The 2023 OTB Open was a treat for disc golf fans. If you followed the Elite Series event on social media, however, there’s a good chance you were left with a bitter taste in your mouth …
Things got ugly – and fast.
I’m not going to get into the details of it all: Click here to do that on your own time.
Suffice it to say, people on both sides of the trans-rights spectrum within disc golf spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday spewing hate-filled comments at one another. And wouldn’t you know it, caught tragically in the crossfire of it all was Natalie Ryan – a human being like the rest of us. Regardless of the division you think she should compete in, she should be treated as such.
Once the weekend was wrapped up, though I’d done nothing but sit on my butt in front of the television, I was exhausted by it all – that kind of stuff wears on a person’s brain. And listen, I write for a sports blog. I’m relatively comfortable dishing (and receiving) criticism …
This was different.
Thankfully, that SAME weekend, I had a positive, albeit insignificant experience with someone within the greater disc golf community. I’m a big fan of the Innova Monarch. I know it’s a weird frisbee, but for my arm, it’s the ideal 10-speed. Though a wide-rimmed flier, I treat the thing like a fairway driver. It’s easy to hyzer-flip. And given enough oomph, it’ll flip, coast and even roll.
It’s a versatile disc.
Anyway, I’d recently lost one. Without wasting much time, I took to an Innova-fanboy Facebook group to find a replacement – one with a unique stamp. Amidst the feeding frenzy of collectors eager to unload a “crap mold” for cash, I had THIS exchange with a good-Samaritan golfer …
If you’re curious, I took the seller (giver, really) up on his offer …
I’ve got a sweet, new Champion Monarch to show for it – one I’ll let fly for years to come.
This is a prime example of a stellar human being doing stellar things …
Even when nobody’s watching.
Please don’t think I’m equating Ryan’s quest for her spot within the Pro Tour with my hunt for a Monarch. I’d be beyond apples and oranges with that comparison – more apples and bowling balls. I share this small, inconsequential story to demonstrate two larger, oft-forgotten truths:
- Truth No. 1 – Social media is far from real life.
- Truth No. 2 – There are a lot of good people in disc golf.
Some of the best people I’ve ever met I came into contact with over a common interest in flying frisbees: fans, mentors, readers, executives, competitors, professionals, tournament directors, etc.
I’d venture to say you’d agree.
Whether during an in-person meeting or hidden behind an avatar on social media, when difficult, tough-to-resolve issues arise in our sport, share your opinions, but allow others to do the same …
Not everybody thinks alike – that’s a good thing.
Rest assured, I’ll do my best to practice what’s being preached.
When in doubt, be nice.
Disc golf has a long, rich history of doing just that.
Let’s not change it.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
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Sorry but I’m a little sick of content creators getting on their high horse about stuff like this to obviously gain followers. Enough of the Capitan Obvious BS.
Apology accepted 🙂
Always killing ’em with kindness, Lucas! Good stuff, and good article.
Thanks, James!
A thousand times yes!
Glad we’re on the same page with this one, Jill – thanks for reading!
Most of the 56 people who will read this will probably agree with your rhetoric, so congrats? Now go get a real job.
Thanks for reading, Roo!
Happy to have you as Reader No. 57 🙂
Nice post, Lucas. I’ve been enjoying your blog. Keep up the good work.
– Aaron from Jenks
Thanks, Aaron …
Let’s get a round together sometime soon 🙂
If nate wants respect, they should have started by giving respect to others. They joined the fpo a couple of years ago and the first thing they did was rip on the girls in the league and talk about how they aren’t very good and that the fpo division needed a lot of work and that the girls don’t work very hard. This all coming from a natural born male that had years of extra testosterone building muscles. That same person now complaining about exclusion.
They were against being friendly at first, but now it’s all “woah is me!”
I have no issues with transgenders. I have issues with transgenders expecting everyone to change everything for them, even when it means alienating everyone else. And especially when those people were already alienating everyone.
Doesn’t make since to let men who are physically stronger and better naturally at sports to compete against women. And it’s sad to see men getting upset because they are not allowed to dominate women, since when did women become 2nd especially since people have fought so hard for them to be equal, if this man wants to compete then he needs to train harder like the rest of the men and if he still can’t perform then he should find something else to do with his time. Everyone wants an easy way out to get to the top but that’s not how it works, hard work and dedication is key to the top not stepping on women who put in the work just to be beaten by someone who already has a genetic advantage due to the sex they where born as. This is a argument about 1% of the population that expects everyone to change everything for them due to there mental illness
Nope. One side was hate filled. The other side was defending Natalie Ryan from hate.
This is a bad take.
Try again.