That was a great Classic..

Johnny C · Post by **Johnny C** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:37 pm

16 anglers with a last day shot. Big weights with no feakish fish. Awesome black bass waters. Could not have been a more perfect place to have it..Fun to follow no matter who won....It had everything I love about bass fishing...BRAVO!!!!

sker13 · Post by **sker13** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:22 pm

Amen brother. It was awsome. The only thing that could have been better is if Fred Roumbanis had a good second day and made the top 10.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:10 pm

Holy crap that was an awesome finale to the bassmater classic. Now that's just good tv coming down to a last minute fish by both and Ike's rush to make it back to the loch's in time with an unofficial tie between the two.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:19 pm

Congrats Skeet!!

Ike thought he had it won with that last fish and started to act like an Idiot again. I could do with out that, but is was a great tourney!

Romeo D · Post by **Romeo D** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:25 pm

I hear you on that Mike.. Ike's over acting is irritating, but for some reason my wife was rooting for him to win it. I was fortunate to make it out to SC last year and had a great time, but this year would have been great to be their in person as well.

CharleyA · Post by **CharleyA** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:30 pm

Yeah guys,

Thats the best Classic on the water battle yet. Two warriors trading punches to the very end. ESPN really has their **** together now on how to cover the sport.

Too bad Skeet wasn't allowed to weigh last with Iconelli having to stand their and take it like a man.

Lets do what we can to get the BASS Opens back out west.

IT's TIME.

basslayer · Post by **basslayer** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:48 pm

Thats just Ikes personality. Hes a really cool guy and goes out of his way to interact with the fans, especialy kids. Since he came on the seen everyone else has been trying to yell and scream like him, especialy Skeet. Look at his last celabration, yelling and screaming, laying over the side of the boat. Exactly like Ikes just before that. And "now your cooking with gas" is really getting old. That being said there both great guys and anglers.

Congrats skeet on a job well done!!!!!

sethook · Post by **sethook** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:51 pm

basslayer wrote:Thats just Ikes personality. Hes a really cool guy and goes out of his way to interact with the fans, especialy kids. Since he came on the seen everyone else has been trying to yell and scream like him, especialy Skeet. Look at his last celabration, yelling and screaming, laying over the side of the boat. Exactly like Ikes just before that. And "now your cooking with gas" is really getting old. That being said there both great guys and anglers.

Congrats skeet on a job well done!!!!!

ya but skeet yelled once.....ike yelled 10 times with 12 fist pumps....its gotten old....one yell and a fist pump and get back to work...

CharleyA · Post by **CharleyA** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:00 pm

I got no problems with Ike,

In fact that's what made todays coverage so damn good. It was hard to pick a side. Was hopin for a tie. Wonder if they do sudden death or take big fish or biggest one day weight as the tie breaker?

I know both these guys and if you want to be entertained, these two dont disappoint.

Caudawg · Post by **Caudawg** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:54 am

I can deal with the yelling and fistpumps...
but that Hippo Lau beard Ike wears has got to go!

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:02 am

I couldn't agree more, this was an awesome Classic to watch! Congrats to Skeet for realizing his dream and keeping our eye's and minds open that some day, it could happen to anyone of us here watching!

Personally I think ESPN did a great job of bringing this event to the public. Certainly it worked better for some than others, yet it was a far cry from the olden days when we didn't hear about it until the next months magazine came out. The drama of this event unfolding was incredible, from beginning to the end. Between the internet, here and television, we knew within 8 hours what was happeneing and got some awesome details. I followed the first 2 days on ESPN360, then chose not to get anywhere near my PC or TV until that final episode came on Sunday evening. The peaks n valleys, the adversity, the adjustments, the excitement of that battle between Skeet and Ike right to the end kept me intrigued and focused the whole two hours.

It ain't easy winning a BASS Classic, yet alone winning a second one. Seeing first hand what Skeet, Ike, Fralic, Snowden, Martins & some of the others all went through that last day, left me totally fulfilded as a fan, I know excactly how the Prittsburg fans felt on February 1st!

Congratulations Skeet Reese, you ARE, The World Champion today!!!!!!!!!

BassnReed · Post by **BassnReed** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:26 am

I agree this years Classic was awesome and came down to the wire, my congrats to Skeet....Bass Master Classic Champ!!!!!
One helluva job......

captjohn71 · Post by **captjohn71** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:37 am

First off congrats to Skeet, one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Helped me with electronics problem in pouring rain at Oroville a few years back. Just a top notch guy.
As for Ike I think his showmenship is not only unprofessional, but unsportsman like and BASS should have him tone it down. I was embarresed for his childish actions. Maybe its just a show for the cameras, and he is different person on the beach, but he shoul act more professional to a nationwide audience.

Johnny C · Post by **Johnny C** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:37 am

Charley while I was watching E360 they said if there was a tie they would fish 4 hours today and they would have all the coverage for it again.

Tin Can · Post by **Tin Can** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:07 am

I don't know why people rag on Ike. The guy was fishing the classic and in a possition to win the thing. So what if he gets excited. I sure as heck makes better tv than a guy who is completetly serious all the time.

Congrats to Skeet for the win. Congrats to Ike too for making it such and good last day! These guys put on a hell of a show.

Todd Dunlap · Post by **Todd Dunlap** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:19 am

Congrat.s Skeet

That's how you get it done!I guess some 32" for the Hummer

The coverage was great and i think Cooch said it best.Congratulations Skeet Reese, you ARE, The World Champion today!!!!!!!!!

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:22 am

Damn i was in Vegas all weekend and forgot to Tivo it. Is there a way i can watch it with out having to wait for the repeat?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:29 am

In 48 hrs it will be on BassInsder. It's also going to air next Sat as well (day 3).

durobi · Post by **durobi** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:59 am

After Watching Ikes antics ,I wonder if they should have mandatory drug testing?

Johnny C · Post by **Johnny C** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:08 am

Ike is great for TV..So is Skeet..If they were like Fitzpatrick nobody would watch. That guy looked like a mental case. Fralick had no personality either.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:14 am

I don't know what's up with all the Ike haters lately... if I was in his position and caught a 5 lb bass knowing how low the weights have been I'd be doing the Icky Shuffle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToxEFRC0Se4

Jeff C. · Post by **Jeff C.** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:37 am

CharleyA wrote:Yeah guys,

Too bad Skeet wasn't allowed to weigh last with Iconelli having to stand their and take it like a man.

Yeah, great show. I didn't watch it live but the recap in the evening was great.

The one thing that could have been improved in my opinion was the weigh-in coverage. They had spent the last few hours showing how Ike and Skeet were neck and neck, then at the weigh-in the issue was almost immediately resolved without a lot of fan fare. Once it happened I actually had to rewind the Tivo because it kind of caught me off guard. I wish they would have spent more time showing Ike on the hot seat and interviewing him and Skeet prior to Skeet weighing his bag.

Otherwise though, it was fantastic watching two heavyweights exchange what seemed to be knockout punches right up until the end.

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:43 am

Ike is the man. His fist pumping, screaming, and his newest act, spitting, is hilarious. People need to get used to seeing it because this guy isn't going anywhere. He is good for the sport.

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:55 am

If I thought I was gonna win 500,000 I woulda been screaming even more!!

Ike is the man, he can flat out fish, and I love the antics, it makes me LMAO!

But No Doubt about it, I was pulling for Skeet.

Congrats to Skeet!!!

Mark Pollard · Post by **Mark Pollard** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:11 am

Ike brings people to watch fishing. I'm talking to a girl and she watch the classic because I like fishing. She wanted Ike to win because she said he had passion and made fishing fun. So if I take her fishing now, I guess I have to yell and scream. Ike is all wright. I'm sure he is a good guy. Sometimes over the top, but he is becomeing a household name for fishing.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:23 am

As long as you make her yell and scream it's all good.

Seriously, I really enjoyed Sunday's telecast, and enjoyed both Skeet and Mike when they caught fish and showed so much emotion. But I also thought the weighin wasn't as dramatic as it could have been.
And I miss Jerry McKinnis.
SKEET!!!!!!

TonyL · Post by **TonyL** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:38 am

Yup , great shows , I recorded all 3 with comcast vdr , only time I could watch was 8p.m. last night , up till 1:00 a.m. with the damn remote !

Feelin it today ! Ha , Ha ! Had ta suck ta be Snowden , boat break-down !

, Ya know he dropped off but came back up pretty good ! I agree lighten up on Ike , atleast he isn't in the news for DUI , weapons charges , beating his wife , steroids , etc. ...

CharleyA · Post by **CharleyA** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:45 am

Ya know....

I hope the reason they didn't show more of the weigh-in wasn't because of Ike's reaction to losing.

I know it had to be tough for him to lose a close one but I hope he handled it professionally on stage.

Maybe its best we never know how that unfolded. Or am I missing some "post-game" press conference coverage somewhere?

I bet Basszone.com or somebody else has some more sounds bites. Here's one..

-Ike confessed that he is typically â€œbig eyedâ€

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:46 am

TonyL wrote: ! I agree lighten up on Ike , atleast he isn't in the news for DUI , weapons charges , beating his wife , steroids , etc. ...

Come on, sTony, nobody's perfect!

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:49 am

mark poulson wrote:Come on, sTony, nobody's perfect!

Wrong Tony Mark...

durobi · Post by **durobi** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:59 am

Ok, Ike is great , so they should name him IcaYelly.

basslayer · Post by **basslayer** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:26 am

jerry mac's a boring old smallmouth fisherman, the most overated fish in the bass family. Bring back Fish Fishburn

Tin Can · Post by **Tin Can** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:32 am

Johnny C wrote:Ike is great for TV..So is Skeet..If they were like Fitzpatrick nobody would watch. That guy looked like a mental case. Fralick had no personality either.

Exactly.

Johnny C · Post by **Johnny C** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:20 pm

Watched the weigh in live on 360 and Ike was a class act all the way. He had nothing but great things to say about his fellow anglers. Just got done wathcing the day one weigh in on 360 which I missed Friday..Well done!!!!

Bassin · Post by **Bassin** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:41 pm

Prime time TV! That day 3 ESPN2 coverage was exactly what this sport needs...Get people that don't have a clue about it interested. I had a guy at work that watches ESPN all the time ask me about it...so clueless about it, he asked "who gets to eat all the bass?", I educated him, but he said all the drama and excitement got him wanting to learn bass fishing. This was one guy. Just think how many more out there that don't have a clue about the sport were watching. The antics of Ike show excitement no different then a dude getting a touch down in the NFL and "doin the dance"....I mean really, can you say that you don't getted pumped when you get that 5th fish in a tough tourney or that big kicker fish. I know I do..... Congrats to Skeet!

Wolfeman · Post by **Wolfeman** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:10 pm

I'm with Basslayer.
Bring back Fish Fishburn.
- Wolfeman

MikeSouza · Post by **MikeSouza** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:08 pm

Congrats on the Classis SKeet, you deserved it!

As for IKE. Some like him and some don't. He is one of the best fisherman in the world and isn't going away anytime soon. You will see him on commercials, in magazines, on the net and on ESPN. If you don't like him, change the channel, turn the page or mute your TV. Not need to bad mouth a guy who has said or done nothing to you.

Let's see, we need the younger generation in the sport to keep it going. Ike relates more to them than any other angler. He stays at every tournament after weigh-in to talk and sign autographs, especially for the kids. While other anglers are hitting the back door and escaping the crowds, he is in the middle of them doing what a "PRO" should be doing. I've seen him at tournaments later than 9pm talking with kids, taking pictures with them and signing stuff. Without fans where would BASS be today.

Ike personality might be load and different than yours. It's called passion. If you don't get excited when you are putting good fish in the boat in a tournament, maybe you're in it for the wrong reason.

Football and Basketball players are getting in trouble for drugs and guns. Baseball players are in trouble for steroids. Have you ever used the headphones at a Nascar race and heard the drivers cussing up a storm? So no need to single out Ike for a little passion and the love of fishing

CN · Post by CN » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:41 pm

I thought they did a good job not only coverage but the Water they fished.

Made for a good event knowing a few good fish would be cought.I think Mike is what you need more of.

Yea they Kid makes a fool of himself but Hell he has won a Classic and allmost won another.I bet half of us would do the same if we won one.

All the interviews I have seen he does a great job promoting the sport trying to get new people involved.

durobi · Post by **durobi** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:32 am

Mike , I like Your Take on IKE, You are probably right, he does make it interesting . It,s just that his personality type grates on an old fart like me.
We do need to draw more young people into the sport and he is probably doing a good job on that front.

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