The BASS Masters Classic

Dave Ochs

I don't often like commentary by writers who spill opinion without having total inside knowledge about their topic. But I also understand that they sometimes cannot have total inside information. They are, to a great extent, often simply observers, a useful social and philosophical role.

However, having justified myself and rationalized my action -- and realizing I may hate myself in the morning for doing this -- I'm going to comment without inside information.

I don't like the current qualifying format for the BASS Masters Classic.

I base my opinion not so much on anything B.A.S.S. is or isn't doing, but rather on my experience playing organized sports for a dozen years and then covering college and pro sports as a reporter for some three decades.

I've learned that people want and like stars. They want stars to root for or against. Tiger Woods in golf. Mark McGwire in baseball. People love to see Woods do well, and they love it even more when David Duval challenges him. They love seeing McGwire smack baseballs, and they love it even more when he steps to the plate if somebody like Roger Clemens or Pedro Martinez is on the mound. At those moments, it's the best against the best. The athletes have proved that time and time again, we've seen them do it, and we know it can't get any better. And so we watch, enthralled with the matchups.

It's not that way in the BASS Masters Classic. I found myself rooting for Kevin VanDam on the final day of the 2001 Classic because I knew so very little about most of the final day's other title contenders. I had no rooting interest in them. I wanted VanDam to win because I thought the three-time Angler of the Year deserved to win a Classic. It felt as if he'd earned the right to win it. He'd earned it by proving his talent day in and day out on the pro tour, fishing against the best.

The late Bryan Kerchal taught us that a Federation angler can win the Classic. Kerchal was an excellent fisherman who took advantage of his opportunity. There are many other Federation anglers who could outfish the regulars on the pro tour over three days. I've been lucky enough to spend a couple dozen days fishing with some of the touring pros and, on occasion, I've outfished one or two. But that's not the norm. Not on a regular basis. Not over an entire season. That's when the best rise up, over a long period of time.

Just because a college team wins the College World Series, I don't think that club should get the chance to go against the best major league team for the world championship. Just because Duke wins the N-C-A-A championship doesn't mean the Blue Devils should get to play the Los Angeles Lakers for the world championship.

"Rocky" would have bombed as a movie instead of winning the Academy Award for Best Picture if we hadn't spent an hour and a-half getting to know Rocky before the big fight. If we didn't know anything about him, our reaction would have been, "Who cares?"

Maybe it's financially smart to do things the way B.A.S.S. does. Maybe the dream of fishing in a Classic creates membership. I'm not privy to company meetings or the company's financial sheet. I'm a fan on the outside looking in.

Now, there's nothing wrong with allowing the best of the amateurs to compete in the big show. Golf and tennis do it annually in the U-S Open. But if that's the way you're going to market your product, then invite the Operation Bass All-American and FLW champions to the party.

I'm not completely convinced Federation anglers belong in the Classic, with the possible exception of the Federation National winner. Two people from my club, Fairfax Bass, have gone all the way to the Classic through the Federation system. Another has reached the Federation National. All three are excellent fishermen, and it was exciting to see them get that far. But I can't help feel that if B.A.S.S wants to give the Federation anglers a chance to stand out and shine, then market the Federation National as THE true national championship for amateurs. That system works great for golf and it's U-S Amateur

I don't think fishermen from the regional BASS Master Open tours belong in the Classic. That's like letting baseball's Triple-A champion play in the World Series. And I don't like the Shootout. Proving yourself over one week after having failed to make the cut over the course of the season doesn't impress me.

As a fan, I want to be impressed. I want to know that the guys who are in the Classic are the best of the best. I want to see the guys who have fished against the best all year long and have held their own all year long. Over the course of a year, I get to know the guys on the top tour. When it comes time for their championship, I choose sides, I get excited about detailed coverage of the waters they're going to fish and about knowing the strengths and weaknesses of those fishermen. I want to follow them and see how they use those strengths and overcome those weaknesses. I cheer for them.

I don't want somebody I haven't heard of who finished 30th on a regional tour to come in and spoil all my fun. I don't want to be left wondering, "Who is this guy?" I want to be left with what Kevin VanDam gave us, the feeling that, "yeah, he IS the champion."

I want a star.