By: ratatosk22 Date: 4/10/01 7:14 pm Kenny: I don't mean to sound offensive, but (at least in some years) if so many top teams deaffiliate, thus choosing not to compete for the title, how does this not make CBI, to extend the golf analogy, the Greater Milwaukee Open? You or anyone else are entitled to put as much value on CBI as you want. But if enough of the top players pass up on it, then it does not carry the same weight as the other "majors". --- I don't mean to suggest that CBI has the strongest and deepest field each year (because I think most would agree that NAQT does), but I would argue that winning CBI is certainly a legitimate national championship. Adam, to borrow your golf analogy: for a few decades, few of America's top golfers attended the British Open. (I'm guessing the travel burden was too much) Would we say that the champion of the British Open was unworthy to stand beside the US Open winner or the PGA champion? I think it is clear that--regardless of the players competing--the British Open tests very different skills than the Masters (links golf vs. target golf). So long as we see that they are tests of very different skills, I think that mastery of each of those skills should be considered an equal achievement. (Perhaps one achievement considered slightly greater, but both much admired nonetheless). But I get the feeling that the skills rewarded in CBI competition are somehow considered less impressive than those in NAQT, ACF, or circuit tournaments. I am not contending that CBI is somehow objectively better than other "majors". What I am arguing is that it is offensive and elitist to claim that one nat'l champion is unworthy of being considered equal alongside the other two/three nat'l champions. Frankly I don't care if CBI is generally considered the equivalent of the Australian (tennis) Open because at least the Australian Open in considered a legitimate "major"; I wonder whether CBI is given the same consideration. I guess what bothers me is the feeling (perhaps irrational, but still) that on April 29, if any school other than Michigan wins the NCT, that team's victory will be diminished because it took place in CBI. When it should be applauded as a display of great skill and talent (as a UM victory also should be). I apologize for my pessimisim and general curmudgeonness (sp?). But I am angry that any quizbowler would publicly declare that it is unreasonable and/or ignorant for me to consider the CBI championship to be anything other than the lowest of the national championships. Kenny Peskin
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