Laney: Day 2.66
Bowties Onstage? Nope

Sunday, February 26, 2006
by Scot H. Laney

The way the top tournament in the world should be.

Mark Tucker found a banana in his boat. He's not in it. Says he'll never do that again. An 8-pounder bananed him first, then a 4. The only two he lost all week.

Those are the stories we don't always hear, but part of what makes this a great event.

Spectator boats up in your grill, locks that, apparently, fill from a bathtub faucet. That kind of stuff.

How about this, and help me here – I've never been able to figure it out on my own.

Why is it that anglers – professional and trying-to-be-professional – have trouble figuring out a certain absolute about what happens (or should) when you get paid to do something (in this case promote a sponsor)? Some of them are excellent at it, and use an opportunity like this to do it.

Because your chance for TV is limited, regardless of what anyone says. Don't believe me? Wear a Chevy bowtie when you lead the Classic (a big gold one) and see how much you're on the tube. I guess the 29th-place guy is more compelling.

So that leaves the onsite stuff, the last arrow in the angling quiver.

Then why do some sit in the back of a sponsor booth, clump up with others to "talk fishing" and arrive last and leave first? Why do that, especially when your career is currently a little south of a KVD or a Jay Yelas?

Speaking of Yelas (in this case speaking in a written sort of way, I guess), what about him, and Nixon, Shuffield, Cochran, Walker, King – all those guys?

Those guys got it right. From one middle-aged opinion guy (and thousands of BassFans the world over) thanks for the memories.

Can't wait to make some new ones - memories that is - on the other side of the ledger.

You know what I mean.