Based on this information from Cleary, the thought process that would have MD initially colluding with CW does not hold up. Any reasonable person would surmise that CW decided/agreed to back MD and indicated to MD that he was the number 3 seed. While MD might not have felt that he is number 3 based on the discipline(14.1), competitors involved and his own humility it is reasonable to think that (based on the points from Cleary) he could accept this seeding.
When CW moved him so far down the seeding list when he decided to enter without backing from him, he responded as any reasonable person would. It would seem to any reasonable person that, while seed number 3 may have been generous being moved to 15+ is clearly punitive and the realization would set in that the generosity of being seeded 3 was based on his being in partnership with the promoter and the subsequent action was meant to punish him. Any man with integrity would have withdrawn. Good on you MD.
