By Brian Sullivan / DiscLife.com

Related Story: Ken Climo - Return of the King

Over the past year, Ron Russell has undoubtedly been the unhappiest disc golf Champ in history. Sure, he wanted the world title and won it in 1999, beating nine-time winner Ken Climo. The amazing victory was the culmination of years of hard work and determination. If nothing else, Russell will always be known as the Man Who Beat Climo, and deserves to be acknowledged for his skill.

No, the problem with Ron Russell was not in his skill, but in his attitude.

It's widely known that Russell has earned a reputation for less-than-sportsmanlike conduct. Angry outbursts, sulking and cursing were par for his course. Over the past year, Russell has been unable or unwilling to understand why so many golfers don't give him the same respect he has seen his rival and friend Ken Climo enjoy over the years. Where was the love for the Champ?

As Russell moved through the 1999 - 2000 seasons, things only got worse. Complaints were lodged against him. Relationships suffered. His frustration had grown to the point where, even in his year of glory, he was bitterly commenting to some disc golfers that he was considering leaving the Tour and abandoning the game he loves.

It took a tragic loss of his title to get there, but what happened at Worlds 2000 may have very well resulted in the maturation and rebirth of Ron Russell.

He clearly wanted the repeat, and came focused on the goal. Arriving back in his home state a month before Worlds, Russell rented an apartment near the Worlds courses and practiced, practiced, practiced. He brought his trophies and lined them along the walls for inspiration. He even hired a caddie.

The competition began, and he shot well, maintaining an ominous presence at the top going into Friday's round in the woodsy terrain of Cass Benton. Sitting in third place, Russell had nonetheless lost seven full strokes to current leader Ken Climo in the previous round at Kensington Toboggan. He now trailed by ten, and the pressure was full on. This was the final round of preliminaries, and it was time to make a move.

He breezed through the first four holes with his usual determination, and came to hole five. Another woods hole, and a less than perfect drive. Now Russell was in the trees, and he concentrated on a long, tricky approach shot. The line up, release, and WHAM!

It's happened to many of us who become temporarily careless or reckless in the heat of the moment. Ron Russell had fully extended his follow through and cracked his throwing hand into an unseen tree.

The pain was excruciating.

PDGA Competition Director Mark Ellis was standing a few yards away, and reported hearing what sounded like a small gun being fired. The hand soon began to swell, and the discussion turned to the possibility of a broken bone.

Russell shook it off and play resumed. He attempted to continue to use the hand, but when he failed to make a seven foot putt, it was clear that the damage was done. The Champ had sustained an injury that would prevent him from ever catching Climo now.

Russell's reputation might lead observers to believe that his next move would be to take his busted-up hand and call it a Worlds. Game over, I'm outta here. Hell, it would be an acceptable move for anyone. You're hurt, hit the showers and go see the doc.

Instead, like a disc golf dream sequence out of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, something amazing happened. Ron Russell's heart grew to three times its normal size. He walked to the next hole, took a disc from his bag, and inserted it into his left hand. Then he threw.

Russell, who had no previous experience throwing lefty, kept on throwing. He would finish not only the Cass Benton round, but also the semi-final round at Hudson Mills Monster the next day… all using his previously untested left-handed shot.

Cindy Lou Who all the folks in Whoville thought that was pretty cool.

I shadowed Russell for several holes on Saturday, and saw something I had never seen before through many rounds of observation. Ron Russell was actually smiling… and laughing! A lot! He was truly enjoying himself. Russell was injured and out of the hunt, but I had never seen him happier. The guy practically glowed.

It should also be noted that he shot like a madman using that southpaw shot, completing the par-54 Cass Benton round with a 62, and the par-72 semi-final round at HM Monster with a 96. I watched him get two consecutive pars, making impressive (lefty) anhyzers and long putts. Seeing his success and the obvious competitive advantages for a skilled ambidextrous player, I later experimented with a few lefty shots myself, with the expected performance results: worse than a sickly nine-year-old girl.

After Worlds were over and at the urging of many concerned parties, Russell finally allowed himself to be dragged to a doctor. The x-rays confirmed that while the hand was unbroken, it sure was ugly and purple. A full and speedy recovery is expected.

It seems Ron Russell finally took to heart the old sports cliché: it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Ron Russell may have lost the world title, but gained something far more valuable: the long-sought respect and admiration of the disc golf community. May his extraordinary show of courage and never-quit attitude be a shining example for all to see. We know Ken Climo will once again be looking over his shoulder next year in Minnesota, watching for the proven threat known as Ron Russell.