It seems that the B.A.S.S. wars are heating up again.
Busch
Denny Brauer has fanned the Busch flame and has it burning again with a great column. That should keep things heated up for awhile.
The controversy over the Busch patch and what Busch would have the B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year do ended some B.A.S.S. careers for several good anglers. Then, as it has in the past, B.A.S.S. changed its mind -- but it was too late for the anglers who didn't receive any points.
The Federation
At a P&L meeting far removed from Montgomery, Ala., a bean-counter asked: "What is the Federation?" Another wanted to know: "Who are the CastingKids?" Momma B.A.S.S. (there used to be such a person) stood up to explain, and when she finished, the bean-counters said: "What do they cost and what is our profit margin?"
Stick a fork in the Federation and CastingKids. They are done at B.A.S.S.
Years ago I organized the first affiliated B.A.S.S. Chapter and later helped organize the B.A.S.S. Federation. The B.A.S.S. Chapters and Federation have always been the grassroots of B.A.S.S. They have also always been independent of B.A.S.S. in running their Chapters and state Federations.
We knew from the start that B.A.S.S. could not and should not dictate what they could or could not do. B.A.S.S., like good parents, laid out the path they should follow. In tournaments and programs that came under B.A.S.S. rules and control, they had to play by B.A.S.S. rules. But they were not forced to play. If they didn't follow the B.A.S.S. path, they were still part of the Federation and the B.A.S.S. family, just like kids who seek their own path.
When Ray Scott organized B.A.S.S., he was the owner and made the final decisions concerning his company and his family's livelihood. When he sold it to Helen Sevier, she became the owner and made the final decisions. Helen then sold it to ESPN-ABC-Disney, and now it has no owner or anyone depending on it for a living who can or will make the final decisions.
Some people who do not know that B.A.S.S. stands for the "Bass Anglers Sportsman Society" will decide its future. And if it doesn't show a profit on TV, you can put a fork in it.
Leave it to Irwin Jacobs to stir the pile. He knows you don't sell boats to people who just watch TV. If someone doesn't build roads, you can't sell autos, so FLW is again promoting fishing in order to sell boats and product. They know the value of the Federation and CastingKids to get people fishing. FLW has put out the welcome mat. They know how to attract sponsors and sell product.
The B.A.S.S. 'Shield'
The glue that held B.A.S.S. together in the early days was the B.A.S.S. patch and decal. Ray used to tell everyone to wear the patch on the left pocket, just above the heart. The decal was designed for boats and tackle boxes, but many decorate automobiles. I can still spot one in a pickup's window half a mile away.
B.A.S.S. never forced anyone to wear the patch. We didn't need to. People were proud to wear it.
But a few years back B.A.S.S. Rule 21 forced all B.A.S.S. tournament contestants to wear the B.A.S.S. patch, and this year a rule forced everyone to wear a Busch patch.
Now the final straw: ESPN has redesigned the B.A.S.S. symbol. The new B.A.S.S. patch no longer contains the words "Bass Anglers Sportsman Society," just the letters B.A.S.S. -- which could stand for the "Big Apple Swan Song" for the people that made B.A.S.S.
Tennessee's Harold Sharp was hired by Ray Scott as B.A.S.S.'s original tournament director and was instrumental in making B.A.S.S. successful. He now operates Fishin' Talents, which books pros for speaking engagements at outdoor shows, and also does some consulting.
Here's the new B.A.S.S. (or BASS) shield.
