Rate ESPN's coverage of the classic......

[GobbleDog]

Way too many dock side interviews, a lot of which was just joking around.  I'd rather watch the top pros just fish, even when they aren't catching anything.  It seems like they only cut to the anglers when they get a bite or to show them driving their boats.

Also, I wish they wouldn't keep showing the estimated weight totals throughout the final day, because it makes the final weigh-in somewhat anti-climatic IMO.

[Shadcranker]

I thought the coverage was marginally better than 07.

I can't stand listening to Dean Rojas yammer on. I liked the other pros. Rojas just seems like a complete ego-maniac. I have it out for him, b/c a friend of mine fished with him as a co-angler, and he said Rojas was a real jerk (sit down, shut up, and don't talk to me).

The other thing that was painful to watch was Casey Ashley's recording session. I live in Nashville, and there are 2,000 folks here, working at mini-marts that can sing that well, and most of them can write songs too. His singing was decent, but the song was so corny that I was embarrased for him. It was uncomfortable to watch.

"Back the boat in at the ramp, hope I don't fish like a tramp. Cold front blew through last night, hope the bass are ready to fight. Flippin stick or finesse pole, think it's all about to roll, blah, blah, blah". That was brutal!:-[

Part of the problem with the coverage was that the leaders were not catching tons of fish other than the first day. I think A Jones had five all day Sunday. Hartley only caught 2. Hard to show someone just casting and not catching.

[Glenn]

I think the closest you'll get to that, Muddy, is hearing my voice saying, "Hey Mike, you got a flat" during the "Day with a Pro" segment.

As for the coverage.  Part of the problem is that ESPN hires a ton of freelancers to cover the event.  Not that they're incapable of doing their jobs - far from it.  But it presents logistics and coordination issues working with a crew that's never worked together before.

Case in point - the "day with a pro" segment w/Ike was shot when I went with him.  They were supposed to have a chase boat follow us around and do some on-the-water footage and soundbites.  That boat and cameraman never showed up.  Would have been a better piece if he had, but instead they had to use footage from a previous day - when he wasn't miked.  In addition, all the footage they shot in the morning had to be scrapped because he was wearing something different.  They had some great footage too.

My take - what you saw in total event coverage was a fraction of what was planned.  So the ideas are there, but they need to figure out how to pull it off better.

[burleytog]

My take - what you saw in total event coverage was a fraction of what was planned. So the ideas are there, but they need to figure out how to pull it off better.

That is ESPN's problem.  They just can't get everything worked out.  

They know how to cover basketball, football or baseball, but what works there does not work when covering fishing.

[Guest muddy]

Good point Glenn and Burley: but they are capable of learning. The question is can they get it right before the bean counters pull the plug! TV is a different animal; soccor is enjoys world wide coverage and is a huge money maker, in the US the ratings don't pan out, the vid heads need to figure out how to get more people watching this. I also wonder how many people outside of our own little world really care about the Classic at all.

[Glenn]

My take - what you saw in total event coverage was a fraction of what was planned. So the ideas are there, but they need to figure out how to pull it off better.

That is ESPN's problem. They just can't get everything worked out.

They know how to cover basketball, football or baseball, but what works there does not work when covering fishing.

The problem is that THIS sport covers a 55,000+ acre lake and a stadium 35 mins away.  It's a logistical nightmare!  I'm not making excuses, but our sport is very unique in this way, and they only get once a year to get a whack at the Classic.  

It's no wonder the stadium footage was better - because that's where televised events normally occur.  But when you're spread out miles apart, that's a whole new ballgame (pun intended).

[MaxDal]

I have been a proud B.A.S.S member for some years now, and eventhough I don't agree with everything ESPN has done or is currently doing, I will continue supporting the cause of bass.

My only regret, is that since it is almost impossible to get ESPN 2 over here, I have to watch the classic live online every year. I do thank B.A.S.S for this solution to watch it. But even last year we had some on-the-water footage, at least 5 minutes for the top guns......

This year was only pure on-the-stage show.

I love the way B.A.S.S is trying to reach out to a brand new not-fishing-aware audience, but they should not forget what forms the core of their members ... Bass Fishermen, who wants to see more fishing than show... At least that's what I would like.

Thanks anyway to B.A.S.S, without which I could not get Bassmaster magazine and could not see the classic weigh-in live.

[KYbass1276]

I thought it was great the whole 1 min of the classic that I watched.   I pretty much dedided to just get my info from here on who won, And thats exactly what I did.  I fiqured I could spend my time watching interviews with the ones who didn't qualify or the classic expo.  Or I could do something more productive.   I chose the latter and was practicing with my new bow.   BassResource.com was the best coverage I have seen as far as info.