Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Somewhere in California, Skeet Reese just kicked a kitten.

Can you hear him screaming? “NOW you change it? After I’ve had AOY after AOY stolen from me by your hokey, nonsensical postseason structure… NOW you want to make a freakin’ change!?”

Maybe Skeet’s a bigger man than I am, but if I were in his black and yellow shoes right now that’s exactly how I’d feel.

If you missed the buzz yesterday here’s the BP digest version: the B.A.S.S./Toyota postseason stuff still exists, but as of 2011 [yep, that’s THIS year] it’ll no longer count towards Angler of the Year points. You can gulp up the full helping of delicious format-changing goodness, here.

Say it with me: HALLELUJAH!

I think it’s obvious by now I wasn’t the biggest fan of tacking a couple weighted events onto the end of the season and calling it a playoff. Props to KVD for owning that format, but I’ve had a hard time finding the fairness in it. Skeet Reese needs another accolade like I need another bag of worms, but I still think ol’ frosted tips has gotten royally shafted by the postseason system.

But that’s all water under the bridge. Spilled milk. History. Jerry and Co. said they were going to make changes, and so far they’re keeping that promise. I’m diggin’ it.

I’m all for anything that extends the tournament season, and this new format they’ve brought to the table is actually pretty darn cool. It’s the fishing version of March Madness, except it’ll take place in July. They’re calling it “Toyota Trucks All-Star Week” and it’s a bracket showdown between 12 Elite Series pros. Notice I didn’t say the TOP 12 Elite Series pros. That’s because it’s the Top 8 pros and four other “wild card competitors” that fans will select via online voting.

I like the bracket format and I even like the idea of the wild card selections. Where my road forks is with the fan selections. Look no further than the NBA All-Star Game to see where fan voting will get you. Do you want to take a guess at who’s the current votes leader for the center position in the Western Conference? That’d be Yao Ming. Yeah, the same Yao Ming that’s only played five games this season due to injury. Nice job, fans!

I hate to see those final four spots turn into a popularity contest, which is exactly what’s going to happen. Gerald Swindle could finish dead last in the points, and I virtually guarantee he’d still make the All-Star week if you left it up to the fans. In the meantime, a quiet type like Cliff Pace could fish a remarkably consistent season, finish in the Top 20 in points and never even get a sniff at the bracket. Seems kinda’ busted.

I’d rather have this system, fan voting and all, over this goofy format we’ve been putting up with the past couple years. But I’d propose some type of checks and balances system on the fan voting. Maybe a combination of votes from fans, fellow pros and outdoor writers? I don’t know how to make it work [that’s why we have Jerry and Co.], but I think that part of the process needs to be tweaked or we’re going to end up with some combination of the same handful of pros in those wild card spots year after year [or however long this format lasts, since we seem to be on a 2- to 4-year cycle before things get shaken up].

AOY titles, and brackets, and fan voting! Oh, my! Lots to weigh-in on, today. Hit me with your thoughts, because I know you’ve got ’em.