Hey. Everybody knew the rules going in for the B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year points race so there’s no use getting too jacked up. This isn’t about Skeet Reese getting the Milkbone or Westerners hating Kevin VanDam.
The real crux of the matter is this contrived “post season” has blown up the very standard by which we compare the generations in professional fishing. With this nuvo scheme only one pro continues as a “scratch” player, while everyone else gets a handicap. B.A.S.S. chooses to hand out “cookies” to the also-rans until they finally catch up. That’s T-Ball, not professional sport. I can’t imagine a cheaper way of crowning the Angler of the Year–even for a recognized star like VanDam.
Think about it. Roland Martin, the only 9-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, must be coughing up blood. During his era, it was the Bassmasters Classic winners who were given all the glory. But now, when Martin’s superiority is just being recognized, B.A.S.S. goes to sending out the equivalent of “mail order diplomas.”
I’m sorry, but that’s pretty cheap.
7 Responses to “B.A.S.S. provides another cheap AOY title”
I have mixed emotions about AOY it that is for sure. But, it is ESPN / BASS’s call on how they finish the year. Lets face it, Skeet started to falter the last couple of tournaments and KVD was coming on strong and lets not forget Lane was hot on the trail too. It was Skeet’s to lose or win … that’s fish’n!
In the NBA they don’t lower the basket for the short guys….
One day these seasons will get the “asterisk,” especially if a new entity takes over B.A.S.S. and rights the ship.
AOY should be for the Regular Season exclusively, and not inclusive of the Post Season. That said, KVD is KVD, and Skeet smoked them the first half of the year and faded later allowing the rest to catch up. The ‘Post Season’ / ‘Chase’ is made for TV based on an ‘original’ (HAHAHAHAHAAAaaaaaa….) thought at the ‘New’ BASS/ESPN Headquarters (as opposed to B.A.S.S. Bass Anglers Sportman Society) and has failed in my eyes to generate much excitement in my world. It’s merely a well paying 12 man, 4 day over two weekends, tournament. Oh yeah, and on the SAME water as we saw many times before…. YAWNZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Time to kick the BASS boat away from your sinking dock ESPN.
YAY YAY YAY!!! I just read Jerry Mckinnis and others have ‘in principle’ bought BASS!!! Maybe NOW we can get back to our roots. I WILL re-JOIN IMMEDIATELY in support of Jerry!!
Immediately after the papers are signed that is….
Angler of the YEAR not Angler of the Last Two Weeks.
Last year at the end I think there was a pretty strong argument that KVD deserved the AOY title.
This year I don’t think that same case can be made. Skeet got robbed.