I guess I'm old school and while I have hoped I'd live long enough to see a world record LMB caught , at the same time I hate to see it fall .However the truth seems to be ,to me , that we have more, or at least as much, validation on this fish than old George's 1932 standing record .I don't think, or maybe I don't want to think that these guys are trying to backdoor their way into the books .Psychologists tell us we judge people by what we think we would do in the same situation .It's always easy to scrutinize and even "villianize" the things which are new or different .I guess we're all guilty of it at different times , but if Mac Weakley legitimately caught it and it meets the IGFA requirements , it seems to me we have to give credit where it's due .The mainstream media will do their part in ripping them apart,like they do with everything else that happens because it sells "tickets" and makes sure there will be another article in another issue .They appeal to our bloodthirst in wanting to see people under the gun .If this statement isn't true , then someone please explain the successes of Current Affair,20-20,Jerry Springer and other forms of "journalism" of this type .I agree we need balanced viewpoints , but to rip something apart to make a buck is a rough way to go .If this record is embraced by the IGFA, I hope we can rejoice for the accomplishment and not grumble over it for years to come .I am reminded of the "beating" that David Hayes must have taken for a long time after the 1955 smallmouth was pitched out by some apparently untrue accusations .It's supposed to be innocent until proven guilty not the other way around .Just my opinion .Thanks for your time .