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RAY
SCOTT OUTDOORS, INC. There's
No Room For Bad Let's take time out to reflect on the sad, if not shocking, state of sports and athletics in our country. Daily the sports sections are filled with headlines reporting the misdeeds and/or crimes of high-profile sports figures. Where have the heroes gone? More importantly where are the role models for the young. The hero want-to-bees? Will wide-eyed youngsters be led down the path of destruction by the mistake and bad judgment of their idols? In too many cases the heroes of the gridiron, the baseball diamond and the basketball court are being revealed as fallen idols with feet of clay. Athletes these days are getting astronomical dollars to play games. But, there seems to be something in human nature and actions about millions of dollars and human behavior not mixing so well, in some cases. Usually, it's the athletes in trouble. Most likely, the media attention, star status, and big bankrolls cloud their vision and instill the feeling they're outside the rule of law. And, out-of-bounds, refusing to follow strict pattern of personal behavior. It's bad enough to see the off-field antics of the players bring shame on sports, but now college coaches are getting into the act. The demise of newly hired Alabama football coach Mike Price has ricocheted across the Bama Nation, and my home state. Before he'd even coached a Crimson Tide game, Price was fired in the wake of reports that he spent hundreds of dollars at a topless bar in Pensacola, Florida during an appearance at a celebrity golf tournament. The following morning, according to reports, a woman had $1,000 in room service billed to Price's room. The U. of Alabama, already in the NCAA college doghouse for violations in its program, acted swiftly to give Coach Price the boot. Humiliated by the headlines, Price asked for a "second chance." Alabama refused, at any Price. It wasn't right. We retrace the past to mirror the future. Right now, when the sport of professional bass fishing looks in the mirror, it can look its actions straight in the eye and be proud of its past. Let's hope the bass boys continue to show the right stuff. To the piscatorial player's credit the stench of scandal or headline grabbing misbehavior has yet to taint pro bass fishing's solid image. Recently, during the third annual induction of honorees at the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in Hot Springs, Arkansas the words: Honor. Respect. And Sportsmanship were repeated as the goals and the responsibility of pro bass anglers to the sport. Speaking from the platform was veteran pro and former BASS Masters Classic world champion Tommy Martin, one of five new inductees into the Hall of Fame. If there's a pro's pro and a bass fishing role model to cast a mold for future bassin' pros to follow, it's this Texan. He's a keeper. "We're role models for the young anglers," Martin said. "We're privileged to fish for a living and can earn a good living as role models for kids. We must respect that responsibility." As a former winner of bass fishing's highest honor, Martin acknowledges, "If you win the Classic, the visibility is amazing. Fans recognize you at the gas station or passing in the airport. You and your sponsors are judged by your actions." Professional bass fishing, yes, has had its cast of characters. But for the most part few "bad actors." There's a reason says Tommy Martin. "We're not much of a party crowd. Bass fishing's a tough job. You can't compete if you prowl places and party." Martin says, "A few have tried the late-night lure and rock 'n roll times, but eventually drop off the Tournament Trail scene. For the most part, we're pretty boring. Myself and my regular road roomie - Larry Nixon - have lights out by 8:30 p.m. or sooner." It's a pattern most pros follow after the day's weigh-in. Check with your next-day partner. Gas the bass rig. Quick meal at the Burger King. Change line. Sharpen hooks. Check the tv weather channel. And set the alarm clock for 4 a.m. Hardly sounds like an evening on the town with the likes of former Bama football mentor Mike Price. Excuse me, probably a poor choice of the word. Its meaning of "a trusted counselor or guide or tutor" may not apply here. Hopefully, bass anglers, at large, will hear Tommy Martin's worldly words - Honor. Respect. Sportsmanship. - and follow in their peer's footsteps. But, it's using common sense and good judgment and not crossing the boundary lines that will go the distance in keeping the sport of professional bass fishing on the straight and narrow road. As a professional sport, bass fishing has just begun the journey. And, must stay alert to the possible pitfalls ahead; bigger paychecks, reality-warping fame and a watchdog news press, seeking a career ending headline-a nasty black mark on professional bass tournament fishing. *********************************** Call it "Tailing" or as BassFan Craig Brown of Independence, Kentucky labeled it "Spot-Sucking". The practice of hole jumpin' is a hot topic among bass tournament anglers at all levels of competition. As a tournament fish-finding "strategy" it violates an unwritten rule of sportsmanship. The worst case scenario. Matter of fact, Craig, I agree. It SUCKS! And, in more ways than one. However, there's no hard-fast rule against the practice. Early on, as the publisher of the "rules" for a professional bass fishing tournament (Circa. 1967), there was an unwritten rule I observed. Never write a rule you can't enforce. And, impose the decision fairly. The basic rule of sportsmanship is as old as the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you wish they do unto you." There's no excuse for bad sportsmanship. Generally, the Bassmaster Tournament Trail pros, over the years, have worked out the problem among themselves. Such is the gentleman's agreement among paired partners not to return, during the competition, to your partner's fishing location, unless invited to do so. Yet, that's not to say, after the first day's weigh-in, some other anglers in the field or even local bass club fishermen will honor the code. To find fish, they get on the "leaderboard pattern." In more than one incident, in the past, the words between a tournament leader and other boats showing up in his area the second round are X-rated. The "intruder" claims, "I fished here in practice. I didn't see you in here." Sometimes it's the truth. And, after the bow-to-bow parley, the two parties divide the area to fish. But, more to the point of "sportsmanship," in many cases, the Johnny-come-lately fisherman, will wish the tournament leader "Good Luck" and depart. Among veteran B.A.S.S. tournament pros the gentleman's response is keyed to "what goes around, comes around." But, apparently, the acts of "Tailing" are being performed by non-tournament anglers or fishermen "scouting" for an up-coming tournament on the waters. For high-profile pros, tournament favorites or leaders, it's the albatross of success. And, a "catch 22." The more successful the anglers, the more attention and the bigger the problem. There's no sure-fire cure to avoid stalkers. The challenge for a bass fisherman is "to find the fish." Worst example, in memory, happened to four-time BASS Masters Classic world champion Rick Clunn on Lay Lake at the 1996 Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. An armada of spectator boats followed Clunn to his first spot, and watched as Rick put on a clinic fishing a ridge with a crank bait. Catching his limit in two passes up-and-down the off-shore ridge, Clunn left the spot. Hoping to "save it" for the next morning. His boat wake wasn't out of view before some spectator boaters hauled out rods and started hammering Clunn's hole. Similar situation faced David Fritts of nearby Lexington, North Carolina in the 1994 world finals at High Rock Lake. By actual count over 50 spectator boats surrounded David Fritts when he shut down to fish. Granted, some of the spectators were well-wishers on hand to encourage the local boy. But, others in the fleet were out to find and "mark" the deep-water holes on High Rock, the "secret spots" of David Fritts. As a result, Fritts revealed the unknown structure spots he'd located over the years. Fritts spots soon became "community holes." B.A.S.S. Tournament Trail history is littered with spoilsports. In the early-days, tournament fishing was viewed with mixed emotions. Local fishermen balked at the out-of-towners "catching our fish." Reportedly, after Rip Nunnery of California and Gerald Blanchard of Tennessee loaded the boat with catches of 97 and 85-pounds, respectively, during the opening day of the 1969 Eufaula Bassmaster Invitational, some non-tournament fishermen were "upset." The story, that circulated, was local fishermen from the Eufaula, Alabama area went to the big bass hole in White Oak and dragged boat anchors through the structure, hoping to "ruin the spot." And, don't discount the rumor of disgruntled non-tournament fishermen "spiking" a spot. Sounds foolish, but reports circulated of car batteries tossed into a "good hole" to turn the fishing sour. So, it could be worse. At least, the stalkers following a tournament favorite are seeking to share the fishing not screw it up. Still, it's tough to get a good night's tournament sleep, when suspecting someone saw you on your best spot. The good news is that in my experience having observed anglers/spectators for over 35 years that 100% are interested in "knowing how and where the pro does his fishing." The real good news is that the vast majority are not going to deliberately interfere with a tournament pro. So, maybe a good night's sleep is possible after all. |