Bass, my best advice would be drink a couple 20's of water, a 12 of real fruit juice, a BC Powder and you'll come back strong! That's me that just put u over 42% btw

Dark dusty corner of my garage somewhere in a box under the airbrush paint rack and the 12 unused 3700 boxes I think is where they are at.
Don't get me wrong I am always happy to get one but outside of myself I ain't worried about anyone seeing them or what they may think of me as an angler. I fish tournaments for me and as long as I am happy the rest is all gravy.
I guarantee you I would NEVER wear a belt buckle or a ring that pertained to fishing. I also would never put my stats on the side of a boat. Just seems awfully cheesy to me. Then again I never got the whole name on your boat and engine fad either nor do I care to fish in jerseys for local tournaments, night tournaments or when fun fishing. That being said I am all for whatever makes someone else happy.

When people recognize you without anything is when u have made it in this sport. When competitors fear your name is when you have made it.
That's the best accolade that can be given to a bass competitor. It's not a plaque or badge but a earned name.
Terry Oldham comes to mind. I have never met him but been in the same area as him several times and never knew it. I know his name and have wished my fish worthiness was in the same ballpark as him.

No tournament jersey,ring or plaque will ever equate to that..

I could see Dillard sporting a LEW grill

So in life Mark, nobody has ever asked you what you may have done as an accomplishment in your life other than being alive. Nothing to be proud of? c'mon- you must have one thing in life that has given you the drive to be who you are for what you have done.

I don't do accolades- like many folks in life seem to want- in perspective I look at movie stars that strive to get a 'Oscar' for acting- personally that is a field in life they chose to do to make a living- I want to ask- did it save a life, or help a child be a better person or did you do something special for mankind? A sports pro- kids look up to and say I want to be like ... one day, or man I want to be a cop/fireman/jet pilot when I grow up, add nurse, doctor someone who does give back- take lawyers and salesman out of this equation- they will suck your blood if they get a chance.

I would wear a belt buckle that shows i did something fun and had a good time doing it- and let those who ask know that I did not kill to get what I have- but to help our sport to grow by showing what can be done even when you have odds stacked against you. Fish do not invite themselves to the hook, nor do deer stand still in a field without a bit of 'help' from a toot of a call..we invoke to get our prize- but with fishing- many of us will return what we catch to live another day.

Bears are on a drive- I shall quit while I'm ahead

and when I advertise my thing- consider where I am going with it..

Enjoy life

it can be very short..