Six months went by pretty fast, and it all boils down to one weekend to determine the BASS Elite Angler of the Year. One two-day event on the Alabama River, near Montgomery, and the 2010 BASS Elite season will be over. Eight tournaments, two weeks of "post season" play and another season will be in the books.

The whole post season "Chase" deal seems fortuitous more so this year than any before it. Those who cover this sport like we do on a daily basis to be honest are not sure we get it. It's our approach, here at Wired2Fish, to usually stay out of the fray, but from the calls and feedback I have gotten, it was time to spout off a bit. It has been my opinion for years that BASS does what it does because it's a business. They have a right to run it the way they want.  

 

In recent weeks, I have been stumbling around with this entire post season program and truthfully believe it's bigger than just BASS. Its about records and the true nature of the sport. History has a part in the game. I am not sure if this is an honest reflection of who actually wins AOY. If Skeet pulls it off ... no harm no foul, but if he doesn't, I believe the fans and media will be buzzing. Maybe that is the goal. Rest assured it will change the AOY paradigm.  

 

This past weekend I watched the entire MLB Hall of Fame induction ceremony from Cooperstown. Whitey Herzog, Doug Harvey and Andre Dawson were inducted and each of their speeches hit home with me. Each intimated that the sport is bigger than the individual, and Dawson kept saying, "take care of the sport, and it will take care of you".

 

There is a lot of truth in that with professional bass fishing too. BASS is the gate keeper here, no question, but I also believe it's obligated to treasure the nature of what has been established and the records kept before. I don't want an asterisk placed on it. It is indeed a business, but it's more than that to me and many of us who love it. It's history, and it's important to do it with those guidelines in mind.

I was recently told that it costs $150,000 dollars to put on a BASS Elite Series event. I cannot argue if thats accurate or not, but I do know it's not cheap. The organizers of these events have to cost justify what they are doing. Again it's a business. Cities and counties located around the events foot part of the bill. They want the events, and they want people to spend money in their towns.
 

I applaud them for stepping up, but I am in a bit of a quandry why we have the finals three years running on the same bodies of water in the same state. Is the playing field important any longer, or is it only about securing a paying location? Are there other locations that would want the finals? No offense to the folks in Lower Alabama (LA), but I would like to see it move around.

Let's also talk a bit about balancing the points. This year, it is my belief that doing that the way it was done is skewed. No one in the history of competitive bass fishing has ever had the year Skeet Reese did. Leveling the points is akin to giving everyone a medal or making sure the fastest runner starts after everyone else. In football, you at least get the homefield advantage. Maybe the first eight events could get handicapped differently. It just doesn't seem right the way it is. 

 
I don't have the answer, but I sure would like to see dominance weighted in some manner. This year and last it was Skeet, but maybe next year, it will be KVD, Gary Klein or Russ Lane. My dad always told me that to be the best you have to work the hardest. Skeet manhandled the competition in 2010 and should be rewarded for it.

The outcome will ultimately be favorable to one angler, but will the outcome be just? It really comes down to two weekends and what happened in the other eight events only got us here. Some feel this is exciting and a neat new twist, the fishing purist says it should be the way it was. Even though I like the concept of a post season, I really do,  I believe it could be enhanced or tweaked a bit.

 

Is there a better way and still an ability to accomplish the same thing? Post season drama is a cool deal, and I believe that it has merit. Many have suggested it is like the playoffs in football where the best team during the season doesn't ultimately win the championship. But Championships and MVP's are two different things.

Tony Wilson sent me a note that read like this: "In 2007, the New England Patriots went undefeated in the regular season.  A feat that had never been done before in a 16 game season. Should they have been crowned National Champions before the playoffs started (they ended up losing in the Super Bowl)? The BASS format was changed, and everybody has to play by the same book, the same rules. The way I see it, Skeet is turning into the New England Patriots of 2007. Perform when it's time to perform, or you don't get the hardware."

Others see it another way. One title is Angler of the Year and the other is the Classic title. Danny Barker wrote "That is what the Classic is for, not the same for the AOY title."

There is no question no matter what happens everyone will not be happy. I applaud BASS for taking the steps to add some post season excitement. We are definitely talking about it, and we sure needed the injection of adrenaline.