In regards to Tharp's "quote"
I definitely see this as a concern for anglers and their sponsors. BASS and FLW were better for them to create and promote their own companies they worked for. MLF is more about the organization than the anglers when it comes to this part of the equation. The new MLF TV coverage which promised their "own branding" is not what BASS can do. Hard to see, hear and know what anglers are doing when all you see is a couple seconds of a hookset and then the fish being weighed.
Now, do I think Tharp is in financial trouble...no...do I think pro bass anglers play that card waaay too much...YES. He has made over $2,000,000 in his life from earnings. That doesn't include any local events or sponsorship money earned. He is 50 years old, married and has no children.
I think a lot of people forget that MLF is $00,000 entry fees. Here are some facts: 20 of the 80 MLF guys made under $20,000 this year, 5 of them made $0000. There are many expenses to these events, anyone that does local or club tournaments know the costs of that, it just magnifies that much more when you travel 10 or more hours to get to a location.
While MLF gives these anglers a professional league to compete in for $0, the angler himself still needs the backing to get around the eastern part of the country and compete. It is all about exposure and sponsor branding, if the companies aren't seeing that, the consumer certainly is not.
I loved MLF when it came out, awesome format, show up and catch as many fish as you can with a few minutes to ride around (BTW, I miss those ride-around comments a lot). I watch live when I can and read the articles, but when I watch a TV show, I want to learn about fishing, how did they find the fish, the baits choices etc. MLF doesn't do that anymore, it's a sprint to the end timer. A good fishing show, but nothing like it once was in my opinion.
It seems like MLF is turning fishing into a mainstream sport, which is good for the sport as a whole...but if Joe sitting on the couch watching doesn't hear Mercury Motor, Quantum Rods, Berkley baits...Joe will not buy those items if, and I say, if he was an angler. I love Yankees baseball and follow it throughout the year and see pretty much every game thanks to MLB.tv, but I couldn't tell you what kind of shoes my favorite player wears, or what cologne he uses. Two totally different sports but when you focus on the whole game, you don't see the individual things that influence your consumer choices.
With all this, I believe there will continue to be more changes to formats and "players" moving to leagues that suit them the best.
