Ike #6 Hated Athlete

[earthworm77]

Obviously Ike has skill. I don't dislike him but I have grown tired of his antics. Pump your fish and crow when you win, not when you boat a 12 inch fish.

[Madhouse27]

For many people, fishing is a quiet, relaxing, contemplative endeavor. It is about getting away from the noise of the city and enjoying the serene sounds of nature. For these folks, Ike embodies exactly what they were trying to leave behind. When they see him on television screaming and breakdancing in their minds he may as well be painting graffiti on the trees and poking the bass in the eye and dropkicking them back into the lake. They consider him obnoxious and loud and it bugs them the same way that Terrell Owens selfishness does. Like many of the athletes on the list, Ike is a colorful guy who pushes the envelope for behavior in his sport. One of the keys to celebrity is to be loved hated but never ignored. Ike's shtick is certainly getting a bit played but at least he is adding some excitement and personality to a sport that will need some as it tries to become more mainstream. Without Ike, Bass fishing isn't getting meantioned in GQ magazine.

[Minuteman]

The one Philadelphia TV station noticed that 4 of the 10 most hated have connections to Philly, including Ike, The City of Brotherly Love. At least Ike isn't notorious for legal troubles or taking fans for granted. Ike doesn't bother me at all because I don't fish near him, the "Like Ikes" that I fish near DO bother me, but most are pretty young and I just sorta chuckle inside when they start screaming.

[Cajun1977]

people wanna  hate ike cause he scfreams get a life man   are you trying to compare him to athletes who use drugs and rapist  come on he screams so what some people need to get off their high horse and just worry about themselves instead of finding one little issue with a person that is not even that serious  and turning it into a bigdeal cause of jealousy or lack of confidense in their own life                                                                       im not posting this to anyone specific im just putting it out there

[SneakySnook]

Ike should keep doing things the way he does them. If people hate him well to bad. It doesn't look like he is going anywhere any time soon. People hate other people in every sport but you just have to deal with them. Tiger was not the most hated in GQ magazine it was Michelson. The guy that the fans love but the other golfers hate him. He was one of the top 5 most hated. So why would that be.

[blanked]

i feel that whever someone goes he needs to fit in like the rest of the crowd.  can you imagine if tiger came into golf like some gangsta rapper!!

or how about your next door neighbor...  let his house go to pot

neither are breaking any laws are they???  

[Cajun1977]

i feel that whever someone goes he needs to fit in like the rest of the crowd. can you imagine if tiger came into golf like some gangsta rapper!!

or how about your next door neighbor... let his house go to pot

neither are breaking any laws are they???

FEEL LIKE SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIT IN WITH THE CROWD   IM MY OWN MAN I DONT DO SOMETHING CAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES  IF PEOPLE DONT LIKE THAT TOUGH    SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST FOLLOWERS AND IM NOT ONE NOR DO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE EITHER

[JT Bagwell]

I am going to borrow my response from rapper

50 Cent. This is mildly edited of course, but I think

it sums it up for us.

"Go 'head switch the style up

      If they hate, then let 'em hate

      And watch the money pile up"

      50 Cent - In Da Club

JT Bagwell

[BassChaser57]

If we want Bass Fishing to be a backwater, trailer trash sport, then Ike is the spokesman/personality we want. If we want respect, then we need to look to the KVD's and Clunn's of the sport. I shudder to think of Ike being on Good Morning America like KVD was and giving the average American the idea that he represents me in any way or is the norm for the sport. He simply lacks class, if that is what we want this sport to be, it is up to us! 8-)

[BassChaser57]

I reread the posts and it hit me that we are talking about two issues here.

#1 Ike is a great angler and I do NOT want to take that away from him.

#2 Ike is not and should not be a role model I want my child to be like.

As was said earlier, there are several sports figures who are great in their profession but show little if any class or give a reason to be respected outside of the game. If money and talent make a "good guy" then Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson are the best! 8-)

[jagdbdg]

I have a question to the people that say they wouldnt want Ike to be a role model for their children, Why? Obviously thats your decision but i just would like real reasons other than he screams when he catches a fish and dances on his boat. Davey Hite( i think it was) was dancing on his boat in a tournament, others have screamed when they caught a fish. So whats the difference.

This is not meant to be confrontational in anyway. I just seen this in a couple of posts even before this one

[dink]

Ike is here to stay.  Love it, leave it, or CHANGE it.  For anyone who claims that they are NOT a "follower"(and we all are in some way or another), then put up or shut up.  But don't hate what you don't understand.  Also, professional bass fishing is not some Divine sport free of corruption, crooks or schemes, so don't put it up on some pedestal like it is going to "deliver us" someday.  I love it and every aspect of it, but it is still JUST FISHIN'.

[Captain Cali]

I am going to borrow my response from rapper

50 Cent. This is mildly edited of course, but I think

it sums it up for us.

"Go 'head switch the style up

          If they hate, then let 'em hate

          And watch the money pile up"

          50 Cent - In Da Club

JT Bagwell

;D

That's right baby!!

[Rattletrap]

It's cool. We Bass Fishermen now have a shot at being an athlete.

[Cephkiller]

JT,

I'm not really sure if you are endorsing Ike or not, but nevertheless, the fact that you are quoting the renowned philosopher 50 Cent in order to justify his behavior speaks volumes about his antics.

I have nothing against Ike personally.  I get the feeling he is a pretty stand-up guy.  It would probably be enjoyable to hang out with him.  That doesn't mean I have to like the way he acts in front of the camera.

I think we all know people who are perfectly nice and a lot of fun, but when presented with an audience they become a different, less likeable person.  I bet that Ike is one of those people.  His audience is just larger than most people we know.

I guess my point is that those who are defending Ike's public persona based on their personal experience with him or his angling prowess are comparing apples and oranges.  It is possible to respect the latter two and not the first.  This is the camp into which I fall.

[Matt Fly]

Folks if Ike was the only the thing my kids saw compared to MTV, MTV2, and the rest of the 1000 stations available.   Terrell Owens and other NFL role models, NBA, Rappers, Rock stars all probably get more TV time than Ike and Sat. morning airtime.  Ikes going Ike is mild compared to the other millions of role models.

Ike or Beevis and ButtHead

Ike or T.O.

Ike or MLB and Steriods

Ike or Dennis Rodman

Ike or Ron Artest

Ike or MTV

Ike or Jerry Springer

Is what IKE doing that bad as compared to other sports and TV idols?

Sometimes he goes overboard with his small fish.  But, other than that, what is he exactly doing that makes him a bad role model compared to the Brittany Spears, Mike Tyson, and others who get more air time than Mike does?

[Cephkiller]

Matt,

I absolutely agree with you. Ike is exponentially more favorable than those you mentioned. I, however, am comparing him to KVD, Clunn, etc. It's not that he is necessarily a "bad influence", it's just that I find his behavior undignified. I think it degrades the sport.

[Matt Fly]

It took me a long time to stomach the NFL celebrations also, it wasn't part of the game back then.  Does it mean the people are bad for dancing? Not hardly, some have done some off the field stuff to make some appear to be thugs.  But not all are bad.    Mike has crossed a fence in a sport, just like football atheletes have done.

What this role model does is less harm to a person eyes than all the other sports.  

The subject matter is "Role Models"  and #6 hated" my opinion is there are a lot worse out there, and the TV market that watches Ike on his prime time hour on TV is Saturday mornings with adults and a few kids.   I bet the kids watch more MTV2 or other TV shows.   Whether he's really hated, I don't care, he's made the final cut like KVD, that gets you an extra day of TV exposure.

If the other competitors, who like to say Mike gets more TV air Time because of his Loud celebrations, well if they would fish better ane qualify ahead of him once in awhile, that would certainly shut down some of the EXTRA TV time and his outlandish celebrations.

Mike is doing something smart, he is appealing to a younger fishing audience than any other pro has done.    He is on their(youths) level.    There is nothing Mike is doing that would make your kid do drugs, steal, lie, or cheat.   Why would you not want Mike to be a role model compared to Mike Tyson, Owens, Spears, Artest, and others?

To cater to the youth, you will offend some old schoolers.  Mike teaches  "NEVER GIVE UP".  

[srv1990]

Well, I'm not a long time poster like many others but having read all the posts on this thread I thought I would put my two cents in... after all, it's still a free country, right?  Anyway, I fall in the same camp as Matt_Fly and many others for a couple reasons.  First, as a parent of two children (girl-7/boy-5) I do pay attention to the many things my kids are exposed to, TV, radio, etc., and let me tell you there is some real garbage out there.  Heck, my daughter received a Black Eyed Peas CD for Christmas, the first time I heard the song My Humps I just about broke the disk in half (those who've heard it know what I mean).  So, comparing Ike to many other outlets, personalities, etc., he is head and shoulders above them.  I do understand, however, that his personality rubs some the wrong way, and that's their prerogative to feel that way.

Secondly, I think with Ike and the sport of fishing being talked about so much, and more importantly getting exposure on national TV and in national publications is huge.  It wasn't all that long ago that only hard core, serious fisherman knew anything, or for that matter even cared, about the sport of fishing.  It's when people stop talking, stop taking notice, that I would worry.

I believe some comparisons can be made with the sport of professional tennis.  There was a time when tennis was very much a "gentlemens" game, everyone on their best behavior, etiquette ruled.  What's wrong with that?  Well, nothing, except that no one noticed or cared about tennis except for the real tennis enthusiasts.  Then all of the sudden along comes Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe and Illie Nastasi.  I think most of you know their stories, so I won't go there, but through the exposure they gave the sport, people noticed, people watched, tennis became HUGE.  Most didn't condone their antics, and in many cases they went over the line, but it made the sport colorful and people watched.  In recent years tennis has taken a step back and from what I read in sports magazines it's because there are no "colorful characters" in tennis anymore.

More power to Ike for daring to be different.  And to the other anglers out there with their own personalities.  As long as they are playing by the rules and giving it their all, I'm OK with them.

I appreciate this forum and the opportunity to post my views on this topic.

TC

[squid]

Ike does stretch out before he heads out on the lake....lol.....does that make him an Athlete?  Who cares...lol...his name is now all over the place.  Even people not into fishing are looking him up as we write, just to see who this 6th hated athlete is....lol.  Now we can go out into the world and say we too are athletes...lol

Squid

[bixbybasspro]

He sure deserves the sixth place spot in my mind 8-)

[BassChaser57]

Hmmmmm,

Has anyone else noticed that when anglers are defending Ike they say "well, are you saying he is worse than ---" and the others are deadbeats and derilects.

To reinterate; I believe Ike is a great fisherman and deserves his status for being a skilled and talented angler and do NOT hate him at all. As has been said here, he is immature as he acts like a kid. It is not just Ike, MTV is locked out of our home as well and I attempt to have adult role models for my daughter who will make her a better, more responsible, self disiplined adult. An adult (no matter who it is) acting like an out of control teenager is not a role model in our home. Are there worse role models, of course, are there better, of course. I am an airline pilot and don't think you want me to scream and do the ghetto dance when I do my job and land the plane. The coach of the Denver Broncos tells his players to act like they came to make touchdowns and are not suprised when it happens. Act like they have done this before.

I realize Ike is here to stay because he is too good of an angler and I wish I had his fishing savvy, I am just glad I don't have to act like him when I catch a fish and more importantly, I am glad the guy in the back of my boat doesn't act like that.

Matt, None of the people or shows on your list make it in my home.

Great subject and remember; If the whole world liked chocolate there would be no vanilla. 8-)

[Rattlinrogue]

It takes all kinds to make the bassin' tours interesting.From quiet,stoic,and talented Zell Rowland to the Zany antics of Ike.At first,I wasn't too sure,but he brings something to the game that is fun.From what I'm told,Ike is a pretty down to earth guy.He's found his "sctick" and it's made him famous.Good for him.Don't forget it's not all show.He's one hail of a bassman.

[5bass]

It takes all kinds to make the bassin' tours interesting.From quiet,stoic,and talented Zell Rowland to the Zany antics of Ike.At first,I wasn't too sure,but he brings something to the game that is fun.From what I'm told,Ike is a pretty down to earth guy.He's found his "sctick" and it's made him famous.Good for him.Don't forget it's not all show.He's one hail of a bassman.

Amen RR......and on top of all that,when he goes Ike on a fish,its getting him face-time and lots of it.And to sponsors and others that fill his pockets,that's what it's all about!

ESPN loves the fact that Ike will yell and scream when he hooks that "GIANT" dink.It's like their own little reality show in a weird sort of way.People watch just to see what he's going to do next.

And he's doing what he loves to do......I cant say that I wouldnt GO IKE if I was fishing for a living,matter of fact,it would be a distinct possibility (without the break dancing) ;D

[blanked]

i expect more from fishermen and golfers than i do from basketball players and musicians.  dont bring fishermen down to the same level as dennis rodman and marilyn manson