Emporia: Why I want Paul McBeth to win Worlds

Green Splatter has developed somewhat of a reputation for bashing on Paul McBeth …

Some of these icy headlines (people rarely read) might be to blame:

• Post No. 1 – The sudden decline of Paul McBeth’s putt
• Post No. 2 – 4 reasons Paul McBeth is disc golf’s premier villain
• Post No. 3 – Paul McBeth should dial back the post-loss complaints
• Post No. 4 – Paul McBeth: The man, the myth, the (apparent) mortal
• Post No. 5 – Madness: Paul McBeth (really) needs to compete in Portland

I’ve personally penned a few of those, though …

The assertion couldn’t be further from the truth.

This week, emotionally, I’m all-in on Paul McBeth making Emporia his own. When I first began following professional disc golf, McBeast was the best. When I first started writing about it, McBeast was the best. And now that he finds himself in the middle of a losing streak …

I STILL think McBeast is the best.

Talent aside, however, I want Paul to take this thing down.

For starters, admittedly, I’ve grown the tiniest bit tired of the jock-riding Ricky Wysocki’s received. As a writer, I’m certain I’m at least partially to blame for it. It’s just strange to me Rick’s been awarded “home-course” advantage when he’s neither from nor lives in Emporia.

Yes, he won this year’s Dynamic Discs Open. And D.D. headquarters are located there, as well. But including its time as the “Glass Blown Open,” McBeth’s taken down the event five times in seven years. Rick’s riding high, but it’s far from a guarantee he becomes a three-time champ …

Poetic justice would be a P. McB. victory.

Next, it’s been an on “off” year for McBeth – not even he’s denying that. And I know he won USDGC shortly after, but don’t even try to tell me “The Holy Shot” had nothing to do with the sudden death of “Sunday McBeth.” From nearly a six-time World Champion to being force-fed a brutal highlight for the rest of your mortal life – I can’t begin to imagine the toll it’s taken …

I feel bad for the guy.

Captured minutes after James Conrad’s throw-in, THIS image says it all:

And lastly, I want McBeth to win for the theater. I’m a disc golf blogger. I love a good story. It makes my job easy. There’s not a reader on Earth who doesn’t crave the flavor of redemption.

Love or loathe him, Paul McBeth is the greatest to have ever hucked plastic. I don’t care how many World Titles or Signature Series discs Ken Climo has to his name. In this day and age, you don’t finish second or better at 10 consecutive Worlds to not be the best your sport has to offer.

Fingers crossed he can make it 11 …

But this time, without the career-defining gut-punch.

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Editor’s Suggestions:

• Review: The Innova Croc
• Disc golf: In defense of the term ‘ball golf’
• Review: ‘The Holy Shot’ (watch it before Worlds)

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