I don't know Nate Doss or Ken Climo, though I have met Ken a couple times. My gut tells me that these guys, like Paul, have a "killer instinct" in that when they compete, they only want to win. If they are no longer in physical shape to win regularly, they would rather not play competitively at all. Like Ricky Bobby says, "If you ain't first you're last!"
I've never developed that mindset myself with DG - mainly because I rarely win
! But I can understand how someone in that position might feel that way.
In addition to this perspective about playing, I do have to wonder, as others have pondered, if there is some bad taste in his mouth toward DG in general for whatever reason. He must know his commentary has been well received, and it is likely out there if he desires. But since it appears that the PDGA doesn't even want to gift multiple time world champions with annual dues or other benefits, there must be something. From reading some of his online banter with McBeth, I do detect some animosity, not sure if it is toward Paul directly, or the DG community in whole.
Players winning the year end DGPT championship get more cash for 3 days' work than I bet KC did during any entire year of his career--and that doesn't include disc sponsorships. That could be another issue. So Innova buys out KC's future royalties for a mere $100K, for all future sales, for a 12X champ who has probably helped sell millions of discs, and 2nd tier players today are getting that much in sponsorship money per year.
I mean yeah different eras and all that but I can see the money side of it. I think the best solution, IF it is $ related, might be to go to another disc company (if his deal with Innova even allows) to design some new molds with his name, and get back involved. I think he could make a good career into retirement doing something like that, combined with commentary, clinics, whatever. Many people would pay good money to hear what he would say. If they pay to listen to Stokely, they will pay to listen to the one who always beat Stokely. (No offense Scott!)
If he is stuck because of whatever deal he signed with Innova, maybe the bigwigs there need to lighten up those reins and let the Champ get back involved if he desires. The sport would love to have him.
And all this is conjecture, only met KC twice myself, way back in the 90s, and I know nothing about his current situation. Paul has been a little critical of him as well concerning his facebook posts, so maybe he could extend an olive branch and not continue to talk about him in the 3rd person. Go sit down with him. Make it happen. You can build a course in 3rd world countries, you can go sit and chat with Champ.
Sorry--just noticed this is the Nate Doss thread, can a moderator please move to someplace more appropriate?
