Couldn't let it go.. (but I tried).

I couldn't disagree more. I think any time you present the flag, be it
on a T-Shirt, a Tattoo, on a light post on a boat where MILLIONS of
people are watching, you are promoting this country and the freedoms we
have. With your logic we are desecrating the flag every time we put one
in our front yard, that is just as "ornamental" and putting one on
your boat.

This isn't about the flag, this is about a simple tournament , and
fairness. Sportsmanship was sited as the reason for Ike being
disqualified. If swearing was a component , then why does BASS glorify
it in one instance and then condemn it in another? Preston Clark, in
the same tournament (Toho Classic) lost a fish, and said "Dammit", 3
times. So now are they going to determine what is acceptable use of a
word as well?

My whole point is that BASS has gone from straight up angling, to
pushing guys in one direction or the other (ala WWE formerly WWF, maybe
ol Vince has his hand in BASS's pocket?). They decide who is going to
get the big sponsor paychecks by putting them on TV. Ike definitely
benefits from TV time, so maybe it is a give and take, losing Ranger,
and gaining Toyota might have been a big pay day???? I am a "Gen Xr", I
listen to some heavy metal, some hip-hop, and some Classical. I have a
full time position as an IT Manager, and I am no way in hell close
minded. I could care less if Ike kicked his Camera man in the water and
called him the F word as he sank to the bottom. I don't care if KVD
threw his rod and reel in the water and then made his Camera man fetch
it with his teeth. None of that matters, I don't need BASS to teach me
my morals, I don't need BASS to teach my nieces and nephews right and
wrong. I get the opportunity to do that by pointing out what is
acceptable, and what is not. If my nieces and nephews decided to get in
my boat and then kick my light post because they were upset, damn
straight they would be reprimanded. If BASS didn't become a "product"
and stayed a "sport" then we wouldn't have an issue, because they
wouldn't shove the camera in one guys face just waiting for the bomb to
blow up, again, they knew Ike could lose it, and they wanted to capture
it, and then to turn around an punish him for it is absurd. If they
were worried, then don't freakin film him!!!!!!!!!! People are so damn
quick to blame everything else for their actions. Take some personal
responsibility and say "hey, I could just throw out my Television and we
could have family time", or "hey, look at Ike be an idiot, son, please
don't ever be like that." They are anglers, that is it, they didn't
cure cancer, they are not running for president.

To me, this is the same exact argument Rich P just posted. Who cares
that there is a million dollars on the line, or you are fishing a $150
club tournament. It is about fairness, and it is about sportsmanship.
If BASS has rules, they should follow them, and make them specific, and
if they have exemptions, such as "if you are in more than 3 pages in our
magazine each month, then you can do whatever you want without
disqualification", then they should maybe state that before hand for the
viewing public so we don't have to assume fairness right off the bat.

Chris
mhood wrote:
SimRacer wrote:
"Dwayne E. Cooper" wrote in message
...

On Sun, 28 May 2006 06:29:00 GMT, "Todd Copeland"
wrote:


SNIP

However, IMO, desecrating the American flag was enough to justify
a DQ. IMO, that's intolerable and merited some punishment.


So, let me get this straight. You think tearing up a light pole on a boat
with an American flag on it is desecration, yet people are allowed to
burn
it as a protected act of "freedom of speech"?


I guess I'm the only reader who considers it very disrespectful
(desecration?) to reduce Old Glory to ornamental status by mounting a
Chinese-made (fifty cent) plastic replica to the light pole of a bass
boat in the first place?

On Tue, 30 May 2006 15:14:33 GMT, "SimRacer"
wrote:

So, let me get this straight. You think tearing up a light pole on a boat
with an American flag on it is desecration, yet people are allowed to burn
it as a protected act of "freedom of speech"?

The mere fact I'm a lawyer doesn't really have much to do with
this IMO. I don't make the laws. If I did, burning the American flag
would be a crime and a severe one because, in my opinion, its more of
an action than just a speech and the action is destroying something
that is very sacred.

I can buy the argument that Ike's act on the flag might have been
unintentional...but I don't think it was just negligent (non-culpable
mental state) but at the very least a showing of reckless disregard
towards the flag...kinda like when a drunk runs over a pedestrian.
The drunk probably didn't intend to run over the pedestrian...but
because of his reckless use of alcohol and getting behind a wheel and
because of the severity of what happened...that he deserves to be
punished.

If a fisherman throws a temper tantrum on the water and doesn't
hurt anyone or anything...no big deal. But once he hurt something
(American flag), he's gotta pay a price...IMO because we don't want
fishermen getting into a habit of doing this kind of thing.

--
Dwayne E. Cooper, Atty at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Email:
Web Page: http://www.cooperlegalservices.com
Personal Fishing Web Page: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/OnTheWater
Dog Fishing: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/onthe...fishing040.htm
1st Annual ROFB Classic Winner