From: Jim Geary <jaygee@primenet.com>
To: cgp <crossword-games-pro@MIT.EDU>
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 08:39:38 -0700 (MST)
Subject: WSCQTs survey

Surprise! You ask a bunch of 1800s are they in favor of a method that might permit 1800s to go to a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ahead of 2000s and a majority say yes. In all honesty, what business do players who are not anywhere near the elite of their own country doing representing that country in a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP? The only precedent that comes to mind from other sports that take themselves seriously is when a bad college team somehow wins their conference tournament at the end of the season and secures an automatic berth to the big dance. To my mind, even that event is more statistically significant than a ten-game scrabble tournament. I challenge one non-2000 player to state publicly on here that they deserve to go to the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP more than Jere Mead or Lester Schonbrun, two players who were forced on the sidelines to make room for at-large qualifiers. I reluctantly participated in Mike's survey, but shuold have brought up from the beginning my objections to the notion that a survey of the masses would determine what's best for an elite event. Lest there be any accusations of disguised self serving on my part, I'll clearly state that I am one who may be a victim of mediocritization of the American WORLD CHAMPIOSHIP team. The whole debate about level of SOWPODSidity at a QT seems like a red herring to disguise the fact that a one-weekend tournament is in no way a better indication of strength than one to two years of tournament play, SOWPODS or no. The upncomer argument doesn't hold much water, either. It's not enough to be an upncomer, you actually have to get there too. Anyone with the talent to rise quickly through the ranks to 1800/1900dom should be able to attain 2000ness with the necessary effort AND should have ample opportunities over their career to represent their homeland. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Dallas! Best Wishes Jim Geary