You’re On One Basser’s Thanks List

Alright already. Every year around now my wife asks me what I’m thankful for, and gotta admit I don’t think about it much – til we go around the table and it’s my turn. But this year, for some reason, I am. So here’s a list.

1. Bassin’ Folks (You)

While back, in the BassFan years, I had to take a break from the bassin’ scene. For my sanity and because somethin’ called a noncompete made me. Didn’t know what would happen, but years later here I am. In bassin’. And the reason: people. Bassin’ folks.

Talkin’ ’bout everyone – the personalities (Z, Mercer, Sanders, db, etc.), the pros, the biz folks and especially the “everyday” people who make bassin’ what it is – the best sport, pastime, whatever, on planet Earth.

Down to earth, salt of the earth – love you all. Thanks for being you, and for having such an impact on me.

2. Jerry McKinnis

You probably don’t pay attention to bassin’/other outdoor media – the biz side of it, I mean. Either way, if you took a hard look around at what’s there, you’d see a good amount of it – the major stuff, not the smaller stuff – owned and run by people who don’t have much of a clue about fishing or hunting.

Doesn’t make them evil, just kind of a scary fact.

That’s a big reason I admire Jerry McKinnis. Known and admired him for years, but when he bought into B.A.S.S. he gained a new level of respect from me big-time.

With due respect to the other B.A.S.S. co-owners, Don Logan and Jim Copeland, both successful guys – they weren’t fishin’ biz guys before buying B.A.S.S. In contrast, Jerry was probably the single-most-successful guy ever in fishin’ media – with the Lindners and Ray Scott up there too.

Jerry had worked crazy hard, sold his company and was semi-retired (not sure it’s in the genes for Jerry to ever be fully retired) when ESPN came a-knockin’.

Now, while I’m sure many/all of you reading this think owning B.A.S.S. would be cool, I’m willing to bet the deal to buy B.A.S.S. wasn’t a slam dunk financially. Might’ve been far from it. Because ESPN wasn’t exactly printing money with B.A.S.S. – oops, BASS.

So what does Jerry do: He goes all in. He un-semi-retires, buys back the company he sold, and I’m sure has invested some serious money since.

Wanna emphasize this: Jerry could have and had every right to ride into the sunset having accomplished a heck of a lot. But he didn’t, and he didn’t because imo he flat-out loves bass fishing, bass anglers and B.A.S.S., and is committed to putting everything he has into making it all succeed for the future.

A big thanks from me, Jerry. We won’t let you down.

3. Van Halen

New album, new tour, from my favorite band of all time. YEAH!

Caution: Dave drops one F-bomb in this clip.

4. Jesus and the Bassin’ Dudes

Tough to keep this short, but here goes:

Don’t know how you can’t be moved by bass anglers. Just great people. Read all don barone’s stuff if you have any doubt.

I knew that, but little did I know I was gonna be moved in a different way by bassers. This may illustrate it – wish I had a photo, but maybe you can picture it.

Years ago at a Classic somewhere (they all kinda run together for me now), I was a media observer in a competitor’s boat. Early morning, dark – we were in the parking lot getting ready to head to the lake. Everyone’s in their boats messing around with stuff, then all of a sudden a bunch of the guys disappear.

I was confused for a sec because the order was to get rigged up and out to the launch. But then I looked down from the boat deck I was standing on and saw this:

A bunch of the Classic competitors circled up, each on a knee, praying together in a poorly-lit parking lot.

For me it was profound. Didn’t know at the time – and many other times – why. Now I do.

Sometime during the last couple years I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. Mind-blowing, heart-altering, great, awesome. No idea it would happen to me or that it was even really possible. Or, for that matter, real.

I think I’m a different guy now fo sho, but thankfully that doesn’t mean I’m this guy….

Many people to thank, but the bassin’ ones coming to me right now, in no particular order, are Jay Yelas, Alton Jones, Mark Davis, Shaw Grigsby, Andy Crawford, Bruce Stanton, Terry Brown, Al Smith, Ray Scott and Dave Precht. I’m sure I’m leaving a bunch o’ people out – sorry, not intentional.

Anyhow, wow. Thanks fellas.

God bless them and all of you.

Have a happy and safe T-bird day – catch a few if you can. I’ll be out there poppin’ a couple basses ’til the Kumars have to go to my wife’s family’s house. Then I’ll put the gloves on my wife and prepare myself for some re-heated dry-as-a-stick turkey. Maybe I’ll bring a meatloaf….