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    "There are a thousand more just like that who can at least come up with one year’s worth of entry fees to take his place. That’s the harsh reality."
from Wackoman  
8/7/2012 10:28:42 AM

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Nice write by Pete Robbins. Check it out here.

http://insideprobass.com/2011-08-17-22-20-26/pete-robbins/132-sticks-and-stones

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   So Pete from BR400  8/7/2012 10:46:52 AM
 What would the Marshall's and Trip have said if Kyle had cranked up the big motor to shoot up the next dock, and didn't put on his vest or kill switch????

   Good article, I also thought it was interesting............ from Jmac #10965 #10965  8/7/2012 11:34:01 AM
 that on the BASS site it had 20 questions with Hank Parker and he said something to the effect that one of his biggest regrets was some of the confrontations on the water and some of the things he said.

   I didn't understand from Skipper  8/7/2012 12:26:05 PM
 The part about not wanting the marshals to affect the game by telling the Tournament director something that went on during the day. What are they there for? Their own entertainment?

That said, I don't get offended that often by cursing or language. It very much depends on the situation.

   Yeah me either Skip but it is a very sensitive world we live in. To society's determent I am afraid. from Wackoman  8/7/2012 12:53:38 PM
 

Yes the marshals are there to do just what these two marshals did. Pete said the same thing. Policing is their job like it or not.

He did say he was at first "dubious" (read doubtful) of the marshal program but a bunch of us were.

Unfortunately we can't do without them unless they bring the cos back. Too many don't trust their competitors and there are too many competitors that can't be trusted.

Me..I don't trust the cos.

Edited 8/7/2012 3:57:02 PM

   "I don't trust the co's"....now wait a minute Mr. Co Angler from Bill Hunter  8/7/2012 1:20:43 PM
 are you saying that Wackoman can't be trusted....he is my friend and I believe anything he says....I would trust him with anything that I own....including HUNTER>....hahahaha

   The problem with marshals influencing from bassdude #14254 #14254  8/7/2012 1:25:04 PM
 outcomes of tournaments and careers is the consistency from marshal to marshal. Based on what I've heard about this situation, the two anglers should have worked it out themselves. Zaldain was not going to report it. Put two different marshals out there with them and nobody ever knew it happened. I don't have a problem with reporting someone cheating, but this was just two competitors in a disagreement where some language was used. People in the heat of competition may sometimes use extreme language to get a point across or in fits of anger. Just happens.

   I'd somewhat agree with Bassdude from Skipper  8/7/2012 2:01:59 PM
 There's not a lot of consistency among the Marshalls. Just observing the group at Douglas I'd venture a guess that out of 100 there no more than 50 had ever fished a tournament. Of those 50, maybe 30 in the last year. There were around 30 people there that fished maybe 4 days a year and wanted to learn something or were from around Douglas Lake and thought they might get a spot or 2 out of the deal. That leaves around 30 or so. I've venture a guess that out of those 20, 15 of them would have had to have been told if the fish was a largemouth or smallmouth. There was probably at least 5 more that didn't know where the dock was.

That said, I don't know how you fix this.

I would venture a guess that tournament experience declined as BASS went up in Latitude as well. The fact is Douglas is a lake where there's better than 2000 tournaments a year held on it. Pretty obviously that's not the case at Green Bay.

I didn't say anything to Trip over the driving deal because I really didn't think it would affect the fishing part one way or the other and figured I'd be best forgetting about it. Maybe another marshal might have handled that differently.

The truth is, it's no different than Football. When you visit Tuscaloosa you can count on a few extra holding penalties.

   Very good points bassdude and Skipper. from Wackoman  8/7/2012 2:18:53 PM
 

Kinda like MLB umpires having different strike zones. Difference is that those guys are well paid and well trained. A volunteer marshal other the other hand.......well Brad could get that low paying job!

Look I said from the start to let the guys fish by them selves. Strap a GPS/emergency beacon to them and tell them to have at if they don't want to fish with a backseater.

Would some of them try to cheat? I doubt it. But who cares if they do. Cheaters are always caught! Then they are done with competitive fishing. Done with most everything cept jail if everybody finds out they tried to cheat for money and/or fame.

By the way, I cannot walk around my workplace saying the n-word without some consequences. Chances are you can't either. That is just the way it is.

The front deck in the middle of nowhere is where these guys work. Lots of time on camera.

The Fox boy screwed up. But I doubt he career is over like Pete says. He can fish more. People like forgiving more than they do condemning.

   Good Article...On the Marshal situation from Hoot  8/7/2012 4:48:57 PM
 Just because you aren't a seasoned Bass Tournament Fishermen doesn't mean that you can't recognize a bad situation that you think deserves to be reported...

The Marshall's didn't make the call they reported the incident to Tripp and it was investigated and BASS made the decision...I'd rather have Marshals with enough stones to report an incident like these than someone who decided to remain quiet just because the Pro didn't want to get involved.

Fox who lost his cool is the one that got himself in this mess through no fault of the Marshals. Guess it's the Marshal's fault he got caught...

   Double edged sword..... from ButchT  8/7/2012 6:18:14 PM
 Is about all I'll say. Sad deal all the way around.

Where do you draw the line in regard to common sense? Anymore I sure as hell don't know.

   What did Ish do on Toledo Bend?? from Cole #15516 #15516  8/7/2012 10:38:20 PM
 n/m

   Pretty Good Soap Box from Javelin #11499 #11499  8/7/2012 11:43:58 PM
 I enjoyed the lively discussion on this incident a couple of weeks ago. The best part was that most of the replies stayed focused on the topic (not BASS versus FLW). I am, in fact, members of both.

BASS made their ruling and continued with business as usual. I would expect that from the local trails we fish around here. Heck, it's your trail. You make the rules. Guys sign an entry form and consent to the TD's final decision.

Unlike BASS, these trails do not proclaim themselves "The Worldwide Leader In Bass Fishing." We don't have to run wrapped rigs, tell jokes or yell on-camera to attract TV viewers.

I now realize that the Elite Series is no different from our local trails - just bigger payouts and a few cameras.

   Agree Wacko from Skipper  8/8/2012 11:52:14 AM
 Sometimes I agree with Trap. We have about put too many rules into this sport that have little to do with the sport itself. That said, Bass Elite isn't a Tuesday nighter with the locals. You are in the spotlight and can't say things that you can on Tuesday night.

As far as using Marshals to prevent cheating, I'm not sure that's the whole purpose in the program, however, we do have the unfortunate distinction of being in a sport with a well known reputation for cheating. NASCAR is similar. For decades we've known that people cheat in NASCAR. It's just been part of it. Only in recent years have people really started whining over it and wanting people beheaded for adding an extra gallon of gas or having 3 extra cubic inches of engine or having a car that's 2 centimeters too low to the ground.

Our cheating is a bit different though. Mostly it's adding weight by feeding fish lead or it's putting fish in a basket to be picked up during the tournament. In some of these local situations I've seen a lot of fish sharing. If you have fished tournaments for any length of time and are half way observant you figure out quick who's cheating and at least in my experience it's always been taken care of behind the scenes and out of the public's eye. Either banning people or refusing to fish tournaments that allow certain people in or a threat of a but whipping if they show up again.

Sad, but the way it is.

   Marshalls from GITTHENET  8/8/2012 1:07:17 PM
 are unfortunately put into their position as the "officials" of the sport yet, they vary from lake to lake and aren't necesarrily proffessionaly trained as are true "officials" of other sports. This process / program is inherint of issues and inconsistencies.

Granted the use of the word this day and time is unacceptable however, with any other potential issues, this program, the Marshall program, literally lends itself to interpretation, impression, and the participants (officials) can be considered as rookies at best.....

   when I was a little boy from MikeF  8/8/2012 1:26:13 PM
 When I was a little boy my momma told me if I didn't do anything wrong I wouldn't have to worry about who told on me.

   LOL....@ Mike F from Hoot  8/8/2012 5:19:56 PM
  I shouldn't be laughing at such a truthful statement however the manner in which it is delivered is very amusing....Momma had it all together and told you right...a few more parents should have told their kids that

Edited 8/9/2012 7:28:01 AM

   There were also some actions as well as the words from Hoot  8/9/2012 8:10:29 AM
 reported in this incident that also have to be a contributing factor in the overall decision BASS made.

Professionally training the Marshals who are basically volunteers that pay for the privilege of spending all day in a Bass boat watching somebody else fish are you serious?....

What are the chances of BASS hiring a 100 plus Marshals then spending months training them, then paying a fee and travel expenses to show up at an Elite event?

Whenever BASS events produce revenue like MLB,The NBA, The NFL and the NHL then maybe there can be a discussion on the need for training full time officials.

Since when do you have to be professionally trained to recognize the fact that an individual fishing in a high profile Bass tournament let his temper get way out of hand?

Git and others mention inconsistencies among the Marshals?...Was Fox's behavior which is the sole reason for his suspension consistent or inconsistent with BASS events?

Now how many complaints do you normally hear after a tournament about inconsistent Marshaling being the reason someone didn't win?

Mr Fox gets suspended for actions entirely of his own making and by some of the comments on here it's being blamed on inconsistent Marshals?

   I missed that one Hoot. I didn't read where anyone in the post is suggesting that the Elite marshals be professionally trained. from Wackoman  8/9/2012 9:01:45 AM
 

For my money the marshals are just as good as a co-angler in legitimizing a guy's catch. Probably better because a co-angler might have a stake it the days activities that a marshal would not.

Still they should not have to pay to do this task that BASS so desperately needs them to do. They should be paid.

Edited 8/9/2012 12:08:39 PM

   + 1 for Mike's comment from Fisherboy #10852 #10852  8/9/2012 12:02:59 PM
 
If angler's would just shut up a fish, there would be less problems. Otherwise, they give "Sportsman"ship a bad name.

   You got that right Fisherboy... from RobShaw  8/9/2012 1:45:39 PM
 When you and I fished the Potomac, the only words spoken were "Gary, get the net" and "OUCH" (after you sent that Bullet airborne!

(:

   Fast Fact from Fisherboy #10852 #10852  8/9/2012 1:58:49 PM
 
I love it when people ask for the net ... I don't carry one. I love the look on their faces, especially when it's a big fish.

   Took a comment out of context...Apologize from Hoot  8/9/2012 10:54:51 PM
 I interpreted Git's comments wrong about the Marshal's not being professionally trained...He merely pointed out they were not professionally trained and never suggested at any time they should be professionally trained....

Sorry Git

Wackoman is an excellent copy editor

   Not an issue. from Wackoman  8/10/2012 10:52:10 AM
 
Like I said the Fox boy messed up and will have to suffer the consequences. To his credit he has not been whining about it or denying what was said. Yet anyway.

The other side some of the guys here were trying to make is that without the marshal the fishermen would have probably settled it between themselves. And that maybe the punishment doesn't fit the crime. I can that view too.

But what are you going to do. You recruit these marshals to help regulate and legitimize the sport. You can't then go and tell them to keep their mouth shut.

Tuff call.