The Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series and the Kevin Langill/Boyd Duckett incidents that occurred at that event are now 3 weeks into the rear-view mirror. I wrote about 3,000 words on those extracurricular confrontations during the tournament and in its immediate aftermath, and it wouldn't bother me a bit if the ones contained in this column become the last I ever pen on the subject. That's probably wishful thinking, though.

Everyone who was in the vicinity when those incidents occurred had their say in one form or another. A ruling was handed down, and it's not for me to speculate on whether it was the right one or not.

The further actions the following day that led to Langill's suspension for the remainder of the 2009 season are another matter. It's not the least bit difficult to determine right and wrong in that instance – Langill was way, way wrong. Out of pure spite, he willfully and physically disrupted the competition and undoubtedly altered its outcome.

For that offense, a three-tournament suspension from the Elite Series was extremely lenient. When the intervention of law enforcement officials is required to restore the integrity of the contest, that's bad business.

By going back onto the water on day 3 for the sole purpose of hounding Duckett and preventing him from fishing, Langill pulled off a feat that's almost incomprehensible in any other professional sport. This wasn't anything remotely similar to the tantrums thrown by players and coaches in the NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL. Sure, those might delay the games for a few minutes, but it's not like other players can run around scoring points, runs or goals during the interim.

That's what happened at Guntersville, though. While other anglers who'd made the Top 50 were catching fish, Duckett was dealing with Langill's childish but determined antics, which included Langill driving circles around Duckett's boat, right over the top of his line.

That's akin to a stock-car driver who's been knocked out of a race going back onto the track and wrecking a driver who's still competing for the checkered flag (or valuable championship points). Or maybe a golfer who's been DQd going out on the course and following a fellow competitor he had a beef with, then blowing a foghorn every time that guy was in the middle of his backswing.

How long do you think NASCAR or PGA Tour officials would tolerate something like that? The offender would be barred from those circuits for a very long time – if not forever. Certainly a lot longer than less than half a season.

What would cause Langill to snap in such a manner? I don't know, but I will say this: There's a great deal of pressure on a lot of Elite anglers because of the financial commitment, and a lot of people in many walks of life have been known to "lose it" under that kind of stress.

Prior to Guntersville, Langill had competed in 37 Elite Series tournaments and made only 10 paychecks. He'd paid approximately $185,000 in Elite entry fees and had collected $122,625 in prize money. Throw in even the most conservative estimate for expenses (fuel, lodging, food, etc.) and he was well over $100,000 in the red for his 3-plus seasons on the circuit.

I don't know if financial woes were behind Langill's meltdown, or if other factors were at work. Whatever the case, BASS' suspension ruling was in no way unfair. Langill may or may not ever fish at the sport's highest level again (he'd have to requalify through the Opens to get back onto the Elite Series). Either way, here's to hoping that he gets a grip on whatever was the root cause of that day-3 episode.

And here's to hoping that nothing similar ever happens again on the Elite Series – or the FLW Tour, for that matter. There are always going to be disputes over fishing areas, but they can't denigrate into what occurred at Guntersville.

For a while there, all sense of professionalism was lost.