Have you noticed?

[getthanet]

Are you seriously comparing the downfall of society to, what you call, the downfall of the sport of fishing?
If you want to talk about the true problem with society it is not loud fisherman yelling "that's a five pounda..." It is not Swindle cussing at Zell Rowland about a fishing spot....It is not Ike running to close to a point that another fishermen is casting....
These are not, in any way, a reflection of the downfall of society...
A professioanl fisherman that sells himself with his out of the box personality is not doing it to make the sport less appealing...He is doing his job...He is selling more boats, spinnerbaits, jigs, and motor oil....
How does landing a fish from the motor have anyhting to do with the demise of a sport...
I do agree that the athletes should watch their language if the camera is on them...That is the least that they can do, but this is how they make their livings...Fishing....No fish, no money, lost fish, lost money...
I think that the people that do not join BASS or watch ESPN for the way that the sport has changed is really losing out...
Your wives should feel pretty good about things since you can do those "honey does" instead of watching Ike, Swindle, Skeet, Hack, KVD, Peter T., Zell, Horton, Hite, and the boys jerk those lunkers in the boat....
The game has changed...That is the reality...It is not going back.....
By the way, since you talk about the demise of society how many have missed a church service on Sunday morning or missed a child's ballgame or an importanat event in your wife's life to go wet a line...hummmm....Priorities....

Just my two cents.....

[steve604]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Feb-10-06 AT 00:02AM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Feb-09-06 AT 11:51*PM (EST)[/font]

While I can't agree with your entire post, your closing thought is dead on. WE are supposed to be teaching the new generation of sportsman. We can blame no one but ourselves. If you don't believe it, look in your rear view mirror the next time you pull out of the driveway for that all important tournament. Who is standing there wishing he or she could go? Are bragging rights and a ten dollar trophy worth it? I have two daughters who have been fishing and hunting with me since they were in diapers, and I still feel that I missed to much of there lives. I know, fishing with kids is a pain, but who taught you? It's time to give back.
The big change that I see is that fishing has gone from a family experence to a competition that, if you win, won't mean squat when you're 65 and he is 35 and he leaves YOU in the driveway to go get that ten dollar trophy.
Don't blame the Ikes of our sport, WE are failing.

Steve

[buzzking]

very well said