I wasn’t in on the higher-up meetings within Prodigy Disc when it was determined that Kevin Jones needed a four-year extension. And it’s because of that, that I have no idea what kind of capital he was promised. Or how his performance bonuses or disc royalties would factor in.
I’ve never worked as an executive in any kind of disc golf capacity, for that matter. Even as naive as I am, I have to imagine that there was a nuts-and-bolts decision between these two players:
- Option #1 – Kevin Jones
- Option #2 – Chris Dickerson
Prodigy went with Kevin Jones.
One more thing I don’t know – if Prodigy’s decision to toss Jones a fat, four-year extension had anything to do with Dickerson’s departure. I don’t know for certain, but I have a feeling it did.
And if I’m at all right, know this …
It won’t be long before Prodigy’s kicking themselves over it.
Jones’ 2021 season was impressive enough. He racked up an astounding 12 top-10 Elite Series finishes. He failed to win any of ‘em, though. In fact, his last win in any kind of tournament was in May of 2020 with a victory at the “illustrious” Let’s Get Back to Golf at Persimmon Ridge.
It was a B-tier. And Prodigy was the title sponsor.
Jones is relevant, but when it comes time to go for the jugular, he’s (maybe) on chase card.
Dickerson, now part of Team Discraft, is a different story. Following his breakout 2020 season and the USDGC title that came along with it, Dickerson’s 2021 campaign proved he was legit.
2020 @usdgc champion Chris Dickerson gets his ring. #discgolf pic.twitter.com/yZ5ebn5UYr
— PDGA (@PDGA) October 8, 2021
He took down the Green Mountain Championship, finished fourth at Worlds and fifth at USDGC. Furthermore, in addition to all Elite Series and Silver Series tournaments, Dickerson competed in 11 A-, B- and C-tier events, taking home the top prize in every single one of ‘em.
I repeat: Every. Single. One.
Straight up, this kind of play isn’t anything new for Dickerson. Yes, 2020 was a “breakout” year for “The Robot Chicken,” but – dating back to 2018 – the guy’s finished in the top five in each of his last five majors. That’s better than any other MPO player over that same stretch of time.
All things considered, it’s no wonder Discraft wasted no time in hitting Dickerson with a four-year contract worth upwards of an estimated $1 million in royalty earnings and guaranteed income, not to mention the all-expenses-paid RV for Chris and his wife Brittainy to travel in.
Not bad for a fried chicken-loving mechanic out of Gray, Tennessee.
An argument can be made that Jones’ personality makes him more natural in front of a camera and better-equipped to move plastic on social media. But when a player is 1) consistent with his play in big-time tournaments, and 2) actually winning many of them, there’s no comparison.
Prodigy’s locked up a quality talent in Jones. They let go of a better one in Dickerson.
Watch your back, Paul McBeth. Dickerson’s right behind you.
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