Question to those who like Conference one
Fetch
following question answered. Please feel free to elaborate but most
importantly please DO NOT STEM from the question...actually anyone can
answer this question, just state kind of how you feel about C1 before
you answer.
Why do you play Ultimate?
abe
I suppose that I favor C1 in that it seems beneficial to growing the
sport at the college level, at least to those teams included. It
definitely creates a deeper division between the "elite" programs and
everyone else. It will create a new level of ultimate that currently
does not exist. It may fail, and it may be the wrong approach, but I
like the attempt.
I play ultimate because I like the flow of the game. It's physically
demanding and very strategic in nature. You don't need much to play a
game, other than other people and a disc. It can be tremendously
competitive, and the game forces me to try harder every time I play.
I almost always feel better after playing, though extremely sore, than
before I play. I feel a huge sense of anticipation before playing a
game at any level. (league, college, club, even decent pick-up
games) I love the pressure I feel to perform well and not let my
teammates or myself down. Ultimate is fun to play, not so much to
watch, at least in its current format.
Daag Alemayehu
I like C1 because it's sweet and fuck spirit and I'm going to be on
ESPN baby!! I play ultimate because I like spiking frisbees on
hippies' faces.
Is that the kind of answer you were looking for, Fetch?
Parinella
I'm perhaps surprisingly somewhat in favor of the idea. Not strongly,
and I have reservations about the ability of Cultimate to pull this
off, and of course I wonder what this would do to the UPA, but
thinking of it from a top 25 college player point of view, I'd be
pretty excited.
I play because I like the competition. I love hard, tight games
against good opponents. I also can enjoy recreational ultimate, but I
have a serious distaste for games played in a competitive atmosphere
that have no chance of actually being competitive.
Jim
joad...@ec.rr.com
to WIN!!!!! "YOU PLAY THE GAME TO WIN!!!!"
Wagenwheel
I play ultimate for the same reason I play basketball, tennis, and
golf. I love competition. Ultimate, even at Summer League levels
(which is pretty intense in this town) provides a competitive
release. Pick up hoops at the college on court #1 with the ballers
allows me to compete. Playing golf against low handicappers allows me
to compete. I love competition, especially when they are a the same
or higher level. For this reason I like C-1, they are onto something,
but gots some stuff to work out.
I agree with Parinella. We went to some tourney where we crushed
everyone. While the bulk of our team was celebrating, a fellow
teammate comes over and says, "Big fucking deal". I used to skip
sectionals as a college player because the section was lame and we
knew we could take it with no problems.
Wagenwheel
-I
have a serious distaste for games played in a competitive atmosphere
that have no chance of actually being competitive.-
I call these injury games.
Axl
that I love. I love the quick explosions when breaking away from my
guy, the combination of finesse and power necessary to huck the disc,
watching my teammate run down the inside-out huck I threw to him on
the break side, the quick reaction time of making that last second
layout D, the feeling of chasing a disc down that you thought you
would never catch, the feeling of catching the disc in the end zone
after making my end zone iso cut leaving my guy on the ground, and
getting caught up in the moment working the disc up the field
flawlessly with teammates…everything flowing so smoothly.
At times I hate Ultimate, but I couldn’t imagine my life without it.
It is tough dedicating yourself to getting better; making myself go to
the gym at 10:30pm because I haven’t had time during the day. I live
for the practices, parties, cheers, long car rides, tournaments,
countless pairs of different types of cleats, water, and Gatorade. I
live for way it feels when you beat the team next to you by 1 point in
on double game and realize that those 2 extra sprints you ran in
practice were worth it. I live for the family ties formed with
teammates over my 5 years of playing.
Ultimate is what made me an athlete. When I found Ultimate my freshman
year in high school I ran by lifting my right arm with right leg
(everyone else in history runs using opposite arm and leg motion. It
is Ultimate that drove me into the gym and forced me to push myself at
the 5 practices we had a week. It is the success that I individually
experienced that pushed me even farther.
I am an athlete and that is why I play Ultimate. I am an athlete and
that is why I love Ultimate. I am an athlete and that is why I support
Conference 1.
Ultimate needed someone to take control and start writing history
instead of allowing the blank pages keep turning.
Axl
15
Slamd...@gmail.com
> On Oct 16, 11:23 am, Fetch <discoscalien...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > To the people who are in favor of Conference 1, I would like the
> > following question answered.
>
>
As one of the potential players in Conference 1, I'll try not to go
the Brodie Smith route here by pissing people off, but who knows;
I play ultimate for three main reasons, which tend to overlap. I can't
really prioritize them, but at least I can try to give a decent
outline;
1) Competition -- I'm an athlete. Not necessarily a very good one, I
may have been able to walk on to a 1AA school with a little help from
a higher power, but I like to consider myself an athlete since I
consider Ultimate a sport. I play to win, I play to bust my ass, and I
play to match myself up against the best player on the other team and
give my team the best possible chance to achieve victory. I want to
win Nationals, or the C1 Championship, or whatever the hell is the
highest competition available. C1 offers that. I know there's a lot of
negative press towards the snubs and Cultimate, but I have to admit
that as a competitive person I ABSOLUTELY CANT FRIGGIN WAIT. I do
sympathize with the "div-2" teams as I previously played at a college
that was happy to make 9th at regionals, and I do try to sympathize
with a team like Arizona, which got completely hosed. But, I hope that
somehow a little bit of selfishness is understandable to the guys who
actively want to play in C1.
2) To get better -- I'm an athlete, but I'm not a guy who's up to the
"Playing for the title on Sunday in Sarasota" caliber. I work my ass
off to fix the holes in my game and stay in shape and fight through
the injuries I unnecessarily put my body through. I don't get anything
from playing B-teams and lower tier competition. Is that rude? Yes,
but I'm trying to be honest. In order for me to get better, C1
presents the best opportunity. If C1 is implemented I know that my
team will immediately begin working harder, gelling as a team, and
pushing ourselves. With the current UPA format there's barely any
games before Sunday at regionals that are really taxing. You get maybe
2-3 games per tournament as an elite level team that are absolute
dogfights, with the exception being Centex. 34 games against the
highest level competition? Hell yes.
3) To have fun -- Here's where hopefully I can be apologetic enough
not to be an asshole. I started out playing ultimate not having great
spirit. I made some bad calls, pissed people off, etc. But I realized
I wasn't maximizing the amount of fun I could have. Long story short I
rarely make bad calls anymore, and I actively try to talk about calls
I've made and take back calls where the other guys conviction
outweighs mine. I don't look at C1 as an opportunity to cheat on refs,
or to play 34 games with some crazy aggro attitude. I look at it as
fun to play these elite games and to get better. I go to pickup and
summer/winter league to joke around and throw swill, but I play for my
college team to win with a positive attitude. I'd rather lose in
quarters with a spirit score like Arizona's than make it to the finals
getting booed (heckles are still ok).
I don't know if I agree yet with everything C1 is about, but I can't
deny that I really want to play this kind of schedule. I think
Cultimate needs to step forward and unveil their plan for further
seasons, as I can't deny having the same 25-30 teams playing for the
title year in/year out is fair. Perhaps the UPA should accept C1 as
the championship, and move sectionals/regionals to the late fall for
those qualifying for C1? Also I think there should be universal number
of teams per division, so add in Arizona to the Southwest, and
Dartmouth and Arkansas and UCF.
Fetch, I think it's unfair you asked "Why do you play ulty?" to those
who may be playing in C1. Why do you play for Revolver? Why do you
guys bust your ass to beat Jam and Furious, etc? You sure don't do it
so that some kid on YR or THBC can get better. You do it because you
want to win while having fun and competing at the highest possible
level.
I truly do apologize to the players getting snubbed and disillusioned
with Cultimate. I'll be the first to admit they could have done an
incredibly better job stating their goals and ambitions for the
college game. And kudos to Georgia for opting out; their reasons are
solid and they made a decision I don't know I could have. But if 20
teams opt into C1, and Jojah is more the exception, I find it hard not
to be excited for C1. I hope that as most of the ultimate community
sympathizes with the little guy, that everyone also sees that we, as
the potential C1 players, have an incredibly hard decision as well.
p.s. quit the bullshit directed at Cyle, don't know him but I'm sure
that guy will be hurting for a long time, and I'm sure he deserves it.
We get it, he gambled, he lost. In no way did this personally affect
you, and its up the Florida guys to have dealt with what happened. Say
something constructive. We can burn him at the stake after he doesn't
learn from his error.
Fetch
the bigger picture. I think we all play for reasons which are
legitimate, and I am asking everyone- it's not just a question to C1
fans even though the title might indicate so. It is perfectly OK to
ask someone why they play a sport though and to ask a population that
likely is in favor of more competition as to why they play a sport is
even all the more reason to ask the question. To compete in a sport
is a valid answer so why is it bad to ask them why you play a sport?
There is no denying that competition is fun, that is why I play - I
like the challenges that Ultimate can bring to a team and to varying
degree challenges that are faced individually. The most fun games are
the ones when the outcome is uncertain. I love the health aspect, and
the lifetime fitness plan as well as the friendships and team dynamic.
I guess the next question should really be, can C1 provide you with
these needs better than the UPA?
At the moment I think the answer is no-unless I got 6 plane tickets
for free then I would consider it all over again. I like the idea of
it (maybe) however if you think that Ultimate is wrong the way it is
then why did you, me, and others all join the sport? It is unique and
yes if we all got paid to play it would likely be played at a higher
level. I am still undecided at the moment as to favor or not favor C1
but I do know it has me going back and forth.
I do like what Paranella said above about atmosphere and level of
play.
Fetch
CBrowning
Easily one of the most unintentionally hilarious posts I have ever
read! I am imagining a re-inactment of the scene at the end of "The
Breakfast Club" where the nerd kid gives himself a "you done good
sport" punch on the arm after he finishes writing his "You can see us
as you want to see us" essay. Priceless!
faddy
to win, of course.....mostly.
they got the right idea (CU), just some mis-execution in the early
stages, perhaps.
toadstradamus saw this coming.
i'd say.
Douglas T Lilley
I think it's a great question and appreciate your asking it. I've
done the aging disc player cycle (pickup/college/club/league/pick up)
and I play for these reasons in this order
the people
excercise
competition
some vague feeling of self satisfaction if I play well
I have my doubts about C1. If this ends up causing a more or less
permanent split between the alleged top 25 and all the rest they will
have done the game a big diservice. Also, re: the complaints that the
good teams don't get to play any real competition until sectionals or
regionals, whose fault is that? It's somewhat lame to say that you
are incapable of scheduling competitive games during the season. If
you really want nonstop competition, join a club team in the (college)
off season.
Fish
that's two for this guy in as many days. a new rsd superstar without
even knowing it?
mbma...@gmail.com
1) I'm glad I just graduated and don't have to make this decision
2) I'm glad the boys left behind weren't picked in this "elite" group
and don't have to make this decision.
It's a good time for all of us on the outside, pontificating and
theorizing--outside of a few recurring themes in discussion, though, I
don't see most of the RSD chatter leading to much. Idle hands and all
that.
That said, at a simple level, why I play ultimate:
1) I love to learn
2) I love to teach
Really, any of you that like busting ass, getting better, and feeling
success (I count myself part of said group), are just getting the
positive feedback that comes from learning. It's a great thing to
make the big play--because it lets you know that all this time you've
spent obsessed with a silly game (and all sports are silly games, in
the end*) has led to some tangible result. I can understand
associating your good feelings relating to this game with your
results--your struggles and successes on the field, but really, it's
the process that leads to it that enables the result to feel so good.
So, I enjoy the process. I enjoy the learning, making progress as a
player and a person, and it's great to get feedback that reaffirms
that process.
Likewise, I really enjoy helping other people experience the same
thing. This is why I compete. I test my learning against your
learning, and in so doing, we both get to learn even more.
Competition's a beautiful thing. This is also why I teach. (this is
why I blog).
Big pluses come from the community and camaraderie that comes with
playing, of course--especially in college--but, for me, I'd happily
toil in relative obscurity and take what comes for better or worse
(and I happily do currently).
-Mackey
Formerly #33, Dartmouth
(disclaimer: this message written by a hippie who plays in a skirt)
*go Sox.
pooner
abe said:
"I play ultimate because I like the flow of the game. It's
physically
demanding and very strategic in nature. You don't need much to play
a
game, other than other people and a disc. It can be tremendously
competitive, and the game forces me to try harder every time I play.
I almost always feel better after playing, though extremely sore,
than
before I play. I feel a huge sense of anticipation before playing a
game at any level. (league, college, club, even decent pick-up
games) I love the pressure I feel to perform well and not let my
teammates or myself down. Ultimate is fun to play, not so much to
watch, at least in its current format."
Wagenwheel said:
"I play ultimate for the same reason I play basketball, tennis, and
golf. I love competition. Ultimate, even at Summer League levels
(which is pretty intense in this town) provides a competitive
release. Pick up hoops at the college on court #1 with the ballers
allows me to compete. Playing golf against low handicappers allows
me
to compete. I love competition, especially when they are a the same
or higher level."
Axl said:
"I play Ultimate because it includes so many aspects of other sports
that I love. I love the quick explosions when breaking away from my
guy, the combination of finesse and power necessary to huck the disc,
watching my teammate run down the inside-out huck I threw to him on
the break side, the quick reaction time of making that last second
layout D, the feeling of chasing a disc down that you thought you
would never catch, the feeling of catching the disc in the end zone
after making my end zone iso cut leaving my guy on the ground, and
getting caught up in the moment working the disc up the field
flawlessly with teammates…everything flowing so smoothly."
I say:
I play ultimate for these reasons as well as other crazy fun times
associated with the social scene, but the latter reason is not exactly
on the table right now. The big difference here is in outlooks: when
i feel a good thing, ie the competitiveness and anticipation and
excitement, i wanna share it (aww), not justify it. When you're
through with college, even if/when you're through with club, more and
more players feel this way, and also wanna share the rainbows, even if
they are win-fucking-win-win-win rainbows, of ultimate. Not just with
spectators, as most agree it's more heckler friendly than spectator
friendly, but with other players. Hence the coaching, unpaid td's and
coordinators, even writing a handbook, etc..
This was already hinted at, but it's difficult to say who is being
selfish when 10% "elite" wanna take off and expect the other 90%
"rabble" to be fine with it. Really, I'm asking sincerely: Who is
being selfish here? Should the 90% say, hey, you guys that think
you're so hot and have been in the past, go represent, we'll be here
playing stickball? Or should the 10% say, look, some more patience is
in order, there's a lot of factors that make a sport "legitimate" and
"popular," let's get our kicks where we can get them, teach the next
generation the same, and enjoy what we've got?
But, in sooth, boo cultimate. The best you can say about them is they
brought an issue that was coming to light anyways to the clear and
present. But there should be competitiveness on the field, not in the
administration. Yay for capitalism and all, but we're all buying the
same product! If you don't like the product, experiment with the
rules and refs and do yer thing on the side till that gets more
popular. It's as if Toad invaded the UPA and started force feeding
his ideas around somehow; these guys didn't even bother running for
the board.
pooner
16
BJ
UR SO GOOD AT EVERYTHING!!!