Preserving and Promoting the Sport

I’ve frequently argued that the best tournament anglers need to be selfish and occasionally ruthless – not unsportsmanlike, but rather single-minded, even if it means pissing people off. You can become an All-Star, or a Hall of Famer even, without being an especially nice guy, but to rise to that uppermost echelon you really have to care about the sport.

There have been multiple examples of that this year. The first was provided by Jay Yelas, whose “retirement” may give him a bigger or more important platform than the one that earned him his entry into the Hall in the first place. The more recent examples I’ve witnessed have been Kevin VanDam and Brandon Palaniuk – again, first-tier anglers (one already in the Hall, the other likely to end up there the moment he’s eligible) who were invited to join The Hall’s board this year. In fact, they might have quietly but effectively lobbied for the positions.

It seems to me that when public figures join a board, or become spokesmen for a product, or undertake some likewise prominent role, oftentimes they provide a half-assed effort. They show up for the glory shots, but don’t do the less recognized work. That’s why I have been so surprised (even though I shouldn’t have been) by those two pros’ efforts. They’ve come to the board with humility, with good ideas, ready to leverage both their connections and sweat equity to improve the institution. You could see it at the induction ceremony, where Kevin helped with the auction and Brandon lugged around a “lure flag” bigger than him, but for me, the real proof was at the meetings leading up to the event. It was clear that they’d each taken time to think through their value-added and to speak up when appropriate. I was simply surprised that BP was there, at the end of a grueling AOY campaign, with a newborn at home, but he showed up ready to play. Kevin, as always, aims to be the best at anything he does.

They’re both not just good representatives of the sport, but also fans of the sport. They really care about its history along with the direction that it’s going, which makes them perfect ambassadors. This is serious business, but it’s also fun. When we stop being fans (whether we’re competitors, journalists, industry reps, or otherwise involved) you might as well move on to another pastime.

With several members of VanDam’s generation, including Davy Hite and the above-mentioned Jay Yelas, already inducted, it’s time to start thinking about future draft classes. Where will Edwin Evers, Skeet Reese, and Mike Iaconelli fit in? Will they be first-ballot inductees or will it take them a few years? Will their eventual induction be based entirely on their on-the-water accomplishments or on additional factors? The resolution of those questions is out of my hands. As far as I know, all of them will be deserving of induction sooner or later. I know that not every inductee (or future inductee, like BP) can be as hands-on as some of the current ones, but I’d like to think that the Hall’s increasing stature and effectiveness make both induction and contribution desirable for everyone even remotely connected to the scene.