KVD is a MACHINE

[Tim_T]

I think everyone is blaming skeet not winning on the format. Ok, first if he had continued to catch fish this thread would have not been started. SECOND his lead was not entirely erased by the post season, the last 2 events of the year he bombed. One he didn't even make the top 50 cut.Every fishermen knows guys get on hot streaks.Skeets streak end too early and KVD kicked in at a perfect time. Feel sorry for EVERs he caught skeet and passed him and STILL THE MACHINE caught both of them !!!!!

While I tend to agree that the format was there for everybody, If they didn't shrink the points, Skeet wins easily, not only this year, but last year as well. Let's compare the finishes for the season:

Claifornia Delta:
Skeet 2nd. (by 1 oz.)
KVD 29th.

Golden St. Shootout:
Skeet 5th.
KVD 59th.

Blue Ridge Brawl:
Skeet 1st.
KVD 22nd.

Alabama Charge:
Skeet 5th.
KVD 57th.

Southern Challenge:
Skeet 1st.
KVD 9th.

Pride of Georgia:
KVD 38th.
Skeet 59th.

Tennesse Triumph:
KVD 1st.
Skeet 48th.

Sooner Run:
Skeet 2nd.
KVD 6th.

Fact is, Skeet did not bomb the last two tournaments. He didn't bomb at all. He finished ahead of KVD all but two tourneys during the regular season. He had perhaps the best bass tournament season in history, but because of the new format lost. The only problem I have with the new format is when the seperate first and second by a mere 15 points.

[smuckey41]

Ok I just want to say to everybody bashing skeet. And how he chocked. His many of you guys go out and kick but every tournament you fish. That's what I thought. That's why it is fishing not catching and I would put skeet up against anyone on this board he is a pro for a reason. And the ones on this board are just wannabes. Just saying and I'm not a big fan of skeet but what he did this year is amazing. And I am a huge fan of KVD. But give skeet the credit he deserves we all have bad tournaments. Just my thoughts.

[skeeter11008]

I defer to Rick Clunn's take on this whole playoff format. Skeet was the most consistant angler during the regularly scheduled tournaments and that is what AOY is all about. Dont get me wrong, KVD is an awesome angler but do we have to alter the format for winning AOY so he can garner more awrads to promote BASS. I think it has taken away from BASS if you ask me. There is a reason that MLB will not allow aluminum bats, to preserve the integrity of the HISTORY of the game. And I thought the Classic is what this new "format" is. It's like having a beginning of the year Classic that you have to qualify for and then we have an end of the year "Classic" as well. Total Crap and my boy Skeet got hosed!!!!!

[Bradd]

After reading Tim T's and Clunn's analysis, it looks like it would be pretty hard to defend the point system adjustment of the Post Season unless it made BASS a lot of money. Then they could say hey, it was brilliant. We all know life is not fair, but the new BASS group will get this fixed. I don't think Jerry M would stand by something that did not make sense for the integrity of BASS.

Skeet is a Machine, also. Evers is very good, but hear of late it seems like KVD and Skeet are fishing on another level. Unfortunately for Skeet, he just has not figured out summer in Alabama, yet.

I can't fish 1/100th as good as any of these guys, but it sure is fun dreaming....

[davidsa]

Clunn makes a fair argument for sure. they have effectively changed AOY into a playoff race. In the NBA, we have a player of the year which is based on votes but I'd say this is what AOY started out to represent. A playoff is a fair determination of maybe a post season but does not pass the common sense test for a measure of a year long accomplishment.

[BPenrod]

I think the format will be changed next year.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Angler of the YEAR

Skeet has 6 top 5 finishes in 8 regular season events with 2 wins and missed another win by 1 ounce.

KVD has 1 top 5 finish in 8 regular season event with 1 win

Skeet average finish 15th

KVD average finish 28th

The "Chase" format in the Elite Series is DISGUSTING. You take 8 - 4 day tournament results, 32 days of fishing, and condense them into 2 days of fishing. You take a man with a 100 point lead over 2nd place and 300 point lead over the eventual "Champion" and move the decimal to the left one place which makes it a 10 point lead over 2nd and 30 point lead over the eventual "Champion", then give them 2 days on the water to battle it out. This ranks right up there with College Football and the way they decide who plays for the National Championship. At least in Nascar they have 10 final full races to fight it out, in NCAA Basketball they have to win 6 games to determine the title, NBA-NFL-MLB all have playoffs of full games to determine the title. I have an idea, lets take the 162 game regular season schedule of the MLB - figure out who the top 4 teams are, then play 2- 5 inning games to determine who will meet in the championship and then a 5 inning game for the title on neutral fields. Take the NBA and play 1 - 12 minute quarter to decide it, run 122 miles of a Nascar race instead of the usual 500 miles .......... Don't get me wrong, I think KVD is the best fisherman EVER but for 2010 he was not the Angler of the Year, Skeet Reese won that honor, but in today's system he did not. Basically an angler could win all 8 regular season events of the Elite Series but by moving the decimal to the left one spot - all 12 of the finalist could win the AOY. Just like Nascar, if you finish 13th in the final standings before the "Chase" starts and then win all 10 of the final events you have no shot at winning the Nascar Championship. Somebody has to come up with a way that makes it fair for ALL.

[Jbyrd]

While I tend to agree that the format was there for everybody, If they didn't shrink the points, Skeet wins easily, not only this year, but last year as well. Let's compare the finishes for the season:

Claifornia Delta:
Skeet 2nd. (by 1 oz.)
KVD 29th.

Golden St. Shootout:
Skeet 5th.
KVD 59th.

Blue Ridge Brawl:
Skeet 1st.
KVD 22nd.

Alabama Charge:
Skeet 5th.
KVD 57th.

Southern Challenge:
Skeet 1st.
KVD 9th.

Pride of Georgia:
KVD 38th.
Skeet 59th.

Tennesse Triumph:
KVD 1st.
Skeet 48th.

Sooner Run:
Skeet 2nd.
KVD 6th.

Fact is, Skeet did not bomb the last two tournaments. He didn't bomb at all. He finished ahead of KVD all but two tourneys during the regular season. He had perhaps the best bass tournament season in history, but because of the new format lost. The only problem I have with the new format is when the seperate first and second by a mere 15 points.

You said he didn't bomb any events with only 95 anglers two of the events 50% of the field beat him . OK he did BOMB when it counted THE LAST TWO EVENTS And again if you want to compare angler to angler PUT Ever's numbers up there Skeet didn't beat him either. Points are points SKEET CHOKED !!! If you watched the coverage today you could see the panic Flipping and the trolling motor on High 102 lbs thrust. He knew his reign at the top was over....

[Tim_T]

You said he didn't bomb any events with only 95 anglers two of the events 50% of the field beat him . OK he did BOMB when it counted THE LAST TWO EVENTS And again if you want to compare angler to angler PUT Ever's numbers up there Skeet didn't beat him either. Points are points SKEET CHOKED !!! If you watched the coverage today you could see the panic Flipping and the trolling motor on High 102 lbs thrust. He knew his reign at the top was over....

He didn't bomb in any way, shape or form. If they did not adjust the points to make the race tighter, he wins regardless of his finishes. They each missed the first cut twice, but Skeet had better finishes until the two post season tournaments. If that logic eludes you, I guess I can't help!

[Jbyrd]

Giving credit where credit is due Skeet had a great SPRING. With exeption of the classic ,oh yea where did he finish????? hummmm BUT when the fishing got tough (HOT SUMMER) were was the golden boy????? Back stage crying like a girl..... OK don't get me wrong that golden boy can fish . He has proven that. But at the begining of the year they ALL know KVD is coming, Regardless of post season ,mid season , turkey season, deer season, squirrel season,dove season (did I leave one out ,lol) KVD is coming . He will be there to contend with in the end

[Tim_T]

Giving credit where credit is due Skeet had a great SPRING. With exeption of the classic ,oh yea where did he finish????? hummmm BUT when the fishing got tough (HOT SUMMER) were was the golden boy????? Back stage crying like a girl..... OK don't get me wrong that golden boy can fish . He has proven that. But at the begining of the year they ALL know KVD is coming, Regardless of post season ,mid season , turkey season, deer season, squirrel season,dove season (did I leave one out ,lol) KVD is coming . He will be there to contend with in the end

You continue to miss the point, If they didn't shrink the lead going into the post season and adjust the points, only Evers had a shot at beating Skeet and KVD would have been somewhere in the top 10. They changed the points, much like Nascar does. I think KVD is the greatest bass tournament angler to live, but you cannot with a straight face tell me he would have won had BASS not rearragned the points going into the post season.

[DJD]

You continue to miss the point, If they didn't shrink the lead going into the post season and adjust the points, only Evers had a shot at beating Skeet and KVD would have been somewhere in the top 10. They changed the points, much like Nascar does. I think KVD is the greatest bass tournament angler to live, but you cannot with a straight face tell me he would have won had BASS not rearragned the points going into the post season.

Yep same in Nascar I didn't like it the first few years they did that because I felt it hurt the consistant team who might have a several hundred point lead.
I think Kenseth won the last year before they started the Chase points and he didn't win a race or maybe only one. I remember people saying that his safe driving was the reason they wanted to spice up the racing at the end or the year.
I think the rules were to be followed by everyone and if you lose you lose. If you don't like the rules pick up your ball and go home. There will be a line behind you wanting to take your place.