detroit1 Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 You scared me a little when i saw your topic. 6 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 9, 2021 Author Super User Posted October 9, 2021 40 minutes ago, detroit1 said: You scared me a little when i saw your topic. Why was that? Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 9, 2021 Author Super User Posted October 9, 2021 Just now, detroit1 said: Thinking the worst... Come on man! That's not my MO. A little story about Bill Dance although, I have never met the man. My father won a raffle to fish a day with Bill Dance. My brother, may he RIP, was born mentally goofy. (In case it gets censored R3t@rded). My dad was able to bring my brother on the fishing trip with Mr. Dance. FFW many years. A number of years ago here on BR there was a thread about something or other. In the thread, I posted a pic of my brother fishing with Bill Dance when Bill was in maybe his early 30's. I also posted a short story about it. An old respected member on this forum who has gone on to build bigger and better things with his life sent me a PM(maybe a mod at the time I think) He knew Bill Dance thru the industry. He was touched by my story and said he could get Mr. Dance to autograph the pic. I mailed him 2 pics. One for me and one for my parents. A few months go by, a few more months go by, maybe a year or so goes by. All I'm thinking is how thrilled my parents would be to have an autographed pic of Mr. Dance and my brother. I shoot him a PM and he doesn't know what happened to the pics, can I send him more. I scan the pics, make them into prints and mail them out. Months go by again. I don't hear anything. One day I get a PM from another ex-mod asking for my address. I figured Great! maybe @Glenn was going to send me some free swag. Well, that didn't happen. A couple weeks later I received an envelope with 2 autographed pics with messages for both myself and my parents. I framed mine right away and it sits above my fireplace mantle. It says "Fish on. Steve would have wanted it that way" I gave my father the second one. I do not recall what it said. We were headed to the Chicago lakefront to launch the boat and spend the day perch fishing. Right after I picked him up, I handed him the pic. He didn't say a word, he just cried. There's a special place in my heart for Bill. 17 Quote
Jaderose Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 6 hours ago, slonezp said: Come on man! That's not my MO. A little story about Bill Dance although, I have never met the man. My father won a raffle to fish a day with Bill Dance. My brother, may he RIP, was born mentally goofy. (In case it gets censored R3t@rded). My dad was able to bring my brother on the fishing trip with Mr. Dance. FFW many years. A number of years ago here on BR there was a thread about something or other. In the thread, I posted a pic of my brother fishing with Bill Dance when Bill was in maybe his early 30's. I also posted a short story about it. An old respected member on this forum who has gone on to build bigger and better things with his life sent me a PM(maybe a mod at the time I think) He knew Bill Dance thru the industry. He was touched by my story and said he could get Mr. Dance to autograph the pic. I mailed him 2 pics. One for me and one for my parents. A few months go by, a few more months go by, maybe a year or so goes by. All I'm thinking is how thrilled my parents would be to have an autographed pic of Mr. Dance and my brother. I shoot him a PM and he doesn't know what happened to the pics, can I send him more. I scan the pics, make them into prints and mail them out. Months go by again. I don't hear anything. One day I get a PM from another ex-mod asking for my address. I figured Great! maybe @Glenn was going to send me some free swag. Well, that didn't happen. A couple weeks later I received an envelope with 2 autographed pics with messages for both myself and my parents. I framed mine right away and it sits above my fireplace mantle. It says "Fish on. Steve would have wanted it that way" I gave my father the second one. I do not recall what it said. We were headed to the Chicago lakefront to launch the boat and spend the day perch fishing. Right after I picked him up, I handed him the pic. He didn't say a word, he just cried. There's a special place in my heart for Bill. I think he meant that when he saw your topic, he was afraid that Bill Dance had passed away 3 Quote
GRiver Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 Thanks for sharing that. I've got an autographed hat from him. 1 Quote
Captain Phil Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 In the early days of bass tournaments, Bill Dance was the king. You can read all about him in Ray Scott's book Bass Boss. I have met many of the early pros. I regret missing Bill Dance, one of the greats of bass fishing. 4 Quote
Chris Catignani Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 Any body else get tears in your eyes? 2 Quote
ironbjorn Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 45 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said: Any body else get tears in your eyes? No, but it is refreshing to see, 1. Someone honor their hero while their hero is still alive. This culture of not showing appreciation to a person until they're dead is weird. 2. A celebrity have a respectable hero. 6 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 9, 2021 Author Super User Posted October 9, 2021 4 hours ago, Jaderose said: I think he meant that when he saw your topic, he was afraid that Bill Dance had passed away That thought hadn't crossed my mind. 2 Quote
Super User islandbass Posted October 9, 2021 Super User Posted October 9, 2021 14 hours ago, detroit1 said: You scared me a little when i saw your topic. Me too!! I was thinking the worst. I learned a lot from his show and did some reading on him back when I first started fishing in 2004. I was a very active member on his forum page. I was even given a signed T hat ? as a token of appreciation for my writing contributions. Although I’ll never wear it, I love this hat. It’s too precious to use. One of my favorite fishing momentos. Bill Dance is the man. ? The song was alright too. ? 2 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted October 9, 2021 Global Moderator Posted October 9, 2021 7 hours ago, Captain Phil said: In the early days of bass tournaments, Bill Dance was the king. You can read all about him in Ray Scott's book Bass Boss. I have met many of the early pros. I regret missing Bill Dance, one of the greats of bass fishing. It’s not too late Quote
Captain Phil Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 The first issue of Bassmaster Magazine was in 1968. I was 21 years old at the time and had been bass fishing since I was 12. I read everything in those magazines cover to cover. In those days, bass fisherman were pretty closed mouthed about where and how they fished. What Bassmaster did was put information in the hands of anyone who could read. Hard to imagine today with the Internet, YouTube videos and TV shows. Bill's (edited) TV show was one of the best. His sense of humor was fantastic. If you read between the jokes, he was and is a great teacher. Quote
Super User deaknh03 Posted October 9, 2021 Super User Posted October 9, 2021 30 minutes ago, Captain Phil said: The first issue of Bassmaster Magazine was in 1968. I was 21 years old at the time and had been bass fishing since I was 12. I read everything in those magazines cover to cover. In those days, bass fisherman were pretty closed mouthed about where and how they fished. What Bassmaster did was put information in the hands of anyone who could read. Hard to imagine today with the Internet, YouTube videos and TV shows. Bob's TV show was one of the best. His sense of humor was fantastic. If you read between the jokes, he was and is a great teacher. Bob who? Quote
Super User T-Billy Posted October 9, 2021 Super User Posted October 9, 2021 I got the hat in my avatar photo from his store. His daughter Pamela runs it, and we had a great email conversation about watching his show on Saturday mornings as kids, after cartoons and before Big Time Raslin. LOL. She offered to have him personalize it for me. It arrived a few days later signed, Tim, Saturday mornings were the best, Bill Dance. I couldn't not wear it. It's my hot weather fishin hat. I still enjoy watching his show. God bless Bill Dance. Great guy and great ambassador for the sport. 3 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted October 9, 2021 Global Moderator Posted October 9, 2021 Bill has always been my hero, I’m sure y’all have noticed by the hat in all my Fish pictures 4 Quote
Super User T-Billy Posted October 9, 2021 Super User Posted October 9, 2021 Some great guests along the way too. Bradshaw, Mel Tillis, and Foster Brookes come to mind. Quote
Skunkmaster-k Posted October 9, 2021 Posted October 9, 2021 8 hours ago, Chris Catignani said: Any body else get tears in your eyes? I was watching the video with my wife, so I couldn’t tear up, but I felt em coming. Just now, Skunkmaster-k said: I was watching the video with my wife, so I couldn’t tear up, but I felt em coming. He’s precious to a lot of us. 1 Quote
Super User NorthernBasser Posted October 9, 2021 Super User Posted October 9, 2021 I love country music. Not a fan of Luke Bryan (good guy, tho). Really, really enjoyed this. Quote
Super User bowhunter63 Posted October 9, 2021 Super User Posted October 9, 2021 Still watch him. Bill is the man. Living Bass fishing history. 1 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted October 10, 2021 Super User Posted October 10, 2021 I just watched this video earlier today for the first time and it nearly brought a tear to my eye. My wife said the same though she doesn't even fish. Bill is such a national treasure. I especially like the way Bryan worked in "it's gonna be a beautiful day..." near the end. 11 hours ago, ironbjorn said: No, but it is refreshing to see, 1. Someone honor their hero while their hero is still alive. This culture of not showing appreciation to a person until they're dead is weird. 2. A celebrity have a respectable hero. I don't really love his music or bro country in general. But Luke Bryan is a good human being. 2 Quote
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