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RAY
SCOTT OUTDOORS, INC. Winners
or Whiners: Here we go
again. The In the 1960s there was a network TV show, "Welcome Back Carter." Need I repeat to BassFan.com readers that the title crossed my mind when reading comments in the BassFan FeedBack section. Roundup the fatten calf. You all make a wandering nomad feel like a long-lost prodigal offspring returning to the warmth of the family campfire. To read the many welcome-back comments, I sincerely want to say "thank you" for letting SCOTT ON LINE back into your bassin' lives. Our BassFan "voice" is your bullhorn, and we promise to sound the bugle's charge when the need arises to summon the troops to defend the sport of bass fishing we've built together over three decades. Your column suggestions are requested. BassFan reader Leonard Hoskinson of Woodstown, New Jersey tells us: "I was as shocked as you about the article in Field & Stream ('Catch, Release and Kill'). Was thinking they let a P.E.T.A. supporter write that one also…They didn't do bass tournament fishermen any favors printing it." Mr. Hoskinson adds, "What I would like to hear from you is your opinion on the way BASS/ESPN is handling the new sponsorship with Busch." Tough question to answer, Leonard. Like you, I'm a spectator wondering why all the fuss and uproar. For the record, Ray Scott doesn't have a dog in this fight, but by experience such issues can turn around and bite you on the butt, too often. As I understand at "issue" is the sponsorship by Busch Beer of the Bass Angler-of-the-Year title race. And, any B.A.S.S. pro seeking to win the honor must display on his or her left shirt sleeve the rather bold BUSCH Beer Angler of the Year patch and display a similar logo on their bass boat during the competition. Apparently, some pros are balking at the demands. They've made contract commitments with sponsors or have conflicts with their beliefs and religious devotion. They chose not to lift a glass to cheer, but to jeer. You respect these beliefs. Is it good business for ESPN/B.A.S.S. to tie the sport of professional bass fishing to a beer company? For the students of Bassmaster Tournament Trail history, you know that such a promotional consideration isn't a brand new revelation. In 1972, and again the following season, the Miller Brewing Company was the title sponsor for the Miller High Life BASS Masters Classic. A "good" Baptist and headquartered in the Bible Belt in Montgomery, Alabama, as president of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), I wrestled with the pros and cons of having a beer company identified with professional bass fishing. It was the image card, and how to play it. Finally, the Miller's folks called my hand. After a night of tossing and praying, the obvious decision was: "Show Me the Money." As high as the ideals, it was apparent in 1972, as now, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken feathers. And, with the added value of Miller's "Champagne of Bottled Beer" advertising promotion and the $50,000 sponsor fee, we could put more cash in the pot. But, at what price was still my concern. In a NASCAR-like celebration fashion, Miller Brewing's marketing minds envisioned "champagne" (i.e. beer) toasting the Classic champion in the winner's circle. I still recall the look on Miller marketing VP Jack Smith's face when it was announced: "They'll be no beer in the boats or at the weigh-in." There was no room for compromise on my part. It was a marriage of the odd couple. Two years later, the divorce decree was granted. Based on incompatibility. Bass fishing and beer drinking on the tournament stage didn't mix well. The image didn't work for professional bass fishing, at the time. Our goal was to elevate pro bass fishing to serious competition. Trying to overcome the general view of fishing as an excuse to dunk a minnow and down a brew was of concern as a public image. So, it was with a flashback of concern on seeing the four-color advertisement in November 2002 issue of BASSMASTER Magazine promoting: "BUSCH Official Beer of B.A.S.S." The headline over a tacklebox proclaimed: "Here's What We Call a Fully Equipped Tackle Box." The open tacklebox with extended lure trays pictures six iced-down bottles of Busch beer in the bottom tray. Clever headline and layout, no doubt, dreamed up by some Anheuser-Busch advertising agency camped out on Madison Ave., in New York City. But, what's the message? Bass, Beer and Bubba! Make no mistake, B.A.S.S. history has a way of repeating itself. As to Issue No. 2, the hard-and-fast rule of wearing the BUSCH Beer Angler of the Year patch to play for pay. In a way, this comes under the category of "old Bassmaster Tournament Trail business." Backwind to Year 1985, and the so called "No Patch Rule" as I tried to enforce on the qualifiers for the BASS Masters Classic world championship. By this time, the Classic had gathered onboard a number of dues paying sponsors and the payout had grown as well. These "official" Classic sponsors provided their products-bass boat, outboard motor, depthfinder, trolling motor, etc.-for use and display in the Classic championship. The official products had "exclusive" Classic designation, but many of the qualifiers represented different sponsors. Since the Classic sponsors were paying the bills, in my mind, their patches only should be displayed by contestants. Our letter to the 1985 Classic qualifiers explaining the "No Patch Rule" was a mistake. A good idea, but a bad decision. The pros rebelled. And, threatened to boycott the Classic. We debated the issue. The pros complained "our sponsors have supported us all the way in the qualifying series, and now that we've made the Classic…we can't support them." From my standpoint, the "official" Classic sponsors should be protected. After all, they were the underwriters of the event. They made the investment, and expected a return in publicity and promotion. The pros stood their ground. "We deserve the right to wear our sponsor patches and cap. They're the ones that got us to the big dance." The final decision sounds likes the words to a country-western song: "Dance with the one you brung, okay, but don't say nothing ugly about my date." The "No Patch Rule" died on the vine. An idea before its time. Give the ESPN/B.A.S.S. folks credit, they've rounded up some deeper pockets as sponsors. The bigger prize payouts don't come without strings. The sponsors are big-time investors with leverage to get their way. And, maybe that's the next line to our C-W song, "Either play our way…or get on the highway. We're paying out 100-grand…and here's our plan." For sure, the thing ESPN/B.A.S.S. did right was to announce the "patch rule" before the season's first cast. Not at the end of the Tournament Trail as I made the "no patch rule" mistake in 1985. You play by the rules, or don't fish. Simple solution. So Leonard, that's the story, and I'm sticking to it. But, if you'd like, let's order a round and chat about it. There's one other issue that does bother my
spirit of fair play. Black balling a pro from the Bass Angler-of-the-Year
race-if he or she won't wear a BUSCH patch-is overkill.
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