Spirit of the Game and the Observer

Observers, in orange shirts, watch the action during the women's championship game.



Last weekend, the 2013 College Championships were an example of how much the game of Ultimate has evolved over the years. Based on a concept known as Spirit of the Game, Ultimate has traditionally been controlled by the players. However the College Championships saw the use of observers - who were basically referees -  at games. The question is whether or not these observers and other changes hurt the game?


According to the USA Ultimate website Spirit of the Game places the responsibility of sportsmanship and fair play solely on the players. It encourages competitive play at a high level, but not if it sacrifices the values of sportsmanship or respect for the other players.

For over 30 years Ultimate has thrived and grown without referees, but for the game to continue to grow referees may be a necessary evil. At the College Championships the observers assisted on foul calls, turns, touchdowns and helped facilitate the flow of the game. However, USA Ultimate refrained from calling them referees, and referred to them only as observers.

Some believe the addition of referees as well as other changes comes at a price to the game.  After winning the championship game Oregon's coach said that as the game has grown it has taken some of the ownership away from the players.

"I think we are giving something up to get something," he said. "I'm not sure we have thought through what we're going to give up. It's cool to feel more legitimate, to have ESPN here,and have it feel more real. But we've been a player controlled sport forever and I think we'll have to give that up to be big time.

"That was one of the great joys for me. I don't know it'll be different"

I disagree however, and believe that even though the game is changing its core values will remain. Spirit of the Game is not based only on player control, but it also focuses on showing respect, fair play and sportsmanship. Even with the refs, it will still be up the players to display these values.

One key value is to treat others as you want to be treated. It's also about how players handle themselves under pressure and control their emotions. Hard fouls and disagreements will happen with or without officiating and it is up to the players to take a step back and gather their feelings before reacting.
Doing the right thing on the field and praising team mates as well as opponents are also important values. Just because the game is changing doesn't mean players should stop making the right decisions. Players shouldn't need a ref to tell them they're out, or to praise a player who is willing to make a call against himself.

Most importantly the refs don't stop players from having fun

Referees are a part of every sport, and they may not be popular in Ultimate. However, as long as its core values are upheld then the Spirit of the Game will survive in the players.

Please comment with any thoughts on the changing landscape of Ultimate.

Pittsburgh-Oregon semifinal match

Images from the semifinal match between Oregon Ego and Pittsburgh En Sabah Nur. Defending champions Pitt won the match to advance to the finals and earn a shot at becoming back to back College Champions.

   

En Sabah Nur celebrated the game winning point against Oregon.

 OrEGOn

A Pitt player looks to advance the disc.

Womens Championship

Images from the Women's College Championship between Oregon and Carleton College. After A dominant performance against British Columbia the Oregon Fugue advanced to the semifinals where they faced Iowa in a hard fought match. Yet a late run from Oregon helped the women pull off the 15-11 win.

In the finals the Fugue went against Carleton in the finals. After falling behind 3-1 Oregon called a timeout, and returned to the game more determined. The fought back to take an 8-5 lead at halftime. The second half was more of the same, and while Carleton pulled to with 9-8 the Oregon fast paced offense proved to be too much to handle.

From there Oregon scored six straight points to claim the title with a 15-8 victory.

Congrats College Champs

The women of the Oregon Fugue played their style and kept the game dirty in the second half against Carleton College to win the Womens 2013 College Championship.

 Syzygy of Carleton pulled away 3-1 early, but after a timeout and some long hard fought points Oregon had turned the match in its favor. Their coach credited a layout D for being the spark that really helped his team get it going.

For the Fugue that means a dirty style of play that seemed fitting considering the weather on Monday in Madison.  Carleton managed to cut it to 9-8 but Oregon responded and ended the game on a 6-0 run for the win.

Defending champions Pitt are now back to back winners at the 2012 and 2013 College Championships. It wasn't easy though as they held off a Central Florida team going for its first title in just is 2nd year in the tournament.  Pitt got the 15-8 victory to tame the Dogs of War.

Mick vaught.

Photos and video from the women's game are still to come.

More College Championships Fun

For Central Florida their second trip to the college championships will last one more day as the War Dogs pulled off the upset on Sunday with an easy 15-8 victory over the more experienced Carleton college team. UCF made their first ever championships in 2012 and finished 5th. This season has been a different story with the Dogs going 3-1 through the first two days.

The Dogs coach said it probably isn't going to sink in until tonight. He said he is proud of how a team known for being jokesters has transformed into a competitive group because they believe in their ability.

On Monday they'll play for the title, but they'll have to get by the defending champs in Pitt first. Pittsburgh began the day 3-1 and showed no signs of slowing down as it faced
Oregon in the semis.

The two battled and were 8-7 at halftime. However in the second half Pitt began to pull away as it quickly moved ahead with an 11-9 lead. Pitt came away with 14-11 win and a shot at back to back titles.

In the Womens division Oregon outlasted Iowa 15-11 in game one. Tied at 9-9 in the second Oregon went on a 6-2 run. It'll face the Carleton college women on Monday for the title.

Carleton and the OSU Fever went back and forth early in their semifinal match.  They were tied 8-8 after the break. However,  a  late run gave Carleton the edge it needed to pull off the win.

Both finals will be Monday in Madison Wisc.

UCF DOGS OF WAR. Moving onto the finals. For the first time. 

2013 College Championship action

 The semifinals are set for the open and womens division of the 2013 college championships. After the early morning Sunday matches Oregon and Carleton College remain as the only undefeated teams.  CUT defeated UNC Wilmington 15-12 and will battle central Florida, which beat Dartmouth 14-12 in what was a close match throughout. Oregon and Pitt. face off in the other semifinal match. The Ducks beat UC Davis easily to advance, but the surprise of the day was Pitt's upset of UNC Darkside. 

The CUT and Oregon women are also the teams to watch in their division.  

 An Oregon player tosses a touchdown i  the second half against Davis.

A second half touchdown for Oregon.

 Dartmouth hauls in a score, but it wasnt enough late against UCF.

A Darkside touchdown try sails just past the receiver.

Nate Robinson steals the Bulls from DRose

Anyone watching the wild Chicago Bulls game yesterday saw one of the greatest performances in playoff history from Nate Robinson and the Bulls. It was edge of your seat excitement, but long after the game had ended a thought came to mind. That could've been Derrick Rose. It could've been his moment. However, as Nate's legend grows the memory of Rose seems to shrink.

The announcer's were comparing Nate's 4th quarter heroics to those of Michael Jordan. At one point during the excitement they even called for a statue of Nate to be set out front the United Center next to the one of MJ. That won't happen because that spot is reserved for Rose.

Fans have long believed Rose to be the one who would return the Bulls to their former glory. Yet on Saturday, Nate was the guy with the ball in his hands single handily bringing the Bulls back from certain defeat, his team down 14 and with less than three minutes remaining in Game 4 of the round one playoff match up with the Nets.

Now the Bulls lead the series 3-1 without Rose. He sits on bench, cleared to play, but still unable or unwilling to take the floor. All the while his teammates pull out win after win with gutsy tooth and nail performances. Each player; from Kirk Hinrich to Carlos Boozer is playing like each game could be their last.

And watching Joakim Noah gut it out through an injury just makes one wonder. Why Derrick, why? Noah played 38 minutes last night, fighting through pain in his foot caused by plantar fasciitis. He was only supposed to play 25. He made big shots, and despite fouling out helped lead the team.

It's hard for any Bulls fan to see a game with Rose on the bench, but what's worse is wondering when he'll come back. Rose has said he'll return when he is ready, but fans have been left guessing when that will be. The problem for the star point guard is that he left the door open for a return. So, Bulls fans have to hope it'll be sooner than later, and that's the hardest part.

When he comes back, the fans will welcome him with open arms as they should. Rose is making the smart decision by not coming back until he feels ready. Still, Robinson's performance on Saturday was enough to almost make fans forget about the MVP point guard sitting at the end of the bench in a suit. For now at least, the team belongs the Mr. Excitement. Nate Robinson.

Feel free to comment, and follow my blog.

Pounding their way into Regionals

Every point was well-earned on Saturday against Drake as Pound fought their way to a 15-13 win.

 

The men of Luther College B, also known as Pound, ended a cold Saturday on the University of Northern Iowa campus with a 2-1  record and the No. 2 seed at the upcoming North Central Regional.

Playing in the West Plains D-III Conference Championships Pound had to battle in their opening game against Drake. In the face of freezing temperatures and strong winds it was going to take a methodical effort from Pound on offense and defense.

After a back and forth game they came away with the 15-13 win and faced Loras next. Loras had lost 13-3 to Grinnell in its first game of the day.

This time Pound's patience and style paid off in a big way as they worked there way out to a 7-2 lead at halftime. A Loras rally to start the second half made it 7-4, but a leaping catch in the endzone got Pound there first point of the half, and started a 3-1 rally for Luther which pushed the lead to 10-5.

Luther never let Loras get any closer than three points after that as it claimed the 13-8 win to secure a spot at Regionals. Up next was a tough Grinnell squad with the No. 1 seed on the line.

Grinnell's cup defense seemed to frustrate Pound from the start, but they kept fighting. However the staunch D and a big strike ability allowed Grinnell to take a 7-4 lead at the break.

According to Pound's TreeBeard there is no love loss between these two squads with vastly different styles. Grinnell looks for the huck on almost every turn, but Pound likes to wear the defense down and work it's way up the field.

Unfortunately in Saturday's final game Grinnell took the 11-8 win in a hard fought and loud match. The two sides were trying to one up on and off the field with chants rallying there team.

NLS will continue to follow Pound throughout the college post-season. More pictures from this weekend's action will also be posted later.

USA National Team set

USA Ultimate announced the 20-person roster for the national team to play at the 2013 World Games. Scheduled for July 25- Aug. 4 the Games feature teams representing Australia, Canada, Japan, Colombia, Great Britain and the US.

With more than 500 elite players from across the country trying out for the team there were a lot of good competitors to choose from. The 20 players chosen will have the opportunity to defend USA's gold medal won at 2009 Games played in Germany.

Eventually the current group will be cut down to 13 players for the final roster to head to Colombia this summer.

Selected for this year's squad were men and women from some of the best club teams in the country including Ring of Fire, Revolver, Showdown and Fury. Revolver had four men selected, and Fury had three women selected to the national team.

The first practice will be May 11 in Boston where they'll play a group of local all-stars. Follow NLS for more reports on the USA Ultimate national team.

A new disc, and putting advice.

Start of a hole at Camden 1

My second week on the disc golf course went a little smoother, and most of that can be attributed the new driver I purchased for today's round. The Roadrunner disc gave me more distance and better stability than the Viper had in a long time.

Roadrunner is a lighter disc and the difference was apparent almost immediately. It felt smoother coming out of my hand as I had better control over where I wanted it to go. Other discs offered more distance, but the trade off is in accuracy as the lightest discs are hardest to control. So, for a beginner Roadrunner is a safe choice.

Overall for the day I believe I played much better compared to last week. It was a doubles random draw event, and luckily I was paired with a three-year pro who carried our group. In the event, we played the best throw so we played his tosses most of the time. I just tried to do my best.

He was happy to help, and I did what I could from short range and on putting. The short game can be my savior for now. I'm able to layup close to the hole, and my partner let me take most of the putts so I could get the practice. I wasn't off by much, but it still could be better.

To work on putting I was told just to aim straight for the chains above the basket, and not to aim for the basket. He said the chains are there to help catch the disc, so let them do the job.

For the day we did manage to win our five buck buy in back so that was a plus. It was a lot of fun too, and I recommend disc gold anyone looking for a good time or a new activity.

I return to disc golf, and find more trees

After not playing disc golf since college, today was my first chance to get back on the course. It was a great learning experience even though I didn't play nearly as well as I would've liked.

I was in a group with probably one of the best players in the quad cities, and watching him play was a treat. Not only did he display incredible accuracy, but he made all of his throws look easy.

More often than not I found myself watching in awe as he curved the disc and made throws that left it within feet of the hole. I soaked up every bit of advice he gave me, and appreciated the opportunity to learn from the people I was with.

In just three hours I learned more about the game than I had in a whole semester of playing at WIU.  Everyone in the group helped correct my obvious mistakes, and offered me pointers when I was struggling.

 

The course, Camden 1, in Milan, IL was also the toughest I had ever player on. Most of the baskets were in the woods and hidden by trees. After today, playing at Western would be a breeze because on this course even my good throws seemed to find a tree to hit. 

One of the best tips I got was to play for the center of the hole. At first I was trying to make the same throws as the others in my group, when I should have been trying to make the safe and easy throw. Going for a throw that your not ready for is a good way to good into trouble, so for me today was all about playing smarter.

I'll definitely be out there again next week, and plan on adding to my arsenal of one disc. I've had my "Viper" since college, but it's time to invest in a putter and a new disc that isn't scarred from playing the last hole at WIU's course.

Wish me luck, and next week I'll describe some of the holes.  The photo above was taken by me at Western.

Wish I could be there, Ultimate invades Chi-Town

Another week is in the books for the Ultimate College Division but there was little movement in the D-I open   or women's rankings.

The top teams remained unchanged as Wisconsin and Oregon held on to the No. 1 spots for the second week in there respective divisions.

This weekend going to be a big one for college Ultimate with more than 50 teams descending on Chicago for the Chicago Invite.

Teams competing in the Invite include Northwestern Ultimate, Western Illinois Mass Hysteria, Iowa and Purdue. This is one tournament I'd love to be a part of not just as a player, but also as a fan.

For this tournament to coincide with the start of March Madness seems fitting as there is going to be madness at the Dan Ryan Woods.

I have participated in a few tournaments, but nothing of the size and scope of the Chicago Invite. There is bound to be lots of excitement with big layouts, surprising upsets and close games throughout the entire weekend-long tournament.

Ultimate action isn't limited to the Midwest however. Tournaments will be underway across the country including the Spring SHOWdown, the Heart of Texas Huckfest and the Firedogs Spring Invite. I'll do my best to keep track of as many of these as I can.

This weekend is sure to shake up the standings as we're another week closer to the Championships.

USA Ultimate, ESPN team up

As of yesterday, Ultimate has finally made it to the big time.

Ultimate Frisbee had rarely gotten the media attention it deserves as a growing sport at the high school, college and professional level. However, that's about to change with the announcement of a multi-year deal between USA Ultimate and ESPN.

On Tuesday, USA Ultimate reported that they had reached an agreement with ESPN in which the network will carry Ultimates major tournaments such as the College Championships, the inaugural Triple Crown Tour and the National Championships.

The agreement states that ESPN will provide coverage of Ultimate on ESPN3 as well as on ESPNU.  

Overall, 23 games from each division and across all three tournaments will be streamed live on ESPN3. Also, tape delayed programs of the College Championships will be aired on ESPNU.

USA Ultimates Chief Executive Officer Tom Crawford said teaming up with ESPN puts the sport in a great position, and he said he is excited to be working with ESPN.

Todd Myers, ESPN's director of programming and acquisitions stated that by delivering Ultimate to fans and viewers across the nation they're giving exposure to a sport and events which feature the highest level of competition in Ultimate.

I couldn't agree more. As a fan this is exactly what I have been hoping for because I won't have to wait for results or search YouTube for videos anymore. My friends and I will finally be able to watch our favorite teams compete whether it's in the college or club series. Who knows maybe I'll even see my friend on the Luther College team, a strong competitor in the D-1 open and women's division, play on TV. 

While I always hoped I could never have imagined that ESPN would pick up the sport, and in doing so they have proven just how much it has grown over the years. This news is exciting for players and fans who want to see their sport continue to grow. 

No Ultimate, try disc golf

As the weather finally starts to warm up and the ground recovers from the recent snow storms there will be more chances for Ultimate players to return to the field. However, for those still struggling to find a game in their area disc golf is a good way to get back into the swing of things.

Disc golf has grown tremendously over the years with courses popping up across the country. However, if not for some dedicated players back in the 1960s and 70s the sport may never have taken off.

According the Professional Disc Golf Association it is difficult to trace the exact origins of the sport because at first it was only played locally. However, in 1965 George Sappenfeld, a recreation counselor, believed kids could play golf with discs, and he contacted Wham-O hoping they could help make his idea a reality and in the years that followed the sport took flight.

Despite the initial efforts of the counselor disc golf was ignored by Wham-O, but it didn't stay that way for long. In 1974 a group of players from Rochester, NY decided to turn their local City of Rochester Disc Golf Championship into a national tournament in an effort to test the widespread appeal of the sport.

By 1975 disc golf had seen explosive growth and thanks to Dan Roddick, the winner of that 1974 tournament, it was included in the 1975 World Frisbee Championships.

In the years that followed national and international tournaments for professionals and amateur golfers have been created. And one doesn't need to look far for a course in their area.

I played disc golf for the first time at WIU on a course on campus. While playing with a friend I struggled to get used to throwing a disc that was smaller and heavier than I was used to.

Overtime though I got the hang of it, and stuck with my one disc. Other players carry bags full of different types of discs from distance drivers to putters. The drivers are meant for long distance, but are difficult to control. I have always used a fairway driver because it allows me to get the distance I want while still remaining accurate to some degree. The putters are the most accurate and meant for short range shots near the hole.

I hope to begin playing again this spring, and meet people on the course. With me will be my trusty Innova Viper disc. It's beat to hell, but it hasn't done me wrong yet.

Oregon dives ahead in college rankings

Thanks to an impressive performance last weekend at the Stanford Invite, Oregon Ultimate jumped up 21 spots to become the new No. 2 in the D-I open division college rankings. Oregon finished the tournament with a 6-1 record with its only loss coming against Carleton College. They avenged that loss in the finals for the 15-11 victory and the title.

Now Oregon is only 10 points behind reigning No. 1 Wisconsin who struggled to a 5th place finish at the Standford Invite.

Even with the loss in the finals Carleton College's second place finish helped it to bust into the top 5 as it improved six spots from last week. The Tufts Men's team also had a strong weekend. After a fourth place finish at Stanford it finds its self in the No. 6 spot.

Minnesota, Texas and North Carolina are just a few of the teams to see their stocks fall after last weekend. Texas took the biggest hit among top 10 teams as it dropped six places and is narrowly holding on to No. 10 ahead of Florida.

Not to be out done the Oregon women went undefeated at the Stanford Invite and are now the new No. 1 in the D-1 women's division. Iowa is the new No. 2, and Ohio State jumped ahead 14 spots to be the surprise team in the women's top five.

Wisconsin's women made the biggest jump however as it improved to No. 8 this week. Last week this team was out of the top 25, and after losing to Oregon in the Stanford Invite finals Wisconsin saw its stock rise as it improved 18 spots from a week ago.

Rankings are courtesy of USA Ultimate.org

College weekend results

A quick look at results from last week in the college division.

Missouri took home the championship at Huck Fin XVII. Beating Kansas 11-2 to take home the title.

The tournament to watch this weekend was Stanford Invite 2013 as it featured some of the top teams in the country including No. 1 Wisconsin. In what may be the surprise of the weekend No. 23 Oregon pulled off the championship victory with an upset over No. 11 Carleton College.

In other college action Queens-Kingston won ACIII Session 1, the Oregon women won the womens Stanford Invite and the Ohio State women won the Music City Mash Up.

Check NLS on Wednesday for updated national rankings, further results and the upcoming college schedule.

U23 Teams Announced

The U-23 World Ultimate Championships takes place from July 22-28 in Toronto, Canada this year and recently the US U-23 teams for the mixed, open and women's division were announced. Each squad features the best players from the club and college ranks.

According to USA Ultimate more than 500 men and women sent in applications, and among them 96 men and 88 women were selected to attend tryouts.

For the open division squad three players from No. 1 ranked Wisconsin were selected. They will compete alongside players from schools including Oregon, Minnesota and Colorado. Four players from Ring of Fire, a club out of Raleigh, N.C., are also featured on the U-23 open team.

The womens team features players from across the college ranks including a pair from North Carolina, Ohio State and Washington respectively. They'll also be joined by a variety of players from club teams across the country.

USA Ultimate will compete for the first time at the WFDF U-23 championships.

Keep coming back to NLS for updates for club, college and international Ultimate.

Saturday excitement.

Saturday is in the books for another weekend of college Ultimate play. In the Huck Finn XVII tournament teams from Washington University, Northern Iowa, Kansas and Kansas State are all undefeated in pool play headed into Sunday.

Luther College went 4-1 on the day with their only loss coming against Washington. However, Illinois didn't do as well with there A team going 2-3 and the B team going winless in four matches. NUT's struggles also continued with them finishing the day at 1-3 in Pool play.

The tournament to watch this weekend, the Stanford Invite 2013, featured the top 3 teams in D-I Open Division.

Wisconsin proved why they're ranked No. 1 after going 2-1 in pool play. UNC Darkside also went 2-1, but Arizona Sunburn struggled to a 1-2 finish on Saturday. A surprise on the day may be the No. 11 ranked team from Carleton College who finished 3-0 in Pool A. No. 4 Texas also had a tough Saturday as it went 0-3.

In the women's division at the Stanford Invite No. 2 Oregon went 3-0, and No. 3 Washington finished 2-0 on Saturday.

No. 6 Florida State is undefeated so far in the Tally Classic Division I tournament.

If things continue the way they have been going there could be a shift in the rankings in both the womens and open division.

College Ultimate heating up

 With the Conference Championships a little over a month away another weekend of play in the college Ultimate season is well underway for teams across the country.

Rankings released on March 6 had the Wisconsin Hodags (9-0), of UW-Madison, out front in the D-I Open Division. Not far behind are a pair of undefeated teams in the UNC Darkside  (13-0) and SunBurn Ultimate, of Arizona, (15-0). All three teams are in action this weekend in the Stanford Invite 2013 for what could be a battle for the No. 1 spot.

Rounding out the Top 5 are the Texas and Minnesota teams at (7-2) and (8-1) respectively.

Junk Ultimate from UChicago is the highest ranked Illinois team in the Open Division coming in all the way at No. 102. NUT is not far behind at 117, and will be in action this weekend at Huck Finn XVII. Joining NUT are the U of I team and the group from Luther College.

In D-III teams from Puget Sound, Kenyon and St. Johns hold the top three.

In the women's division D-I it's the team out of British Columbia holding the No. 1 spot. With an 8-1 record they're ahead of Oregon (12-1) and Washington at 5-2 so far on the season. California-Santa Barbara and Carleton College finish out the top 5.

The Northwestern women are fairing much better than the men at this point. With 7-7 record on the season GungHo is ranked 41st. Last week they finished 5-2 during the Midwest Throwdown.

Whitman, Valpo and Georgia College are the top three teams in D-III in the women's division. The Luther women are ranked at No. 29 in D-III, but are not in action this weekend.

NLS will continue to follow College standings leading up to and throughout the Ultimate postseason. Check back for more.

Championship Sunday in College Ultimate

The Cat Fight 2013 tournament drew to a close on Sunday with Northwestern Ultimate battling it out for the championship against schools from across the country.

After going 3-1 on Saturday NUT had to face Valpoaraiso in an early match up before they could advance. Valpo put up little resistance as Northwestern made quick work of their opponents with a
13-1 win. In the next round they faced a much tougher challenge in the squad from Indiana. Unfortunately for Northwestern its chance for a title ended early in a loss to IU. 

However, NUT redeemed themselves in the consolation rounds. Against Eastern Illinois they pulled off the 9-6 win to face North-Carolina Ashville for 5th place. That may have been the toughest game of the day for Northwestern as they came away with a close 13-10 victory and head back to Evanston with 5th place in hand.

College tournaments continue next week with the season building towards the conference and divisional championships in April. Western Illinois' Mass Hysteria, my former team from when I attended WIU, is participating in the Midwest Throwdown on March 2-3 in St. Louis, Mo.

Check back at NLS for results from Mass Hysteria and more college updates.

As Saturday came to a close college Ultimate teams across the county were either on their home or resting up for Sunday.

The Northwestern  mens club started the Cat Fight 2013 tournament in Lexington, Ky. with a 3-1 record on Saturday in Pool B. Convincing wins over Oberlin, Drexel and Dayton's B team got the team rolling, but a loss in the day's final game against Kenyon hurty NUT heading into the championship Sunday.

If they come away with a victory against Valpo in the first game of the day then Northwestern faces Indiana.

Drexel finished the first day 1-3 with its only win coming against 0-4 Dayton B. On Sunday the Dragons are playing for a shot at 13th.

Unfortunately for my friends at Luther College the Free State Classic in Kansas was cancelled because of the winter storm the blanketed the midwest on Thursday and Friday.

Looks like they'll have to wait a little longer to get back into the action.

Check back tomorrow for the final results

From legend to rookie: Travis Pastrana rides into NASCA

A legend in extreme sports, Travis Pastrana has done it all. The man known for his gravity defying tricks has pushed the boundaries time and time again. Yet for a competitor like Pastrana being the best is never enough, and with the action sports world at his feet Pastrana is eyeing his latest challenge.

In a career highlighted by stunts such as his new years eve rally car jump over a river and the first ever double-backflip on a dirtbike during the 2007 X-Games Freestyle. Pastrana's latest career move seems tame by comparison.

The high flyer has decided to take on the world of NASCAR, and if his past is any indication then it won't be long until Pastrana is winning on the oval as well.

His first attempts at stock car racing saw the driver do something he hasn't done much of in his career and that's struggle. Injuries he suffered during the X-Games kept him out of the car in 2011, and while driving the No. 99 for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012 he failed to crack the top 10 in the Nationwide Series.

Towards the end of 2012 he signed with Roush Fenway Racing, and this year he has a full time spot in Nationwide with RFR driving the No. 60 car.

While he is new to the sport, anyone who has watched Pastrana in the past knows the kind of competitor he is. Pastrana has attacked every jump and event with a desire to win that's unmatched among his competitors.

That's why I believe that the X-Games gold medalist, and rally car champion can win in NASCAR. It's only a matter of time.

Got any GUTS

So this is new.

I just heard of an Ultimate Frisbee game called "guts."  I don't know much about it, and hadn't heard of it until this week. What I do know is that it's a game where pain and suffering are just an accepted part of it.

Apparently the game is the frisbee version of dodgeball. Two teams lineup across from each other, with one team throwing it as hard as they can at the other. The receiving team must catch the disc with one hand to score a point. If the don't then the other team scores.

This may seem easy, but with little time to react to the disc, catching is no easy task. Also, from what I'm told, the game is known for causing bruises on those who aren't fast enough to catch it or get out of the way.

I am anxious to give the game a chance, but something in the back of my head tells me that this is a terrible idea.

However, it may just be one of those ideas that is so bad I have to try it. At least once.

If anyone reading has heard of or played Guts please comment, and tell me what it's like. I want know.

Last weekend saw the continuation of the College Ultimate season with tournaments across the country.

Winners include the Illinois women and LSU in the open division at Mardi Gras XXVI. Iowa State and North Carolina also won their respective divisions at the Queen City Tune-Up.

It looks like my pals at Luther College are gearing up for the Free State Classic in Kansas on February 22-23. Other Illinois teams will also be participating in the same tournament.

Also, a shout out too NUT (Northwestern University men's Ultimate team) who according to their page made Valpo look plain silly earlier this season. They'll also be in action on the 22nd at the Cat Fight 2013 Tournament.

I'll be following Luther and NUT closely as I have a friend on Norse and had the opportunity to play with some members of NUT last summer.

Good Luck

Snow, rain and Ultimate Frisbee

It was wet, raining, snow covered everything and for all intents and purposes it was a miserable day outside on Sunday. And still there was Ultimate Frisbee being played.

The Evanston Ultimate Club plays year round and was determined to keep playing through the Chicago area winter weather. The field was a messy combination of snow, ice and slush, but all that didn't stop them. 

So, when I visited this past weekend I wasn't too surprised to hear they were playing, and I jumped at the opportunity to join in. I'm glad I did too, playing in weather like that is a reminder of why I enjoy the sport so much. It was a great learning experience, but it definitely wasn't easy.

With the rain and snow everything was a challenge. The conditions forced us to focus on the fundamentals of throwing, catching and cutting. I tried going deep at first, but it became clear that the game was going to be based less on speed and athleticism and more on experience and patience.

It was a challenge at first, but past experience and all those hours spent at practices got put to good use. Eventually things came together for me, and the team I was on.

We became more patient, and looked for the easy throws. Despite a slower pace we were able to keep the disc moving forward, and the defense on its heals.

Even though the slippery ground provided a challenge, it was also fun to play on. Sliding became a part of the game, and it was just something that we accepted as the game went on.

It sure wasn't ideal, but I'd do it again in a second. It was a great reminder of how important all the little things are in a game that can look easy when it's nice out.

College Ultimate

With college teams preparing for the spring Ultimate season I will be watching closely and posting updates about local and national tournaments.

Check back at NLS for the latest updates on Ultimate from schools such as Luther College, Illinois and other national powerhouses. With a friend playing for the Norse, I may even get the inside track on their quest for D-1 glory.

Also, if anyone else has information feel free to send me a message. Just as I did during the summer, my Ultimate goal is to be the central hub for all things Ultimate Frisbee.

High Flying X Gamess comes crashing down

The death of snowmobiler Caleb Moore following a crash at the 2013 Winter X Games has shined a negative spotlight on the world of extreme sports and the dangers these athletes face as they fly through the air performing awe inspiring tricks.

Unfortunately, Moore's death is only the most recent incident in which an athlete in extreme sports has been severely injured or killed performing a trick. It's easy to take for granted the dangers of action sports. Whether it's on a skateboard, a bike or a snowmobile the best performers make the most challenging tricks appear easy.

Another recent example of a rider suffering a serious injury performing a trick is BMX competitor Brett Banasiewicz. While practicing on August 23 in Virgina Beach, Brett crashed and suffered a severe brain injury. Doctors placed Banasiewicz in a medically induced come to control the bleeding swelling on his brain. He was wearing a helmet at the time, but according the Athlete Recovery Fund the one he was wearing was not designed for bicycle use.

What is surprising is that he was allowed to get on the bike and ride and possibly even compete wearing a helmet that didn't offer the right amount protection. There is no doubt the helmet saved his life, but it's hard to imagine that his injuries would have been as severe if he had been wearing the proper gear.

More surprising is that apparently rules forcing riders to wear the right helmet were not already in place at feature events such as the Dew Tour and the X Games. Action sports athletes put themselves in harms way every time they step on the ramp, and for event organizers not to force riders to wear the appropriate safety gear is doing them a disservice.

A video posted by ARF shows the surprising difference between soft foam, the helmet Brett wore, and hard foam helmets which are designed to with stand the heavier impact of biking. The soft foam is more flexible, while the hard foam is rigid.

It is easy to see why a rider such as Brett would prefer soft foam. However, like in any sport, athletes need to be forced to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves. It's easy to pick comfort over safety, I did the same while riding my mountain bike, but that doesn't mean it was smart. After reading Brett's story I have much more respect for the dangers I faced even though my wheels never left ground.

Thankfully he is making a strong recovery, and doctors expect him to recover fully. I first saw Brett compete at the Dew Tour in Chicago, and he won the event with ease. He went higher, and right away my friends and I knew this kid was something special.

I hope to see him on the bike once again, wowing crowds and changing the sport for the better. It is always a shame when it take an incident such as this one to bring about change. However, with any luck similar will be prevented as a result of the lessons learned.