The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) said today that it "applauds the decision by ESPN/B.A.S.S. to cancel the Shootout tournament."
"We appreciate the willingness of ESPN/B.A.S.S. to listen to our arguments against this event and subsequently take the action they did," said newly installed PAA executive director Scot Laney. "We see this as a good faith effort by ESPN/B.A.S.S. to include the anglers' point of view in the decision-making process."
The PAA had been against the Shootout because it "added a number of negative dynamics to the season, as well as (to) the Classic qualifying matrix."
Canceled by ESPN/B.A.S.S. yesterday, the Shootout was to have taken place a week before the 2002 BASS Masters Classic.
