Pro Yancy Windham of Gordo, Ala. was injured yesterday during competition at the Champlain Eastern FLW Series. Initially, he feared a more severe spinal injury, but he told BassFan today that the "X-rays came back clean, so they're thinking it's probably a disk issue.
"I'll be all right," he added. "I appreciate everybody's concern, and I'm looking forward to getting this straightened out and getting back where I can do what I do. I love all of them, and thanks for their support."
He said he'd suffered a previous injury that led to problems, which he never had corrected, and a rough-water incident at Champlain exacerbated the problem.
About what happened yesterday, he said: "I hit some really, really bad waves and the licks I took – I felt it immediately. I really felt some serious pain. Judy Israel, my co-angler, had to drive in because I was in so much pain. I'm real thankful for her.
"I wasn't ejected," he added. "The waves had gotten really big and rough. I took three or four real hard licks and knew I hurt myself. I tried to take it a little easier, but after about five more, I couldn't sit in my seat and run the hot foot anymore. It's one of those deals. I've been out here for a long time, and you try to be careful, but sometimes you just take one of those waves wrong and it causes you some problems. I'm going to be all right."
He also wished to thank tournament director Chris Jones and the FLW Outdoors staff, as well as the surrounding community. "I've never been in a town with nicer people than this," he said.
> Windham was allowed to weigh his day-2 catch (4-03) and he finished 163rd.
> In an unrelated incident, Sam Bass was reportedly injured near the dock in a fall. Sources say the injuries are not critical.
