Pirate captain divulges winning strategy
With an unprecedented turnout from first and second year teams, Bronfman's Most Wanted Management Carnival 2007 was one for the history books. Despite fears that the aftermath of Le Journal's exacerbated expose last spring would loom over this year's fun, the Carnival spirit was alive and well this past January.
In the days following the event, as the Pirates celebrated their victory, I was asked by multiple non-Carnival goers, "So when you win Carnival, what do you win?" Aside from the glory and status and the recognition that you are one of the most fun people to party with in management, (well, let's be honest, in all of McGill,) there's something almost indescribable that one gains from the win.
When it comes down to it, the win notes that you've got the spirit. Yes, Carnival is a point game. Points are received based on team performance. However, once all the points are tallied, there is still that incalculable determinant of who will take home the title. In the final hours, it's all about spirit.
What is the Carnival spirit you ask? It's essentially what keeps Carnival alive at 8:30am each morning. It is the attitude shared by Carnival goers to yell and cheer the most absurd of cheers at the top of their lungs, even after they have lost their voices. It's that divine essence that motivates such keen management students to spend their afternoons singing songs in the Bronfman cafeteria rather than attending classes. The Carnival spirit is the most vital principle of Carnival.
To win, one has to embody the Carnival spirit. What is the Carnival spirit? Its composition is a combination of the attributes that characterize the ideal business person: a healthy love for competition, the motivation to attend more events than physically possible and the extrovert's desire to network with everyone in the room. This year, those present during Carnival know that the incarnation of the Carnival spirit was in fact actualized. And not just by the Pirates, the second year teams most definitely lived the spirit.
Now, I was there. And I am a believer. So my message to the doubtful or uncommitted to the belief in participating in Carnival is: all the cool kids did it. You should too.
What must be acknowledged is Carnival is a game dependent on its participation rates. The nature of participation is what shapes Carnival's events. As a result, each year Carnival has the ability to transcend years past, building on precedent. For example, in 2006 there formed a team unlike any other. Scrotal Recall certainly set the bar high. It should be noted that the energy exhausted by Scrotal Recall's participation at Carnival 2006 is a factor affecting today's energy shortages. Global warming is a serious threat.
In 2007, Carnival saw the echo effect of Scrotal Recall's legacy. This year McGill Skeet Team and Tony Danza displayed unstoppable participation rates, ridiculous cheers, and glorious spandex attire. It can be anticipated that Carnival 2008 will be legendary.
Carnival has come and passed. As we return to the status quo, the spirit does live on. Oh yes, it is alive in those Carnival 2007 participants. When will the spirit next appear? I have a good feeling that everyone will feel it at the Faculty Olympics coming up next month.
