Most hated Pro athletes.....

[bassin101]

Amen Rainmated
There are just to many one track minds in this sport. Does everyone need the same personalities to fish? Ike has his way of expressing himself as does George Cochran. I don't see why everyone makes such a big deal out of Ikes reactions. If you don't like him then don't watch him. It sure is funny that so many people don't like him but know his every move. If he is leading a tournament on TV I'm sure your remote has an "off" button.

[Viper201]

Ranimated:First off,more money DOES not equal more respect and if screaming and acting like a fool equals charisma then everyone on jerry springer must be full of charisma,right?Espn is so worried about attracting new viewers and new sponsors that they are alienating everyone that has supported this sport before they ever got involved with it to start with.Ike's antics are money driven,period and most of us know this.

[Devils Horse]

Ike's routine was amusing at first, but like most 'over the top' things, it grows old. What's next? Can he do back flips without falling overboard? What are those who try to emulate him going to come up with? Maybe when they catch a short one, they'll throw it at their nearest competitor and try to knock him down. As long as ESPN's involved the antics will get crazier and carzier, that's for certain.

I'll admit it, I like Ike when I'm in the right mood, but for the most part I prefer to see someone like Aaron Martens or any number of other pros take care of business in a quiet and professional manner.

BTW, I like Charlie Moore, his show amuses me. I'm thinking of challenging him here in Ky at Barren.

[DJD]

I'm not a fan of Mike I. at all. I believe his antics will start to relax because over the top can only be taken for so long, at least i hope so. He could be a great guy and a great father but as far as his fishing antics go...well i'll just say the #6 slot speaks volumes.

[ranimated]

Fishing is his job. Of course it is about money. In my business I do whatever makes money. And if it so happens that he enjoys his job and expresses it in an exaggerated manner that makes him more money, I don't blame him. As for alienating the status quo....I would call it encouraging diversity, growth and new ideas. For too long the pros have looked like they were spit out of some southern cloning machine. The sport was stagnating and now it is alive and well. Personally I was real tired of seeing fisherman catching 5 pound fish and acting as if they couldn't be more bored just because of some old-fashioned gentlemen's code. The fact that the world contains a diversity of people and personalities is now being reflected in professional bass fishing.

[Danny]

raminated,

I definately embrace diversity. I encourage diversity. We all have weaknesses, and strengths. If we each share the other's strengthes to make up for our weaknesses, we as a people, are a much stronger and smarter group.

That said, what bugs me about Ike is what someone else called the wresltization of fishing. At first I really loved his enthusiasm. But then I noticed it was no longer spontaneous. In fact, he would hold the fish, look around to see where the largest number of people were for him to hold his celebration for. Then, and this one really took the cake, he was reeling in a big fish... at least he said it was big, and once the fish was in, he threw his hat down in the boat, ripped off his sunglasses and proceeded to tell the camera how hard that fight was; he said the fish was so strong it knocked his hat and glasses off. WTF???? did he think we did not see him take his hat and glasses off after he had the fish in the boat?

Reese called us stupid fans, Ike treats us like stupid fans, at least on TV.

That my friend is not diversity, it is an entertainer, and one who's act has gotten very tired for this discerning fan.

Danny

[bassin101]

danny
Can you blame Skeet for calling the fans stupid? Look how the top five greatest angler debate turned out. And guess who placed the votes?!!

[steve604]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-25-06 AT 02:29PM (EST)[/font][p]> Personally I was real
>tired of seeing fisherman catching
>5 pound fish and acting
>as if they couldn't be
>more bored just because of
>some old-fashioned gentlemen's code.

Thank god there are a few of us who still practice that "old fashioned gentlemans code".

Steve

[mperry]

I agree that he gets a little carried away but no one says anything when Jimmy Houston kisses a fish. To me that is about the same thing and Jimmy can get a little loud also. I enjoy watching his show and most of the time I enjoy watching Ike. They are both doing what they are paid to do. I still think it brings more people to the sport and that can't be all bad.

[HoosierDon]

I can't believe anyone would compare Jimmy Houston to Maniac Ike. Apples and oranges!

And did you see the cover on the latest Bassmaster Magazine? This is the new prescribed way of landing a fish. Squatting on your motor.

[eatsleepfish]

I like the Rick Clunn approach.

1. catch Keeper fish
2. Put keeper in livewell
3. realize that the active feeding window can be short
4. immediately present lure again a catch another keeper
5. become the most masterfull bass angler of all time and never once raise his voice.

Role model? Absolutely!!

remember eatsleepfish

[zx150]

If you want to talk about diversity look at Jason Quinn. He does not look anything like an A Typical Southeran Bass Angler. No body here has said one thing about him or the way he looks and in my opinion it is because he does not act like a jack#$& when he catches a fish. Just my opinion Ryan.