James RickardA trio in the anglers' corner
December 24th 2007 05:37
I’ve talked about comparing professional fishing to NASCAR before, pointing out its southern roots and rising popularity. I haven’t mentioned that there are teams which represent various companies or corporations like you find in racing.
Advanced Auto Parts is one company trying to raise its profile by sponsoring a team that includes Marty Stone, Gerald Swindle, and John Crews. Rather than waste your time with a stock photo of each angler, I’ve included a video from YouTube at the end of his post. The video is a commercial from Advanced Auto parts. They’re not paying me (unfortunately) but it has some good shots of the featured anglers and , unlike some commercials, you can actually learn something by watching it.
Marty Stone is one of the most successful anglers in the U.S. Although he entered his first tournament at only 16, he didn’t turn pro until 1996. Since that time he's won two tournaments and finished “in the money” over 50 times.
Gerald Swindle is a good example of a “working fisherman.” Here’s a guy who has been entering BASS tournaments since 1996 but has never come away with a major victory. What he’s got going for him is consistency. Swindle is so consistent that he was Angler of the Year in 2004!
Another thing that Gerald Swindle has is charisma. He’s a likable, handsome fellow and can only help the public perception of fishing.
A dark spot on his record would have to be a disqualification from an early 2007 tournament when he ran his boat too close to spectators and a TV crew. This incident provoked a lot of discussion but it’s all water under the bridge now. My own take on it is that spectators should be further away from the action.
Does this mean that Gerald Swindle is turning into the “bad boy” of the sport? Not if his tears at the press conference announcing his disqualification are any indication. Like I said a couple of weeks ago, it’s hard to write about a career that’s still evolving. None the less, it would do my heart good to write about him winning the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.
The third angler to be profiled today is John Crews. He hasn’t won any major tournaments yet. Still under 30, Crews began his pro career straight out of college. In a sport that sees 40-year-old rookies, he still has plenty of time to make his mark. Crews has already entered over 60 tournaments and finished “in the money” more than 40 times at an age when most guys are still sowing their wild oats.
Advanced Auto Parts is one company trying to raise its profile by sponsoring a team that includes Marty Stone, Gerald Swindle, and John Crews. Rather than waste your time with a stock photo of each angler, I’ve included a video from YouTube at the end of his post. The video is a commercial from Advanced Auto parts. They’re not paying me (unfortunately) but it has some good shots of the featured anglers and , unlike some commercials, you can actually learn something by watching it.
Marty Stone is one of the most successful anglers in the U.S. Although he entered his first tournament at only 16, he didn’t turn pro until 1996. Since that time he's won two tournaments and finished “in the money” over 50 times.
Gerald Swindle is a good example of a “working fisherman.” Here’s a guy who has been entering BASS tournaments since 1996 but has never come away with a major victory. What he’s got going for him is consistency. Swindle is so consistent that he was Angler of the Year in 2004!
Another thing that Gerald Swindle has is charisma. He’s a likable, handsome fellow and can only help the public perception of fishing.
A dark spot on his record would have to be a disqualification from an early 2007 tournament when he ran his boat too close to spectators and a TV crew. This incident provoked a lot of discussion but it’s all water under the bridge now. My own take on it is that spectators should be further away from the action.
Does this mean that Gerald Swindle is turning into the “bad boy” of the sport? Not if his tears at the press conference announcing his disqualification are any indication. Like I said a couple of weeks ago, it’s hard to write about a career that’s still evolving. None the less, it would do my heart good to write about him winning the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.
The third angler to be profiled today is John Crews. He hasn’t won any major tournaments yet. Still under 30, Crews began his pro career straight out of college. In a sport that sees 40-year-old rookies, he still has plenty of time to make his mark. Crews has already entered over 60 tournaments and finished “in the money” more than 40 times at an age when most guys are still sowing their wild oats.
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Here's the video I promised.
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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