ESPN Classic

Classic GPS

With each passing season technology allows us to get one step deeper into the bass fishing game. This year's Classic, like last, is utilizing a GPS monitoring system created by ESPN M.I.T. (Media Information Technology).

The system incorporates a Nextel telephone with a built in GPS. When an angler catches a fish, his observer notes the weight, the phone notes the location and time and, presto, instant information starts rolling in.

In the case of the first day of the Classic, it offered a glimpse of things not ordinarily seen or recorded in a bass fishing tournament.

For instance:

• At 6:55 a.m. Jeff Coble caught the first fish of the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic.
• At 7:05 a.m. Preston Clark boated a 9-pounder that would break the Classic lunker record.
• At 7:17 a.m. Coble boated the first limit totaling approximately 10 pounds.
• At 7:22 a.m. Jeff Kriet boats the second limit of the event.
• By 7:30 a.m. More than 68 pounds of bass have been caught in the first 45 minutes of fishing, a total that eclipses the 51 pounds caught on the third day of the 2005 Classic.
• At 7:45 a.m. Clark fills his limit with more than 14 pounds of bass, eclipsing Kevin VanDam's three-day weight in 2005.
• At 8:11 a.m. Luke Clausen boats a 7-pound plus bass that starts him on his way to leading the first day and shattering the single-day catch record in Classic history.

And that's just a sample. Stay tuned for more of these updates as the tournament progresses.

Ike Not Psyched About Day 1

The much-anticipated appearance of 2003 Classic Champion Mike Iaconelli did not live up to expectations as a visibly disappointed Iaconelli weighed in just 11 pounds 9 ounces. The usually over-hyped Iaconelli appeared to be on the verge of tears as his fish hit the scales.

He was docked 10 ounces for two dead fish and did not offer his usual brash commentary when given the microphone.

"I'm very passionate about this sport," Iaconelli offered. "I love to win and I hate to lose."

An hour later, Iaconelli's catch for the day, 11 pounds, 9 ounces, would be disqualified, giving him the only recorded zero of the day.

Nothing Like the Classic

It's hard to argue that the Bassmaster Classic is not the best bang for your entertainment buck in sports these days. While thousands pay hundreds of dollars to watch the New York Knicks play basketball or watch chemically enhanced monsters swing for the fences, a family of four (or five or six) can still spend all day and all night at the bass fishing's biggest event all for the price of parking.

With video clips, interactive games and more giveaways and drawings than you could ever sign up for, the Classic has something for everyone and admission is absolutely free to the public.

Classic Balloon Business Blowing Up

Amid the acres of industry booths and displays at the expo surrounding the weigh-in venue, most aimed at catching more and bigger bass, John and Johnna Perry were actually making fish. The two balloon artists, bedecked in balloon-print shirts and laden with about 3,500 balloons apiece, were passing out impromptu sea creatures — bass, sharks, turtles — in about as long as it took a passerby to stop and stare.

"We even got some mermaids yesterday," Johnna said. "King Triton. Flamingos, to fit the Florida theme."

Over the past 10 years, the Perrys have traveled to 17 countries to build their sculptures. They met in art school and decided to express themselves in the medium of balloons. Since then, business has blown up. (John's joke, not ours.) They say they have about 600 different sculptures in their repertoire. That's a rough estimate, though, because they can gin up anything they can imagine.

The question put to them on the floor Friday was whether fish are tricky to sculpt.

"Depends on which fish you make," John said.

"Right," his wife added. "Finding Nemo was requested a lot last night."

When they realized they hadn't attempted an octopus lately, they set about inflating and contorting, as the balloons squeaked and squawked in protest. Johnna assembled the head, eyes and legs; John fitted a visitor with a balloon hat to hold the octopus.

It was silly as all get-out. But, Johnna assured, the balloons were all latex, and would biodegrade at about the same rate as an oak leaf. Back home in Kansas City, the Perrys actually compost their artwork.

Classic Crowds Surprise Educator

Steven Layman's job as an educator is to show people how to enjoy and preserve their natural environment. When the Georgia Southern University instructor prepared for his expo display, he was expecting to have to explain the live falcon, eagle, owl and snakes he brought to Kissimmee. On Friday, though, after explaining to a father and his two sons about how to catch a red-tailed hawk for hunting doves and rabbits, Layman admitted that he has been floored by the expertise of the hunters and anglers at the convention center for the weigh-in on the first day of the Classic.

"The non-hunting public sees them as, pardon the expression, Bubba killers," Layman said. "But I get here and I'm impressed. These people are not the general public who don't know anything about nature and wildlife.

"These families are developing a natural history lifestyle. They become an advocate for nature."

While he applauded the fans' knowledge of clean air and water, he could still offer a unique experience for most visitors. He stood at his display with a nine-year-old eagle named Patriot, who sat hooded and tethered to Layman's thick leather glove. He invited people to touch and actually sniff at the bird, which carried a pleasant, earthy aroma.

"It smells like your grandmother's tomato garden," he said.

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