- May 18, 2011
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Who is deciding that a particular team “has no business there”? I don’t think Worlds is hurt by particular teams simply being in attendance. If so, I think the negatives of a small group of event producers completely controlling access to the event outweigh the small (perceived) benefit of the event being considered “exclusive” just to attend. Nothing is taken away from the winners, medalists, or even finalists if some crappy team performs and gets eliminated the first round. Who are they hurting?
A number of years ago, I attended worlds for figure skating. And let me tell you, the bottom half of that event was nowhere near the caliber of the top. However, the guy from Mexico, with half the skill set as the guy who won that year, earned his spot, qualified under the rules and showed up. Did that make the winner any less legitimate or the medal any less prestigious? Nope.
If Janky All Stars gets a bid from Craptastic Nationals, feels like paying to show up and scoring half the points of everyone else, it absolutely doesn't make winning "less than".
Plus, isn't the whole exclusive best of the best thing taken care of by The Majors or here by Canadian Finals?