dead horse

So I've got to post my thoughts here, rather than in replies only.

I think that the appeal of co-ed, leaguer, spirit spouting, no-ref frisbee players is that it's a secret club for them. Despite the fact that I throw every day, and am a massive frisbee nerd, I do actually have non-frisbee playing friends. And the feedback I get from the community as a whole, is that frisbee players are pompous self-absorbed arrogant pricks.

True.

I think it stems from this.

Oh, you play frisbee. Like with a dog.
(frisbee player immediately huffs)
No, it's fast, it's like a combination of all the best things about soccer, hockey, team handball, football, quidditch and nascar. But the best thing is that there are no refs. We play by the spirit of the game.

(What listener hears is. We're better than other people, and if you don't share my vision, you're a loser).

What about, 'it's like keep away, on a really big field. and we got observers, like 'refs' only for the big games. it's fun'

Or am I hung up that SI runs a huge article about Lacrosse, and ultimate is still the butt of jokes on Sports Center.

I'd really like to see the game on TV. But it's not going to happen as long as it's hackey sack. The common perception is that it's a stoner sport. Guess what. NBA basketball is reportedly a 'Stoner Sport' but the commish and the players have the sense to keep it under wraps.

Yes, 2 portland trailblazers doing 90 in a hummer w/ 2 pounds of pot in the back smoking dope out of can is keeping it under wraps.

I recently played a tournament-- Big news for me these days. I played a club co-ed tournament w/ my co-ed HS team. I played right handed (broken good hand), so I was smarter, but my throws were so-so.

I actually don't remember seeing any men in dresses. Maybe i've blocked it. But there were all sorts of 'theme attire' and stuff. These people don't WANT the sport to be 'mainstream'. They want it to be the sport for iconoclasts...

Another subset of people playing like to have a beer, or smoke some dope when they play. This goes on at city softball games and stuff, although people outside the insular world of ultimate frisbee tend to be a little more circumspect about illegal behavior. You know, consideration for other peoples views on illegal behavior etc...(an aside, for i don't actually care what other people do at a tournament, or anywhere for that matter, but nude beaches are nude beaches and not nude malls for a reason)

A final interesting group, that i think makes up the overlap of the two previously listed groups, combines 'ostensibly not being serious' w/ 'a lack of knowledge of the rules' into the worst type of ultimate player.

A team dressed in matching skirts, unable to get anything done, mildly inebriated, making bad call after bad call, complaining about elitist behavior.

Any way. It's league night. So I'm just getting pumped up for the fans tonight.

Next week: Frisbee Players. Buy a watch.