Is this zombie issue finally...toast?
AAAAAAAAAAAAA! Nate-gate won’t die!
Been trying not…to…write…about this again, but dang. Writing because Ray Scott and Bassin’Fan’s Johnny Johnson recently issued opinions on the Wellman matter, both on BassFan. If you didn’t read ’em, they’re good. Ray said it’s all about the polygraph, and JJ saidtourney rules need to be enforced to the letter.
Stack those up on the opinions of every basser going on and on about the integrity of the sport being in jeopardy – which I’m personally not buying. What I mean is, I agree with Ray when he says this (in fact, not sure I’ve ever disagreed with Ray):
Cheating was almost synonymous with fishing in 1968. We worked hard to make B.A.S.S. tournaments fair and honest, not only in the minds of the competitors, but the public at large.
Ray and the early B.A.S.S. did that and a whole lot more to bring organized bassin’ into the world. So he succeeded, and bass fishing is largely seen as fair and honest. So I don’t think some murkiness involving one event is going to throw the bassin’ world, let alone the “public” at large, into a tailspin.
On to Johnny Johnson, who says that:
Jerry McKinnis, Don Logan and Jim Copeland, tournament director Trip Weldon and tournament manager Chris Bowes are good, honorable men who tried to come up with a resolution that was fair to everybody involved.
Yep. Those guys are not only good, they’re smart and the ones I know in that group have little patience for BS. Which brings me back to the title of this post: I have zero inside knowledge here, but it’s kind of sounding like there’s something else.
Either something more went down, or someone knows something, or maybe someone just has a strong feeling about something but it can’t be said or acted upon.
Not trying to feed the flames of paranoia here at all, just making this comment from experience. A few times we at Bassin’Fan found out stuff that couldn’t see the light of day unless someone else (who?!) raked it up and put it out there. Or at least we had knowledge or a strong feeling that someone knew something somewhere that we couldn’t find out.
(And usually half the world thought they “knew” what that extra piece of info was, but they didn’t. Was all rumor.)
Not saying at all that the B.A.S.S. folks are concealing anything. Just wondering out loud because this thing hasn’t died yet…so wonder if there isn’t more to this story, even though the interviews Joe Stois gave make me think there isn’t.
Can’t tell if it’s the old reporter instincts or me just being paranoid too.
More: PAA Polygraphs
Forgot to mention this in a prior post: The PAA polygraphs every tourney because this is what their angler-members want:
Three polygraph examinations are given to the winner and two other anglers, selected randomly from the field, during the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series. Polygraph examinations also may be given at any time during the official tournament period at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
“Maintaining the integrity of the sport and avoiding any appearance of impropriety are paramount to establishing trust among anglers and fans,†PAA president Dave Mansue said. “The PAA urges other tournament organizations at all levels to establish firm, enforceable rules that will withstand litigation, as well as appropriate disciplinary measures to help maintain the level of trust, respect and spirit of competition all anglers expect during competition.â€
7 Comments
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Dwain
September 30, 2011 at 11:11 am
The PAA has the right idea
Rich Arnold
September 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm
This situation was poorly handled and the guys in charge know better. It’s a shame, but Nate Wellman’s antics and a few bad judgement calls over one incident do not reflect the integrety of Professional Bass Fishing. That’s like saying a blown call by a ref over a blatant infraction shows that there is huge problem in the NFL. People make mistakes, the individual get punished, the situation gets reviewed, procedures get modified (PAA procedure could be the fix for BASS in this case), and then we move on. I agree Jay, the Ray Scott and JJ pieces were good!
Chad Keogh
September 30, 2011 at 2:26 pm
I don’t think there is anything else below the surface on Nate Gate. I think that the whole situation is bringing out strong reactions and for good reason.
The only hint I have seen of anything more on Nate Gate was this on BassFan:
“Scott DeVries of Middleville, MI writes:
I was really happy for Nate. I thought he had grown up from the days he had fished in my club here in Michigan. Some things never change.
I think Joe did the right thing and FLW’s sanctions are correct. B.A.S.S. should step up! There’s no room for stupidity at that level of the sport. He’s taking the spot an honest pro could have had at the Classic.
Sorry, Nate. Think before you speak. Some things never change.”
Sounds to me like this wasn’t the first time Nate attempted to buy a win. If I was B.A.S.S., or BassFan for that matter, I would have tracked down Scott and asked if he had any other information. Since it would likely be unprovable at this point, they could only keep pushing the issue until Nate “voluntarily” changed career paths.
Rich Arnold
September 30, 2011 at 4:22 pm
He is not fishing the Classic and did not fish the third BASS Open
Tumblebug
September 30, 2011 at 3:18 pm
What will be interesting next year is will Nate enter any of the tournaments? Would you want to be in the boat with him if he did? If you were, would you be totally comfortable with the situation?
As for me, if I were fishing, I’d prefer not to be put in that situation.
Just my opinion.
Catch-N-Release
October 3, 2011 at 6:16 am
Take a look at the Open win he had at the Chesapeake and how he won…….interesting!
Bassville
October 3, 2011 at 11:45 am
In reading the comments and articles on this, it seems that most claim: I don’t know the facts, I wasn’t there, I didn’t hear the comments. But all want Nate to plead guilty and throw himself on the mercy of the fishing Gods. We have a long history in this country of solving problems by pleading to lessor charges. (even if your not guilty, plead guilty and hope for a slap on your wrist). But how often does this come back to bite the person. The chatter is mostly about polygraphs, Hey if they are so darn great, why bother with Judges and Juries?
I don’t know the facts, I wasn’t there, I didn’t hear the comments But I do know myself and sometimes I take jokes and razing to far. Folks who know me know that I can go a little overboard. Not saying that this is what Nate did, but I could see myself joking about needing a big fish to the point that I didn’t realize that I had went to far. Others have razzed me to the point that I didn’t know if they were serious or not. Nate, may or may not have been trying to pull a fast one but I don’t rule out the possibility that he took it to far.