http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/travel/escapes/23disc.html

Cursing at the gallery and kicking trees in anger is not a good start. :o

Yea, and the bad press continues later on: "Still, disc golf tends to conjure an image of a game invented between classes and bong hits." For an article in a major newspaper that was heavily hyped for a long time, I was expecting a little better.

FYI, if you want a login/password to bypass the N.Y. Times Registration, go here:

http://www.bugmenot.com/

Truth hurts, I guess. Professional football had a (deserved) image of brutality in its early years. Wouldn't it be better to acknowledge the truth and move on, rather than trying to play revisionist?

*** You are ignoring this user ***

Oooh, my feelings are so hurt, it's like that time in 3rd grade when some friendless buttmunch turned his chair so he didn't have to talk to me.

If a b[/b]unghole thinks I'm a b[/b]unghole, I figure that means I must be doing ok.

Who did their research, They can't even get the state with the most courses correct.

Thank you. I was going to mention that, but it is much better coming from you. :)

I didn't think the article was that bad. With that headline and that opening sentence, it was looking to be really bad....

But the "golf claims the sanity of another person" angle was actually good press. They really did present us as a "real sport" with the connection to ball golf.

And the bong reference was fine. They didn't say "bongs and scent of sensimilla lined the course". They said we were trying to shake that image. It's the truth.

I liked it.

One thing, though: I've never heard the term "salad bar" before. Is that an East coast thing?

Overall, I thought the article was pretty fair. We do conjure that image. Oh well. The interviews were decent as well.
Too bad the article starts with THE baby of the tour throwing yet another tantrum, as that's probably the most that most people will read.
Nice job Steve.

Rhett, I'm about as East Coast as they get and I've never heard of it either. It could be a PA thing tho.

Like it or not, babies throwing tantrums is good press. Look what McEnroe did for tennis in the late 70s.

Plus it appeals to the hordes and hordes and people who have never heard of disc golf but have been tempted to bend a ball golf club over their knee, whack it against a tree, or throw it in a lake.

"Disc golf? It sounds weird, but it sounds like golf!"

One thing, though: I've never heard the term "salad bar" before. Is that an East coast thing?



Also, I don't know anyone who calls ultimate discs "trashcan lids". Maybe "big lids" or "lids", but it's probably a regional thing too.

One thing, though: I've never heard the term "salad bar" before. Is that an East coast thing?


I think it's a Florida thing, I first heard it in Clearwater in '92 and then at the '94 and '95 Worlds, mostly from people hanging around Climo

Great article. It's not everyday you get coverage like that. Much more than just "disc golf is played like golf, but...."

Nice article.

I think the mention of Ricos tantrum is a bad thing. I hate it when people cuss & yell when playing. It's a f'in game & if you didn't suck then that disc wouldn't of done what it just did.
So instead of cuss & yell, grab another disc out of your bag & bang the rim into your head a few times.

On another note: I still think it's up to the casual players to promote the sport, not a newspaper.
I was out practicing putting at a local park & there was a couple people that came up. "Wow, I've never seen this actually played", so I took the time & showed and explained the different discs, let them putt a few, and told them where they could buy discs.
I felt like a car salesmen, but maybe they will actually go out & play?

I still think it's up to the casual players to promote the sport, not a newspaper.

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This is definitely true as far as getting new people involved in the sport but as far as interesting the media and sponsors this sort of coverage is invaluable. Unless it's incredibly negative (which the Times article wasn't) almost any coverage is better than no coverage.

The article was good...I think it conveys a positive image. It's funny but somewhat true about the "invented between classes and bong hits" statement. The sport tends to be popular among college kids and potheads. What is truly helping is EDGE and anyone getting kids involved before they are either.

Overall it is a good article. However I do think Rico gave the reporter fodder for the negative start. Some sort of description of a frustrated facial expression would've been enough to convey the parallels to ball golf. The swearing, kicking a tree and testy exchanges with the gallery can't be looked upon as anything but negative.

We should all take it upon ourselves to be ambassadors of the sport. To control our behavior, to be patient with other unsuspecting park users and to be tolerant and tactful with others whom may be distracting.

If I were in the gallery of a major tournament and it was my first experience with the sport and I witnessed what reportedly happened here I'd be inclined to discourage my children from participating and would probably be likely to oppose my local park's (as in this case Little Lehigh Parkway) consideration of making a course permanent.