n the 31st day of the third month of the third year of the second millennium, five wise men who were concerned for the world; with its wars, famine, pollution, and myriad of problems, decided that they must search out the mystical One True Disc in order that it could fulfill its destiny of bestowing joy, peace, and love to mankind.

These five men, gathered together at the council of Mansfield, scoured the scriptures and poured through tomes of ancient literature in order to glean clues as to where they might find the One True Disc. Exhausted by their efforts, the Mansfield Five gathered their findings but only had two clues:

1. That the One True Disc was most certainly from the Roc tribe and had been fashioned in the kingdom of Innova some six years earlier by the master plasticsmith David Dunnipace. Dunnipace, it is said, had gone into a trance and channeled the will of the Disc Gods for a short time and created only a few hundred of the finest Rocs ever made. Among these creations, one of pure heart might find One True Disc.

2. That the One True Disc was now in the back of Barry Schultz's truck.

n expedition was formed and the One True Disc was found. After a huge celebration it was decided that Sir Todd of Kalamazoo would be the first of many knights who would be a vehicle and teacher for the One True Disc on it's journey. The honorable knight accepted his duty with a full heart and clear mind. Thus begins the tale of the One True Disc.

March 31st thru April 6, 2003 Attending knight: Sir Todd of Kalamazoo

(authors note: All knights have the ability to meld with the One True Disc and relate its experiences to the people. These are the results of one such session when Sir Todd took the One True Disc out for it's first flight in Dave Mansfield's backyard nine-hole course):

(As relayed to Sir Todd by the One True Disc): All discs exist in a state of hibernation that leads up to the actual birthing of a new disc as it rips from the hand of its first thrower. Some say that a disc is alive and aware after it has been released from the plasticsmiths mold, but any disc will agree that it first became truly alive as it soared through the air for the first horrifying/exciting/glorious glide upon the whisperous wind of nature's breath. This is how it was for the first flight of One True Disc.

One True Disc felt the pressure from Sir Todd's hand as he held it firmly and sized up the first of nine holes that he would throw on this day. The wind was up, ready to do battle with any disc that it encountered, ready to blow and blow and to force a disc to fly in directions that the thrower did not intend. The trees and bushes waited eagerly for their chance to stop and entangle the flight of any disc that passed. With a few simple steps, a bend of the elbow, a twist of the hips, and an explosion of smooth, controlled power, Sir Todd launched the One True Disc into the air for its first battle with the elements.

t first the One True Disc felt uneasy as the sensation of gravity melted away with its first flight. The wind snarled and seemed to double or even triple in its intensity and its hatred of the disc. The One True Disc sensed a large tree as it passed over its branches. The tree cursed at the disc and vowed that it would stop the disc it they ever battled again. The One True Disc was confused and afraid as it quickly spun and flew. The wind snickered satisfaction as the "One True Disc" turned slightly to the right and away from it's intended target. The One True Disc, confused and battered by the wind, began to gather itself as the force of Sir Todd's throw was diminished by friction with the wind and by gravity itself.

The One True Disc thrilled at the feeling of air rushing over its smooth surfaces. It could also feel the strength of the wind as it tried to turn the disc to the right. The One True Disc could sense that the wind was being broken apart by the disc's perfectly formed nose. The bisected air stream flowed unevenly over the top and bottom surfaces of the disc in a form of trickery that used the wind's own force against it and caused the One True Disc to lift up into the air as the master plasticsmith had intended.

Unsure of what to do, the One True Disc relaxed and allowed its instincts to take over. New discs will often fight the wind with their inborn tendency toward overstablity and the disc bared down and pushed it's nose lower and to left, effectively countering the efforts of the wind. The One True Disc could sense the presence of a basket and without knowing why it extended itself towards the basket... turning and stretching until it landed softly in the grass some 25 feet away.

All was still for a couple minutes. The One True Disc heard some groans from other discs as they were battered by the wind and came to rest near it. One disc cursed as it struck the outstretched tentacles of a nearby tree and tumbled to the ground. The tree swayed in laughter and gloated in its short-lived victory. After a short time in the grass, Sir Todd sent the One True Disc into the air for another short flight. Not much force behind the throw this time... the wind seemed less brutal and the "One True Disc" was suddenly slowed and came to rest in the gentle embrace of the basket. At first the One True Disc thought that the basket and it's chains would be cold and Hard, but instead the basket offered a feeling of strength and finality in the disc's accomplishment of mission. Sir Todd bellowed with glee and the other knights applauded the combined efforts with utterances of 'nice deuce' and 'well done'. The gathering of knights also expressed their beliefs that this was indeed One True Disc.

he other knights carried an army of discs for battle. Sir Todd carried only the One True Disc. Sir Todd felt that this was the best way to test and train the "One True Disc" for the task laid out before it. There was much to learn for both of them.

The knights on this day gave the honor of first flight to the One True Disc on the second hole. The hole spanned a distance of 370 feet... much too far for most discs of the Roc tribe... but this was a day of tests and Sir Todd launched the One True Disc with a mighty force. The wind blew ferociously in its assuredness that it could batter the One True Disc from its intended flight, but to no avail. The One True Disc allowed the wind to strike its top for a short time and force it toward the ground, but using all it's youthful will it again forced it's nose down and left until the relentless wind, already committed toward it's forceful push from the right, suddenly found itself pushing on the underside of the One True Disc causing it to lift and fly until One True Disc gently floated from the ground a mere 40 feet short of the basket.

The other knights were skeptical when Sir Todd tossed the One True Disc toward the basket in his attempt at a second birdie. The knights new that discs from the Roc tribe weren't especially reliable for putting but the One True Disc was eager to please its knight and to feel the powerful embrace of the basket and soared true and straight into the baskets center. Another deuce! The group of knights dropped their jaws in disbelief... this certainly was a disc that was destined for greatness.

The rest of the round went much the same. The One True Disc performed beautifully on its birthday and Sir Todd could not remember such a successful round even with his entire bag of discs. At the completion of the nine holes the One True Disc had scored four birdies and no bogies. This feat was said to be one birdie shy of the course record... an impressive opening performance and a decided victory over the bushes, trees, and wind. Sir Todd placed the One True Disc into his tournament bag with several other discs and left the course with a feeling of confidence that he had been lacking for many battles.

nce placed into the bag, the One True Disc immediately felt exhaustion set in. There were a barrage of questions as the other discs tried to introduce themselves but their voices only combined into a jumble of sounds as the One True Disc slipped away into unconsciousness.

After a full day of rest the One True Disc awoke to the yammering of a blue Pro Line Teebird that had just recently been placed into the bag as well and was looking to make some quick friends.

"You're awake!", the Teebird proclaimed as if he'd been just sitting there waiting for the One True Disc to spring back to life. It seemed that the other discs had already been circulating the story of the "One True Disc's" first day of battle. No one, not even the old ones, could remember such a one-sided victory by a single disc and they were impressed. Some discs were jealous and skeptical of the One True Disc… they, however, honored the insights of Sir Todd and (since the One True Disc would only be around for a week) welcomed the One True Disc to the bag.

Bluebird (as the blue Teebird had asked to be called) was a young disc, and like all young discs was overstable in his thinking... and like all Teebirds he looked forward to flying far, battling the wind, and pleasing Sir Todd. Bluebird introduced the One True Disc to the leader of the bag, Big Red. Big Red was a red Pro Line Firebird that had been around for a few months. He had taken over leadership of the bag in the tradition of all discs, as he was thrown the most. He was also very, very overstable which meant that he didn't get along with the older discs very well at all. Sir Todd, aware that overstable and understable discs don't usually see eye to eye on matters of flight, tended to keep them separated. Big Red's answer to any problem was to turn left. Tree in the way... turn left. Howling headwind.... turn left. He was quite pig-headed about it and when the old discs (even the grizzled Mr. Yellow, or the oldest and wisest of the blue Rhyno clan) would suggest that sometimes a right turn might produce better results, Big Red would just laugh his deep laugh and proclaim that this was the talk of the weak minded. After all, turning left had worked well for Big Red his entire life.

Bluebird took an immediate liking to Big Red, as did the One True Disc. Young discs are impressionable and since Big Red was the leader and so sure of himself, the young ones tendedtoward overstability also. In times past the overstable discs were such fierce and brave warriors that they lived very short lives... even the greatest warriors would succumb to the batterings of trees and rocks. Only in the past few years -- after the creation of "CE" armor by the master plasticsmiths -- have overstable discs been able to enjoy long careers.

luebird had a crush on the only other Teebird in the bag... Yellowbird. She was a year older than bluebird and had grown a bit wiser. Gone were the days of overstability. She was decidedly a straight flyer. When Yellowbird saw a tree in the way she might move left or right to miss it. Most trees expected the left move. Also, she had learned to better use the wind as an ally instead of an enemy. However the wind would blow in its attempts to foil her flight, she had a quick and effective solution. She was currently being courted by a pink Pro Line Beast. He was the only Beast in the bag and quite an original fellow. Born with an uncommon wisdom and a shyness for overstability, he was immediately shunned by Big Red and his brood. Big Red couldn't stand that a disc so young would reject his philosophy of overstability. The other overstable discs were encouraged to taunt and cajole Beast in hopes that Beast would leave the bag... but the old discs took him in and he learned the ways of understability quickly. Beast was also fast... faster than any disc who had ever lived in the bag.... and this, combined with what the old discs taught him made Beast the furthest flyer by far -- further than any Teebird -- even further than the old Valkyrie who had been lost in battle several weeks earlier. It had been quite a blow to the morale of the bag and thanks to the wisdom of the old discs there was a new distance flyer for Sir Todd to wield.

There were only two other members of the Roc tribe in the bag. One was J-Bird the Gray... very old and understable in his ways. He rarely spoke and even then only at the meetings of the wise discs. He didn't go into battle often and even then usually in light wind, but when he did, it was a thing of beauty the way he would turn to the right and float along, harnessing even the slightest wind to fly as long as he could.

The other Roc came from royal bloodlines. She traced her vintage as far back as the early San Marino clan. Born straight and had remained straight all these years. So pure was her bloodline that on dark nights her body emitted a soft pink glow. She was the royalty of the bag and she knew it. Sir Todd used her sparingly for fear that she might be broken, but her flight was so true and her lines so beautiful that on a calm day and in a battle with few trees and stones she could dominate. The One True Disc was immediately smitten with her.

The remainder of the bag was filled with Rhynos. Small but fierce and hungry for chains were the Rhyno clan. They lived long lives filled with glory. Adept at fighting wind and with many stories of bloodied battles against the trees. Even the young Rhynos proudly wore deep battle scars. Rhynos didn't use the "CE" armor that was so popular among the other discs. They felt that the extra armor detracted from the honor of the age-long battle of disc versus course. Rhynos were noble, and the workhorses of the bag. Sir Todd used them for driving, upshots, and putting... they were in his favor and got most of the flight time. Rhynos don't concern themselves with distance or flying for that matter. Accuracy was key to their lives and most stories of valor told by Rhynos ended with the embrace of the basket. Among the Rhyno clan was the oldest and wisest of all discs in the bag, #1 Rhyno. #1 had lost his bead many years ago and was fully set in his belief that understability was the way to salvation. It was said that in some battles the old #1 would even roll in order to confuse the wind and trees. Rolling is unheard of for a putting/approach disc, and something that is usually reserved for ancient, sharp-edge drivers such as Old Yellow. the ancient Gazelle.

So this would be the "One True Disc's" family for the next seven days while he traveled with Sir Todd. They seemed like a fine bunch who had all known victory in the past but had struggled as of late. They each hoped that the addition of the One True Disc could somehow return to them their faded glory.

ord arrived that a battle was brewing in Melbourne, Florida and the PDGA (an organization of all the knights of the land) deemed that any knight who was fit for battle should travel to Melbourne and join the fight. Sir Todd and Sir Barry made the long trek and surveyed the battlefield. The battle was scheduled to last for three days and three nights. The One True Disc felt that it was ready for action, but Sir Todd mandated that the One True Disc should observe and would not be thrown in the battle unless the situation warranted.

On the first tee pad, Sir Todd faced a 340-foot hole. Numerous trees called for a low straight shot and Sir Todd called Yellowbird into action. She was ready. Sir Todd threw her low and straight. She saw a tree to her left and made a quick fade to the right to be sure to avoid it. Then all hell broke loose... she was immediately ambushed by a troop of palmetto bushes that sprung out from the right. Palmetto bush attacks are unique to Florida battlefields and palmetto's themselves are capable enemies. Some palmettos have even been known to attack knights. This particular bush was very large and very vicious.

Sir Todd easily rescued Yellowbird and began searching for an escape route. There was hole in the middle of the palmetto's defenses and Sir Todd grabbed the youngest of the Rhynos to lead the escape. He flicked a slight sidearm shot that confused the Rhyno a bit with the opposite of normal spin that the little Rhyno was used to. During the throw the wily palmetto immediately saw that the inexperienced Rhyno was confused and closed it's defenses. The Rhyno struck an outstretched leaf and was thrown upward, then did the only thing it knew and flew in an overstable flight that sent it into the thick of the palmetto's defenses and into a tree with a bunch of vines clinging to the side. The Rhyno came to rest about seven feet high, trapped between the vines and the tree. A penalty stroke for Sir Todd.

Sir Todd rushed into the palmetto to save the young Rhyno and the palmetto set upon him with it's razor sharp stems cutting a long bloody path into his shin and throwing hand. Sir Todd managed to get ahold of the Rhyno and tossed her out onto the safe grass of the fairway. He returned the Rhyno to the bag and took two more shots to finally get one of the other Rhynos into the basket for a triple bogey. The "One True Disc" now could see why Sir Todd was reluctant to throw it. The battlefield could be a dangerous place and Sir Todd wanted the One True Disc to learn from afar.

The next hole was a very dangerous one indeed. 666 feet around a lake. Many discs had given their lives on this hole and some had even scored quintuple bogeys in simulated practice skirmishes. Sir Todd reached for Big Red, who proved why he was the leader of the bag. Two left turns and a drop-in carded a par for Sir Todd as he regrouped from the earlier defeat. At the end of Friday's battle, Sir Todd had carded a 74 and sat low in the battle standings. It had been rough on many knights this day. Current world champion knight Sir Ken had carded a 75, and former world champion knight Sir Cameron took 77 throws to complete the day's melee.

he young Rhyno who had become stuck in the tree on the first hole didn't sleep well that night. She blamed herself for setting the precedent for the poor round. Resilience and youth travel hand in hand though, and with encouragement from hes brethren the young Rhyno was ready and eager for the Saturday battle to come. The One True Disc had seen a bloody battle and felt fortunate to have been on the sidelines.

The Saturday and Sunday battles went much better for Sir Todd, who fought to 68 and 65 respectively. Sir Todd finished respectably as one of the Top 10 warriors of that battle. His partner Sir Barry received top honors and the One True Disc listened to the stories of glory from Sir Barry's bag as it sat a few feet away. The "One True Disc" had learned much with Sir Todd, although it hadn't seen any time on the battlefield. Perhaps it would get its first real fight with its next knight.

In a secret ceremony on Sunday night, the One True Disc was passed on to another knight for another journey and yet another tale. Sir Todd passed the awesome responsibility of the One True Disc on to Sir Brian of Wendell, who rode upon a mighty land traveling Dolphin and who was set upon the task of hunting down the retreating forces who had moved into Gainesville on the follow weekend.

-Todd

Got a question for Todd and the Winnicrew? Send it here. Be sure to include "2003 Tour" in the subject header.