Thursday, February 28, 2008
Showtime at the Classic
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
If you relied on ESPN to provide TV coverage on how Virginia’s two entries in the Bassmaster Classic were doing, you were certain to be disappointed. The network, which owns BASS, gave John Crews of Salem and Jeff Freeman of Max Meadows scant attention. Thanks go to Mark Taylor of The Roanoke Times for the details he provided.
To be sure, Crews and Freeman weren’t a threat to grab the Classic crown. Freeman, who was ill, just missed the final-day cut and Crews finished 16th, his impressive last-day catch coming too late to really count.
Even so, viewers with a back-home favorite deserved to be told how things were going past the top-10 list, but that seldom happened. Too much detail would have messed up the drama that ESPN felt necessary to embellish.
If you wanted quick details on the Classic, the place to go was Internet blogs. If you wanted feel-good drama, ESPN TV was your source.
But should it have been that way? Is ESPN wrong when it presents Classic contenders as showmen rather than athletes? Is there too much emphasis on hook-setting, fish-yanking, boat-racing, fist-pumping and obligatory yelling? And why keep trying to justify the coverage of competitive fishing by repeating time and again: “This is the World Series of bass fishing!” “This is the Super Bowl of bass fishing!”
I used those clichés nearly 30 years ago when I was covering the Classic for The Roanoke Times. Selling competitive bass fishing as a legitimate sport is a slow process, considering BASS is celebrating its 40th year.
Local TV stations expressed what they thought about competitive fishing by giving the Classic scant notice. The same can be said of most newspapers.
Missing were some of the old-time pros who helped put BASS on the map. Their absence had nothing to do with fishing skills, and much to do with the feeling of being manipulated. Many have gone over to the FLW side, which is more about fishing and less about showmanship.
No question, covering the Classic is one of the most daunting tasks of TV sports. ESPN is doing many things well, and is improving in some instances. The network appeared to show less favoritism this time. It wisely shortened the time given to superficiality at the weigh-in. But there will be few major gains until ESPN progresses beyond the “gee-whiz” stage.
Here is what stood out in the 2008 Classic coverage: It was the year that the Internet grabbed the spotlight from TV as the best place to get detailed Classic coverage.
BILL
A SEASON OF RECORDS FOR DR. JULIE BALL
Most anglers are happy to catch one or two citation-size fish during a lifetime of angling. If you average one a year, you are in a class of your own.
Then there are those rare people, like Dr. Julie Ball of Virginia Beach who landed 19 citations in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament -- all caught the past season and each representing a different species. Only one other angler, Darren Foster of Newport News, equaled that distinction.
Ball also was ranked the third top female saltwater anglers in 2007 by the International Game Fish Association, the official keeper of world records. She registered five world record catches last season.
In 2007, Ball earned her 125 citation, including one for the largest bluefish of the year caught in Virginia, a 21-pound, 5-ounce giant.
BILL
STRIPER CLUB SPONSERS MARCH MADNESS
Do you have cabin fever? Need to buy some fishing gear? Want to do some fishing? The Smith Mountain Striper Club will cover all of these with its March Madness for members and guests scheduled March 7 and 8.
Beginning 7 p.m. March 7 the club will feature a BBQ, Swap Shop and Fishermen’s Flea Market. Contact Angie Behan, club president, for details, including membership requirements. The family membership fee is $30
On Saturday, March 8 the club will sponsor a member-guest tournament, with a weigh-in at 4 p.m. at Captain’s Quarters. Contact Jeff Meeks for contest information.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>Robin Clark of Charlottesville was named the 2007 Wheelin’ Sportsmen National Wild Turkey Federation volunteer of the Year at the NWTF conference in Atlanta. Sharing the honor were Mark and Connie Cook of Greenwood, S.C. Clark has been helping to coordinate more than 20 events annually for disabled sportsmen.
>>It is not unusual for environmentalists in Virginia to become vocal about issues in Alaska, but the other way around? Plans by the Army Corps of Engineers to approve a marina on Back Bay in Virginia Beach have created opposition from as far away as Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the facility would damage sensitive habitat in Back Bay where the emphasis is on protection of migratory birds.
>>Aaron VanArnum, superintendent of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Marion Hatchery, has been charged with fatally shooting two ducks that were preying on the hatchery’s young trout. He prepaid a $100 fine on one count and is scheduled to appear in Smyth County General District Court April 18 on the second count, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.
>>Lance Hanger, of Churchville, placed third, behind Dakota Clouser, Danville, Pa, and Hailey Long, York, Ala, in the Intermediate Division -- ages 16 to 20 -- of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Grand National Calling Championship held last week in Atlanta.
>>BASS has announced the venues of its next three Bassmaster Classics. The 2009 Classic is scheduled for Shreveport-Bossier City, La; 2010 in Birmingham, Ala. and 2011 in New Orleans.
>>Capt. Ferrell McLain of the J-MAR is guiding catch-and-release striped bass fishing out of Reedville for anglers targeting citation stripers, fish 44 inches or more. “Some people are using light tackle and either jigging or using live bait,” he said. Check 1-888-BAYFISH.
>>Saltwater anglers from North Carolina to Maine are catching fewer and smaller striped bass as mortality increases and the spawning stock shrinks. That is the word from Brad Burns, president of Stripers Forever. Burns remarks counter recent reports by the Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission that said stripers aren’t being over fished.
>>Capt. Jake Hiles is hoping for a repeat of last season’s excellent yellowfin tuna fishing out of Oregon Inlet, N.C., when limits of 18 yellowfins weren’t uncommon. Hiles has been spending the winter catching giant bluefin tuna and upgrading his charter boat, the Matador, to the tune of $100,000. His yellowfin fishing season is mid-March through mid-June. Check matadorcharters.com.
>>Capt. Terry Hill of TowBoatU.S. Potomac Marine of Woodbridge was awarded “Tower of the Year” honors at the 14th annual BoatUS. Towing Services Conference. More than 200 TowBoatU.S. and vessel assist captains were in attendance at Jacksonville, Fla.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Dixie Deer Classic, Feb. 28-March 2, North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, dixiedeerclassic.org.
Smith River Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting, 6 p.m. March 6, Ranias’ Restaurant, Martinsivlle, program on Trout in the Classroom, guests welcome, can order a meal, information from B.J. Walker, 434-728-1419 bjfireresq@embarqmail.com or Al Kittredge, 910-868-5235.
National Capital Boat Show, March 7-9, Dulles Expo Center, information from agievents.com.
Smith Mountain Striper Club March Madness, March 7 and 8, BBQ, Swap Shop, Fishermen’s Flea Market, members/guest tournament, information from Angie Behan.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 4, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program by Dan Wilson, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist.
Youth spring gobbler day, April 5
Spring gobbler season, April 12-May 17.
Virginia Mountains Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, Roanoke Plaza Hotel (formerly Wyndham), April 12, 6 p.m., tickets and membership $55, spouse $30, information/tickets from Brandon Harper.
Seventh Annual David H. Horne Memorial Hunters for the Hungry Golf Tournament, May 7, Birkdale Golf Course, Richmond, contact Braxton Bell, 804-739-3010.
Twenty-fifth annual Bluefish Derby, June 13 & 14, Reedville, information from Jett’s Hardware, 804-453-5325.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
