ESPN

Birmingham, Ala. — Standing-room-only crowds. Nineteen hours of television coverage. An enormous outdoors show. And the best bass anglers in the world. It all comes together at the CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic, July 25-27 in Birmingham, Ala.

For 32 years, crowds have flocked to bass fishing's world championship, and as the sport has grown into a family activity for nearly 30 million anglers nationwide, the Classic continues to break new ground and represent the best American traditions. At this year's Classic, the stories loom large:

The big game

Anglers competing in the 2002 Classic represent 20 states and Japan. Texas leads the way with 10 Classic qualifiers who call the Lone Star State home — but 11 states have multiple qualifiers. They are: Alabama — Jamie Horton of Centreville, Tim Horton of Muscle Shoals, and Randy Howell of Trussville; Arkansas — Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, George Cochran of Hot Springs, Jimmy Mize of Ben Lomond, Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, and Scott Rook of Little Rock; California — Robert Lee of Angels Camp, Aaron Martens of Castaic, and Mike O'Shea of Thousand Oaks; Florida — Chuck Economou of Palm Bay, Roland Martin of Clewiston, and Terry Scroggins of Palatka; Michigan — Erhardt Tulgestka of Alpena and Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo; New Jersey — Michael Iaconelli of Woodbury Heights and Kotaro Kiriyama of New Milford; North Carolina — Jeff Coble of Henderson and Dustin Wilks of Raleigh; Oklahoma — Tom Biffle of Wagner, Edwin Evers of Mannsville, and O.T. Fears III of Sallisaw; South Carolina — Davy Hite of Prosperity, Carl Maxfield of Summerville, and Jason Quinn of Rock Hill; Texas — Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Charlie Hammack of New Caney, Alton Jones of Waco, Gary Klein of Weatherford, Tommy Martin of Hemphill, Bud Pruitt of Spring, David Wharton of Sam Rayburn, Gary Yamamoto of Athens, and Jay Yelas of Tyler; Virginia — Chris Daves of Spring Grove and Woo Daves of Spring Grove.

Other states represented are: Arizona — John Murray of Phoenix; Kentucky — David Walker of Cannon; Maryland — Chris Price of Church Hill; Massachusetts — Danny Correia of Marlboro; Missouri — Ken Christ of Kansas City; Nevada — Jack Gadlage of Logandale; Ohio — Frank Scalish of Cleveland; Utah — Ron Colby of West Jordan; Washington — Luke Clausen of Four Lakes.

Defending the title

2001 Classic champion Kevin VanDam is chasing a 25-year-old record: The chance to win two consecutive world titles. The record, set after Rick Clunn's back-to-back 1976 and 1977 Classic victories, has often been threatened but has never been matched.

Is it victory sweeter the second time around?

Davy Hite picked up his second B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title (tour championship) with great weights at Lake Eufaula, Ala. in May and he's determined to savor the experience.

"Winning the first Angler of the Year is great, but the second one says even more about you as an angler," Hite said. "It says that the first one wasn't a fluke, and that you are a consistent fisherman at this level."

24 months to victory

For the five amateur anglers heading to Birmingham in July, the road to the Classic has been long. The B.A.S.S. Federation guarantees five spots in fishing's world championship, but only to anglers who qualify through the Federation's local, state and divisional tournaments. For amateur anglers, most of whom also hold full-time jobs, it's a lifelong dream. The five amateur anglers heading to the 2002 Classic are: Ken Christ of Kansas City, Mo.; Ron Colby of West Jordan, Utah; Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala.; Chris Price of Church Hill, Md.; and Erhardt Tulgestka of Alpena, Mich.

Showtime!

Fishing's world championship will get a taste of innovations begun at the 2002 Winter Olympics when the new Executive Producer/Event Production, Christy Nicolay, brings her world-class event production experience to the show.

Conservation conversation

Steve Williams, recently appointed director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), will attend the 32nd annual CITGO BASS Masters Classic in Birmingham, Ala., to lead a special presentation about the FWS Fisheries Program strategic vision, which the agency is developing with its partners, including B.A.S.S.

Sibling revelry

When Rex Rodanas, 13, and his sister, Vanessa, 10, both qualified for the BASSMASTER CASTINGKIDS national finals, it was one more step in a family tradition of excellence. Rex has been the New Hampshire CASTINGKIDS champion every year since 1997 and was the runner-up at the 1998 National Finals. Vanessa has been the New Hampshire CASTINGKIDS champ in her age group since 1999. In addition, both Rex and Vanessa are nationally ranked in amateur fencing and Vanessa won a $20,000 scholarship for stacking the most Oreo cookies in a national contest.

Teach a child to fish … More than 1,000 children will be provided free Zebco rods and reels at the 2002 Kids Classic in Birmingham — some for the first time in their lives. The Kids Classic was created to give children and their parents an opportunity to learn about fishing and its great benefits for young people and families.

The new style

At the Classic Outdoors Show, visitors get an opportunity to see the latest equipment pros use to land lunkers. Sponsors unveil their top products and host interactive displays for everyone from the weekend warrior to the world's top touring pros.

Make it or break it

Can a Classic appearance make or break an angler's professional appeal? That depends on the angler, but most say the exposure is worth its weight in sponsorships — and missing a Classic can be devastating for those anglers who don't finish in the top 30 in season standings.

"Without making the Classic, are your sponsors going to step up and pay that and help you? Probably not," said New Jersey pro Pete Gluszek, who finished 35th for the season and failed to qualify for the 2002 Classic. "You start to questions things like am I going to be able to compete next year here? On the financial end I might be out of it. I'm pretty devastated right now."

Records and rookies

For the first time since his rookie season in 1974, multiple record holder Rick Clunn did not earn a berth in the Classic. That paves the way for anglers like rookie Frank Scalish to compete in pro fishing's biggest event.

Celebrity tournament

Legendary Red Sox and Yankees third basemen Wade Boggs, "General Hospital" star Real Andrews, and ESPN college football studio analyst Lee Corso will join other VIPs and news media on the only practice day of Classic week, Tuesday, July 23, to fish with the pros and weigh in their biggest fish.

Bass Week on ESPN and ESPN2

Nineteen hours of programming surrounds ESPN's same-day coverage of the 2002 Classic. The coverage includes six original "Classic Yearbook" programs, covering the dramatic stories of recent victories at bass fishing's world championship. ESPN2 will also air the inaugural "CITGO Celebrity Challenge," in which top NASCAR drivers left the track and joined B.A.S.S. anglers for a single-day fishing competition.

For more information on these and other great story ideas, contact: B.A.S.S. Communications (334) 272-9530

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