His livescope was broke so he was just trying to even the odds.

Watched most of this last night. Zach Birge did not pull any punches. Here's the link if you are interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbCV5H2P97A

+1

In addition, he sheds light on how few people know the regulations, including those that enforce them.
Also touches on some of the behind the back underhandedness.
Sounds like there are a lot of rules with some of them being questionable along with an infrastructure that can improve the culture of infraction reporting, communication, and resolution.

Listened to the Luke Dunkin podcast

Sounds like shady business by MLF. Wouldn’t be shocked to see several of those guys leave and go back to BASS.

This is a very emotional topic along with those kids and the laundry basket.

After following this topic:

MLF is to blame for not enforcing the rules until the issue apparently went public.
Who knows what else has gone on that we don't know about or behind closed door discussions.
JS knowingly cheated and that is wrong but again, see above.
If we don't know what has really gone on behind closed doors, doesn't this fall on MLF?

If you want to punish JF, shouldn't we be punishing MLF for not handling correctly?
If you want to go the sponsor boycott route, MLF is the real issue.

For example, I have disagreed with the NFL and the kneeling and woke nonsense so I quit watching. Haven't seen a game in years. My choice and I live with it and it is not my job to convince anyone to watch or not watch. What used to make America the greatest country in the world was people here could have different opinions, discuss them, and not get so emotional.

Regardless of what you think about JS, MLF handled the situation with the punishment they felt was right and regardless of how we feel personally, they alone should experience the consequences of that decision.

When someone cheats, everyone loses... the cheater, his sponsors, his fans, the entire industry.

When you get caught you blame 79 competitors in a meeting and not apologize for anything.

No. You blame MLF for not handling it to your expectations. Everyone agrees that JS cheated. Everyone is arguing over his punishment or lack thereof....

Address the punishment with the authority that is dishing out the punishment. No one said there was or wasn't a meeting. We don't know but we can only speculate there had to be some type of communication IF MLF knew about the issue but did not take action until it was public. Maybe the meeting was with JS and MLF management. Who knows?

No one is blaming the remaining anglers for anything.

The issue is did he get what was deserved. He cheated, he got caught, and he received punishment. Whether that punishment is adequate to everyone reading this thread is up to their own opinion.

The penalty does not match the seriousness of the rule violation. Every serious tournament angler - past or present - knows this.

You all now have good data points on what kind of tournament angler Jeff is and on the integrity of the tournament organization.

Only if the punishment dictates that. I dont know what he made in winnings but the loss of the punishment could be small compared to the reward of cheating. Seems it may open up MLF to a lawsuit as well if they dont handle each incident with the same actions.

I wouldn't expect any lawsuits. That would be like "biting the hand that feeds you"

Obviously this is not a good thing I do not support Jeff. On this post who has not got info on a lake for a tournament. Rules are rules and he should be punished. So next time YOU get info foe a tournament remember that! other wise you are a hypocrite.