted on 4/28/2000 2:21 PM MST
Hello FIRST people…
As a reminder, I was the weirdo team leader of Rambots who dyed his hair FIRE ENGINE RED. Only for FIRST, tsk tsk.
As a rookie who blindly walks around the FIRST arenas not knowing what I should do, I think I did pretty well and thanks to all the help I’ve received, RAMBOTS WAS AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS! And you know what else, we could not have done it without all you guys! This is arranged in chronoligical order.
Kailas Naranderan of team 97 – You MIT freak you! Thanks man! I got me started with all the juicy sponsorship papers you gave me. You also answered all my questions. And for that, I am entirely greatful, appreciative, and thankful. I LOVE YOU MAN!
Lori Buckley Ragas of FIRST - How many questions did I pester you with? God I owe you a fruit basket! It’ll come eventually :). Thanks Lori! Really, you make us rookies feel much better. I could not have done it without you.
Donn Griffith of team 343 – hey Donn! I was so happy to meet you at Kick off! We had fun growing with you guys, both of us rookies. We look up to your team, such a model team. Keep growing Donn and thank you for being such a great and generous guy! We need more people like you in FIRST (on the adult side anyway). 
Scott and Thelma of team RUMBLE – meeting you guys at kickoff was the best! You were so energetic and excited! And you guys also picked us at Regionals! WE LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! YOU BETTER SHOW UP NEXT YEAR!! Dont let the stress of it hamper your great efforts of making FIRST beautiful. Rookies ROCK dont they!! You know the cool thing? WE’LL BE VETERANS NEXT YEAR!! WOO HOO!!!
Mark Terilli of FIRST – yes, I bugged you too a lot. Thanks for updating the site as much as I asked it to be modified. With all the work you have to do, I am grateful you found the time to help us out. Thanks!
Eric Ramussen of FIRST – Hey dude! Thanks for answering all my questions on the phone. Being a guy who never really touched the robot last year, I was as much a rookie as my team was! For that matter, how does a motor work anyway? hehe. Thanks. Wanna join Rambots… umm… ahem ahem.
Lora of Team 69 – met you at the Rambots chat, met you in person, we arranged a scrimmage, and we made first more exciting for both of us. Thanks for being a great friend, supporter, and fan. You’re experience has become my favorite screwdriver. Thanks.
Colleen of Team 246 – I tried to invite you guys to a scrimmage and although you guys could not make it, you guys still helped us a lot. You especially, have helped me with many questions, confusions, and hardships. I thank you for putting up with me, helping me, sharing with me, and being such a great friend.
Nate of team 66 – You smart guy you! Hey, we need you on Rambots, want in ? You helped me a lot with so many technical things as well. You’ve also been a constant comic relief to my stressful moments, the perfect stress reliever. Thanks man. Thanks a whole lot.
Erin of team 1 – ERIN ERIN ERIN! You have a special place in my heart. You’ve been such a nice person, helpful, honest, supportive, and you’ve uplifted my spirits when they were down. You’ve helped even if I did not ask, you’ve shared even if I never asked, you’ve loved when I never asked to be loved, and even after all that good stuff you did, you’ve also touched my FIRST heart. 
You’re team even gave us the ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD! That meant A LOT TO US! A LOT! Erin, you’re just as beautiful inside as your are outside. I cant thank you enough. My team cannot thank you enough. Wanna be a Rambot?
Steve Shade of team 7 – you came all the way to the Dulles Airport in Washington to see us! I can’t believe you did all that! That was so awesome of you dude! I wish I could have hung out with you more, I was just so busy! But thanks man for being there, going there, and being such a nice guy!
Tom Gray of SharingFIRST-- You big pooh bear you!! You’re pic is up on Rambots, btw! thanks man for all the help! You’re awesome!!! Join Rambots! we’ll pay you…ahem. with love?
To this kid called Nick from ? team – thanks for fetching my frisbee on top of the roof of the arena! that was a $15 frisbee. thanks dude! you rambot you!]
Then there’s Kate 190, Kate 126, Amy 126, Oshortwan (Rob), and everyone else! THanks guys!
TO all the RAMBOTS Chat Server supporters! THANKS!! YOU’VE MADE IT AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS!! We’ll continue the service forever as long as you guys keep coming!! My goal at the rambots site was only 5000 hits, we’ve doubled that to 10,000!!!
To the HOT TEAM – YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! THANKS FOR HELPING US OUT AT REGIONALS!
To the Mad Cows (97) – my former team always has a special place in my heart. If it wasn’t for you guys, I would not be here today. Dammit, you guys are so awesome! Sniff sniff! go MIT and CRLS!
To the ROBODOGS! — You guys! Just being so supportive and helpful and friendly. That’s enough for us Rambots to love you forever. Thanks guys, thanks so much.
To the Juggernauts – I thank you guys on behalf of my team, for your ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD! We love it so much! Thanks! We’ll make you guys proud next year!
Well, that all I can think of. If I forgot to mention you, it’s just that I had so much in my mind. I STILL LOVE YOU !! TRUST ME!! I DO!
THANK YOU ALL!
Anton Abaya
Team Leader
Rambots, #419
UMass Boston / BC High School