Expected, or not, it is still a momentous event, his announcement for pro bass angling.

I have to say his timing seems a bit odd to me, that he made it just after his induction into the HOF, most of which is owed to his staggering successes in the organization he is leaving behind. But, just odd to me, no derision on my part. He covered it well reminding us that it involves lots of personal details, not all known to us.

Things are shaking up.

An observation? In the past when we have seen multiple federations or leagues develop, it either kills the sport (think pro boxing here with its multiple world champs, Don King, etc.) or it becomes a major disrupter that inevitably leads to a merger event. NBA and ABA in basketball, NFL and AFL in football, National and American Baseball leagues. I could go on, but will stop here.

My point? I doubt bass fishing is even remotely large enough now, or ever will be, to support truly healthy multiple national (big time) competitive leagues. In years to come, there will either be a merger and a single major survivor, or no mergers and some failing and going out of business.

Brad

Did Justin Lucas get invite or is he staying with BASS. I have not seen anything on the 2018 BASS AOY

KVD's timing was EXACTLY what I thought it would be, for the same reason they hold the guys with the big sacks to the end at the weigh in.

BPS is his biggest sponsor by far & away. Not only is KVD most likely the best angler in the world currently, he is also a very keen businessman. My guess is he has been in negotiations for months with Johnny over his new contract.

At one time Tiger Wood was commanding $3mm simply to "show up" at an event. The luster has worn off that flower but it just goes to show how marketable you can be with the right set of skills.

Johnny knows that any event KVD shows up to will be more highly viewed just because KVD is there.

https://www.businessinsider.com/tiger-woods-is-charging-3-million-for-appearance-fee-2013-1

MLF stated that all 80 spots are confirmed but won�t release the actual list until everyone has time to say so themselves on their website/social media

So the second invites must have gone out to cover the few that turned it down. I wonder how those guys felt being initially left out? I