LAST EDITED ON 07-27-06 AT 01:18 PM (EST)Personally I love Phil and there are definately several others who deserved to go before him.
For anyone out there who is interested, here is the link to the article that apparently cost him.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/debeachcomber/stories/20060721/2309913.html
Ritchie said his primary goal for competing is to gain exposure for his band. "I mean, really I just hope to gain exposure. I love my band and I love the music," he said. "I'm not stoked about the music Supernova's popping out."
He said he knows if he wins the competition he's obligated to tour with the band, but that's a risk he's willing to take.
"I may have taken a risk. I love my boys back home, but you know I still have to look out for myself in this world," he said. "I've got to create opportunities for myself, and this is too huge an opportunity to say no to."
The article came out on Friday 7/21 and now less than a week later he is gone.
http://www.myspace.com/lennex