Fishing, drug testing and the Olympics

[Marty]

The Sunday Mirror reported that last week's World Angling Championship (whatever that is) required drug testing in order to bring the sport up to Olympic standards ahead of a bid to make it an official sport. I first learned about it from ESPN, see below.

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/archive/archive/tm_objectid=17808999%26method=full%26siteid=62484-name_page.html

Late last night I was watching Stephen A. Smith's "Quite Frankly" on ESPN2 when I heard a tease about drug testing for fishermen coming up. I wanted to hit the sack, so I taped the rest of the program for morning viewing. It turned out that it was not a program segment, but one of Stephen's editorial comments on his "Three and out" feature. My opinion is that I don't really have one, but I'm always fascinated by outsiders' observations about organized fishing and Stephen is not one to hold back on what he thinks. The following is Stephen speaking:  

"In a clear indication that drug testing can go too far, competitive fishermen at last week's World Angling Championship were told to submit to a urine test or risk losing their prizes. According to event officials, the tests were administered because of the belief that drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can actually improve reaction time once the fisherman gets a bite (audience laughter here). If that's not the most ridiculous and stupidest thing I've ever heard, I don't know what is. Fishermen! What is this world coming to? And by the way, to the Olympic committee, you should think about getting rid of some sports you already have rather than adding a sport like this. Fishing is gonna be a sport, my God, what the hell is wrong with this world, what's wrong with it?"

[BucketmouthAngler13]

i think that is OK, but if they ban anglers becuase their urine has to much who-knows-what in it, i think that is going to far.

[CrazedL.IFisherman]

I usually agree with stephen a and think hes quite intelligent, it might be a little overboard to test in fihsing, but to make it more like all other sports i see nothing wrong with that at all, fishing is and should be a considered sport, they now consider texas holdem a sport, a game in which i do love but its a card game, fishing is abosultely a sport and if we have to drug test to make it even more formal, then fine im all for it, i cannot stand comments like that though, i dont know for sure but my bet is he has never fresh water fished, so hate on something you have not done is not the best idea, just my .02 cents

[Dan:]

I dunno, to me, fishing isn't a sport, it's an activity. Poker isn't a sport either, and it should not be televised on ESPN (especially not as much as it is). There really isn't any athleticism required...This is just my view on it.

[Garnet]

I allways like the rule in most tourneys that you are only allowed legal drugs. So buddy smokes weed everyday and enters a tourney and stops smoking weed. And the legal ones that are available wow. I would think a relaxer type would be best maybe thats why I take a couple asprins most tourney days and 50 years of acks and pains. No Olympics for this dude.

Garnet

[Guest avid]

I never thought about drug testing for bass pros but my initial response is that it seems like a good idea.  Tournament fishing is a rigorous activity.  Performance enhancing drugs like steroids or amphetamine can artificially enhance someones strength and endurance. Other drugs can alter judgement and reflexes. These are important qualities.  

Remember the pro doesn't just fish, he has to drive a boat, often at high speed. Raise and lower anchors and trolling motors, make thousands of casts etc.

IMHO drug testing makes as much sense for professional bass fishing as it does for any other competitive physical activity.

[Matt Fly]

As with any "sport", you introduce testing and someone has to pay for the testing, so if the promoters are gonna do so, money is coming out of someones pocket.    Testing has become cheaper, but the more substances you screen for, the more it costs.

10 years ago before the new blood or young guns showed up and I would have laughed at the guys they would be testing.

Rick Clunn was wearing a pony tail most of his early years, but that don't make him a druggie either.    

Polygraphs are common on my local trails, fact is, I don't fish a local trail that doesn't admininster them.    

One question that is asked is, "Did you consume or take any illegal drugs during tournament hours?"

I have the same stance as I always do, if it detours one person from cheating or any other illegal activities, its working.

Matt.

[fishbear]

Guess, I will never make the "Fishing Olympics" :'( :'(. I take supplements, and one of them makes me test positive for growth hormones. :. Maybe if I give Sample A, and when it comes up positive, I can say my body produces more than the average person.. ;D ;D ;D ;D.

Wow, I am as anti drug as they come, but testing fishermen??? For performance enhancing drugs???????

Sorry guys, I am not agreeing with this one.. That is going overboard. I agree with Steven A. Smith. For ONCE!

[Panamoka_Bassin]

While I do agree with the idea of drug testing, I don't really believe that "peformance enhancers" are the right drugs to be testing for. Truly, if someone takes HGH or 'roids for the purposes of competitive fishing, how much of an edge will it give them? Its not like they're Barry Bonds trying to break a home run record or Lance Armstrong peddaling up through the Alps. Yes, fishing is a gruelling "sport" when you're on the tournament trail, but I think drugs like amphetamines and other "uppers" would be more of the choice drugs than steroids. My concern is more of a safety issue than an edge issue. These guys are opperating boats that go 40 MPH without brakes. Being a bartender, I can tell you that while someone all coked up may think he's great at everything, chances are he's gonna bumble and fumble around just as much as someone who's had 5 or 6 cocktails. Fortunately, there has never been a problem with this as far as I know. If they say a fisherman is taking amphetamines to stay alert, what's to say he doesn't take some "No-Doz" or drinks a six pack of Red Bull for the same basic affect? Do those give a guy an "edge?" What if he was working out on a regular basis and taking legal supplements? Does that make him a cheater? I don't think so. The problem, it seems, would be in the fact that they are illegal drugs, which is the job of DEA and law officers to enforce, not FLW or BASS, or even the IOC.

[sirmo]

Anyone who doesn't consider fishing a sport, hasn't pre-fished for 3 days for a 2 day florida tournament in August.

The strong and dedicated rise to the top.

[paparock]

I never thought about drug testing for bass pros but my initial response is that it seems like a good idea. Tournament fishing is a rigorous activity. Performance enhancing drugs like steroids or amphetamine can artificially enhance someones strength and endurance. Other drugs can alter judgement and reflexes. These are important qualities.

Remember the pro doesn't just fish, he has to drive a boat, often at high speed. Raise and lower anchors and trolling motors, make thousands of casts etc.

IMHO drug testing makes as much sense for professional bass fishing as it does for any other competitive physical activity.

I vote with you, Avid!

[Peter E.]

I second that opinion.

[Keithscatch]

I also have no problems with it. My reasons are more for moral ones then enhancement ones. Bass fishing is a prominent sport in america with allot of youngsters looking on. Anytime you have role models competing in a sport or event there should be rules against using illegal drugs period.

For those who think fishing is not a sport. Man, you are barking up the wrong tree. Of all the things to say is not a sport. Fishing is absolutely a sport. They call bass sport fish do they not? It is sporting to catch a fish is it not? Why do we all have to think a sport is not a sport because it is not physically demanding? To me sport is something done competetively and with great skill. I think we have proven that some anglers who are professional are just a notch or two above us weekend anglers. So apparently there must be skill involved or some guys wouldn't always be in the money at events. KVD seems to always be in the top 10 out of a field of 200 or more. Why? Maybe because he is really good at it. While he may not need to be called an athelete. Much like I would never call a Nascar driver an athelete either. But I would call both a sport.

We call Golf a sport don't we? Do they exert tremendous physical energy? No. I don't see Tiger Woods with a sweaty shirt and sweat dripping off of his brow. Why do we always think of sport like a football game or basketball where the athelete is completely spent and exhausted after a game. Tennis would come to mind also or hockey.

What about these? are they sports? table tennis, curling, polo events, rifle shooting. The answer is yes to all of these. All of these are events in the Olympics. Yet none of the examples I just provided require much atheticism or physical exertion at all to play or master them.

Fishing is a sport as long as you are competing with other anglers and money or prestige is on the line, ie tournaments.

[fishingJ]

Good question, what is this world coming to? Cocaine might make there reaction time faster but I guarantee it will cause them to make a lot more stupid mistakes that would cost them any titles. I definatley think testing fisherman is retarted.

[Dan:]

so keith, by your standards, checkers is a sport? it is played competitively and some people have greater skill than others at it...selling girl scout cookies would also be a sport then. They compete to sell the most and there are certainly some girls who have more selling skills than others...

I want to make myself clear, I do not think fishing is a sport, but why does that even matter? There are plenty of activities that require knowledge and experience and have different levels of expertise. I don't think it is insulting to say something isn't a sport, it is still a fantastic activity that many people enjoy everyday, why should it matter what its label is? Being a sport or not doesn't change its value, difficulty, importance, or enjoyability.

In response to the Olympic sport comment, I think the Olympics' judgement on what is sport or not is very questionable.

Again, this is just my opinion and obviously everyone is entitled to think differently.

[Marty]

I dunno, to me, fishing isn't a sport, it's an activity. Poker isn't a sport either, and it should not be televised on ESPN (especially not as much as it is). There really isn't any athleticism required...This is just my view on it.

ESPN is gonna televise whatever can draw ratings, that's the TV business. I don't know of anyone who thinks poker is a sport. ESPN also televises billiards, spelling bees, hot dog eating and other stuff. Don't forget, the "E" in ESPN stands for "Entertainment." (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network).

[Brian_Reeves]

The only 'drug' you need while fishing is caffine.  Mountain Dew rocks!

[jomatty]

you would be surprised how many people think poker is a sport.  i strongly disagree, and i play poker for a living.   espn is in the business of showing what their fans want to see, and for the last few years what "sports" fans want to see is poker.  

bass fishing is in my opinion a sport.  poker and fishing are my two favorite activities and i think that they are a poor analogy.

[BD]

My take is this.........what if we found out, our hero's used drugs, what would that do? honestly? could be quite a bit. should they test? no.

Another 'irony' it seems is people who have NEVER been fishing, always see fishing, as stupid, redneck, cruel, and any other thing you can think of. I tell my co-workers I fish, and it's a look of amusement really. I would love for these people to go fishing. It's a sport just like handing a ball to a person and he runs 1 yard......

[BD]

Plus your opponent is a wild animal..........food for thought.

[Captain Cali]

Avid nailed it.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Hey man,.like *cough* what?

[Big T]

I think that drug testing is a good idea. You would not want someone who is jacked up on some kind of drug operating a boat at the speeds that most bass boats can run. Anyone who does not think that fishing is not a sport, has no idea what it takes to fish a tournament. I don't really a ton of bass fishing but it  would probably be fair to compare it to the physical aspects of fishing offshore. What I mean is that it can be pysically gruelling to fish a King Mackeral tournament when you have to run anywhere from right off the beach to 50-60 miles in a 4-5 chop. You have to be pysically fit to be able to stand the pounding your body takes when fishingin these conditons. Most of the top pros are using 31-35 ft boats, but alot of SKA events have 23 ft and under division. I know that I would be able to do it now, especially after back surgery/