Well I’ll start with this, good for him. Seriously, it’s an awesome feat to get paid that much money for doing anything. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy either. Watched his contract announcement video and Paul touched on how he and his family used to live in a Motel 6. His story is a heartfelt against the odds one. Congratulations to the McBeast, an underdog living out the American Dream.
That being said, 10 mil...for throwing...a frisbee. Spot the lie. A frisbee! Paul McBeth is now the face of Disc Golf. I think? As impressive as his 5 world championships probably are, I hope he’s aware that “the face of” a sport has more responsibilities than winning.
I watched Paul’s thirteen minute “Make Moves” contract announcement video. It wasn’t exactly an E60 production. The 10 million dollar man has the charisma of a wet sock. In the clips of the tens of people watching him on the course I saw zero passion. These fans are watching Paul like he’s Tiger on Sunday. No fist pump, no finger guns, no Hulk Hogan ear cupping, no nothing.
It’s not all negative though. I did watch a thirteen minute clip on him which is more attention than I’ve ever given Disc Golf. So spreading the sport so far. Plus I really reeeally liked that he showed up to the disc making warehouse in his hat and golf polo tucked into his pants. His Disc Golf uniform essentially. I love that, always be ready to play. Just in case someone anyone decides to step to him in a warehouse even, slice their fucking head off with a disc if it comes to it.
I think I’ve solved McBeast’s bravado problem. He’s too good of a guy. And what do good guys need? A villain. I want to become the “bad boy” of Disc Golf. And I’ll do it for half of what you’re giving Paul. I haven’t thrown a frisbee in probably ten years but how bad could I be? I’ll show up to the tournaments hungover- frisbee in one hand, cig in the other. I’ll wear obnoxious sunglasses. I’ll blow kisses to their girlfriends as I do my no look trickshots. I’d be an icon. All the while, America’s frisbee sweetheart (Paul), could teach me a lesson by discing circles around me. Everybody wins.
I joke, but the jokes on me. I don’t have 10 million coming my way for doing something I love doing. I probably won’t even sniff 10 mil in my lifetime. The “Make Moves” video’s first six minutes was about baseball. While I thought it didn’t really make any sense spending half your video promoting your love for another sport, I eventually figured out what they were poorly trying to get at. Paul McBeth didn’t make his HS baseball team and it crushed him. But that year he started playing Disc Golf to fill that void and look at him now. So the true message here is find what you’re good at and dominate the shit out of it.