Outliers

[Sam]

I just finished listening to a book on tape, Outliers, The story of Success, by Malcom Gladwell and I found it extremely interesting.

 

The book studies successful people in different lines of work and sports and comes to some interesting conclusions as why these people are so much better in their chosen fields than the rest of us.

 

An "outlier" is an individual outside of the norm. Usually a person who excels in a business, sport or other activity.

 

The first, and most important finding, is that the more time you put into your career or sports the better you will be. Us bass fishermen know this and we do as much prefishing or studying of our favorite bodies of water as possible, but we really don't put in enough time. Not even all the pros put in enough time on the water or studying maps to make it to the top according to the book's premise. So what separates the top bass fishermen from us and why do they catch beautiful bass all year in all types of weather conditions all over the country when 99% of us struggle under the same elements?

 

Well, if it is not the hard work and time you put into your career, school, sport or bass fishing, what could it be? Seems it is based on birthdates and birth years plus a lot of hours within the activity.

 

A study of the top soccer players showed that those born between January 1st and January 14th, are the top soccer players in leagues and professional teams. Same is true for ice hockey and their top players' birth months. And the year of your birth has an impact on your top ranking as shown by the Microsoft guys who are all born within three months of each other in the same year.

 

Also, the "KIP" school program in NYC, which has been a tremendous success especially for those kids who did not cherish education, was studied. No way other cities would even think of using the "KIP" program as the parents would probably revolt against the school boards. But if we used the "KIP" system we all would be just as good in math as our Asian counterparts and do much better in school. Check out their web page: http://www.kipp.org/

 

So what does this tell us about bass fishing? I have no earthly idea other than I am going to try to find the birthdates and years of the bass pros and see if I can find any correlation between months and years of birth relating to their fishing success.

 

I don't know when I will complete my study or if I will ask the BASS Magazine people for assistance with an article on the subject. But I will try even though January 1st signals my busy time of the year through July.

 

Disclaimer - This will not be a scientific study. And anyone who wants to give it a try please do so. Remember, time put into a sport or an activity will yield higher results than weekend warriors which may trump birthdates and birth years. Take Pete Maravich in college basketball as an example. He was fantastic. But Pete slept with a basketball, would ride his bike and dribble the basketball, would practice for more hours than you or I would even consider each day and would dribble the basketball everywhere he went. He still holds the NCAA scoring record, which he accomplished before the three-point shot and shot clock was introduced. You can read about Pete here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Maravich

 

Should be an interesting study.

 

Can't wait for your feedback as to why I am crazy to do this or maybe....you know a few top guys in high school, college, the pros in bass fishing or other sports who share the same birth month or year.

 

Happy New Year!!!!

[Dwight Hottle]

Sam you might want to take a look at Urban Meyer's new book Above The Line. 

[Sam]

I did some fast reviews of birthdays of 20 of the Bassmaster Classic winners and current top anglers.

 

Here is what I found regarding anything they have in common regarding their birthdays:

4 were born in the months of July and September.

15 were born between April and September.

Two were born in February.

One each in October, November and December.

The years of birth were all over the place so that did not impact the data.

 

So what do we have? Other than noting that 15 of the 20 were born between April and September we have a base to continue the study as it relates to the top bass fishermen of today.

 

It also shows that if you want to be a successful bass fisherman it would help if your birthday is between April and September.

 

Will be interesting to see the birthdates of other bass pros to note if they fall into the April to September base.

 

 

[A-Jay]

Is this even for real ?

 

Projecting an individuals level of Success based on when they were conceived seems bizarre and more akin to an April's Fools Day Joke than an actual indication of fact.

 

Sort of like saying all the best anglers have a dog named Benny . . . 

 

I'm not seeing it Sam.

 

A-Jay

 

 

[slonezp]

1 hour ago, Sam said:

I did some fast reviews of birthdays of 20 of the Bassmaster Classic winners and current top anglers.

 

Here is what I found regarding anything they have in common regarding their birthdays:

4 were born in the months of July and September.

15 were born between April and September.

Two were born in February.

One each in October, November and December.

The years of birth were all over the place so that did not impact the data.

 

So what do we have? Other than noting that 15 of the 20 were born between April and September we have a base to continue the study as it relates to the top bass fishermen of today.

 

It also shows that if you want to be a successful bass fisherman it would help if your birthday is between April and September.

 

Will be interesting to see the birthdates of other bass pros to note if they fall into the April to September base.

 

 

Guess I'll never win the Classic.

[Team9nine]

You can go to that BirthdayFan website and see all the recent December birthdays  I'm thinking if you really look in-depth, there's likely a correlation between the Solunar Periods published in Bassmaster and the pros skill level also, like maybe the best pros were born on the best fishing days as determined by the Solunar Tables...maybe even born during THE BEST hours that day!  I mean, these tables have to be good for something, right?

 

-T9

 

[Sam]

39 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Is this even for real ?

 

Projecting an individuals level of Success based on when they were conceived seems bizarre and more akin to an April's Fools Day Joke than an actual indication of fact.

 

Sort of like saying all the best anglers have a dog named Benny . . . 

 

I'm not seeing it Sam.

 

A-Jay

 

 

Me neither, A-Jay, until I hear the book, Outliers. Get the book. Very interesting concept and the author has evidence to support his position.

 

I wonder what the Classic field's dates of birth will show and if the month of birth of the winner will be within the paramaters.

 

Stay tuned.

1 minute ago, Team9nine said:

You can go to that BirthdayFan website and see all the recent December birthdays  I'm thinking if you really look in-depth, there's likely a correlation between the Solunar Periods published in Bassmaster and the pros skill level also, like maybe the best pros were born on the best fishing days as determined by the Solunar Tables...maybe even born during THE BEST hours that day!  I mean, these tables have to be good for something, right?

 

-T9

 

 

Team9, only time will tell.

[A-Jay]

Just now, Sam said:

Me neither, A-Jay, until I hear the book, Outliers. Get the book. Very interesting concept and the author has evidence to support his position.

 

I wonder what the Classic field's dates of birth will show and if the month of birth of the winner will be within the paramaters.

 

Stay tuned.

Ok Sam ~ I'll be standing by but most likely won't be diving into that one.

A-Jay

[Team9nine]

Just now, Sam said:

Stay tuned.

 

Team9, only time will tell.

 

Anxiously awaiting your results to see if I missed my true calling in life...

 

-T9

[Last_Cast]

Book tapes still exist? 

[jr231]

Studies have also shown that 75% of rich men are right handed. 

 

So I got that going for me. 

[Jacob Phelps]

There are so many factors that contribute to winning a fishing tournament, or a Superbowl, or a world series that comparing just that one factor, that to me seems obviously independent of success in anything really, without presenting any of the other factors is very misleading. 

[Crappiebasser]

Winter boredom hits some of us harder than others.

[Gundog]

10 hours ago, Crappiebasser said:

Winter boredom hits some of us harder than others.

^^^^^This

[Sam]

13 hours ago, Crappiebasser said:

Winter boredom hits some of us harder than others.

Yep.

[Gundog]

I've read this entire page and still don't know what this thread is about. Seems like its about birthdays so mine is Feb. 20 if someone wants to read my horoscope and tell me what my day is gonna be like.