Are Bass Pros Athletes?

This topic gets tossed around every so often, and I’ve done it on BassFan, on Loudmouth Bass, probably some other places I’m forgetting about. Why now and why here? Just saw an article about whether NASCAR drivers are athletes, and it all came rushing back to me man!

Seriously, though…not sure what qualifies someone as an athlete. Usually people use as an athletic reference whatever sport they played or like the most. Sometimes people think it has to be a ball/puck sport or whatever. But really:

> Are pro golfers athletes? They have great form, but would probably have a heart attack running to the local Dunkin’ Donuts.
> Same goes for MLB pitchers.
> Are endurance runners athletes? Are divers? Ping-pong players? Jockeys?

S’pose we have to start with what qualify as athletic traits. I’m going with:

> Coordination, notably hand-eye
> Endurance, which I think presumes some level of physical fitness
> Finely tuned skills and form

Any others I’m not thinking of?

Not going to opine on which of the above traits are more important, if any. But by those criteria, I’d rank bass pros and NASCAR drivers above golfers, pitchers, endurance runners, jockeys and whatever else you want to throw in there.

Maybe above some NFL linemen – the ones who need oxygen after more than a few minutes of effort – and some NBA players (look, mom, I’m tall!). You get the picture.

Speaking as an ex Div I athlete (bfd but just as a frame of reference), my humble opinion is that bass pros are coordinated, have finely tuned skills and form, and have endurance that few folks possess: It may not be aerobic, but 4 to 7 consecutive days on water in weather extremes is TOUGH (anyone who thinks otherwise is nuts IMO).

Add to that casting for 4-8 hours per day, and presenting baits exactly right under all sorts of conditions, and don’t see how anyone couldn’t say for sure that pro bass anglers are a) crazy and b) athletes.

Where you comin’ out?