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Tell me about it. I'm still shocked that the Fort Bend ISD schools are grouped in with the schools from South Texas in Area G.

Needville HS from Needville, Texas will be attending the 2008 USSBA National Championships in Annapolis, Maryland in November. They will be the first band from the state to attend the event. Needville is a small town of about 2,500 located southeast of Houston in Fort Bend County, although not part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. The band placed third last year in Class 4A at the USSBA Texas State Championships. This might not seem like a big deal to some of you guys since it's not "big splash" news, but the band deserves some recognition and they deserve some huge props. 2008 USSBA Fall Texas Schedule

Website was updated today and it looks like the Fall Preview Experience in Austin is no more.

I disagree. You'll already know what the band's show is before they perform at a contest because......A) football game performances and B ) their show music is going to be listed in the program book. It's no different saying what your show is now than say in September or October. I posted this on the previous page, but I always let the performance speak for itself. I would rather be hyped after watching a show that wasn't hyped up, rather than be hyped about a show that was supposed to be a surprise and then be let down after the performance.

Richland also did parts of Michael Daugherty's Bells for Stokowski in 2005.

And, I wish more were like that. Waiting to announce a show as late as August, which some bands do, is just crazy. I have never understood the whole "I'm not going to say what our show is because it's a surprise." I have always let the performance speak for itself. I would rather be hyped after watching a show that wasn't hyped up, rather than be hyped about a show that was supposed to be a surprise and then be let down after the performance.

I wish they were coming to Houston again, but they're going to the Arlington Regional instead. And since Arlington is weaker, I'd expect them to be in Finals again if they were anything like they were again this past season.

It's probably because Texas bands have been to Grand Nationals so many times in recent years. The Woodlands went in 2006 and last year, James Bowie & Winston Churchill in 2006, Ronald Reagan, Richland, Stephen F. Austin went last year, and so many other bands that have gone since 2005. I would expect to see more bands sign up in 2009 & 2010. This list is in no way close to set. It's only May. This is just a tentative list. Bands may still drop out or sign up depending on the number of openings at the competition.

I think the Bowie Fall Preview Experience was canceled, because the South Carolina and Oklahoma Fall Preview Experiences are also listed on the Regional page. BOA probably hasn't updated the Fall Preview Experience page on their website.

(Subject to Change) October 4, 2008 - Arlington, TX Regional Championships University of Texas at Arlington http://www.musicforall.org/programs/region...rlingtonTX.aspx October 11, 2008 - Houston, TX Regional Championships Pearland ISD Stadium http://www.musicforall.org/programs/region.../HoustonTX.aspx October 31-November 1, 2008 - San Antonio, TX Super Regional Championships Alamodome http://www.musicforall.org/programs/region...nAntonioTX.aspx November 12-15, 2008 - Grand National Championships Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, Indiana http://www.musicforall.org/programs/gn/08bands.aspx You can view the other regionals @: http://www.musicforall.org/programs/regionals/

Didn't Avery Johnson implement some defense into the Mavericks and make them a more defensive minded type of team? When Don Nelson was with the Mavs, they were a run and gun, up and down group just like the Golden State Warriors.

Then again, Steve Kerr was the mastermind behind the Shaquille O'Neil trade. Kerr might have a few titles as a player, but winning a championship as a player doesn't automatically calculate success when it comes to the coach and GM positions. IE: Isiah Thomas.

Rockets out. Kobe wins MVP. Atlanta Hawks forces Game 7 with the freaking Celtics. Go Hawks. Go Kobe. Beat the snot out of Utah.

Rockets move on to play the Jazz in Game 6 on Friday. Spurs advance to second round vs. the New Orleans Hornets Mavericks are done for the season.

I'm glad the Rockets did some silencing for once and shut up the Jazz fans after winning Game 3 last night. I swear I can't stand Utah Jazz fans. I've hated them since I was a little kid and I still hate them to this very day. And, what an amazing play at the end of the game by Carl Landry. He loses some teeth and starts bleeding profusely after getting elbowed in the nose and mouth by Utah's Carlos Boozer and he comes back to play a few minutes later.....I love that kid. And, Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse running his mouth at Hornets head coach Byron Scott, and Josh Howard admits to smoking weed during the offseason?

Make that 1-2. Mavericks lost as well 92-104 to New Orleans.

I'm going to Game 1 of the Rockets/Jazz series tomorrow. I can't wait.

It's time to talk some basketball. The NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow. I'm EXCITED. The Texas teams start play tomorrow..... #3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Phoenix Suns San Antonio leads series: 3-1 #4 Utah Jazz vs. #5 Houston Rockets Utah leads series: 3-1 #2 New Orleans Hornets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks New Orleans leads series: 3-1

April 16th update: BOA has moved the Las Cruces, NM Regional back to Texas. The regional will be held in El Paso, TX at UTEP's Sun Bowl.

His name is Jon Vanderkolf. And, I hope you guys at The Woodlands keep him for a LONG time. I have certainly enjoyed The Woodlands the past couple of years.

The thing about that..... If Dallas, or anyone for that matter, is the #8 seed and happens to beat the #1 seed team in the first round, it wouldn't be as dramatic as last year's Warriors. There's no clear cut top tier team, as the Western Conference is just about as level as you can get. It's not like last year where you knew the top teams in the West were Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas, & Utah.

I can't remember but weren't they going to open the roof at Lucas Oil Stadium if the weather was decent outside? Lucas Oil isn't a dome, as there is a retractable roof where the roof and sides of the stadium open to make it more of an open air field.

Grand National Championship Tickets Now on Sale! Grand National Championship tickets in the new Lucas Oil Stadium are now on sale! Ticket locations are based on the date in which orders are received, so this gives you the opportunity to get the best available ticket locations for Grand National Finals. Don't miss the first Grand National Championships in the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis! Finals Reserved Ticket Pricing MFA Club - $115 Super - $65 Premium - $51 Between 20-30 yardlines - $41 Between 10-20 yardlines - $35 Outside 10 yardline - $24 New MFA Club Experience! New this year, be a part of the MFA Experience with Special Club Level seating! MFA Club seating will be prime Club seats (on the 300 and 400 levels, between the 30 yardlines) and will include exclusive access to Lucas Oil Stadium Club Level amenities and services. Know that when you choose to purchase MFA Club Experience seating, you are getting the best seats in the house and showing your support for Music for All, Bands of America and Arts Education. Order soon for the best available seats and seat locations. MFA Club seats are available for Finals ($115) and Semi-Finals ($90). See Prelims & Semifinals Ticket Prices Order Tickets View Seating Chart

(http://www.ldbellband.org/pdf/2008GNMeetingMemo.pdf) L.D. BELL BLUE RAIDER BAND www.ldbellband.org 1601 Brown Trail

You'll need to watch their previous shows in order to get why they do what they do. The white bubble fabric represent clouds. Their 2007 show was part of a trilogy which ties in with the 2005 (Ascension: Light of Gold) and 2006 (The Remaining) shows. Watch the ending of the 2006 show with the cloud fabric and it will all make sense. The little girl in the '07 show represents Ofelia (the girl) from the Pan's Labyrinth movie. If you're a regular band parent or a first timer watching their show, you're not going to get it. To keep it short and simple, the 2005 show was about ascending into heaven, and 2006 was about evil and rapture and those the remained in the end, hence the show title "The Remaining." (2005) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KevSuusEWsk (2006) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay2k9mX0dXE L.D. Bell's music performance and entire show program was impeccable. As great as Avon was, L.D. Bell had the dynamics, the sound, the clarity, and the total package. That's the type of show that wins a championship. Watching L.D. Bell live....there's something different in the air. It's not a knock on other bands. It's just that when it comes L.D. Bell.....it's much more than watching a marching band show. It's a production. It's a story. It's emotional. It's art. And more importabtly, it grabs everyones attention. That's the vibe and swagger that they give out when they step on to the field. I saw L.D. Bell a total of five times this past year at the BOA San Antonio Super Regional and at BOA Grand Nationals. People gasped, cried, and shivered while watching their show. That's type of emotion that they bring out in you when you watch them in person. Just my $.02.