Ranger drops Ike

"Ranger drops Ike 2/28/2006 Ranger Boats has dropped its sponsorship of Mike Iaconelli based on his behavior at the recent Bassmaster Classic. Here's the statement from Ranger president Randy Hopper.

"Based on a series of events that occurred during the recent Bassmaster Classic competition, Ranger Boats is withdrawing its sponsorship and affiliation with Mike Iaconelli. We do not believe that Mike's conduct during the tournament appropriately represents the deep-seated values on which our company was built and continues to operate.

"Ranger further acknowledges Iaconelli's impressive angling achievements as well as his commitment to promoting the sport of fishing. His efforts to encourage others through the platform of fishing are a credit to his many accomplishments. While we regret his actions leading to this decision, we wish Mike well in future ventures." "

~~ Jack Dalzell www.jdbass.com ~~

Heavy

Heavy wrote:

Hey man, I unfortunately will not be at the Southern Classic (once again!) , I will be at The NWC though.

How have you been?? How was hunting this past year?

Chris

Heavy

I don't want to come off that Iaconnelli gets a free pass (in my eyes) no matter what he does, my issue is with how B.A.S.S has created this (along with Mike), facilitated it (and Mike adhered), and now are stomping it out (their business, their right i guess).

Well, I know who I want to win the Classic next year.....Aaron Martens, but I hope Mike is Runner up.

Chris jack@jdbass.com wrote:

I got into it on the water a while back with some duck hunters. Basically they threatened to shoot us. I backed off (out of effective shotgun range) and let them know what kind of F'in criminals they were and then called the sheriff on my cell phone.

Several people on the lake heard the exchange. What amazed me was how several uptight hoity toities decided to make a big deal out my language, but threatening somebody with bodily injury and/or murder with a deadly weapon raised nary a comment.

I'm not saying this is the same situation with Ike, but ... Each person should probably think about the motivations behind their chosen voiced opinion.

Another one that amazes me when we are on the topic is the "f" word itself. Some people get all upset about its use, but don't raise an eyebrow about using the word "God" in vain. Huh? If there is some moral distinction about one why isn't there about the other?

Anyway, Ranger's choice to drop Ike is purely and solely motivated by business. They perceive that he may place a negative image on their product which over shadows the product recognition that he gets for them. Nothing more and nothing less.

Ike is a good angler. He will certainly come up with a balance of showmanship and attitude that works to promote himself and his sponsors to mutual benefit as he develops his career. He is one of those anglers who can actually make a living fishing just from his winnings. For those that don't like him, sorry, he isn't going to go away. I personally am indifferent about him either as an individual or an angler. I would certainly like to have the skills to fish at his level.

-- Bob La Londe - Webmaster www.YumaBassMan.com

Tornament Director www.YumaProAm.com

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I personally think this is a dumb move by Ranger. Sure, they're upholding some implied "honor in the sport deal", but Ike isn't going to go away. In fact, I imagine that boat makers are lining up to take their place as his boat sponsor today. He lost his temper, on TV. That's a far, far cry from infractions seen around the rest of the sporting world. I say because of this, and Ranger's actions yesterday, that Ike will come out on top of this latest buzz. And I'm like Bob on this, I'm indifferent on Ike. Not really a fan, but I also do not dislike him.

~~ Jack Dalzell www.jdbass.com ~~

Given that, and so long as the NBA, NFL and other and more traditional sports continue to support genuine felons, I can't see BASS, the FLW or anyone doing much about ridding their sport of him. I mean LOOK AT THIS VERY THREAD! LOL! It's about a guy who finished 51st out of 51 at last week's Classic, yet here we are talking about him on Wednesday still. IMHO, Ike *is* good for the sport, even if his emotions and actions are sometimes bad for his image. I personally don't think his outburst hurt the sport at all. May have hurt some feelings of those in the sport, but at the end of the day, I imagine his tirade drew more viewers to the coverage than it repelled. And like it or not, it's that commercial aspect and its affect on the bottom line that will drive ESPN/BASS and their following, not one guy getting pissed over his own brain fart and breaking a boat's light, and saying a few curse words on TV. (And let's face it, anyone drawn to fishing that is afraid of a little censor-bleeping in the footage, has obviously never seen a Bill Dance blooper reel...how can we hold Ike to any higher standard than that?)

.. Harry J aka Thundercat Share the knowledge, compete on execution... http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com http://secretweaponlures.com

As for losing sponsors, IMO, it's no biggie. IMVHO*, it's Ranger trying to appeal to the "sensitive Southern" audience that abuts its Southern plant, and is trying to draw some positive attention to themselves out of Ike's negative situation ("Look at us, he went off, we gave him the boot. We're heros!"). If anyone draws my ire from that action, it's Ranger Boats. I hope another big company backs him soon, and I imagine one will (with the press he's getting today, someone would be stupid not to). I mean let's face it, he comitted no crime against anyone, and simply offended the uppity ups at BASS with a lack of "sportsmanship". If sportsmanship alone is a supreme, non-negotiable prerequisite for pro sports today, someone please explain how the NBA, NFL and MLB are still in business...with all their wife beaters, drug users, alleged murderers and the like still playing, collecting huge sums in salary and even having shoes named after them "after the fact". I think BASS's and Ranger's messages are too strong, and too late. They're trying to establish an unobtainable standard IMO. But, that's just me. And I am Southern, and moderately conservative. And didn't give a rat's arse about Ike's tirade at the time...and still don't aside from the continuing fallout.

*In My VERY Humble Opinion

You can tell Ike tries hard to put on a show. He tries to live up to his billing. Even if it is the 'one of the 10 most hated athletes' billing. One show I was watching he screamed about a giant fish, but as he put it in the livewell he said quietly it wasn't really that big but they enjoy the show. It keeps people talking. Like was said above, here it is 3 days later and we're talking about the guy that came in LAST PLACE!

.. Harry J aka Thundercat Share the knowledge, compete on execution... http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com http://secretweaponlures.com

Damn good net man too...

;-)

So sadly, I think your last statement is going to turn out to be incorrect. There is room for something else. Edgier. Racier. Attractive to a newer and younger audience, with more of their parent's money to spend. I hate that I say that, but I've seen it in other burgeoning sports, and I'm afraid that BASS will be no different now that they are moving into the mainstream. Now that ESPN is finally starting to exploit it for the money maker that it can be for them.

Do I condone Mike's actions? No, not really. Do I think Ranger pulling their support of him is going to change anything? No, not really. If anything, I think it will arise at least a small backfire against them. They're trying to make an example out of someone that a lot of "new" fans like, and I can't see that going very far in a positive direction for them when they're in the commerical business of selling boats. See, IMO (based on years of quiet observation of similar trends in "Southern" sports like NASCAR) I think Mike has enough fans that will follow his boat sponsor, whomever it may be. I can see people that are Ike fans that "were" considering a Ranger, now not buying one. And instead, buying whatever company's product that picks him up as a show of solidarity with "their man". The old school support of "sport" sponsorships is dying away, and is being replaced by fans of sponsors of certain fishermen (or drivers in NASCAR). As I've said in other posts on the topic, BASS is "arriving" and is going to be held up against other pro sports as to what is and is not acceptable. In that vain, Mike hurt no one but a light pole and 2 bass, and his career will advance.

I mean, if an NFL player can serve jail time, and still come back to millions in salary, why shouldn't it (Ike's career) advance? Why shouldn't it even prosper? At the core level, he tore up a Triton, and "was" sponsored by Ranger at the time. That tack would've been more actionable IMO (in a postive way), than yanking their sponsorship of him over an emotional outburst, whether you, I, or everyone, are tired of his "antics" or not. If Ranger had simply played it off (while not necessarily condoning his actions, which was possible) they'd have people lining up to buy their stuff. Now, they're going to drive more people away than they attract. And it's because of thinking like yours, that assumes everyone that watches the BASS on ESPN are genteel fisherman, that underestand that there are ways "to behave" and ways "not to behave". The sport has grown beyond that demographic IMO, and the sooner us old timers figure it out, the better off we'll be. I ain't sayin it's right, I'm just saying that thinking and comments like yours will get the sport labled as "redneck" and "backwoods" in today's society (which could care less about being nice, just read anything about politics anywhere today, and nice is no longer expected in anything today), so it leaves us with a choice: Measurable growth of the sport, accepting that change is upon us; or Let it be, and it will never grow any larger.

If we stymie people like Ike, and come down with the hammer everytime they put a toe out of line or don't act "just so", BASS will not grow, it will retract. Sad fact, but a fact nonetheless IMO. Especially when you consider what BASS and Ranger did to Ike amount to a penalty over ethics/morality. Those just aren't kosher anymore. Not with all the Blue on the political maps. Not since President Clinton uttered that famous line: "Define sex." Not since the 2004 election was said to hinge on "morality issues" and from then on the Republicans of this country have been labeled the "Evangelical Right". No, whether you think it was right or wrong, a majority of people in this country if asked about it would say that BASS/Ranger were wrong. And you or I aren't singularly going to make a difference in ratings, but a "majority" of the people would. And will, I suspect.

"Ranger drops Ike 2/28/2006 Ranger Boats has dropped its sponsorship of Mike Iaconelli based on his behavior at the recent Bassmaster Classic. Here's the statement from Ranger president Randy Hopper.

"Based on a series of events that occurred during the recent Bassmaster Classic competition, Ranger Boats is withdrawing its sponsorship and affiliation with Mike Iaconelli. We do not believe that Mike's conduct during the tournament appropriately represents the deep-seated values on which our company was built and continues to operate.

"Ranger further acknowledges Iaconelli's impressive angling achievements as well as his commitment to promoting the sport of fishing. His efforts to encourage others through the platform of fishing are a credit to his many accomplishments. While we regret his actions leading to this decision, we wish Mike well in future ventures." "

~~ Jack Dalzell www.jdbass.com

Not a tough decision for old Irv the Liquidator when Mike wasn't going play with him (FLW) this year. Easy out for Ranger that won't cost them anything. IMHO Joe Z. ~~ http://bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1518

I miss the days when Ray controlled things. When it was more fun to compete. It's become far too bloodthirsty of a sport for me. I am sick and tired of cheaters, and people who ignore the law. I long for a time when people could share the water, because you are fishing a little lake and there is 300 boats on it.

That being said, I am also dismayed at those so-called professionals in many of our sports. Those with the criminal records etc. We should not have to tolerate such people in our professional sports and should let the organizations they play for know it.

I applaud Ranger Boats for dropping his sponsorship. If we had more companies that demanded a more professional attitude from those they sponsor, then displays like you guys have been describing would not take place on national TV.

Carlos

Since when does a big paycheck mean that people should accept boorish behavior? I do not have anything against Mike Iconnelli, I think he really knows how to find and catch fish. But I cannot stand watching his grandstanding antics. If he comes on the tv, I switch channels, it's that simple. And, if I was one of his sponsors, I'd have done the same darned thing that Ranger did.

I'm sorry, but I feel that when you're playing at that level, you SHOULD be held to a higher standard of behavior. Like it or not, you become a role model for all those aspiring to become a professional. What is that teaching our youth? That it's all right to be a total jerk because there's a lot of money involved? That you can totally blow off responsibility for your actions and it's ok because "I'm a pro!"??? I don't care if it's a pro angler, a football, baseball or basketball player. There's just no excuse for bad manners and if that means I'm a "purist", then I guess I'll have to politely live with that!

I had already mentioned it, but we are looking at these guys like they are way bigger than life, like a lot of "professional" athletes. I don't look at these "professionals" as anything more than entertainers (baseball , basketball, football, etc.), yet society has a guy that can bat .300 trumping a Med Student that has found some "cocktail" that eliminates the common cold. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to be out there throwing touchdown passes, unfortunately Colleges don't jump on a 5'8 180 lb kid from Oshkosh, WI. Bass fishing was kind of a last frontier for me personally, where it "WAS" about competition, and the best won, not everyday, but where always near the top. Entry fees skyrocket (I understand supply and demand and I don't knock any business for getting what they can get, ethically) but there is no way I am going to consume my life by sitting in regret that I am not Denny Brauer. I will however do what I can in my current situation to give me self an opportunity to eventually compete against these guys, with the hopes of coming out on top.

Is this personal to me? Are all my arguments selfish and based on what I want out of my life. Definitely! Maybe I get tunnel vision on some things, like Antics, tantrums, whatever. In business you are taught that if you want to be successful do what successful people do. Take away the good, learn from the bad, and carry the rest in your back pocket for a rainy day. I take pride in the fact that in cold muddy water, I can flip a jig where I want it to go and catch fish, I can run out to the middle of the lake reading my electronics and find a suspended school of baitfish and jig walleyes in the middle of the summer, I can walk 10 miles on a river looking for a specific run in crystal clear water and spot a summer run steelhead just waiting to blast a spinner, or burn a crankbait through rip rap in a sub 40 degree day. These are things I learned from "the good", I also won't kick my light pole if I forget to turn on my aerator, I will buy a fishing license right when I drive into another state that I will be fishing in, I will not cull a Bass in Wisconsin no matter how much bigger it is than any of the 5 I already have. I won't put a foul hooked fish in my livewell. I won't kill a 15lb plus steelhead. These are all things I learned based on my experiences and observations.

It is easy to say you have to be professional out there, you have to be conscious of what everyone else thinks, or who is watching. These sponsors know what they are getting into when they sign these people. The exploit the loose cannon until it has a negative return. As long as it is sexy in society well exploit it and throw morals to the wind until our pain/pleasure threshold has been reached (thanks Tony Robbins) then they lash out like they are societies savior, doing us a service.

I believe SimRacer told me to slow down and breathe. I'd like to believe my "rants" are well thought out, maybe they are not. So many people think this is just about Iaconnelli, it is in part, but not the root of the problem. His situation only settled it (in my mind) about the direction the organization is going. The "show" has become bigger than the "competition". Heavy weights in a tournament sell, yes everyone had the same opportunity, but in the spring, everyone single bass fisherman knows that is when "ANYONE" can catch a big fish! Bed fishing, spinnerbait fishing, whatever. It is the same thing in Steelheading. Anyone can catch one in the spring when they are packed into predictable areas. But try and catch one when the water is just above freezing and crystal clear, and 12' deep and the metabolism is low. That defines a "great" angler, when you can catch those fish consistently when nobody else can, Hence KVD, Iaconnelli, Aaron Martens, Rick Clunn, Denny Brauer, etc etc.

Now with all of that said, I'd like everyone to be honest with me. This stuff that just spews from my mind onto this forum, have these become the post where everyone rolls their eyes the instant they see my name next to a post? I liked the idea of a forum where I could express my views, but I never wanted to get to a point where people saw me as a freak or crazy. I always feel when I post these things I am contributing something to the group, maybe a different view or angle. When it all comes down to it, I spend 5 days on the water (during open water season) and I just love to fish, I would do it 7 days a week, but if I want to stay married I guess I have to compromise. My passion for fishing, especially bass is unmeasurable, and I love to convey it to anyone who will listen. I just don't want my passion to become something people "avoid" like the plague. Maybe I am full of shit, and my posts have no content that means anything. I'd like to think that I contribute more than nothing.

Chris

--=20 Sandy Joren I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message ... <<SNIP>>

I personally think this is a dumb move by Ranger. Sure, they're = upholding some implied "honor in the sport deal", but Ike isn't going to go = away. In fact, I imagine that boat makers are lining up to take their place as = his boat sponsor today. He lost his temper, on TV. That's a far, far cry = from infractions seen around the rest of the sporting world. I say because = of this, and Ranger's actions yesterday, that Ike will come out on top of = this latest buzz. And I'm like Bob on this, I'm indifferent on Ike. Not = really a fan, but I also do not dislike him.

--

You definitely summed up my views quickly and completely. My goals have shifted to focus more on fishing as an industry more than a living in competition. How can I contribute to fishing as a whole, that is my new question, and goal.

Thanks again Gary, and I will see you at the NWC (the whole time this time). I really hope it ends up being on Boom!

Chris gwilber wrote:

Thanks again,

Heavy

Heavy