Ike

[sglass]

Bass pro Michael Iaconelli fulfills ailing girl's wish, and then some
3:21 PM, May 26, 2009


Michael Iaconelli, one of the world's top pro bass anglers and a former Bassmaster Classic champion, recently complied with a terminally ill girl's simple request to chat with him.

Katie Shockley, 10, is from Shreveport, La., so it's understandable that she's a fan of tournament bass fishing. And Iaconelli (pictured), a five-time BASS tournament winner, is personable and down-to-earth. Of course he complied.

As they gabbed he learned she was a fan of country music (of course) and particularly enjoyed listening to Kenny Chesney, who was scheduled to perform a few days later in Shreveport. You guessed it: Iaconelli phoned Chesney, who subsequently invited the girl and her family to the concert, and even sent a car for them.

“I’m sure he didn't do that to gain any recognition,” said Mary Ann Tice, executive director of the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority. “But with his phone call and with his contacting Kenny Chesney, he sure made one little girl very, very happy.”

Tice had been contacted by the Louisiana State Police’s Grant-A-Wish program, and helped arrange the meeting between Shockley and Iaconelli, through BASS.

Outposts commends Ike for his actions and expresses sincere well wishes toward Shockley.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Mike Iaconelli. Credit: Courtesy of ESPN Communications.

And this guy is hated on!!

[elnutsmalljaws]

He is hated on due to all of his antics. Post a few more responses like this one and I will move him up on the list to "Dis-Liked". The old addage still holds true, that "it takes 20 atta boys to eliminate one aw-crap". First to admit this was a pretty good atta boy but he still has several more to go to clean up his record in my eyes. But that is just my opinion.

[DJD]

Who cares if he is hated on...he brings it on himself. This act of kindness was top notch it showed heart and compassion and I applaud him for that!!

[Shimano4Life]

Great story!

[MrChickyBaBa]

Just curious on what antics everybody hates him for? The only thing that I see that could be a little annoying is all his screaming, but that just shows that hes into it. Just because the majority of normal people don't act like that does'nt mean he should'nt. Please correct me if there is something I have missed.

[sglass]

I love the guy. He is great with kids and does many seminars and articles and has his own show. He has found a way to sell the sport of bass fishing in a way that most do not agree with but it is working and puting the sport on the map. If I were fishing for a hundred grand and I caught a six pounder I would probably crap myself. All of Ky would hear me scream from California.

[DYNATRAK]

Please, please, please, let's not get this ball rollin again.

the story was excellent. very thoughtful and down to earth. good job, iaconelli.

[Bobby Headrick]

He is unique, he is different, he is good and he has promoted the sport very well, and the kid's love him, he has been very good for the sport, even though he screams, that gets on my nerves, as there is some show to this as this is a trademark for him,like spikning a football, doing a dance, celebrating after a dunk, Michael Jordans toung hanging out, that is just part of him, his actins might not seem normal to some but what is normal? And is anybody NORMAL? Normal means the same and like patterns etc. NO ONE here is normal.

[Tim_T]

He is hated on due to all of his antics. Post a few more responses like this one and I will move him up on the list to "Dis-Liked". The old addage still holds true, that "it takes 20 atta boys to eliminate one aw-crap". First to admit this was a pretty good atta boy but he still has several more to go to clean up his record in my eyes. But that is just my opinion.

It has been brought up numerous times about all of the things he does for kids. You don't like him, don't like the way he acts and that is okay. The only way you would like him is if your boat was sinking on Dale in December and he happend to ride by and pick you and all of your tackle up and get you safely to your truck. Then and only then would he move up to your disliked status.

[wishniwasfishn]

I am one of the first to critisize him on his antics, but I will be one of the first to congratulate him on this, it shows a great amount of humanity for those less fortunate than him. Good job Ike, and keep it up.

[bmck25]

I think he is a pretty stand-up guy and would go fishing with him. The instant he started acting like a baby (spitting in the boat, kicking electronics, breaking rods) I would start riding him hard though. That is an aweful habit.

[kybasshunter]

Ike is awesome !! I think he has brought much needed attention nationally to pro-fishing. His antics only show me he is human and is passonate about what he does. Name any other pro sport be it baseball, nascar, basketball, football and youll find individuals that loose their cool and do something that gets national attention and creates alot of water cooler chat on Monday mornings. Ike gets camera time, and lots of it , and that, my friends is what the sponsers are looking for.... Also, I have heard far more stories about Ike going above and beyond, working w/ kids and showing he has a bigger heart with more compassion than any other member of the professional angling ranks.