Michael Glass

Mostly I was a “handler.” I liked to have the disc in my hands, though I certainly caught a few goals over the years.

[It’s] hard to really separate those two things. The list of championships chronicled above could never have been accomplished without my teammates. Four World Championships, three national [titles], 11 Solstices, and in all 20 or so appearances at Worlds and national championships, 16 of those reaching at least semi-finals! I’d like to think I contributed my share to those victories. I felt I led my team in my own way. [I] tried to lead by example; running hard, playing fair, playing well.

Most of you are also aware of the “Ultimate Peace” initiative. I am privileged to be involved with this group. As sponsors, coaches, [and] board members, Nancy and I are thrilled to be part of this group. Palestinians and Jews playing Ultimate together? If you can change the minds of a few kids maybe we can change the world, just a little. Peace through sport is a powerful idea.

In addition to coaching youth Ultimate I have personally designed, donated and installed four disc golf courses in park districts in the Chicago area. Disc Golf is how I was first introduced to Ultimate and disc sports. It is great to see the growing numbers of people getting some plastic in their hands, and learning the joys of throwing!

Somehow I was always able to get the disc in my hands. Usually, I drew a top defender so it wasn’t always easy. With powerful cuts. I would eventually wear down defenders. I saw the field well, and understood where to put the disc to give my receivers the best opportunity to make the catch. I loved, still love, to throw and play Ultimate. I was lucky enough to have some great receivers to throw to. Arguably they should be on this list with me (Mike O’Dowd, Joey Giampino, John Conway, Dean Smith), but my throwing skills, power and finesse, hammer, blade, backhand, invert, roll curve, scoober, [and] gag, were as good as any. The number of times I touched the disc were seldom matched. Over a twenty-year career at the highest level there are few who can say they got as many “touches,” and then delivered!

I was the anchor of the offense for the entire Windy City era. There were many games over the years that I had a large impact on.

[The] first National Championship in 1983 was pretty good.

In a long career of playing, probably my best years were 1982 to 1990. I would say during those years I helped (no one person can win at this level) carry my team to many victories. I’d like to think even though I slowed a bit during the 90’s I was still a solid contributor in the Open division and a real force in the Masters. World’s 2002 with the keg boys was pretty much the end of my career.

Worthy? Not an easy question. There are many great players out there that hopefully will have a chance, though I feel I could hold my own with the best of them. I certainly worked my butt off to get open, and always the other teams would put one of their best defenders on me, frequently with little success. [With] the number of touches, great throws, solid defense, championships, longevity, [and] leadership, I think it adds up to enough. More importantly and most gratifying is that my peers – the guys that sweated, bled, cursed, loved, hated, competed and won and lost; the guys who lived and breathed for Ultimate all those years – feel I’m worthy.