Iaconelli's punishment

[Pete]

During the recent 2006 Bass Masters Classic Mike Iaconelli was caught breaking equipment on his boat, defacing the American flag, severe profanity among other things. All this because 4 of his day 1 fish were dying. BASS tournament director Trip Weldon DQ Iaconelli's weight for the day for Unsportsmanlike conduct. Taking him out of contention in winning his second Classic. You can read all about this decision to DQ Iaconelli by clicking this link.
sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/classic/news/story?page=b_classic_Ike_DQ&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos3

Now yesterday Iaconelli offers this apology.
sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/classic/news/story?page=b_news_Iaconelli_statement

Personally, I think that Iaconelli should be banned from fishing the Elite series for this year. This isn't the first time that he has been given an unsportsmanlike penalty. I think that his antics in the boat are completely unprofessional and this isn't something that the sport needs at this point. BASS (along with other circuits) are trying to bring fishing as a spectator sport like Nascar and football but because they are such a small group of individuals, you can't have someone like Ike, running around swearing and screaming like he does because his fish are dying or he didn't land a fish. I mean we all have missed a fish or two during a tournament or have brought in dead fish that might have put us out of the money because of penalties but you don't see Clunn or Vand**n or Swindle going out kicking and screaming.

I'm almost positive that if they banned Ike from the Elite series for this year, his sponsors would be rather upset and maybe Ike would straighten his act out.

Just my 2 cents.

Pete

[Gary]

Hi,

I voted for a fine and probation for one year, but he definitely should also be suspended from competing in the next one or two events. If someone had done that in NASCAR they would have sat out a race or two for sure. It would make a pro angler think twice before acting like a fool.

Gary

[Jeremy]

Hey Gang,

This Industry does not need this type of coverage,The swearing part we could get over , I'm not an angel and i'm sure some of us would have to say we have swore when things happen ,we can even get over a temper tantram and distroying boat equipment
Defacing any part of your countries Flag should be banned from sports for life

Just my two cents,
Jeremy

[grumpy]

Once a Hot Dog always a Hot Dog our fav. sport does not need jerks like that I would like to see him banned from any and all tournaments for one year. His sponsors might frown on his actions and drop him like a hot basstato.

Tony G. aka Grumpy

[Gary]

One of his sponsors already has. Ranger dropped him.

The unfortunate thing is that ESPN, in their effort to make bass fishing more of a main stream sport, encourages the kind of behaviour that Ike displayed. They may not encourage his disrespecting the flag, but his yelling, screaming and off-the-wall behaviour is encouraged because ESPN is looking for "characters" that provide drama and controversy. They seem to feel that's what sells to the general public who doesn't know a lot about professional fishing. Don't look for Ike to be banned from fishing anytime soon. He should be, but it ain't gonna happen. ESPN isn't interested in the traditional values of bass fishing, just making money, so he's the "bad boy" they want to have, to stir up public interest in the sport.

Gary

[Pete]

Where did you hear about Ranger dropping Ike?? As far as Ike losing sponsors, I think that ESPN would flip the bill for him if since that is the image that they want.

I agree with you in what you say about ESPN giving Ike the most media coverage of any of the anglers during the classic. However, my concern, if I was ESPN is the loyal guys that fish BASS. Guys like Brauers, Clunn; Vand**n;Nixons that have made the sport what it is today. Are they going to wait to stick around and not get the media exposure they deserve?? These guys will go where they can get the media exposure and the level of respect that they deserve.

I think it would be interesting to see what the Elite series anglers think of Ike now. I know that they were not too crazy about him before with all the yelling and swearing and carrying on.

To put it bluntly, I think Ike believes that he is bigger than the sport.

Another 2 cents worth.

Pete

[Gary]

Pete,

It's been in any news about professional bass fishing that Ike lost Ranger. Check out Bassfan.com, they have articles about it.

As far as the old guard, yeah, they are concerned with the direction that BASS is taking in it's marketing and in it's tournament structure. Many big name pros have abandoned BASS for the FLW such as Jay Yelas, Larry Nixon, George Cochran, Randy Blakaut, and many others. In fact, the first three anglers I just listed have fished their last Bassmaster's Classic, they say, unless BASS drastically changes it's model. I've been following this whole thing very closely for a couple years now, and there are many that feel BASS could be killing itself. Personally, I don't know what to think yet. I don't agree with how they've done things in regards to the changes they've made to their tournament structure, how they've basically screwed the entire Federation, and how they generally do business and treat others, but whether or not they've shot themselves in the foot remains to be seen I think.

Gary