Chat Room Comments

shellyac_1 · Mon, 08 Nov 1999 11:29:18 -0800

Since, I am the one that has set all this off, I
feel compelled to remark on this entire
situation.

First of all I was in the the chat room when the
allegations were being made, and at the time I felt that it
might not have been my place to reprimand the group,
but after hearing some reactions I know that I should
have something then. I know that we talk about people
in the chat room at times, and I wouldn't repeat
them to the people we are talking about. We all talk
about each other at times, things that we would never
really say to their face even if it is true, but the
things said on Sat went beyond that. 

Comments
like, "Maryland shouldn't be fielding their A team",
"The Maryland Mafia taking care of itself", and "It
took two teams to beat Chicago" have no place being
said at all, but if they must be said it shouldn't be
in a public area like a chat room, especially by
people that weren't at the tournament in question. It's
one thing to have a dislike for a team or a person
for whatever reason, but it is another thing to ruin
a reputation and cast doubt on their morals. And
what makes it worse is that people who have never met
anyone from MD, now have the idea that we are cheaters.

Maryland isn't the only team that has entered their best
team in a tournament that they have hosted, so it is
unfair to say that we shouldn't have done so. Also as
one person pointed out in the chat room (the only
fair comment I saw) MD did have a very competent staff
to help run the tournament. In fact we had at least
one player comment on how well run the tournament
was, and I'm sure there were others that agreed. Also,
our freshmen were given ample opportunity to play in
the tournament not only on our B team but on the A
team as well, so that accusation also had no merit.

Also, the idea that, we rigged the MD A-Chicago game by
having them play on the Michigan is insulting, not only
to the Tournament Directors but to Michigan as well.
First of all, it was one of the highest quality packet
submitted to the tournament, and thus one of the best for
these teams to play on, where the ability and knowledge
of the players will be rewarded. Which is much more
satisifing then winning from buzzer races and hose
questions. Also on a side note, that packet was written by a
player who was more likely to favor Andrew Yaphe than
Dave Hamiltion. 

I'm just sick a tired of the
way Maryland is percieved by most people. I'll grant
you that a times, people from the MAQT act like
bastards sometimes (myself included) but how many of you
haven't been the same way yourselves? These people have
been my teammates and my friends for six years now. We
have remained so even though some of have graduated
and moved on to other schools and some have stayed
around after graduation. I don't know how many of you
you can say that about the people you have played
with. I can understand the temptaion of disliking
someone because they are better than you, or because they
are not as good as you, I have done it myself, but
you've got to let it go. If I hadn't, I would have never
found out that that I Alice and I are both from the
same state originally or that Alexis and I spend our
Winter Breaks in the same place and now we can hang out
with each other, imagine what you may be
missing.

Well I'm not sure if what I've said will make any
difference with how MAQT is percieved, or if what I have
said will be considered since I am a former MAQT
player, but I feel that it should be said.

Michelle Cantave

By the way, I believe this is the
first time that MD has ever won the Terripan in all the
years that it has been held, and we have at times
fielded our best team possible, so thank you for ruining
that small accoplishment for the team.