Work harder.  Want to learn how to become a pro?  Look up Takahiro Omori and that will give you an idea of a path...  Ask yourself if the sacrifices would be worth it.  I'm definitely part of a "younger" generation and I HATE the fact that everyone around me seems to say they "love" this or that they "want" that. 

Work Harder.

Agree X2..One thing I am sitting here wondering...If there were no sponsors and no glitz and glamour, no cameras...just a bunch of guys going out to see who could catch the most fish and win the tournament, would any of the these sponsor seeking kids even show up..I hope more kids read this and not just a few..David in Murray,Ky.

Your wasting your time.... anyone under the age of twenty-five can only be reached by text, facebook, or myspace. And everything must be written in slang ( ex: how r u? tru dat), otherwise it will not be fully comprehended.

And if your trying to tell this generation they are not entitled to anything and everything they desire, you will meet much resistance.

Hard work... another dying American tradition.

You have a point, but give the kids some credit. I know several young men who work their tails off, every day they have a chance. If they don't have work scheduled, they go find it. They are true, honest, hard workers, and deserve what they get. I'm hoping this isn't just an Ohio thing, and am willing to bet that many young men work just as hard as they do. The reason most don't is that they have things given to them. Just my opinion-

                                                           Bass Junkie

(Bt thy do txt.... LOL)

I'm jumping on this discussion a little late.

The issue, it seems, is whether a young person should "waste their time" trying to be sponsored when they haven't shown themselves to be "good investments."  Not to fault young people (I was one once) but the fault generally lies in the fantasy that young, inexperienced people will be place in positions of great responsibility (and compensated accordingly) with little or no practical experience or a track record.  It just doesn't work that way.  And it shouldn't.  If I could, I'd borrow the energy and enthusiam of young people and combine it with the experience and wisdom of seasoned veterans.  But barring that, I'll always pick an experienced person who has clearly demonstrated their "worth."

Having said this, my advice to young people is that you should not give up.  You (young whippersnappers) just need to keep on keeping on until the reach the ranks of veterancy.  And if you love what you do, the wait won't seem that arduous.