So ... co-champs again. I'm fine with it, but I seem to remember Paige Kimble giving an interview a few years back, predicting that this might become common. She seemed to think it was a problem. The old Oscar Wilde line comes to mind: "once is unfortunate, but two looks like carelessness".
Well. I caught up late last night and, despite some of the same qualms and issues others mentioned during the CIL, I was glad to see all ten Finalists get their prime-time moment. Mostly, I was riveted by Vanya and Gokul going toe-to-toe and word-for-word. Like last year, if ever there were to be co-champs in a given Finals, I can't think of a more deserving pair. But I agree with the notion, expressed in the CIL and by BeeFan below, that the rules and format changes have brought us to this point and it will take more changes to steer back to a Bee where the kids can spell themselves out, where the semifinals are (or at least feel) meaningful for every competitor, and where the Finals allow for ALL of the best spellers to show their stuff on the prime-time stage.
Also, while I'm surprised no one picked Vanya-Cole against my Gokul-Cole, I'll raise my imaginary pool-winning trophy with pride. The lesson is: get your pick in quickly.
So ... co-champs again. I'm fine with it, but I seem to remember Paige Kimble giving an interview a few years back, predicting that this might become common. She seemed to think it was a problem. The old Oscar Wilde line comes to mind: "once is unfortunate, but two looks like carelessness".
ReplyDeleteWell. I caught up late last night and, despite some of the same qualms and issues others mentioned during the CIL, I was glad to see all ten Finalists get their prime-time moment. Mostly, I was riveted by Vanya and Gokul going toe-to-toe and word-for-word. Like last year, if ever there were to be co-champs in a given Finals, I can't think of a more deserving pair. But I agree with the notion, expressed in the CIL and by BeeFan below, that the rules and format changes have brought us to this point and it will take more changes to steer back to a Bee where the kids can spell themselves out, where the semifinals are (or at least feel) meaningful for every competitor, and where the Finals allow for ALL of the best spellers to show their stuff on the prime-time stage.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while I'm surprised no one picked Vanya-Cole against my Gokul-Cole, I'll raise my imaginary pool-winning trophy with pride. The lesson is: get your pick in quickly.
Congratulations! I was pretty happy with my Gokul-Dev pick, but sometimes you just get beat. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI actually considered Vanya-Cole. Not sure now why I chose otherwise, a choice that turned out to be a sure loser once the "rankings" came out. Alas.
ReplyDeleteBut then I suppose it would be too much if ALOTT5MA and the Bee BOTH had co-champs in the same year. :-)