3 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

I mean, you are wrong. He is a huge ambassador to the sport, including a lot of kids. To mark someone based off a few antics when he was younger while performing his job and passion is inane.

I watched him celebrate like a sugar high kid on XMAS on Day 1 at Champlain event this year, then he produced his typical results on day 2 and melted down, then refused to speak on stage, let alone thank the fans, his sponsors, or his family......the ones responsible for him being there.   How many kids were watching that day?   I mean he's thrown dozens of tantrums, and even a number of more serious incidents over the years.....how many kids watched all that stuff.   

 

He's acted like a child his whole career, he deserves to be judged as one imho.  Most adults in the real world have to control their emotions.       

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Ike also refused a legends exemption and qualified for the elite series thru the opens. Like him or not, he’s really good 

I didn’t realize that. My apologies. If he qualified through the opens, that’s legit.

 

But I am pretty sure he didn’t finish high enough on the elites to qualify to fish it this season. Isn’t that part accurate?

3 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Would you feel the same about Rick Clunn had he not retired this year?

I’m against exemptions. Every angler should have to qualify the same way.

3 minutes ago, gim said:

I didn’t realize that. My apologies. If he qualified through the opens, that’s legit.

 

But I am pretty sure he didn’t finish high enough on the elites to qualify to fish it this season. Isn’t that part accurate?

I don’t know how they calculate that. He came thru the opens when he left BPT 

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

I don’t know how they calculate that. He came thru the opens when he left BPT 

I thought there was a thread about this in recent memory and the topic of him either having to receive an exemption or through the opens was his only route because his finish was too low on the elites.

 

I think he fishes kayak events too.

 

Even though I don’t care for his behavior, if he qualified properly then so be it. He deserves a spot.

4 minutes ago, gim said:

I didn’t realize that. My apologies.

 

But I am pretty sure he didn’t finish high enough on the elites to qualify to fish it this season. Isn’t that part accurate?

I have no idea the exact math that calculates the guys who are dropped each year, but it's a bit complicated IIrc.    Some how he qualified without a legends exception though because Howell and Pace received the only two for the year.    

 

Ike finished 94/103 anglers in AOY standing for last season.

 

He's on borrowed time either way imho.   He really is statistically one of the worst anglers on the Elite Series.  

On 12/20/2024 at 3:21 PM, JediAmoeba said:

I mean, you are wrong. He is a huge ambassador to the sport, including a lot of kids. To mark someone based off a few antics when he was younger while performing his job and passion is inane.

I like him too. People just love to hate people who don’t fit the mold.