Anglers Choice - Pro-Am Polygraph Results

[basswest]

In our most recent Pro-Am on the Delta, Local Pro John Variani pretty much smoked the field and won his first Pro-am ever. During the event and after the event there was quite a bit of speculation on how and where John caught his fish. I was out of town watching De La Hoya spank Merryweather and unable to attend the event. I did however speak to our Tournament Director Terry Davis several times during the course of the event via cell phone. Upon my return I went on my own fact finding mission and thought about the situation long and hard. Myself or Terry both spoke with each days ams and took in what they had to say and of course spoke with John to let him know a Polygraph was being scheduled. This was a tough situation, as I myself was pretty disappointed that we even had to have this test. I like to think we are all good guys and we all just wanna fish and have some competition. Over the last few years Anglers Choice has given several Polygraphs and never put it out in a Public Forum as not to even suggest any doubt about a particular fisherman, but just to maintain a sense of clarity for myself that we were doing our best to maintain a fair playing field. When preparing for the polygraph I listed down for the tester several questions that were quite to the point and pulled no punches. Pictures of fishing locations and Docks were produced and questioned with John about them in the Polygraph. Our polygraher also had several questions that would obviously make a guy think or crack or both. So for any of you rumor spreaders - please put a cork in it. But in a nutshell, I just really wanted to just Clear the air and have John enjoy his victory without unknowing people try to bring his accomplishment down. John is the Delta Champion and passed his polygraph without a hitch. I did sit down with him prior to the test and explained to him why I needed to have the test done, which he never had a problem with at all. For me to continue as a person involved in the Tournament business I did not want that bad feeling hanging over me. I truly think I was more nervous about the test than John. And just for a few of you professionals who will no doubt find your own holes, this polygraph firm is contracted by the CIA, POLICE, etc...... so as far as that goes, this is the judgement method called out by all tournament event holders. But what sticks with me the most is the calmness and professional way that John dealt with a unpleasant deal. I knew John, but I did not know John and I have a better respect for him as a person. Upon conclusion of the test John nor I knew the results and he was thanking me for giving the test and keeping the events honest. Maybe there is hope


Congratulations John


Mark Mendez
Anglers Choice

[NaCl]

...to enjoy the success he or she earned. Over the years, I have seen jealous morons spread rumors about guys who win consistently. It seems to be more prevalent on the Delta than anywhere else. Such rumors hurt bass fishing, not just the intended target of the lies. I'm glad to see that AC used this polygraph test to help protect the integrity of the sport as well as the reputation of the angler.

Congratulations John, for a well deserved win!

.....NaCl

[Fishin' Dave]

I lived next door to John for 3 years. John and his family are great people who would help you out any time.

Good job John.

[Sean Graf]

I'm curious to know.

If you spoke to John's Am's for both days, why did you choose to have the test done? Did his Am's give you any indication he cheated? I seriously doubt thats the case, he's a true professional.

What about future tests? Are you going to talk with all of the winners Am's in the future? What exactly prompted you to decide to have the test done, was it the "Talk" you mentioned?

When anyone wins a tournament, speculation will be made regardless, I'm glad John passed the test, but I almost feel like he was targeted.

I hope you and your organization makes a polygraph test mandatory for the winners of each and every Pro Am you host from here on.

Sean Graf

[DeltaDan]

Even though Bonds hit in the DH spot all three games in Oakland, going 3-for-10 with no extra-base hits-- and is still without a homer since May 8. -- He is still hitting .304 for the year with an obp of .510% -- and I still have a bet for an 18 pack of Coors Light that he will "tie or better" Hank's record by June 27th from my Bro who sayes otherwise.


The MLB commision test Mr. Bonds and other players- randomly and equally alike no matter their perfomance -- Unless for clear cause -- And the last Clear Cause I remember in the MLB was for Sosa's corked bat's on an open violation that was viewed by many.....Sean brought up a great point prior as I figuratively understand how some tourneys work.


This was a very nice way to clear Mr. Variani's name from the nay sayers Mr. Mendez- and the tourney they all participated in equally....... -- But you also at the same time brought someones good name into the know of those like myself that have absolutely "no idea" of who Mr. Variani even is -- of something that could of been handled more better in house I believe..........

Of course I have been wrong before...and will be wrong in the future as well in many things to come.


Once behind the ball of disenchantment- It is harder for public speculation to go away. -- even if everything was not true in the first place and can now and always be questioned/brought back up for further public speculation aside from the Commisions results to the masses of Internet Viewers via GOOGLE. (Hopefully Mr. Variani gave you the go ahead to post these results prior to the Internet Viewers findings ......)


Congrats on your win-- and you Integrity Mr. Variani !!

[BASSK9]

I never ever doubted that John won it fair and square. I heard the rumors and would have called John about the BS however I don't have his number. I think John should seek legal recourse against those who slandered him. Anglers Choice singled John out for a lie detector test inferring that they doubt him as well. Why didn't they give Dee Thomas a lie detector test when he won the TOC? I do not believe Dee cheated but equal treatment under the rule should prevail! The prevailing lie/rumor I heard was that John went to an area where he stacked fish and fed fish. A second rumor floated that he had them in a cage and the red appearance of the fish could have only been caused by a cage. Every time I heard the story I challanged the story teller. Such childish and immature story telling damages our sport and runs off potential sponsers. I think it is time for a bunch of these so called Pro's to take a whipping like a man and quit the slander business. In the future when I hear one of these stories I intend to call Sapp or John or whoever won and name the name of the story teller. Furthermore I think Anglers Choice should ban (from tournaments) the story tellers who convinced them to give John a lie detector test.
BASSK9

[JT-Madera]

Whoa.....maybe you need to step away and take a deep breath...Kill the messenger?????? is that what you are saying....I didn't fish " that " tournament..But if I suspect another competitor is or did cheat I would have every right to ask for a polygraph test..Without being blacklisted....for asking... I personally don't know either the suspected offender or the accuser...or the guys who started the rumor....but they have the right to question me or anyone else about how the tournament was won....

To me John Variani is a real stand up guy to step up and say " sure give me the test " hooray for him.. congrats on passing the test..now lets all go fishing..

JT

[basswest]

Lets Clear the air on John being singled out, as posted by Sean Graf and now BassK9. John was not singled out and in fact it was in John's best interest to take the polygraph to remove any question in his victory. But as I posted earlier unless you know all the details you are shooting blindly in the sky. John Variani himself called me up and asked me to post the results on the web. As a tournament official it is my job to investigate any occurences and get to the bottom of them as best we can. Now if you say that we singled out John on that fact, you are wrong. Anglers Choice will continue to give polygraphs whenever it is in the best interest of the sport and or contestants, plain and simple. Before you bash the system why not contact John and ask his opinion and how he was treated ?

Mark Mendez

[Guest]

Removed after seeing Mark's second post.

Congrats to John... enjoy your new Legend Boat - you'll love it!

[mark poulson]

Sounds to me like both Angler's Choice and John Variani, whom I do not know, handled this situation perfectly.
Congratulations to both.
And to Mr. Variani on his win.

[Sean Graf]

Mark,

Thanks for your response, I, along with many others appreciate your hard work, you run a good show and have some great TD's. That LeoGrande guy seems like a great guy also( Clueless in fantasy football though)

I'm not trying to start a fire here, I'm just wondering why John was given the test after you talked with his Am's. It seems to me that because a few of the other competitors that didn't win were questioning John's skills as an angler, you made the decision based on that. You were out of town when this happened, right? Did your tournament director make the reccomendation to have the test done?

I'm just trying to figure out why John was tested. Was there evidence of cheating? Were the fish marked? Did somebody claim they saw him cheating?

It's amazing how so many people can make specualtions when someone other that the " Expected " wins a tournament.

Steve Sapp, Dee Thomas, Robert Lee, and the other dozen or so BIG NAME GUYS that fish these tournaments are not going to win them all, so when a guy other than the big name guys wins, the talk starts.

There's been talk of anglers wanting a circuit that does a polygraph test at every tournament. Are you considering this? I think it would be a great decision on your part. There would be no more questioning your decision to test certain individuals. It would be known that a test is awaiting the winners and possibly another team or 2 at random.

Congrats to John on his win, very well derserved!

Sean

[sTony]

I think anyone that knows John knows he is capable of winning anytime he drops his boat in the water. It was a tough set of circumstances that AC faced and I think they handled it darned well and that John actually asked them to make the results public is likely THE reason why it's on here now.

Congratulations to John Verani on a great win!! And a big thank you to Terry Davis, Mark Mendez and the crew at Anglers Choice for dealing with this situation in a manner that allows everyone to move on integrity intact.

sTony

[Joe W.]

What happens when someone is forced to take one of these polygraphs and fails? Is that tha last word on the matter? Unless I am mistaken, polygraphs are not 100% accurate and never will be. How can someone be deemed a cheater based on a polygraph? I just don't see how these tests actually prove anything with 100% certainty.

Has anyone actually failed one and been kicked out of a circuit or called a cheater with no supporting evidence?

This just seems so flawed to me.

[crawdaddy]

John,
I agree with you on your points, but what other options are available. I am glad he had an amateur partner in the boat. In answer to Sean's question just asking the Ams may not be enough especially since they most likely benefitted from his weights (shared weight format problem). If people who gripe when they get beat are not adult enough to take their loss like men then they are probably petty enough to question the results of questioning the amateurs. I think Mark covered all the bases and really left no room for any more doubt on the issue. If you can't take losing like an adult then you should not be in copetitve fishing. I find it hard to believe that men who fish as "Pros" don't even have basic values. I believe their actions fall under the category of unsportsman like conduct and should be seriously considered for disqualification with forfeiture of winnings. Scott Crawford

[JT-Madera]

Joe W.

Yes, it is sad to say, but there have been two different teams that I know of who have been caught cheating..One team from my area, had been suspected of cheating for several years, but somehow, they were never asked to do a poly test..maybe it had to do with " family " connections...Then they made the mistake of cheating at an out of town TOC at Shasta... a polygraph was demanded and they failed it and a voice stress test....they have never fished another tournament that I know of...they tried to signup at a few local tournaments and were told to go somewhere else....The other team was from the Clearlake area BUT this was many,many,many years ago...I understand they failed a voice stress test and were quietly told never to fish that circuit again....I have never heard their names again..so..yes the tests work as well as they can..nothing is fool proof...but word of mouth usually kills any cheater....Anglers Choice did the right thing for all concerned...

John can hold his head high and has the last laugh on the guys who questioned him...now they look bad....and people will know who they were and what they said...Anglers can be like a bunch of old women when it comes to passing tales.....

JT

[Joe W.]

Has anyone ever failed a polygraph and protested the results?

Say someone won a boat, were accused of cheating, went on and failed the poly but swore up and down they did not cheat. The TD, disqualifies them and promtly finds themselves in court. Would the poly results hold up? Or would they have to conceed?

[troutnut]

kick down man! Give us the skinny!

Where did he fish and what did he use???

[Guest]

He fished in the Delta and he used a rod, reel, line and some sort of lure!

ha ha ha

I think that is about all you are going to get from this, but nice try.