The Decision is What Makes Ike Be Ike
Posted by Pete Robbins on Sep 26th 2021
Will he or won’t he?
Will Mike Iaconelli return to the Elite Series after leaving to fish the BPT and “pursue other interests?”
Lots of people asking that same question in the bass-o-sphere. I don’t know the answer, but if history is any guide, he’ll tease it until the last possible minute, and then possibly twist the result a bit again.
That’s what makes Ike a unique personality within our world. Yes, as his rampage through the Northern Opens shows, he can still catch the hell out of them, but his off-the-water actions—or, in some cases, inaction—matter just as much as the fish he catches. He’s our version of a Kardashian, famous and intriguing for what goes on when nothing’s going on.
It’s not quite a “show about nothing,” but no matter what Ike does—from the good (spending countless hours signing autographs for kids or working on his foundation) to the bad (bending a light pole, knocking out the windows on a truck in anger), that’s a show. Make a decision—that’s a show. Put off the decision—that, too, is a show. He’s been so transformative to the sport because he’s the first person who completely figured out how to manipulate the fans and the media to all of our benefit. I’m the perfect case in point. I’ve written multiple blog entries in recent weeks about an action that he’s yet to take, and may never take.
