I never mentioned the word "athlete" in my post.I was pointing out that
competitive fishing was more of a grueling "sport" than just a "physical
activity".
I agree that eating contests and spelling bees are not sports.Fishing is a
sport whether your dunking worms with the kids,or at the competitive
level,or wading a stream.
I have never bought any fishing equipment in any store that wasn't
designated "sporting goods" or specialized in "sporting goods".

"Marty" wrote in message
...

"Bass_Mr." wrote in message
ink.net...
snipKen Fortenberry wrote:
Bass fishing is no more a "physical activity" than
tossing darts, or bowling ...

It is very clear that you have never gotten out of bed at 2am,driven a
couple of hours (or more),stood on the bow of a bass boat in a 20+ mph
wind,controlled that boat in a safe and efficient manner,fished your guts
out for 8 hours or more on a diet of crackers and water,competing against
people of all skill levels and expertise,then packed it all up and drove
all the way back.That is just a taste of what amateur bass club fishermen
do.At the pro level you can multiply that tenfold.

That doesn't make it a sport or its participants athletes. Maybe it's
tiring and grueling, but so is a construction worker's day. And I
guarantee that worker would rather be engaged in the torture described
above. And I assume one could do it on a better diet than water and
crackers.

Corporate America must feel that bass fishing is a sport,or there
wouldn't be millions of dollars of sponsorship being poured into it.
When ESPN airs a "trout fishing competition" are they doing it because it
is a sport or because they just like seeing men wade around in rubber
pants? I urge you again to go into your fly fishing group and tell that
crowd they aren't involved in a sport.I guarantee you a lot of them would
have their rubber britches in a wad!

ESPN airs eating contests and spelling bees.

No insults intended here, but I wonder why so many tournament fishermen
get defensive about this subject. Do they need to legitimize their
activity with the "I'm an athlete" claim? Plus, don't forget, tournaments
at the highest levels of competition can be (and are) won by senior
citizens, smokers and 300-pounders.