I admire Brodie Smith. He’s one of few professional athletes who says what he thinks without batting an eye. This fact was on full display earlier this week on the “Tour Life” podcast. I don’t want to put words in the guy’s mouth. If you’re free for a bit, listen to what’s on his mind:
This clip is 22 minutes long.
If you don’t have that kind of time, here’s a brief breakdown:
- Brodie believes he’s lost his passion for disc golf.
- For the first time in his life, he feels like he has a job.
- Because of this, he’s indifferent with his on-course play.
- He’s not quite sure how to rectify the situation, as it’s new.
The result of the above was Smith finishing in 107th place at the Chess.com Invitational this past weekend. To put that result in perspective, there were only 111 MPO disc golfers in the field.
For starters, let me drive home the following …
Brodie’s happiness is his alone.
Fans will have their opinions – you’re reading one, in fact. How he ultimately achieves what he’s looking for is a matter for him and his wife, Kelsey. Toss their Corgi kids in the mix, if you must.
In pursuit of this, I wish him nothing but the best.
But for as much as people champion Brodie’s quest for career fulfillment, I can’t help but feel there might also justifiably be a group in the background with a frown on its figurative face …
Discraft.
They’ve invested a LOT in the guy – and in good faith, too. Brodie wasn’t great at disc golf when they scooped him up. He is now, but the dudes in Wixom didn’t know that initially.
Furthermore, though the financial specifics of his current, two-year deal are unknown, my gut tells me he’s good at moving plastic for them – and that he’s compensated accordingly.
He’s a member of the Elite Team. The “Get Freaky” brand is big-time. The Zone OS will forever be linked to his name, too. Most important of all, though, Brodie’s a bonafide influencer – and one without a background in disc golf. Every month, it seems like I run into somebody on the course who’s both discovered and fallen in love with disc golf, thanks to Mr. Brodie Smith.
They’re either an Ultimate convert or made the jump after finding (and binging) his trick-shot videos on YouTube. And don’t you know it, whenever I bump into one of these cats, they’re rocking a bag full of nothing but Discraft plastic – and with some Darkhorse gear, as well.
These things add up.
So if you’re Discraft, and you catch wind one of your star athletes is questioning his passion for the game around which your entire business model is built, it’s a swift, forceful punch to the gut.
* Note: Yes, I’m aware Discraft sells Ultimate frisbees – work with me on this, please.
Smith’s contract with Discraft is up at the end of the 2024 season. If he can’t put together some semblance of a full-time (and mildly competitive) tour schedule, you have to think Discraft will look elsewhere to reallocate their “Brodie budget” in 2025 – it’d be hard to fault ‘em, really.
Brodie doesn’t need Discraft’s money; he doesn’t need a job. He outright says as much in the aforementioned video. On the other hand, Discraft is a business – it needs a return on investment.
The season is young, but all signs from Brodie’s camp point to them not getting one. Given the guy’s influence, quite the opposite, actually – people switching from disc golf to card-collecting.
I went with “bothered” for this article’s headline, but truth be told, I could’ve gone in a number of different directions with it: “upset,” “troubled,” “annoyed,” “surprised,” “concerned,” etc.
They all work.
And Discraft has every right to feel the weight of each one.
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Who Cares
Brodie was hand fed by McBeth
Look at them Now
Brodie was signed By Discraft
Look at Brodie Now
He needs to go and let someone else have the tour slot and he can sit at home belly aching as usual and no one gives two squirts if he comes or goes
Irrelevant he is to the sport
Who cares? Obviously you care if you replied to this article to add your two cents.
Irrelevant? Hardly. Did you not read the article? He has brought the sport of disc golf to a younger and newer audience. Besides Simon Lizotte, Brodie is one of the biggest names in the sport people talk about. Good or bad. He has easily helped disc golf reach a newer generation. If you can’t see that, then you are dumb.
Great article. I know the pro disc golf scene is very friendly, and the sport is “chill”, and everyone knows everyone and all that; but at the end of the day, the sport wants to be taken seriously. You can’t have a branded pro athlete openly (and mid season) saying they’ve checked out – and not do anything as that athlete’s management/sponsor. A big step forward for DG in general would be some form of accountability if your pros acted like amateurs.
Agree with you, Mike.
This one’s tough, because, again – you want Brodie to be happy.
But going public with THIS kind of information?
Probably best to keep it close to the chest …
Then, figure things out and move forward.
This is the way those internet guys work. They have to always have some kind of drama to focus on. He was running out of topics so this is the new one. Next year there’ll be the I love disc golf again and I’m ready to go on tour video. Really can’t stand the dude and wish he would just go away.
There are many who feel just like you, dude!
I like Brodie.
I like the content he produces.
But I don’t mind when others prefer to look elsewhere for their disc golf content …
There are enough people “in the game,” so to speak, that finding what you’re looking for isn’t too tough, you know?
That’s the good news.
Agreed there’s something for whatever your preference is. I don’t like drama or negativity. Disc golf is one of the more pure sports in my opinion as you can play alone with just your thoughts and your discs. I’m out there to enjoy nature and have a good day on the course. The absolute last thing I want is negativity from anybody and it seems like Brody is always focusing on something negative or gossiping. To me he’s a glass half empty kind of guy. But hey just my opinion and if somebody else likes him more power to them
Sounds like a healthy perspective to have, Joe – I concur!
Started playing disc golf about three years ago. Turn 60 next week. Been involved in various competitive sports over the years. The flame may flicker, but the spark does not go out. Eventually, you will find what reignites it and once again pursue your passion. Whatever your hand finds it to do do it with all your might.
Wise words, Doug!
Here’s to hoping Brodie find the “flame” sooner, rather than later 🙂