Offend me? Not at all. Let me put it this way. I finished 31st out of 68
starters at the '98 Winter Olympics. Am I proud of this accomplishment?
Damn right! For many reasons. Do I feel that I should have been given a
medal for this? Hell no! How about if I finished 4th? No way! Now lets
say I finished just a few hunderths out of third - would I feel frustrated?
You bet. The "What ifs" would have gone on for a long time, but I could
never imagine getting a medal for it. (This DID happen to me at the '91
Masters World Champs. Slalom - 4th, .04 sec. out of 3rd - and I'm STILL
saying "what if"!)
Now, I did come away from Nagano w/a diploma and a medel of participation
(which I treasure highly). (So see Rocky, that guy that who finished 8th in
the finals after going through 3 rounds of prelims DOES get something!) So
maybe this is my solution: give every competitor @ Topeka something that
commemorates their participation (they do this for marathon races as well)
and leave the medals for the VICTORS.
And as far as "just a bunch of gearheads having fun"? Agreed, none of us
are going to get rich or famous from this great sport, BUT, we'er talking
about the National Championships of the United States of America. That
means that the winners can rightfully call themselves the best cone
smashers, or lack thereof, in America for at least the next 365 days! This
is really a great accomplishment. And this is out of a base of thousands of
competitors nationwide. But 17th out of 65? An accomplishment? You bet.
But on a par (and by giving the same trophy to the person that won as the
person that finished 17th you ARE putting them on the same par) w/the
winner? At a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? I just don't get it.
I'll close w/another definition from Webster's. "Championships", 3: a
contest held to determine a CHAMPION (my emphsis.)
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rocky Entriken" <rocky@tri.net>
To: "William Schenker" <schenker@mediaone.net>; "washburn"
<washburn@dwave.net>; "Rick Brown" <free2000@quixnet.net>
Cc: <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 1:29 AM
Subject: Re: Trophies (was Ladies Classes)
> So why is it you want to rain on the parade of the guy/gal who finished
> Trophy-4th, or 9th, or 17th in a 65 car class?
>
> Does their enjoyment at their accomplishment, and the fact they picked up
a
> piece of wood to commemorate it, somehow offend you?
>
> and please, that is a rhetorical "you" -- not directed at Bill or anyone
in
> particular.
>
> IMHO, it ain't broke. We're just a bunch of gearheads out having fun with
> our cars. Let's not get so self-important we have to start putting limits
on
> the fun or the sense of accomplishment.
>
> --Rocky (always feel the runner who finished 8th in the Olympic final
oughta
> get something, after having had to go through three rounds of prelims just
> to get to the starting blocks!)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: William Schenker <schenker@mediaone.net>
> To: washburn <washburn@dwave.net>; Rick Brown <free2000@quixnet.net>
> Cc: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
> Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 2:43 AM
> Subject: Re: Trophies (was Ladies Classes)
>
>
> >>
> >> I think your reading too much into it. I am simply suggesting three
> >> trophies...that's it. I'm not suggesting any changes to an Olympic
type
> >> elimination format or anything. Everything runs exactly the same as
> >> does today, but only three trophies are awarded regardless of the entry
> >> numbers. The more I think about it, the more strongly I support it.
> >>
> >> Pat
> >
> >Yes.
> >
> >Bill Schenker
> >
> >
>
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