--In the 1925 U.S. Open, Bobby Jones called a penalty on himself for moving his ball prior to hitting it, and ultimately lost the championship by a single stroke. When the press tried to make him out to be a hero for it, he said, "You might as well thank a man for not robbing a bank. I only did what I was supposed to do."

--"I am particularly glad to have an opportunity of addressing you, my fellow citizens of Dakota, on the Fourth of July, because it always seems to me that those who dwell in a new territory, and whose actions therefore are peculiarly fruitful, for good and bad alike, in shaping the future, have in consequence peculiar responsibilities. But as you already know your rights and privileges so well, I am going to ask you to excuse me if I say a few words to you about your duties." –Teddy Roosevelt, speech on July 4, 1883.

Like the frontiersmen of the Dakotas in the 1880’s, you too have peculiar responsibilities as the leaders of the next generation of ultimate players. Ultimate is again of the brink of bursting into the national conscience. You are fortunate to be part of the first nationally sponsored championship in recent history (thank you, Jockey, we won’t disappoint you), and so this weekend, while you are enjoying the rewards of a year or many years of hard work, I am going to ask you to excuse me if I say a few words to you about your duties.

Of course, you are all familiar with the term "Spirit of the Game," and you may consider it to be an antiquated notion, as I once did. SotG is a bit of a vague concept, subject to definition by each individual. We’ve all had games marred by various interpretations of SotG (perhaps we’ve even done the marring!) and by what constitutes unacceptable behavior. Whether SotG includes cheering for the other team, congratulating an opponent on a good play, or giving in on a call no matter how much you disagree with it, I’ll leave that up to you to decide. To me, the concept can be summed up nicely as "Play fair, do the right thing."

Ultimate has a rich history of self-patrolled rule enforcement. This enables players to show that they can play with integrity and a sense of honor. It also allows players to get away with all manners of cheap play, with at worst minor ramifications. The Callahan Rules attempt to address this second point, but you are still left with the duty to keep the first point in sight. [At the time this went to press, it is not known whether or not the Callahan Rules will be in effect for the Open Division. Even if it isn’t, the UPA has formally stated that it is an acceptable variation.]

I think the Callahan Rules are a great step towards limiting the downside of human nature. Other vehicles like peer pressure also work, but often it takes a very long time, and those wronged by the sins of others might never get another chance to get the rewards they deserved. So, perhaps, as we enter a new era, this will remove the potential to abuse the rules.

However, if you neglect your duties, we all will lose a great deal more than what you stand to gain. Play fair, do the right thing. Many before you have toiled in obscurity, clinging to that mantra. Those pioneers from the previous generations helped to develop a unique personality practically unmatched in the present world of sports. Do not let integrity disappear from the game as it has in other sports. There will never be a place in this game for a "good foul" or a deliberate violation. Enjoy your successes, but don’t let winning take precedence over principle.

As our game enters the public eye more and more, keep this example in mind. You are ambassadors to the world, representing all who play at a lower level. You are also responsible for teaching the generation after you that they are honor-bound to compete by the ideal of fair play, whether the game is played barefoot in the park with no rules, in the nationals finals using Observers, or at some future date with full-fledged referees and a prize of $100 000. If this oral tradition is not passed down, the game loses much of its special nature.

I apologize for preaching to you for so long, but this topic is so important that it needs to be said. Good luck to all of you this weekend. Don’t forget to have a good time while you’re here, whether your goal is to win it all or to win one game. You will have choices, choices between responsibility and the lack of it, and between personal success and personal morality. Just remember: play fair, do the right thing.