Do athletics look good to possible Sponsors??

[westsweeper4]

For some of the guys higher up in the sponsor levels and some of the sponsors themselves, do athletes appeal more to you eye than the regular fisherman? I understand that winning tournaments and gaining exposure is the ultimate measure of success.  But would playing athletics in college help me against other fisherman. I have no idea about this and I have never heard of this subject being brought up.  Its also not often that you find athletes into competitive fishing, at least in Ohio, so I was just curious.....

Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

[John Cullum]

It couldn't hurt thats for sure.

It would show your would be sponsor that you have a drive to succeed and you have dicipline in what you do.

I'm not sure how much looks have to do with who gets a deal and who doesn't but it has to factor in somewhere along the line.

I know if it were me and I had a few guys with equal speaking ability and fishing success it would come down to who looks the part. Who will get my consumers to notice my "guy" which is my product and which guy would just blend in.

[tbird]

As a manager that hires on a regular basis  I don't look at athletics but by what a person can bring to my company. In the  fishing industry, speaking ability would be up there with fishing ability.

[mwhitworth25]

at least your sponsors would know youre in good shape

[Hale]

In todays world, looks go a long way and that directly relates being in shape. Someone in really good shape could apply for the same job as some fat dirty slob and we all know what the end result would be.

[FlyRod]

I'd say it depends on the type of sport you've participated in.

An active sports "career" might speak well of your capacity to endure the long, grinding nature of serious tournaments

In fact, in an effort to garner some sponsor support, I made certain that I mentioned my own two sports. Sadly, sponsors felt that one of them 8-) was unsuited to a family-friendly milieu and the other sport, thumb-wrestling, wasn't applicable either although I pointed out that, as a result of same, I hadn't had a backlash in years .

FR

[Will]

I think that sports, especially high school sports for the younger anglers would help alot. It would show that you got involved.

[MyKeyBe]

I think it could go either way.

Are you dedicated to your sport or did you join for other reason's?

If you could run a 5:00 minute mile and are dedicated enough to turn that into a 4:30 mile, that might look good.

If you join cheerleading because you know that they will place you at the base of the pyramid and you can "look up"... :

That might not look so good. (To the sponsor, not you, perv! )

[Sam]

When looking at the Bass pros I don't think sports.

I think fishing ability.

Look at Hackney.  I doubt he could walk a mile!

Look at Ike.  He could run 10 miles.

Check out Kevin Van Dam.  He looks like he could swim a few laps in the pool but thats about it.

I think your personality and accomplishments plus whats in your heart would go a lot farther than if you played high school or college sports.

And what if the college you attended is not liked by the sponsors' advertising people.  Can you imagine an Ohio State jock trying to get a Michigan grad to sponsor him?  Tulane and LSU?  Texas and Texas A&M.  Notre Dame and everybody!

So be yourself and present yourself as a worth candidate for the sponsor's support.

[L-Train]

Getting to this a little late, but here is my 2 cents.

I think you have to point out your accomplishments, achievements.  Not so much your athletic achievements but focus on your ability to handle many things at once.  I am somewhat biased, because I played college baseball for 4 years.  And I know the challenges of balancing athletics and academics.  My GPA was a 2.9.  Which some people frown upon.  But In interviews, resumes, etc. I tried to focus on my abiltity to do many things at once and the difficulty and perseverience I had.  Not bragging, but it was hard to balance baseball and classes.  Leaving San Antonio at 3:00 Sunday afternoon heading back to school in Little Rock is a ten hour drive, and studying in the back of a charter bus for a Monday morning test is hard.  I worked hard and graduated in 4 years was an all conference baseball player.   and went back and got my master degree the following year.  

In short, if you GPA isn't top notch, take the emphasis away from that to something that makes you look better.  

I'll put my question out there now.  What can a guy with a Masters Degree in accounting do in the fishing industry?  I would love to be a Rep of somekind, but I have zero sales experience.  I have 3 years experience in public accounting.

[JT Bagwell]

In todays world, looks go a long way and that directly relates being in shape. Someone in really good shape could apply for the same job as some fat dirty slob and we all know what the end result would be.

Chris, you always have a way with words.  lol  Fat dirty slob.

You are absolutely right though.

Later man,

JT Bagwell

[Banor]

In todays world, looks go a long way and that directly relates being in shape. Someone in really good shape could apply for the same job as some fat dirty slob and we all know what the end result would be.

Chris, you always have a way with words. lol Fat dirty slob.

You are absolutely right though.

Later man,

JT Bagwell

True to a point.  Consider some of the top pros though.  In shape? Trim? No.  Catch fish?  Promote product?  Yes.   All things being equal though in an entry level situation Hale is dead on.  

B

[westsweeper4]

I was just looking back over this thread and I think that some of you may have mis-intrepreted what I was asking. I wasnt asking about athletic looks but rather how athletics look to sponsors.

I realize that marketability is obviously first and foremost but I guess my train of thought was any type of edge you can say you have over John Doe is a good thing right...... :-?

[preach4bass]

My guess is that if you have to include athletics on your resume you should quit worrying about sponsors and just go fishing.  Your fishing accomplishments and ability to sell product are going to get you sponsorships, not how many points you scored in a JV basketball game.  If I was looking at a resume and it included how many "letters" a person got playing High School (or even college) ball, I think it would discredit what's important: Fishing ability and marketability.

[Sam]

OK, so you play sports in high school or college.

Big deal when it come to fishing unless you are an All American in your sport and you have name recognition.

I do not know what various sponsors are seeking in their pros but it does not hurt to show the sponsors you are a fully rounded person with excellent grammer and speaking skills; dress nice; have no tatoos showing; nice haircut; polished shoes; and can handle yourself in an acceptable manner when meeting with them or hawking their products.

I don't think Ike, Denny, Jimmy, Hank, Kevin, Zell and others were major names in high school or college athletics but look at their fishing careers and how they conduct themselves to get an idea of what sponsors are seeking.

Its all about the money:  what you can bring in and how much will it cost the sponsor to sponsor you to generate the added income.

Show me the money!